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Dan Marino says the great speed Ted Ginn has should be enough to keep the receiver on the field more. (Allen Eyestone/The Post)
by Brian Biggane
February 2, 2010
The speed of wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. makes him a commodity the Dolphins will be hard-pressed to do without, Hall of Famer Dan Marino said Tuesday.
Speaking after the CBS press conference touting the network’s Super Bowl coverage this Sunday, Marino answered “it’s hard for me to say” when asked if the Dolphins should address the wide receiver position this offseason.
“If you draft, you look at where your picks are and try to get the best people available. But sometimes you’ve gotta go for a position because you need it. They need playmakers. They do. And defensively you’re always looking for pass-rushers too.”
Specifically asked his thoughts on Ginn, Marino said, “You’ve gotta have him in the game just because of his sheer speed and his ability to get down the field. Even if he’s a decoy sometimes, (opposing teams) have gotta cover him. He’s a legit guy to get down the field. Anytime you’ve got that kind of speed you’ve gotta have him in the game.”
Marino was reminded that many fans have been calling for the Dolphins to either trade or release Ginn after his statistics dropped off significantly in 2009. After catching 56 passes for 790 yards and two touchdowns in 2008, Ginn caught just 38 passes for 454 yards and one TD this past year.
“He’s worked hard, obviously,” he said. “When you’re a No. 1 pick, the fans expect a lot out of you, and maybe he doesn’t have the numbers you would think you would need out of a No. 1 pick, ninth overall. But if he’s on your team, he’s a guy who needs to play for you, just because of pure speed.”
