Muhammad close to resigning with Panthers

Muhammad's agent, Joel Segal, and Carolina general manager Marty Hurney said Tuesday that they are close to a deal that would return the veteran to where he played his first nine NFL seasons.

"Hopefully we can get something done in the next day or so," Hurney said.

The two sides began talking shortly after Muhammad was released by the Bears last week. The Panthers, looking to get help for Steve Smith, have made the receiver position one of the team's offseason priorities.

Muhammad and Smith started together for parts of three seasons, including in 2003 when the Panthers lost to New England in the Super Bowl.