By PFW staff
Feb. 19, 2008

It ended up being a bloody Monday for the Bears, who released a trio of aging veterans — WR Muhsin Muhammad (34), ORT Fred Miller (35) and DT Darwin Walker (30) — and whacked away about $15.6 million in salary-cap fat in the process. None of the moves was surprising. Muhammad, who had three years left on his contract, has been in a steady decline; his 40 catches for 570 yards in 2007 were his lowest totals since 1997. Miller, who had two years left on his contract and was scheduled to make $4 million in base salary this season, was expected to be let go following a horrendous ’07 season. Walker, who was due a $5.2 million roster bonus on March 4, had just one sack and had problems staying healthy in '07 after recording 27½ sacks during his first seven seasons.

The news wasn’t all gloom and doom at Halas Hall Monday, as the team announced it was also giving DE Alex Brown a two-year contract extension through 2011. 

The PFW spin

The release of Muhammad would appear to leave the Bears in an increasingly shaky position at wide receiver, where the uncertain status of unrestricted free agent Bernard Berrian is sure to become more of an issue. Bears GM Jerry Angelo hasn’t ruled out giving Berrian the franchise tag, which would guarantee the wire receiver $7.8 million this season, but team sources continue to believe the Bears are prepared to move on without Berrian and let the chips fall where they may — the biggest chip at the moment being Devin Hester, whose development as a receiver is on a faster track than ever.

The influx of cash created with the releases of Muhammad, Miller and Walker increases the likelihood the Bears could go after at least a couple of high-profile free agents — probably targeting the offensive line, running back and wide receiver.

They’re probably not through trimming fat off their roster, with safeties Adam Archuleta and Mike Brown, CB Ricky Manning Jr. and OG Ruben Brown all considered possible cap casualties.

Alex Brown’s contract extension, meanwhile, was a just reward for a player who appears to have regained his starting DE post from Mark Anderson after a very solid ’07 campaign.