The Panthers have never had a season where three wide receivers caught more than 40 passes each. The closest the team ever came to accomplishing the feat occurred in 2001 when Donald Hayes, Muhsin Muhammad and Isaac Byrd posted 52, 50 and 37 receptions, respectively. Hopefully, that will change in 2008.

Carolina could have depth and experience at the position like no other time in franchise history. Heading the group is Steve Smith, who last season became the first player in club annals to record three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving campaigns after leading the Panthers with 1,002 yards and seven touchdowns on 87 catches. Also returning are second-year pros Dwayne Jarrett and Ryne Robinson.

But the offseason acquisitions of Muhammad and D.J. Hackett give the corps its best potential in years. Muhammad re-joined Carolina in February after being released following three seasons with Chicago, and Hackett was signed as an unrestricted free agent from Seattle in March.

"What you try to do is re-group in the offseason," said Panthers head coach John Fox. "That was an area, the wide receiver position, where we felt like we needed to add some depth, not just good players but good guys, too. I think we hit on both those guys."

It is no mystery what the familiar Muhammad brings to the field. Originally drafted by Carolina in the second round in 1996, he spent the first nine years of his career in a Panthers uniform and ranks as the team's all-time leader with 578 receptions and 7,751 receiving yards. Muhammad is also an excellent blocker and a proven leader in the locker room.

A four-year veteran, Hackett played in 33 games with 14 starts for Seattle and posted 105 receptions for 1,394 yards and nine touchdowns. Despite playing amid a deep receiving corps, he produced 77 catches for 994 yards and seven touchdowns in 2006 and 2007.

Quarterback Matt Moore had an opportunity to throw to both players at last weekend's mini-camp. "With D.J. and Moose, there is a lot of experience between those guys," he said.

"They are just going to make this a better football team. Both of them are great, have great attitudes and are hard-working guys that really know how to play the game."

At mini-camp, Muhammad stepped back into the Panthers offense for the first time since 2004 when he amassed a career-high 1,405 yards and a team single-season record 16 receiving touchdowns on 93 receptions. He is glad everything worked out the way it did and that he could possibly finish his career where it began.

"It really, really felt good to put on a Panthers helmet again, and go and sit in my old locker again, and come out and catch some balls, and laugh and joke around with my teammates," Muhammad said. "It really felt good to get back out here."

Meanwhile, Hackett used the mini-camp as a chance to continue to get more familiar with the Panthers offense. After playing four seasons in the Seahawks West Coast offense, which features short passes, Hackett is learning the Panthers more traditional offense, where most of the passing is down field.

"It's a big adjustment. Things are a little different, the timing of the routes and things like that" Hackett said. "It's a lot of hard work, a lot of thinking and getting in the books, trying to get your plays down. It's a whole different system, different terminology, so that's always tough."

The Panthers offensive philosophy is to be a physical team that is be able to run the ball. A successful running game and weapons like Muhammad and Hackett should give them opportunities to exploit the passing game and also prevent double teams on the speedy Smith, giving him room to maneuver.

"Teams are going pay attention to all of us I think, so that will open it up for everybody." Hackett said.

Regardless of who starts opposite Smith, several wide receivers will likely contribute from week-to-week and make an impact in 2008.

"My job is to just play, so I don't worry about that," Hackett said, "We've got a lot of talent and some age out there as well but not too old. It looks good to me"

Muhammad said, "My approach to this game is just to prepare to win every time I step out on the field, try to get better every time I practice."

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