Saturday, April 17, 2010
Associated Press
SANTA CLARA, Calif.
Mike Singletary called Ted Ginn Jr. on Friday to personally welcome him to the San Francisco 49ers.
The fastest draft bust in Miami Dolphins’ history is bound for the Bay Area — filling one of the Niners’ biggest offseason needs in the process, and giving Ginn (Ohio State) a well-timed fresh start across the country in the NFC West.
“We added a talented player that fit a need,” Singletary said. “He’s a bundle of potential and his upside is off the charts. This guy can fly.”
Ginn, a receiver and quality return man, was traded to the 49ers on Friday for a fifth-round pick — the 145th overall selection. The Dolphins had him on the block even before they acquired Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall on Wednesday from the Denver Broncos.
While Ginn wasn’t sure he was on his way out when Miami got Marshall, he had a pretty good idea.
“If you know the game and you know the business, you are ready for anything,” he said on a conference call. “I’m just going to come into the 49ers and show ’em what I got.”
Dolphins fans began booing Ginn the day he was drafted and never stopped. Taken with the ninth overall pick in 2007, he made only five touchdown catches in three seasons while averaging 13 yards per reception.
Ginn was more successful on special teams, scoring on kickoff returns of 100 and 101 yards in the same quarter of a game against the New York Jets last season. He became the first player with two kickoff returns of at least 100 yards in the same game.
That kind of explosive play-making ability in the return game is exactly what San Francisco was seeking after several different players Singletary tried last season couldn’t do a reliable job. Ginn hasn’t regularly returned punts since his rookie season, but he’s eager to take on that role for a 49ers team that finished 8-8 and ended a franchise-worst stretch of six straight losing campaigns.