News & Info/Headlines

As reported by ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli, less than 12 hours after the Panthers terminated Muhsin Muhammad's contract, rather than pay him a $10 million roster bonus, the veteran wide receiver and the Bears reached an agreement in principle on a multi-year deal.

There remains some work to be done on contract language and distribution of funds, sources told Pasquarelli, but the two sides are in accord on all key parameters of the deal.

According to profootballtalk.com, WSCR Radio in Chicago is also reporting the deal.

Financial details obviously haven't been released, but Muhammad is expected to receive in the area of $10 million in total guarantees and will earn an average of between $5 million-$6 million in the first three seasons.

Pasquarelli went on to advise readers the agreement came in the early hours of Saturday morning, around 3 a.m, after a long night of negotiations between agent Joel Segal and Bears officials. The Bears were one of the first teams to contact Segal when his client's availability became official on Friday.

Several other franchises checked in with Segal as well but Chicago, which has made the upgrade of its wide receiver corps and offseason priority, moved very aggressively to close a deal.

Adding the nine-year veteran Muhammad provides young quarterback Rex Grossman a proven and dependable target.

Chicago wide receivers combined for just 111 catches, 1,561 yards and three touchdowns in 2004. The leading wideout, David Terrell, posted 42 receptions for 699 yards and one touchdown. The consensus, even before the Muhammad deal, was that Terrell, a first-round choice in the 2001 draft, would be cut in the offseason.

Muhammad, 31, is coming off the finest all-around season of his career. He registered 93 catches for 1,405 yards and 16 touchdowns, and was on the NFC Pro Bowl squad.

For his career, Muhammad has 578 receptions for 7,751 yards and 44 touchdowns. He has five seasons of 60-plus catches and three years with 1,000 or more receiving yards. Muhammad, who will turn 32 in May, appeared in 125 games, and started in 113 of them. ...

Keep an eye on this week's News & Views section for confirmation when this one becomes official.

Meanwhile, in a related note. ... According to Chicago Daily Herald sports writer Bob LeGere, not only is Grossman expected to be ready for the first Bears mini-camp on May 20, he is expected to be 100 percent.

"We expect him to take the first snap at mini-camp," head coach Lovie Smith said Friday at the NFL's Scouting Combine. "And if he's taking the first snap at mini-camp, he'll be full speed."

Grossman is working out five days a week at team headquarters. Despite the ruptured ACL in his right knee, LeGere reports he's running without a limp.

Just like last off-season, Grossman is No. 1 on the depth chart and the Bears are seeking a veteran backup in free agency, which starts March 2.

But the Bears aren't alone when it comes to that need.

Teams that might want more competition at quarterback include Cleveland, San Francisco, Arizona, Miami, Detroit, Tampa Bay and New Orleans.

Veteran quarterbacks who are available or could be by Wednesday include Jeff Garcia -- who will take a physical for the Lions sometime in the next two days, Jay Fiedler, Vinny Testaverde, Brad Johnson, Brian Griese, Jeff Blake and Kelly Holcomb.

But as team officials are stressing, the team will promise anyone they sign a chance to compete for the job, but they have made it clear Grossman is No. 1, and for now, Chad Hutchinson is No. 2.

"We've talked to several agents about their clients, and we want a veteran with experience," general manager Jerry Angelo said. "We can't name names because they're still under contract (through March 1)."

Whoever winds up with the Bears will do so with the understanding that he has to outplay Grossman for the starting job. As LeGere suggested, that may dissuade some, if not all, of them.

A year ago, inexperienced journeyman Jonathan Quinn was the only veteran who would accept a job on the Bears' terms, and the results were disappointing.

Quinn was released Tuesday. ...

Other Fantasy-specific news and notes of interest out of Chicago. ...

According to Chicago Sun-Times beat man Mike Mulligan, in addition to Grossman, Smith singled out defensive end Adewale Ogunleye (ankle), fullback Bryan Johnson (foot) and Mike Brown (Achilles) as players ready to return from surgeries, confirmed tackle John Tait's move to the left side of the offensive line and kept the heat on kicker Paul Edinger, who is coming off a 15-of-24 season that included the most misses in the league.

'We weren't pleased with our kicking game,' Smith said. 'We have to have a better field-goal percentage than last year. ...'

According to the Sporting News, the Bears have the fewest free agents hitting the market than anyone in the league, and of the four free agents, none of them are starters.

The big name is running back Anthony Thomas, who lost his starting job to Thomas Jones last year, but nonetheless was an important figure because he effectively gave the team admirable depth at running back. Thomas was not offered a contract and won't be back.

Third stringer Adrian Peterson is expected to step up into the backup role, and the Bears will likely draft a running back, perhaps with the No. 4 overall pick, if they deem the position the best value selection available. ...

While we're on the subject. ...

The Sports Xchange reports that new offensive coordinator Ron Turner was asked what he considered the ideal traits for a running back in his version of the West Coast offense: "A guy who doesn't like to get tackled," Turner joked, but then added, "There can be so many different types as far as size, speed, power runners, slash runners.

"I think the key is just having somebody that's a football player, that has great vision, can accelerate through the hole and just has the great tendencies and the knack for making people miss and breaking tackles.

"And someone that's going to hold on to the football. ..."

And finally. ...

According Chicago Tribune staffer Terry Bannon, after a season marred by hamstring injuries, the Bears are cutting back their off-season workout schedule.

The program won't begin until early April, about two weeks later than many teams.