HOUSTON (AP) – The last member of the Carolina Panthers to catch three touchdowns in a game was receiver Muhsin Muhammad. He also made a great move in the end zone to catch an underthrown pass for the first touchdown in the NFC championship.

So, what is Muhammad best known for these days?

His blocking, of course.

The 6-foot-2, 217-pounder, who answers to “Moose,” has been praised often this season for helping to spring running backs Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster and any other teammate who needs a path cleared.

While labeling a receiver “a good blocker” could be considered akin to saying a blind date has “good personality,” Muhammad wears it proudly.

“I’m the physical guy,” he said Monday. “I’m not as much finesse, but the physical guy that is going to block and I do a lot of the dirty work.”

It’s a good reputation to have going into the Super Bowl against New England considering the way the Patriots’ cornerbacks roughed up Indianapolis receivers in the AFC championship. If they try doing it again Sunday, they’re more likely to pick on 5-foot-9, 185-pound Steve Smith.

“You’ve got a big, strong guy in Muhsin Muhammad,” New England cornerback Ty Law said. “He is a lot more physical and aggressive especially in the running game. He doesn’t mind when you get up there and jam him on the bump-and-run because he is such a physical presence.”

Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme’s favorite story about Muhammad has nothing to do with a pass.

In the final home game of the regular season, the Panthers were leading Detroit 20-0 midway through the third quarter, then were up only six in the final minutes. Needing another first down to run out the clock, guess who coach John Fox turned to for extra help protecting Delhomme?

“We’re playing some backups at the time and Muhsin’s out of the game for about a quarter,” Delhomme said. “Coach Fox looked at him and said, “Hey, you mind going in and blocking this corner?’ Muhsin had a jacket on and said, “Not a problem.’

“He just took it off and went right in the game. He had been sitting for a quarter. He didn’t care.”

That willingness has gone a long way with Fox.

“I have as much respect for Muhsin as any player I’ve ever coached,” he said. “He’s very aggressive and hard-nosed, a tough competitor. He blocks, he’s unselfish and does everything we ask. He never complains and that includes early this season when we didn’t throw the ball very much. He’s in high standing with me.”

For now.

After the Super Bowl, Carolina will have to make a tough call on Muhammad. His salary cap figure is just over $6 million, which could be steep for a No. 2 receiver.

Muhammad was able to get a $22.5 million, five-year deal after the 1999 season, when he led the NFC with 96 catches and ranked fourth with 1,253 yards. He responded by tying for the NFL lead with 102 catches and 1,183 yards the next season.

Then coach George Seifert lost control of the team and the Panthers went 1-15. Muhammad missed five games with injuries and his numbers were cut in half. After Fox replaced Seifert, Muhammad began taking on the dual blocker-catcher role.

“Every now and then I catch some balls down the field,” he said.

Truth is, those passes haven’t been that sporadic. He was the team’s second-leading receiver this season, producing enough so that he and Smith were second only to St. Louis’ Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce for the most catches by a tandem.

and were fourth in yards.

And, thanks to his big years in Seifert’s West Coast offense and the fact he arrived in Carolina’s second season, Muhammad is the franchise leader in catches and yards receiving. He’s also second on the team’s career touchdown list.

“He is a Pro Bowl receiver,” Delhomme said. “I think what he has done this year kind of really shows what this team’s about. We’ve asked him to block like a tight end this year and he could care less as long as we’re doing whatever it takes to win.”