dabayrz

Muhammad sees Bears building on '05 success
by Larry Mayer
June 19,2006

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - After being part of the second greatest one-year turnaround in Bears history, veteran receiver Muhsin Muhammad is hungry for more.
The two-time Pro Bowler, who had a team-high 64 catches for 750 yards and four touchdowns in his first season in Chicago, has high expectations entering the 2006 campaign.


Veteran receiver Muhsin Muhammad is one of only six NFL players with at least 50 receptions each of the past eight seasons.
"I think that we can build on what we established last year," Muhammad said. "That excites me because I don't think the team really reached its full potential. We can be a lot better than we were and we still were pretty darn good last year."

The Bears improved from 5-11 in 2004 to 11-5 last year. The only greater single-season leap was from 5-11 in 2000 to 13-3 in 2001.

Muhammad, quarterback Rex Grossman and the rest of the Bears offense figures to benefit from playing in the same system for a second straight season. In coordinator Ron Turner's first year in 2005, the offense ranked 29th overall in the NFL and 31st passing.

"We probably will be able to expand our playbook and I think we'll feel a lot more comfortable with what we're running," Muhammad said.

"We'll be able to be flexible on the field as far as the coaches' level of comfort with Rex going to different plays at the line of scrimmage. And I think the variety of plays that he'll be able to call at the line of scrimmage will increase."

From an individual standpoint, Muhammad's familiarity with the offense should help buoy his game in 2006. "I definitely will feel more comfortable in the system," he said. "I'll be able to play multiple (receiver) positions. It's going to help me having another year under my belt."

Muhammad signed with the Bears last year after spending his first nine NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers. After helping lead the Panthers to their first Super Bowl appearance in 2003, he caught 93 passes and led NFL receivers with 1,405 yards and 16 TDs in 2004.

The Bears' only established veteran receiver, Muhammad is confident that a complementary option will emerge this season. Young receivers Bernard Berrian, Mark Bradley, Airese Currie and Justin Gage have all shown promise and could develop into a second threat.

"They're all working hard right now," Muhammad said. "Some of the guys have (minor) injuries that are not really allowing them to develop during this part of the offseason. But that classroom work is equally as important as field work right now. You have to be able to learn and know what's going on out there.


Muhsin Muhammad led the Bears with 64 catches for 750 yards and 4 TDs in 2005.
"The young guys that we have have the potential to be very good. But the key in this game is to turn potential into production. That'll be the challenge for those guys, to hit the field and turn all that potential into production."

Muhammad hopes to expedite that process by serving as a role model to his young teammates.

"I would like to think that guys can look at how I work on the field at practice and use that as an example," he said. "I try to be consistent and try to be the same player every day.

"A dependable player is going to be in the right place at the right time and you're going to catch the balls that are thrown to you. That is very important, especially for a young quarterback because he has to develop confidence.

"So I just want to supply guys with a good picture of what a true pro is supposed to look like when he practices and when he plays."

As Muhammad prepares for his 11th NFL season, his passion remains the same as it was when he joined the Panthers as a second-round pick in the 1996 draft.

"I love my job," he said. "I think that's why I've been able to play at the level that I've played at for so many years. I hate the business side of it, but I love the game of football.

"I think anybody who grew up playing this game as a kid can relate to that. This is a game that I grew up loving and playing, and that part of it has never changed."

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Gobears81

Larry Mayer is the lamest ****ing journalist ever.

How does it feel to be a puppet?

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]<ing

INCREDIBLE!!!

Player X thinks team X will improve this coming season!!!

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imported_PeanutTillman

It's article like this that make me wonder what it takes to get a Journalism Degree.

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Bye NFL-Fans

BBBF

\<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PeanutTillman @ Jun 19th ) [snapback]1586151[/snapback]</div>A good spell checker and no gag reflex.

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imported_TeaLeafReaderII

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Gobears81 @ Jun 19th ) [snapback]1586127[/snapback]</div>Pretty good I imagine... he is making 6 figures by pumping out fluff like this every one or two days.

Where can I sign up to be a puppet?

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sig by da_bears86
Congrats on 500 Big Hurt .

Duds47

Hey Larry, When you tell me how Airese Currie "showed Promise" last year I have to wonder which of the games he spent on the inactive list the guy showed promise in.

Do you just make this crap up and hope no one bothered to watch the bears last season to avoid getting called out on your baseless fluff pieces?

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Quote by Moe Syzlak: May 23, 2005

Spork5812

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Duds47 @ Jun 19th ) [snapback]1586364[/snapback]</div>
no its just what all those ****s over at the offish want to hear...

Gobears81

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TeaLeafReaderII @ Jun 19th ) [snapback]1586354[/snapback]</div>
I think it involves Mike McCaskey and getting on your knees?

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PackSACK92

The Bears really need to utilize Muhammed in their Offense a lot more this year. I know QB troubles are part of it.. but still, come on.. its friggin Mushin Muhammed!

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