Since he was drafted out of Ohio State in 2007, Ted Ginn Jr. has been known as one of the fastest people in the NFL. Now that Ginn is 31-year-old, some are starting to think he has lost a step or two, but quarterback Cam Newton is not one of them. Ginn looked good for someone who allegedly lost a couple of steps during the Panthers preseason game against the Tennessee Titans this weekend, hauling in a 61 yard touchdown. With a healthy Kelvin Benjamin back in the lineup, the Panthers will be NFL Sportsbook betting favorites to win the Super Bowl this season.
While most of Ginn’s teammates admit he is probably the fastest player on the team, the makers of Madden 17 apparently don’t share their sentiment. After the game against the Titans, Panthers quarterback Cam Newton said he hopes Ginn’s Madden speed was increased from the previous edition, which he said was disappointing.
Ginn, who never hesitates to remind people about his speed, recently reminded teammates and reporters that he was a track star in high school and was on a relay team that defeated Usain Bolt, who is considered the world’s fastest man.
In the latest edition of Madden, Ginn isn’t the fastest player on the team. Cornerback Teddy Williams was given a 93 speed rating, which edged Ginn, who had a 92 speed rating. Surprisingly, Ginn’s speed rating is tied with receiver Stephen Hill, who is coming off a major knee injury.
Among the NFL receivers with at least a 60 rating in Madden, Ginn was ranked behind 29 other players in speed, which he found rather insulting considering the caliber of players that were ranked ahead of him.
Cam Newton for one isn’t buying the Madden speed rating given to Ginn, and his opinion matters more since he plays with Ginn and gets to see how fast he is every day in practice. Newton said Ginn is probably one of the fastest players in the league, but the game developers likely sold him short in terms of his speed because of his age.
Despite the disappointment in the speed rating given to Ginn because he knows the speed will be updated as the season progresses. This year, Ginn got a bump in his speed rating after finishing last season with a career high 10 touchdown receptions. He went from having an 88 speed to 92, which should count for something.
U
Newton said he isn’t too worried about the rating because Ginn, who was mostly used as a kick returner for most of his career, proved that he could be a reliable receiving option for the Panthers, and had an outstanding season despite not having Benjamin lined up on the other side last season.
Ginn acknowledged that receivers coach Ricky Proehl was instrumental in helping him resurrect his career after catching only six touchdowns in six seasons with the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.
In his first season working with Proehl, Ginn caught five touchdowns as a member of the Arizona Cardinals. Last season, after joining Proehl in Carolina, Ginn caught a career high 10 touchdowns.
This season, likely won’t have up to 10 touchdowns because of the return of Benjamin and the emergence of Devin Funchess, but he will still be an important part of the Panthers offense.
