Bears Cut WR Muhammad, Extend Brown

Originally Posted by ESPN

The Chicago Bears released wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad Monday, but reached a two-year extension with defensive end Alex Brown.

The Muhammad release wasn't much of a surprise. His pass reception numbers have dropped in each of the past three seasons. Muhammad caught 64 passes in 2005, 60 in 2006 and only 40 in 2007. At the age of 34, he was entering the final two years of a five-year contract. The timing of the release was curious, though, because wide receiver Bernard Berrian is a free agent and is considered one of the top free agents available.

Muhammad started all but one game in his three years with the Bears.

Brown's two-year extension was a little surprising. He was entering the final year of his contract and had expressed some unhappiness early last season about his playing time. He started only two games in 2007. Despite that, he had 41 tackles and 4½ sacks.

John Clayton, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame writers' wing, is a senior writer for ESPN.com.