NFL
Muhammad marvelous for Carolina in defeat

By José Miguel Romero
Seattle Times staff reporter

ROD MAR / THE SEATTLE TIMES Carolina's Muhsin Muhammad takes to the air in front of Seahawk Marcus Trufant for a 35-yard reception in the second quarter yesterday.

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The most productive wide receiver in Carolina Panthers history is a man whose first name means "one who does good deeds."

That would be Muhsin, last name Muhammad, and his deeds were almost good enough for the Panthers to hand the Seahawks a home loss yesterday at Qwest Field.

Muhammad had eight catches for 106 yards and caught two touchdown passes in a losing cause, working over the Seahawks secondary along with teammate Keary Colbert to become the first receiver duo to gain 100 or more yards each against the Seahawks in a game this season.

Muhammad, a nine-year veteran, brought in a 15-yard pass from quarterback Jake Delhomme in the second quarter for his first score. He got past Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant and linebacker Tracy White to make the catch.

Muhammad set up the touchdown with a 35-yard reception to open that drive, using his 3-inch height advantage over Trufant to bring down an underthrown ball.

"I try to be aggressive, and over my career, I've had a knack for jump balls," Muhammad said. "It's just part of my game. When the ball's in the air I try to go get it."

Muhammad also caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Delhomme in the fourth quarter. Muhammad originally was ruled down at the 1-yard line before officials reversed the call and decided he had crossed the goal line.

" 'Moose' is a solid receiver, and he and Jake have done that before," Panthers coach John Fox said. "I think it was good execution on Jake and Moose's part."

Trufant said of Muhammad, "He's all over the place. He's a great receiver, very physical receiver. He's one of their go-to guys and they give him the ball a lot, so when you're going against him, you have to come to play."
 
Trufant might have surrendered another big play to Muhammad if not for an offensive pass-interference penalty whistled against the receiver. On third-and-goal from the Seahawks 3 early in the third quarter, Delhomme fired the ball into a back corner of the end zone for Muhammad, who made the catch right after Trufant fell down in front of him.

Officials ruled that Muhammad had pushed off on Trufant, causing him to fall and negating the touchdown catch for a 10-yard penalty. The Panthers ended up with a field goal out of the possession.

"The guy (Trufant) fell down in front of me," Muhammad said. "He grabbed me as I came off the line of scrimmage, and I was fighting to get his hands off me. And as I went behind him, I think he tripped or something and he just fell.

"You could tell from the replay I didn't push him down. I might have had a hand on his back, but he fell in front of me. I think it was a bad call."

Trufant had somewhat of a different take.

"It's one of those things. I'm kind of looking back for the ball and the ref saw it a little better than I did," said Trufant. "Thank goodness he called it. ...

"He (Muhammad) nudged me in the back a little bit, kind of a decision call, but it went in our favor."

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com