Panthers WR Ted Ginn Jr. remembers when he was last on field with a faster player

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. (19) is the fastest 31-year-old in the world, Tom Sorensen says, and he’s having quite an NFL season. David T. Foster III TNS

BY TOM SORENSEN
December 21, 2016

Ted Ginn Jr. is considerably better as a Carolina Panther than he was as a receiver for the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers or Arizona Cardinals.

Last season I asked him why. He talked about Carolina’s receivers room and his bond with receivers coach Ricky Proehl. Ginn is 31 years old and a 10-year NFL veteran. Proehl, 48, played 17 seasons in the NFL.

Their styles differ. Proehl ran routes so precise you could plot them on a graph. No graph offers enough paper to track Ginn’s routes. He’s running past you, or he’s going to set you up and try. Ginn said that he felt as if Proehl was more of an older brother than a coach.

Ginn, the fastest 31-year-old in the world – yes, the world – has been on a tremendous tear. In Week 11 he scored his first touchdown of the season on a 40-yard catch against New Orleans. In Week 12 he caught an 88-yard touchdown pass against Oakland. In Week 13 he caught a 55-yard touchdown pass against Seattle. Monday against he caught a 30-yard touchdown pass against Washington.

Ginn was one of the best high school players in the country in Cleveland. He knew LeBron James. Or maybe LeBron knew him. They both dominated the surface on which they played. Ginn starred at Ohio State and the Miami Dolphins took him with the ninth pick in the 2007 draft.

Ginn was good with Miami but not great. In three seasons he caught 128 passes for 1,664 yards and scored five touchdowns.

The Dolphins traded him to the San Francisco 49ers for a fifth-round draft pick. He played three seasons for the 49ers and caught 33 passes for 384 yards, only one of them for a touchdown.

Panthers’ general manager Dave Gettleman hired Ginn in 2013, and the hiring was an immediate success. Ginn fit in the receivers room, the locker room and on the field. Steve Smith, then Carolina’s star receiver, took him in. Smith became a huge proponent and worked to ensure that Ginn’s family would be comfortable in Charlotte. Smith, always so fast, even acknowledged that Ginn had a gear he didn’t.

In 2014 the salary cap jumped and opponents flung money at several Carolina free agents. The one the Panthers least wanted to lose was Ginn. He followed the money to Arizona.

The Arizona Cardinals didn’t hire him. They rented him. Ginn caught 14 passes for 190 yards, none of them a touchdown. In Charlotte, Ginn can do that in a half.

Ginn’s three-year totals at Carolina (with two games to play): 127 receptions, 1,949 yards, and 19 touchdowns.

Ginn lacks, say, tight end Greg Olsen’s hands. But he gets open and defenses have to account for him. One reason Carolina overcame the loss of their (theoretically) top receiver Kelvin Benjamin to injury last season is because of Ginn and Philly Brown. When there’s a pair of 4.4 40-yard dash guys on the outside, life becomes easier over the middle.

When you watch quarterback Cam Newton this season put all 245 pounds into a throw, you know where the ball is going. And you know it’s not going to be overthrown.

I love watching Ginn run because he wastes nothing. He allows only the body parts that are supposed to move to move. I’ve had several greyhounds and they’re built for speed. They waste nothing – unless there’s a piece of bread or something on the sidewalk. Ginn, who ran a 4.3 out of college, is built for speed. I ran track in high school and, OK, he’d lap me in the 40. But I can appreciate what he does.

I once asked Ginn when he last stepped onto on a football field with a player faster than he was. He looked at me as if I was insane. But he leaned against his locker and thought.

Fifth grade, he said.

How old was the other player?

High school.

Ted Ginn Jr. ranked Top 6 in NFL in 40+ yard receptions

December 14, 2016

Best games of the best rivalry

My list extends from Bruce to Meyer, includes a win with Ginn and a thriller with Miller

By Bill Livingston
November 26, 2016


Freshman Ted Ginn Jr.'s 82-yard punt return highlighted the Buckeyes' 37-21 victory in 2004. Punter Adam Finley was the last line of defense.

Before the once-beatens, Ohio State and Michigan, play ''Survivor'' for a potential berth in the College Football Playoff at high noon today in The Horseshoe, the Big Ten Network is airing a documentary about the unbeatens in The Game of 2006.

Ten years ago, No. 1 Ohio State outgunned No. 2 Michigan, 42-39, on the day after the great Michigan coach Bo Schembechler died.

This spurred thoughts of the best Ohio State games I've covered since I began writing columns on Ohio State in 1984.

I'm skipping the losses — the Desmond Howard Heisman pose in 1991; Stan Jackson's pick-six thrown while the ground was rushing up at him, rather than take a sack in 1997; the ''Shawn Springs Slipped'' game in 1996.

They would all be on a list of Michigan fans' favorites.

As for Buckeye fans, their list would skew to the Jim Tressel/Urban Meyer era, although Earle Bruce's valedictory makes my list, too.

2006: Ohio State-Michigan 2006 was a great event, marking the zenith of the Big Ten's reputation in this century. Only now, with three teams in the Associated Press top five (No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Michigan, No. 5 Wisconsin) has the Big Ten come close to the 1 vs. 2 frenzy in 2006.

Ohio State was in command most of the game. A late Michigan touchdown and two-point conversion made it closer than it seemed.

Unfortunately, it was followed by serious routs of both teams in bowl games. Southern California bounced Michigan in the Rose Bowl, 32-18, and OSU fans got an early, terrifying glimpse of Urban Meyer when his Florida team humbled Ohio State in Arizona in the BCS Championship Game, 41-14.

2005: I have to put the 2005 game high on the list. It was a 25-21 Ohio State comeback win in Ann Arbor, led by Wolverine nemesis and former Glenville standout Troy Smith.

OSU rallied from a ninepoint deficit in the last seven minutes. Unforgettable highlight: ''The Catch'' on the winning drive by St. Ignatius' Anthony Gonzalez.

2004: Everyone saw what was coming, both good and bad, the previous year in a 37-21 Buckeyes upset of a Michigan team that had already clinched the Big Ten championship.

The good: In his first Michigan game, Smith ran for 145 yards, passed for 241, threw for two TDs and ran for one. The play of the game, for all that, was still the 82-yard dazzler of a touchdown punt return by Glenville's Ted Ginn Jr.

The bad: On fourth and 1 at the Michigan 29, future Cleveland Browns receiver Braylon Edwards, foreshadowing much of his Browns career, ran a 1-yard turnout, designed to get the first down and step out of bounds late in the game. The pass was right in the breadbasket as OSU played soft, just trying to keep everything in front of the defense. Edwards dropped it.

1987: An emotional No. 1 might be this game, Earle Bruce's last after he was fired in the week leading up to The Game for winning ''only'' three of every four games in his OSU career. Ohio State had lost three straight games going into The Game and trailed, 13-0, in the first half. A comeback does not happen in such circumstances after the week the Buckeyes had, but it did.

It was as memorable for Bruce's ride off the field on the shoulders of his players, all of whom were wearing headbands lettered ''Earle,'' as for the 23-20 victory in a rousing second-half rally.

2001: I also have to include the 2001 edition, a 26-20 Ohio State victory in Jim Tressel's first try against the previously dominant Wolverines.

Michigan's Marquise Walker dropped the would-be winning touchdown pass deep in the end zone right between the uprights late in the game. But the bigger story was Tressel got a look at what a quarterback named Craig Krenzel could do.

The biggest story might have been that Tressel ''called his shot,'' all but promising a victory in Ann Arbor on the day he was hired.

2013: More exciting to me even than the fabled 2006 meeting was Ohio State's 42-41 victory in 2013 over an inspired Michigan team that went only 7-6, but emptied the playbook that day.
The Wolverines burned OSU all afternoon with throwback screens.

Included in the wild game was a near-brawl between players, with quarterback Braxton Miller's participation somehow missed by referees, the ejection of Marcus Hall, the ''Birdman of Glenville'' and the game-saving interception by Bedford's Tyvis Powell on a two-point conversion pass by Michigan QB Devin Gardner.

The latter foreshadowed Glenville linebacker Chris Worley's similar play to save Saturday's 17-16 victory at Michigan State.

Ted Ginn Jr: The Fastest Player in the NFL Right Now

Kofi Bofah: The Five Fastest Players in the NFL Right Now
September 27, 2016

The time-honored cliches, “speed kills” and “you can’t coach speed,” are true. The fastest NFL players can shred the perfect defense and go the distance on any given play. Opposing teams must account for these electric performers at all times. This extra attention creates space for all offensive personnel to go to work.

On the other side of the football, speedsters can play lock-down, man-to-man defense and chase down plays from the weak-side across the formation. A real burner will put in spot duty on special teams as a return man when the team needs a spark. Football speed, in pads, is different than straightaway speed measured with a stopwatch on a fast track.

Even the great Jerry Rice ran a rather pedestrian 4.71 40-yard dash. On game day, however, he flashed wide open on drag routes across the middle before hauling in the football, turning the corner, and racing upfield past the defense for six. Alternatively, Darrius Heyward-Bey’s professional career never got off the ground despite literally breaking stopwatches at the NFL combine. The following current NFL players represent the ideal combination of lateral quickness, acceleration, agility, and raw top-line speed.

5. Julio Jones

 This is (almost) unfair. Julio Jones measures out at six-foot-three and 217 pounds — and he is bigger than Adrian Peterson. At the combine, Jones clocked in at 4.39 in the 40-yard dash as the most physically gifted wide receiver to enter the draft since Randy Moss. Yes, Jones is faster than Antonio Brown and Odell Beckam, Jr., who are both burners in their own right.

The 27-year-old is a matchup nightmare. As a possession receiver, Jones can use his big body to wall off defenders on slants and quick outs right at the sticks. On wide receiver screens, he will haul in the pass, before throwing out a stiff-arm on the defensive back and racing down the sidelines. In response, defensive coordinators will often call for Cover 2, with a corner cheating up toward the line of scrimmage being backed up with safety help over the top.

Still, Jones can easily outrun this double coverage before quarterback Matt Ryan drops in a deep bomb. For his career, he is averaging 15.1 yards per catch as the ultimate big-play threat. Last year, Jones led the league in both receptions (136) and yards (1,871). Ironically, the top-end speed was on full display when he found himself as a defender, chasing Tampa Bay linebacker Kwon Alexander 85 yards downfield to stop a pick-six.

4. DeSean Jackson

At 30 years old, DeSean Jackson is still one of the fastest men in the NFL. He ran a 4.35 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. Then the Philadelphia Eagles picked him in the 2008 draft. Jackson was at his best in 2010, when he paired up with a reinvigorated Michael Vick to torch the competition. That year, Jackson came down with 47 receptions for 1,056 yards — a blistering 22.5 yards-per-catch average.

For the play of the year, Jackson actually muffed a punt against the New York Giants, before picking the football back up at his own 25. From there, he drifted to his right, before feinting back to the left and turning on the jets upfield. After shaking two tacklers and hurtling over the punter, Jackson got a block and turned on another gear at the 50-yard line. From there, he was so far behind the Giants coverage that he actually tiptoed horizontally alongside the goal-line to run out the clock before scoring the touchdown.

The Philadelphia Eagles won this game 38-31. A irate Tom Coughlin screamed at punter Matt Dodge for actually kicking the football to Jackson. Matt Dodge found himself out of a job immediately thereafter. For his career, Jackson has averaged 18 yards per catch to go with 50 total touchdowns, as a receiver, on the ground, and in the return game. For 2016, Jackson will have another big year in Washington, if Kirk Cousins can get him the football.

3. Brandin Cooks

Brandin Cooks is one of the more underrated and least recognized burners in the NFL. Cooks played his college ball at Oregon State, in the shadows of the Mighty Ducks of the Pacific Northwest. Now, Cooks finds himself in another small market. His Saints club that hasn’t made the playoffs through his first two seasons. Still, Cooks is only 23; he has plenty of time to play pitch-and-catch with Drew Brees on the Superdome fast track — and introduce himself to fans.

Cooks is often compared against Rams wideout Tavon Austin in terms of both speed and stature. On paper, both of these athletes measure out near 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds and run a sub-4.35 40-yard dash. In real time, however, Cooks does show better acceleration; he is one shade quicker in and out of his breaks as a route runner.

For this, Cooks hauled in 84 receptions for 1,138 yards and nine touchdowns last season, while obliterating concerns that he was a one-dimensional speedster. For Week 1 this year, Drew Brees hit Cooks in stride from the back of his own end-zone. Cooks then sprinted down the sideline and celebrated capping  off the 98-yard pass play in front of a raucous New Orleans crowd.

2. Patrick Peterson

Patrick Peterson is the closest thing to Deion Sanders we can get. Peterson already admitted to modeling his game after Sanders, right down to the high-stepping and flashy touchdown celebrations. For a more direct comparison, he may be one small step slower than Deion. However, he is a much more physical presence and willing tackler out on the edge. Either way, both Peterson and Deion Sanders were ready for Prime Time, after clocking at 4.34 and 4.27 in the 40-yard dash, respectively. Peterson is at his best in press coverage, when he will line up directly across from the other team’s best receiver and track him all over the field, with no safety help over the top.

Last year, in Week 6, Peterson limited the flashy Antonio Brown to only three catches for 24 yards. Taken together, Peterson and the Honey Badger form the best secondary in football this side of Seattle. These two already combine for 27 interceptions and six return touchdowns well before the age of 30.

The Cards have one of the best defenses in the league again. Jones is pressuring the quarterback off the edge and Peterson is jumping hot routes out in the flat. He will remain in the game to field punts after harassing the opposing offense into yet another three-and-out. In the return game, Peterson will set up his blocks beautifully, before weaving in and out of traffic and hitting the turbo button to daylight.

1. Ted Ginn Jr.

Ted Ginn Jr. makes a run for it | Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Ted Ginn Jr. would have emerged as the latest track-and-field star, if it were not for football. In high school, he won the state title in 200 meters and the national championship in the 110-meter hurdles. As a high school senior, Ginn did clock out at 10.2 in the 100-meter dash, which was already then a mere four-tenths of a second off the record pace of Usain Bolt. Ohio State actually recruited Ginn to run track. Then coach Russ Rogers believed that the Cleveland product had a chance to make the 2008 Olympics. Ginn, of course, dedicated himself to football instead.

As a Buckeye, Ginn kicked off the 2007 BCS National Championship Game by taking the opening kickoff 92 yards to the house against Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators. Ginn, however, sprained his foot beneath the dog-pile in this wild celebration and still wore a cast through the ensuing NFL combine in Indianapolis. If not for this freak injury, Ginn was all but set to run a sub 4.3 40-yard and challenge the combine record. Still, he went to the Miami Dolphins as the ninth overall pick in the 2007 draft. For his second year, Ginn had racked up 56 catches for 790 yards, before landing in San Francisco.

As a 49er Ginn was well behind Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham, and even a 35-year-old Randy Moss on the wide-receiver depth chart, while also competing with Vernon Davis for touches. As a return man, Ginn took three touchdowns to the house through three years in San Francisco. He is at his best in Carolina, where he is the primary deep threat for Cam Newton.

The Panthers offense has been all but unstoppable, with Ginn stretching the field; Kelvin Benjamin towering over the secondary as a big target; and security blanketed Greg Olsen working the soft zone underneath. After establishing the run, Carolina can go play-action, with Newton rolling out to his right before going over the top to Ginn on a post pattern to blow the game wide open. Ginn has already carved out a 10-year career for himself as the fastest man in the NFL.

Statistics courtesy of ESPN and Pro-Football-Reference.

http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/fastest-nfl-players-right-now.html/?a=viewall

Game Quotes: Panthers at Titans

August 20, 2016

HEAD COACH RON RIVERA

On the three drives by the first team offense: “They gave us two (good drives). The unfortunate part is we had an opportunity again to put a few more points on the board but we didn’t. Credit Tennessee for what they did defensively, but we had opportunities so that’s disappointing. You look at us on defense, same thing. We had an opportunity to stop them on their touchdown drive, the first one, but we gave up a big third down. We can’t allow that and those things we have to go back and correct. For the most part, pleased. Some guys stepped up and really played well and some guys are going to have to learn to take the challenges better and I think push themselves into better positions.”

On Daryl Worley playing tighter coverage: “I’d like to see him, obviously based on what the call is, to play the techniques a little bit better. He had an opportunity to make a couple of plays and he didn’t. One time we felt he could have been tighter in his coverage and another time he was off and we should have had a guy underneath him. Again, it’s one of those learning curves that he will go through as a rookie.”

On what the defense needs to do better: “I think the biggest thing is, and that was the one series where they had the third down, we can’t allow a conversion especially when we are in a good position to stop them. I want to credit them because they did some good things. But again we did not take advantage of third down situations. At the end of the day that is going to get you.”

On Bene Benwikere getting close to his 100 percent form: “We are starting to see that. He’s doing a nice job. He is working very hard in practice, he is beginning to communicate well and as he continues to get stronger and stronger with more and more confidence we will see him very active around the football. Reading the quarterback’s eyes, understanding where the route is coming to and beating guys to the ball, that’s a veteran move. That’s what he did, what we saw coming out of college and we have seen him do that for us the last couple of years.”

On the big shot Kevin Norwood took and how he came right back from it: “That’s toughness and that’s what you’re looking for. You need a young guy that’s looking for an opportunity. When you go out and make plays like that, that’s great and then you take a big shot and come back to make a big play. That’s a big thing for us. It was good to see, especially with Kevin.”

On Ted Ginn, Jr. ’s speed and an improvement from last year: “I think the big thing that you’re starting to see again is the integration of all our guys. Again, I’m anxious to see how many guys caught balls, especially how many caught balls from Cam (Newton). How many different guys and let’s not forget we didn’t have Greg Olsen out there today either. We feel pretty good about what we did. I’d like to see us run the ball better. We didn’t run as effective as I’d like to. Again, that’s something we need to go back and continue to work on.”

On concerns about injuries during today’s game to the back-up safeties, especiallyTrenton Robinson and Travell Dixon : “Yeah there is a little bit. Until he gets the MRI or another exam, we really don’t know anything until tomorrow. But yeah there is a little concern because it knocked him out of the game. I haven’t heard (about Dixon). They took him in after a big collision and I’m not quite sure what his status is.”

On feeling good about the effort today: “I do. Honestly, I’m anxious to see the tape. As I said, I think there’s some things that we missed, some things we could have capitalized on and we didn’t. As I said, I don’t want to take anything away from Tennessee. I think they’re an up-and-coming football team and they’ve got some good football players.”

On Jeremy Cash ’s game: “Jeremy Cash is really starting to come into his own as a rookie. I mean, he’s got a ways to go but he’s one of those guys that seems to be around the ball, very active around the football. That’s what we’re looking for. Guys that will be around the ball and be active. He did a nice job and so did some of our young defensive linemen. I think we have some young guys we have to take some long looks at in the next couple weeks and start making decisions.”

On the back-up offensive line’s performance today versus last week: “Yes, very pleased with that second bunch. Even when the third group got their opportunity, they did some nice things and again, you know, I think our coaches are doing a real nice job with those young guys and I think they are taking coaching very well. It’s been a good thing to see as far as their development. As I said though, the next couple weeks are going to be big for everybody.”

QB CAM NEWTON
On the showing by the first-team offense: "We started pretty fast, and that's what you want to do – start fast and finish fast, too. We've still got to work on that finishing part. There were a couple of throws I wish I had back, but that's just the nature of the game. I do know that as a team, it feels great to find ways to win football games. That's all we're trying to do."

On wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. at age 31: "He's probably one of the fastest guys in the NFL – that's not a reach. Of course they'll point out his age, but when Ted came to Carolina, this is probably the only team that has used him at the receiver position the way he was supposed to be used. So much of his career, he's been labeled a return specialist. In the return game, you probably have one or two opportunities to prove yourself, so that leaves a lot of tread on the tires for him in year nine or 10. And he has a background in track and is one of the best guys as far as taking care of his body."

On big targets Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess : "We've got something only God can give us – size, speed and strength. ... The wide receiver position has changed to a degree – you look around the league and see Odell (Beckham), Antonio Brown, those quick little shifty guys. But having a Benji, having Fun(chess), having guys that are 6-5, 6-6 and are able to move and able to jump as well, and you know the average DB is probably 5-9, 5-10, that size and girth is an edge for you."

On whether Panthers can again be NFL's top offense: "It's too soon to say that, but that's our expectation and something we'll strive to do. But really you just have to worry about each and every day, and our coaches do an unbelievable job of that. … For us, given the talent we have on the offensive side, it's about every maximizing their role. We don't want to look back and say we didn't maximize our opportunity with all these talents."

WR TED GINN, JR.

On when he knew his first half reception would be a touchdown: “After I made the guy miss, I knew I only had one safety to beat. He took a bad angle and the rest was history.”

On if it felt good for the offense to have a quick strike early in the game: “You always want to start your offensive possession with a quick start. We kind of did that last week, we just didn’t finish. This week we came out with the same mentality and we finished. The next two series were a little tough, but that is how the game goes. You have to be able to make the plays when they are there.”

On taking the next step from this week to next week: “We just have to go out and keep playing fast and keep playing hard. You try to win the ballgame in the first two quarters, so that is very important to us. If we get up, with the kind of (defense) that we have, it will be easier for them down the line. The only thing we can do is come out and keep playing fast.”

WR DEVIN FUNCHESS

On Ginn’s speed: “He gets to the second and third gear so quick. It’s like, ‘Wow, how do you do that?’ Ted has been doing it for a long, long time. It’s an honor to be able to witness it and see all the speed.”

On the offense: “We didn’t have Greg (Olsen) or Ed (Dickson) out there today. We are just trying to get Scott (Simonson), Marcus (Lucas), Beau (Sandland) and (Braxton) Deaver ready and prepared. That was great that they got to be out there today. They got all the reps. We are going to have fun and do our jobs. Can’t wait to get everybody back and get everything settled.”




From Josh Alper's "Sunday Morning one-liners"

August 21, 2016

Said Bills LB Kroy Biermann, “I understandthe big parts of the defense and I’ll get the little ones as we go along.”

RB Isaiah Pead has been more than a camp body for the Dolphins.

The Packers’ investment in their secondary is paying off.

Vikings WR Adam Thielen has proven to be more than meets the eye.

Catching up with the Falcons’ cornerback competition.

Said Panthers WR Devin Funchess of Ted Ginn, “He gets to the second and third gear so quick. It’s like, ‘Wow, how do you do that?’ Ted has been doing it for a long, long time. It’s an honor to be able to witness it and see all the speed.”

Turnovers have been a problem for the Saints in the preseason.

Rookie CB Vernon Hargeaves had a pair of interceptions for the Buccaneers on Saturday.

Coach Bruce Arians wants more from the Cardinals offense.

Rams WR Brian Quick hasn’t made a strong case for a roster spot.

This should be a big week in the 49ers quarterback competition.

The Seahawks have brought back FB Will Tukuafu.

Newton: Ginn among league's fastest

From wire reports
August 22, 2016

Cam Newton threw for 162 yards and led scoring drives on two of his four series Saturday and the Carolina Panthers defeated the host Tennessee Titans, 26-16, in a preseason game.

Newton went 8-of-12 before leaving midway through the second quarter. He opened the game by leading a 93-yard drive that included a 61-yard completion to Ted Ginn Jr. of Glenville High School and Ohio State.

Ginn caught Newton's pass about 10 yards downfield. Antwon Blake missed a tackle as soon as the catch was made, then the 31-yearold Ginn outraced the other Titans to the end zone.

''He's probably one of the fastest guys in the NFL,'' Newton said. ''That's not a reach. He is. Of course they will [mention] his age, but this is what I say. .... I feel as if when Ted comes to Carolina, this is only team that probably used him in the receiver position the way he wants to and is supposed to.

''I think so much of his career he's been labeled a return specialist, and in the return game, you may have one or maybe two opportunities to prove yourself, so that leaves a lot of tread on the tires for him.''

Panthers WR Ted Ginn Jr. can't help but wonder if he could beat Usain Bolt -- again

Panthers receiver Ted Ginn Jr. was initially recruited to run track at Ohio State. AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

By David Newton

August 9, 2016

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Jamaica's Usain Bolt and Ted Ginn Jr. of the United States are stride for stride as they approach the finish line in the finals of 200-meter dash at the 2016 Olympics from Rio. This is going to be close, folks.

And the gold medal goes to ...

Don't think that Ginn, who is entering his 10th season in the NFL and third with the Carolina Panthers, doesn't imagine that scenario.

During his senior year in high school, Ginn was a member of a squad that defeated a 4x100-meter relay team anchored by Bolt -- who is now the two-time defending Olympic champion in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. Ginn once beat Jason Richardson, who won the silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles during the 2012 Olympics in London.

A national champion in the 110-meter hurdles as a high school junior, Ginn initially was recruited to run track at Ohio State with the thought that he could qualify for the 2008 Olympics. He was clocked at 10.2 seconds in the 100 meters as a college freshman.

So yes, Ginn, 31, can't help but wonder if he could have been competing for a spot on the podium in Rio. He even showed up for a Tuesday interview wearing a navy blue track shirt with an American flag on the right sleeve.

"My Nike deal would be great," Ginn said with a laugh when asked if he could have competed. "Just watching it on TV right now, I kind of get goosebumps on certain races ... like the 4x400, the 400, 200, 110. That gives me goosebumps, because a lot of them guys are No. 1 guys we raced in high school."

Ginn gave up track to pursue a career in football at Ohio State. After his junior season, he was such a hot commodity that the Miami Dolphins selected him with the ninth overall pick of the 2007 draft.

Ginn's explosive speed, however, was negated by a tendency to drop passes. The Dolphins gave up on him after the 2009 season. After three mediocre years in San Francisco, so did the 49ers.

Ginn's best seasons have been in Carolina, under the tutelage of receivers coach Ricky Proehl. In 2013, Ginn caught five touchdown passes -- his career high at the time -- which earned him a big contract with the Arizona Cardinals. After a failed season in the desert, Ginn returned to Carolina to score a career-best 10 touchdowns during the Panthers' magical 2015 season.

"Getting with that guy and him reaching down inside of me and bringing out the things I was good at," Ginn said, describing his work with Proehl. "Without him ... I don't think all of us in that room can be who we are -- especially me."

Six months after playing in Super Bowl 50, Ginn can watch the Olympics without regrets that he gave up something special.

"Just to see them guys [I used to compete against] still going in their field and me still going in my field helps me out a lot," Ginn said.

Despite difficulties along the way, Ginn has outlasted superstar NFL players from his draft class. No. 2 pick Calvin Johnson and No. 12 pick Marshawn Lynch retired this past offseason.

Ginn is proud of his longevity. But more than anything, he is proud to finally be earning the respect he once had in track.

"That's the biggest thing out of the whole deal, being able to stand there and a guy look at your face and say, 'Oh, man! We've got Ted out here!'" Ginn said.

That doesn't mean Ginn doesn't sometimes fantasize about the time he beat Bolt, who is 16 months younger, in the 4x100 relays.

"He was the anchor, and I was the second leg," Ginn said. "I opened up and gave us that lead that he couldn't get back. So, you know, man, I've done run against the best of the best.

"I'm proud of my track career. If I wasn't going on the route I am as far as football, then I'd have some regrets about track, but I don't."
Ginn is still fast. He'll tell you he's the fastest member of the Panthers, although Damiere Byrd and Philly Brown might argue otherwise.

"And I will be next year, too," Ginn said.

Ginn know he's not fast enough to compete in the Rio Olympics, at least in his current football shape.

"If I trained two or three months on the hurdles, I could run them," he said with a smile. "But as far as training in the 110, 200 and 400, I'm kind of out of the picture right now."

Need for Speed – Carolina Panthers Receivers Strike Twice

By Jeremy Igo

August 3, 2016

Up until today the common theme of Carolina Panthers training camp practices was the solid play of the Panthers young secondary. Today, however, the script was flipped.

Late in practice during full team drills, Cam Newton connected with his two fastest receivers for back to back touchdowns. For the first time, the Carolina Panthers definitely looked like they had two rookies playing corner.

First, Ted Ginn broke away from rookie James Bradberry on a crossing route. As he caught the ball, Ginn performed a “stutter and go” as he put on the brakes and changed direction. Bradberry ran helplessly past Ginn, taking himself out of the play. From there, nothing stood between Ted Ginn and the end zone but open turf. Ten times out of then, that will be an touchdown for the Carolina Panthers, as no defensive player on the team has the speed to catch up with the lightning quick Ginn.

Great play for Ginn, great lesson for Bradberry. Ginn has not played his best football up until today. As such, he took a moment to celebrate his play while the play was transpiring. Ginn spun around and looked at the defense behind him, taking a few extra steps on the way to pay dirt.



The second touchdown went to second year receiver Damiere Byrd on a fly route. Byrd found himself well behind both Kurt Coleman and Daryl Worley. Byrd cradled the ball to his body as both defenders fell to the ground. From there, just like the Ginn touchdown, there was only open space on the way to the end zone.

Damiere Byrd has electrified the Carolina Panthers fan base with his tremendous speed and potential. His touchdown today was by far his most impressive play this year. Not only was Damiere able to make the catch and finish the play, he was able to do so against the Carolina Panthers first string defense. This was an important step for Byrd, a step that puts him squarely back in the wide receivers discussion.

Top Play No. 1: Ginn Touchdown vs. Cardinals

February 24, 2016
By Max Henson

Wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr.’s 22-yard touchdown run in the NFC Championship is the top play of 2015.

It was the biggest home game in franchise history; the first time the Panthers had hosted the conference title game.

And Ginn provided the spark that led to a dominant win over the Cardinals, his former team.

"I tried to go out and play ball, just trying to give them that energy," Ginn said, "and my team fed off me."

Ginn’s 32-yard punt return allowed Carolina to start a drive inside Arizona territory midway through the first quarter. Moments later, on second-and-3 from the 22-yard line, the Panthers dialed up a play they had used with success during the regular season.

Quarterback Cam Newton took a shotgun snap and faked a handoff to fullback Mike Tolbert. Newton drew the defense by moving forward like he was preparing to run before flipping the ball to Ginn, who raced into the backfield after being lined up wide to the right.

The play could have been stopped for a minimal gain, but Ginn slipped through safety Rashad Johnson’s tackle attempt as he neared the left sideline. It proved to be a catastrophic miss.

Ginn ran down the sideline for 10 yards, then looked up and saw six Cardinals closing in. At this point, all 11 defenders are in hot pursuit. So Ginn improvised, juking away from linebacker Kevin Minter at the 10-yard line and sprinting back across the field.

With Ginn’s elite speed, there was no catching him. It wasn’t supposed to be easy against the swarming Cardinals defense, but Ginn made this look easy.

Wide receiver Philly Brown sealed off cornerback Jerraud Powers at the 4-yard line and Newton arrived to escort Ginn across the goal line for a 10-0 lead.

Bank of America Stadium erupted and so did the Panthers, who overwhelmed Arizona with a series of explosive plays to build a 34-7 lead.

It all started with Ginn, who had a point to prove after the Cardinals cut him following the Wild Card loss at Carolina a year prior. In addition to his mesmerizing 22-yard score, Ginn received high praise for a 75-yard sprint to chase down Patrick Peterson and prevent an interception return for a touchdown.

"I felt like deep down inside that (Arizona) felt like I couldn't do it," Ginn said.

Ginn was given the game ball by head coach Ron Rivera, and now he’s taking home Top Play of the Year.

Ted Ginn Jr. Ultimate 2015 Highlights

February 22, 2016



Ted Ginn Jr. Ultimate 2015 Highlights

Ted Ginn finally gets his payback on Cardinals

By Darin Gantt

January 25, 2016

Ted Ginn was good enough in 2013 to earn a chance at a payday, and he chased it all the way to Arizona. But the Cardinals were so unimpressed they cut him a year later.

So when he returned to Carolina, a chance to show his former team he could change a game was something he clearly relished.

“I tried to take ‘me’ out of it, but it meant a lot to me,” Ginn said after helping the Panthers thrash the Cardinals 49-15, via David Scott of the Charlotte Observer.

Ginn might not have been wanted by the Cardinals, who threw just 26 passes his way all year. Since he catches about half what’s thrown his way, that means a mere 14 receptions for 190 yards and no touchdowns. The year before with the Panthers, he caught 36 passes for 566 yards and five touchdowns. But his return has been even better. With Kelvin Benjamin out for the year with a torn ACL, Ginn has stepped up to be the de facto No. 1 receiver in Carolina, with 44 catches for 739 yards and 10 touchdowns this year.

In short, when he’s in Carolina, he’s great. He has 15 receiving touchdowns in 31 games with the Panthers, and 11 touchdowns in 104 games in all other places.

So suffice it to say General Manager Dave Gettleman wanted him back, and Ginn was glad to be wanted.

“I felt like deep down inside that [the Cardinals] thought I couldn’t do it,” Ginn said. “They sent me back out to the wolves. But then [Panthers coach Ron] Rivera, Gettleman, [owner Jerry] Richardson, even Cam [Newton], they stood on the table and said, hey, we want this guy back. All I can do is go out and play as hard as I can.”

He repaid that faith in all three phases of the game Sunday night.

He caught two passes for 52 yards, ran for a 22-yard score (which covered at least 75 yards) and had a 32-yard punt return which he nearly broke for a touchdown. But his most impressive play might have been on defense, preventing a touchdown after Patrick Peterson intercepted a Newton pass.

Ginn was at the goal line, and spotted the not-slow Peterson 10 yards. But he chased him down at the Panthers’ 22, setting up another Carson Palmer interception, and preventing the kind of swing the Cardinals needed.

It was the kind of raw speed moment that made you see why the Dolphins took him ninth overall in the 2007 draft.

But it took getting to Carolina to deliver on that promise.

What do Cardinals think of Ginn now?

Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton celebrates his touchdown run with Ted Ginn (19) during the second half the NFL football NFC Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

By Steve Reed

January 25, 2016

Charlotte, N.C. — Ted Ginn Jr. got the last laugh against the Arizona Cardinals.

Discarded by Arizona just one year into a three-year contract, Ginn did just about everything against his former team on Sunday and helped power the Carolina Panthers to a 49-15 win in the NFC championship.

Ginn caught two passes for 52 yards, set up his own 22-yard touchdown run with a 32-yard punt return and chased down Patrick Peterson after an interception to save a touchdown.

Ginn admitted he left Carolina after the 2013 season to ''chase a check,'' but was seldom used in Arizona last season. He caught just 14 passes for 190 yards and no touchdowns and was released.

The Panthers welcomed the speedster back with a two-year contract – and the move paid off. Ginn caught 44 passes for 739 yards and 10 touchdowns in the regular season.


Carolina Panthers' Ted Ginn runs for a touchdown as teammate Cam Newton runs with him during the first half the NFL football NFC Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)

But he may have saved his best game for Sunday.

With Carolina leading 3-0, Ginn fielded a punt and weaved through traffic for a 32-yard return to set the Panthers up in Arizona territory. Five plays later he took a pitch from Cam Newton, raced around left end on a reverse, changed fields and scored.

Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James, a big fan of Ginn's college team of Ohio State, Tweeted after the play ''Do work @TedGinnJr– 19!! I see you out there.''

Ginn later caught a 39-yard pass over Peterson.

And when it looked as if the Cardinals might have a chance of making a comeback, Ginn chased down Peterson after an interception, saving a touchdown.

Ted Ginn Jr. makes history

By Stephen Igoe
December 21, 2015

The Carolina Panthers knew someone at receiver had to step up with the preseason injury to Kelvin Benjamin.

Little did they know that Ted Ginn Jr. would become the first Carolina wide out to haul in 10 touchdowns since former Panther great Steve Smith did it in 2005.

But that's exactly what Ginn accomplished with his 14-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter of Sunday's game against the Giants. Ginn hauled in a 3-yard scoring reception to get the scoring started in the first quarter as well.

Then there's also this:



Quite a season for a receiver that many other teams never believed in.

Ginn’s explosiveness pays off

By Lorenzo Reyes

December 13, 2015

CHARLOTTE – Ted Ginn Sr. took the seat normally reserved for his son.

A crowd of reporters started to gather, some with confused faces because of the middle-aged man wearing an oversized No. 19 Panthers jersey, seated in front of the locker bearing his son’s name. The Panthers (13-0) had just demolished the Atlanta Falcons 38-0. The room was loose as Panthers players faced a fresh wave of questions asking them, again, about the possibility of going undefeated.

Junior showed up.

“Boy, you’re just too quick for ‘em,” father told son, who was fresh out of the shower.

All Ginn Jr. could do was flash a smile.

This may scare some Panthers fans, but the most important player not named Cam Newton for the Carolina offense might be Ted Ginn Jr., the electric wideout capable of going off for a touchdown on a moment’s notice.

Sunday’s rout showed exactly why.

One week after he dropped two pivotal passes but also hauled in two touchdowns in a close victory against the New Orleans Saints, Ginn demonstrated his value as one of the NFL’s most dangerous pass catchers when he can play error-free. Known as a boom-or-bust player, Ginn set the tone for Carolina on Sunday, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter.

They were the only two catches he had all game, but they were bombs, one for 74 yards and the other for 46. Two plays, 120 yards, 14 points.

“Ted is gaining confidence,” quarterback Cam Newton said. “(Offensive coordinator Mike) Shula is gaining confidence. This offense is gaining confidence. I’m gaining confidence. When you have a team like that that is peaking, you really don’t look for anybody to make plays. You start making plays. You saw out there today. We have a saying on offense: ‘Let’s take turns making plays.’ Ted only needed two catches to display that.”

Ginn now has eight touchdowns on the season and four in his last two contests. He gives the Panthers – along with Newton’s rocket arm that can fling passes down the field – a deep threat who boasts unrivaled speed. And with the Panthers potentially facing tight games in the playoffs, Ginn’s explosive ability is a prized asset. But danger lurks with Ginn in the form of drops.

Ginn entered Week 14 tied for second-most dropped passes in the NFL with eight. Last week in New Orleans, it almost cost his team the win.

“You have to give hats off to Cam because he trusts those guys and he knows they will come back and make a play for him,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “Teddy is a great example today. I’m very proud of what Teddy did today – came back like nothing had happened.”

The Panthers became the eighth team in the Super Bowl era and the 9th team in NFL history to start the season 13-0. They clinched a first-round bye. Home-field advantage throughout the postseason is next, provided the Panthers take care of opponents on a favorable remaining schedule.

An unblemished regular season campaign may be attainable, too. Having a consistent and reliable deep threat will go a long way toward reaching those goals.

Ginn's current value is at all-time high after uneven outings in his previous eight seasons (with the Arizona Cardinals, Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins). Prior this season, Ginn had caught just 11 career touchdowns.

In fact, if you take away Ginn’s 2013 season – also with Carolina – during which he registered five touchdown catches, Ginn would only have six other scoring grabs.

Everyone else in the league viewed him as a return specialist. Here, he has a quarterback who can get him the ball, and an offense that allows him to use his talents – mainly his speed.

“Having Ted here, it means you’re one play away from scoring,” tight end Greg Olsen said. “His presence out there is hard for people to account for.”

Ginn, for his part, credits teammates for his career revival.

Added Ginn: “I give all my success to Cam Newton. Without him, there is no Ted Ginn. I can’t say that vice versa, but we really, really have a nice thing going right now.”

That’s high praise, but Ginn is partly right. With the exception of Carson Palmer in Arizona, Ginn never really had a quarterback who could consistently feed him deep passes. But on the receiver-rich Cardinals in 2014, Ginn was never a factor in Arizona’s offense.

In Carolina, there’s a perfect combination of quarterback, aggressive scheme and desperate need for a weapon on the outside.

“Well, yeah,” Ginn said, when asked if the go route is his favorite. “Anytime I can showcase my speed and put a stretch on the defense, it’s always a good thing – no matter if I catch the ball or not.”

Is Panthers WR Ted Ginn Jr. the fastest player in the NFL?

Panthers WR Ted Ginn Jr. has been clocked running as fast as 22.4 mph this season. Stacy Revere/Getty Images

David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer
December 15, 2015

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The debate in training camp was whether wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. was the fastest player on the Carolina Panthers' roster.

Perhaps that debate should turn into whether Ginn is the fastest player in the NFL.

Ginn was clocked at 22.44 mph near the end of his 74-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter of Sunday’s 38-0 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

That's the fastest foot speed turned in on an offensive play all season, according to the NFL Network.

Ginn surpassed Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (22.05 mph), Pittsburgh wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (22.01), Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson (21.89) and Arizona wide receiver J.J. Nelson (21.78).

To put this in perspective, the average speed of Usain Bolt when he ran the 100 meters in a record 9.58 seconds was 23.35 mph.

What's really impressive is Ginn, 30, is seven years older than Johnson. He's the second-oldest among those in this year's top five, a month younger than Peterson.

Many may be surprised by Ginn's speed. Not Ginn.

Asked on Sunday whether Atlanta respected his speed, he deadpanned, "Well, I guess they did, but everybody wants to see it for themselves."

Ginn gave the same sort of response in training camp when asked how his speed compared to undrafted rookie Damiere Byrd, who was clocked at 4.28 seconds in the 40-yard dash during his pro day at the University of South Carolina, and wide receiver Corey Brown, who ran a 4.3 40 at Ohio State.

"No disrespect," Ginn said. "But I get a little edgy when people talk about fast."

Ginn reportedly was clocked at 4.28 seconds in the 40 while at Ohio State, where he was a track star. He claims to have gone as low as 4.22 seconds.

Carolina coach Ron Rivera said "wow" the first time he saw Ginn on the field in 2013. Ginn caught 36 passes for 556 yards and five touchdowns that season, then signed a free-agent deal with Arizona.

The Cardinals released Ginn after a disappointing season in which he caught 14 passes for 190 yards and no touchdowns.

The Panthers were quick to re-sign him, understanding Ginn's speed could blow the top off defenses.

Despite a few drops, including two long ones that would have been touchdowns a week ago against New Orleans, Ginn hasn't disappointed. He already has 37 catches for 645 yards and eight touchdowns.

Among the 61 players who have been targeted 70 times this season, Ginn has the highest air yards per attempt (16.6), according to ESPN Stats & Information.

That is the highest of any Carolina player over the last 15 seasons.

Ginn's speed is a big reason the Panthers now are the highest-scoring team in the NFL (31.6 ppg.) for the first time in franchise history.

"Ted, he can really fly," tight end Greg Olsen said during the training camp debate about the fastest Carolina player. "I'm telling you, he's a different cat. He's got elite speed in this league.

"Guys like him are special athletes. ... You wouldn't think he was 30."

Ted Ginn, Jr. is Still Really, Really Fast

October 29, 2015

Ted Ginn, Jr. is Still a Burner

Although Ted Ginn, Jr. is in his ninth NFL season, his wheels don’t seem to be slowing down. Ginn had 102 total yards on offense during the Panthers' Week 7 win against the Eagles, including an end-around play in which he reached a top speed of 21.93 mph to dust the defense. That was the second-fastest foot speed of any ball carrier in week 7.

https://vine.co/v/eY0DhD16J6l

Make no mistake about it — Ginn’s supersonic speed is a result of his intense training. He hones his athleticism with drills like Explosive Starts and Build-Ups.

Ted Ginn Jr., Panthers receivers proving Cris Carter others wrong so far

Ted Ginn Jr. and the Panthers receivers have defied predictions that the passing game would suffer in Kelvin Benjamin's absence. Grant Halverson/Getty Images

By David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer

October 7, 2015

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- ESPN analyst and Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter predicted the Carolina Panthers wouldn’t win more than seven games after Kelvin Benjamin suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp.

He wasn’t the only one.

The reason was quarterback Cam Newton wouldn’t have enough weapons without his star wide receiver and a true No. 1 to replace him among a cast of no-names.

The Panthers are 4-0.

So far, Newton and company are proving everyone wrong. This unknown group of receivers and Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen have accounted for seven receiving touchdowns through four games.

At this point last season with Benjamin the Panthers had six.

Ted Ginn Jr., like Carter a former Ohio State star, has been a big reason. He has 12 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns, including his first career two-touchdown game in Sunday’s 37-23 victory over Tampa Bay.

“I can’t believe Cris Carter," Ginn said when told of the preseason prediction. “He’s a Buckeye. ... It just puts fire in us."

Responded Carter by email: “They're having a great year. I admit I made a mistake. Tell him I'll start giving them some publicity."

If the Panthers keep winning, the publicity will come. It already is for Ginn, who for some reason excels with the Panthers.

He has eight touchdown catches for Carolina in 16 games in 2013 and four this season. In his previous seven seasons for Miami, San Francisco and Arizona he has a combined six touchdown catches.

His only touchdown catches the past five seasons have been with the Panthers.

“I just feel this team here, this coaching staff, knows what I can do," Ginn said. “They optimize my speed, my talent."

Ginn has been known as a deep threat most of his career, including Carolina. But against Tampa Bay he showed his versatility, catching two passes underneath for touchdowns of 24 and 6 yards.

“A lot of people just see the speed," Ginn said. “As long as I keep going out and just putting that out there, our days coming up will be better."

Not that Ginn has completely replaced Benjamin. A year ago, the rookie out of Florida State had 21 catches for 329 yards and three touchdowns in his first four games. He finished the regular season with nine.

But holding true to what offensive coordinator Mike Shula said when Benjamin was injured, the Panthers have replaced him by committee.

Ginn, Philly Brown, Brenton Bersin and Jerricho Cotchery have combined for 38 catches for 398 yards and five touchdowns.

Olsen also has played a big role, catching 17 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns.

Give Newton credit, too. There were times last season when he may have depended too heavily on the 6-foot-5 Benjamin. He’s become more confident spreading the ball around.

“Cam was forced to use other targets, use other people on offense," cornerback Charles Tillman said Tuesday on ESPN’s "First Take." “He’s dishing out the ball equally. That’s one of the things that’s helped change his game.

“I’m loving what I’m seeing on offense."

The offense hasn’t always looked pretty, as Ginn reminds. He also reminds it will get prettier when players such as rookie receiver Devin Funchess get more acclimated.

Funchess was the player most mentioned when Benjamin was injured. He has only three catches for 38 yards.

Others have picked up the slack. Bersin, who moved up from the practice squad after veteran Jerricho Cotchery suffered a high ankle sprain two weeks ago, had a team-high four catches for 54 yards against Tampa Bay.

Two were in traffic with the outcome still in doubt.

“We expect those from those guys, especially from a group that’s getting so scrutinized with not being good enough," Newton said. “Those guys are really stepping up to the challenge and getting better each week."

And so far, proving experts such as Carter wrong.

Panthers WR Ted Ginn Jr. still stands out because of his speed

By David Newton
June 1, 2015

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Compared to fellow wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who stood a few feet away, Ted Ginn Jr. looked like one of the small structures surrounding the Bank of America Corporate Center, which towers over theCarolina Panthers practice fields.

That’s to be expected when you’re 5-foot-11 and your star receiver is 6-foot-5.

But on the field Ginn stands out. Not because of his size, but his elite speed.

At 30, Ginn still can turn on the jets when he has to as he did on a couple of deep patterns during Thursday’s workout. Wide receivers coach Ricky Proehl would put his money on Ginn over receivers Corey Brown and Stephen Hill and safety Colin Jones as the fastest player on the team.

Ginn, who ran the 40-yard dash in the 4.3-second range prior to the 2007 draft, won’t argue the point.

“I got to be the top dog,’’ he said.

Speed is why Ginn is back at Carolina after a failed season at Arizona. His ability to blow the top off of defenses as a receiver and threat to go the distance on punt and kick returns in 2013 played a big role in Carolina going 12-4 and winning the NFC South.

He’s the one receiver the Panthers didn’t want to lose during the ensuing offseason in which they lost their top four. Steve Smith was cut; Ginn, Brandon LaFell and Domenik Hixon signed with other teams in free agency.

The then-salary cap strapped Panthers couldn’t afford to match the three-year, $9.75 million deal Arizona gave Ginn. As they found out early in 2014, they couldn’t afford to lose him.

It wasn’t until undrafted free agent Corey Brown, who like Ginn went to Ohio State, emerged as a speedy receiver did the offense begin to consistently click last season. Ginn’s presence as a returner never was replaced.

So when the Cardinals released Ginn, in part to save $2.5 million under the cap and in part because his 14 receptions and career-low 19.0 kickoff return average didn’t warrant it, Carolina was quick to bring him back.

Ginn is happy to be back.

“Oh, man, it was great for somebody to come back to get you and for a player to want to come back,” Ginn said. “The players here are like brothers and the coaches are like fathers. They welcomed me with open arms. The whole community did.”

Surrounding Benjamin, Carolina’s first-round pick in 2014, with players such as Ginn and second-round draft pick Devin Funchess should make Carolina’s offense more fun to watch this season.

Ginn already is having more fun than he did at Arizona, where he became lost in the shuffle after rookie John Brown replaced him as the No. 3 receiver.

“I just played my role,’’ Ginn said. “Don’t mess your name up and don’t become a distraction even though you want a ball or two thrown your way.

“You just to go out and continue to do what they ask you to and you get good blessings like this.”

Returning to Carolina was a blessing for Ginn.

He’s here because, despite his size, he stands out.



When Arizona didn’t work out, Ted Ginn Jr. sped back to Carolina Panthers


On of the reasons wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., left, returned to the Carolina Panthers so quickly when his stay with the Arizona Cardinals didn’t work out was the chance to work again with Panthers wide receivers coach Ricky Proehl (right).

BY TOM SORENSEN

No. 19 takes off down the right side of the field and Cam Newton’s pass lands several yards behind him.

Was that a fly pattern?

“No,” says Ted Ginn Jr. “I turned it into a fly pattern.”

The line is good and the route was better. When was the last time a receiver outran a Newton pass? It would enhance this column to report that Ginn did Thursday at practice. Alas, Ginn refuses to enhance the column. He says he did not outrun the pass. He ran a route Newton did not anticipate.

But this much is true: Ginn, 30, runs as if it’s what he’s designed to do. At 5-11 and 185 pounds, he is as fluid as he is fast, head steady, breathing proper and every body part in sync. He ran a 4.2 40 – in high school.

Ginn had one of his best seasons in 2013, his only season with the Carolina Panthers. He returned kickoffs and punts, of course. When Ginn awaits a kickoff or a punt, nobody makes a run to their refrigerator because something great could happen. He also averaged 15.4 yards per reception and scored five touchdowns, three of them of 36 or more yards. When Newton stepped into a throw, you knew where the ball was going.

After the season, you knew where Ginn was going. Arizona flung a $2.25 million bonus and a 3-year, $9.75 million contract at him. Of the free agents the Panthers lost, it was Ginn they most wanted to keep. But they couldn’t keep up with the Cardinals.

Arizona drafted John Brown, and he supplanted Ginn at receiver. Ginn caught only 14 passes, none of them longer than 27 yards. The Cardinals cut him Feb. 23 and he moved with characteristic speed back to Carolina. He signed a two-year contract two weeks after he was jettisoned.

“Oh, man, it was great for somebody to come back to get you and for a player to want to come back,” Ginn says Thursday as he walks off the practice field. “The players here are like brothers and the coaches are like fathers. They welcomed me with open arms, the whole community did.”

Can you explain what happened last season?

“No, I can’t really,” says Ginn. “There’s always a business end of it. I just played my role. Don’t mess your name up and don’t become a distraction even though you want a ball or two thrown your way. You just to go out and continue to do what they ask you to and you get good blessings like this.”

This is Bank of America Stadium, which looms in front of him. This is again working with Carolina receivers coach Ricky Proehl.

Ginn had three nondescript seasons with San Francisco before coming to the Panthers. Last season the desert treated him no better. Why?

“For the ability that this guy has and the speed that he has it just shocked me that other teams aren’t using him,” says Proehl. “As a cornerback you have to respect his speed and his ability to run by you and that opens so many routes underneath. And then send him over the top. And it just shocks me that teams haven’t done that. Coach (offensive coordinator Mike) Shula did such a great job and that’s what we’re going to do again.”

Proehl doesn’t see Ginn as a fast guy who plays receiver. He sees Ginn as a receiver who is fast.

But is he still the fastest player on the roster?

“Well, I have to take that,” Ginn says. “I’m going to be the OG (Original Gangster, not Old Guy). I take nothing away from Philly (Corey Brown). He’s a great guy and he’s a Buckeye. But I got to be the top dog.”

This season will be Brown’s second with the Panthers. Like Ginn, Brown played for Ohio State. Unlike Ginn, Brown is 23. Ginn might be biased. Proehl isn’t.

“Hooo,” says Proehl. “There are some fast ones now: Philly, Colin (Jones) and Stephen Hill. But Ted and Philly are smooth. When they run, their head doesn’t move. They’re off the charts, man. They look like they’re on those airport moving sidewalks.”

Who’s the fastest Panther?

“I think I would put my money probably on Teddy,” Proehl says.

That’s a good bet.