One of the better free agent pickups the New Orleans Saints have made in recent memory has hung up his cleats. Ted Ginn Jr. announced his retirement from the NFL after 14 years and 208 games played (including 15 playoff contests); three years and 41 of those games, five of them postseason matchups, came with New Orleans.
Ginn enjoyed maybe his best year as a pro in 2017 with the Saints, when he logged 53 receptions for 787 yards, setting a personal-best season catch rate of 75.7%. The 3.5 catches and 52.5 receiving yards per game he averaged that season were also the highest of his NFL career. His numbers diminished as age caught up to him, but Ginn remained the second-best option at receiver New Orleans had behind Michael Thomas at times even into the 2019 season.
And what made him different from everyone else was his speed. Ginn’s wheels carried him past many hurdles in the NFL, and it remains his defining quality as an athlete. All told, he did pretty well for himself as the ninth overall pick in the 2007 draft coming out of Ohio State. Hanging around for so long in a league where careers average three years is mighty impressive. Here’s to a good retirement for No. 19.
The former Carolina Panthers wide receiver and kick returner announced his retirement from football today.
Ted Ginn Jr. is hanging up his cleats. The former Carolina Panthers wide receiver and kick returner announced his retirement from football today.
Ginn was a first-round pick by the Dolphins all the way back in the 2007 NFL draft. He spent three years with Miami, followed by three in San Francisco, then he signed with the Panthers for the first time in the 2013 campaign. After an off-year with the Cardinals, he returned to Carolina from 2015-2016. Ginn then put in three years with the Saints and he finished his career with the Bears.
Ginn was part of some very memorable Carolina teams.
Former #Panthers WR Ted Ginn has announced his retirement. This is one of his most memorable moments from his Carolina days, possibly the finest moment of his dynamic career.
All in all, Ginn played in 193 games – 47 of which were in a Panthers uniform. He posted 134 catches, 2,047 yards and 19 touchdowns during that time. Ginn was also a hell of a return specialist. He totaled 2,624 yards and four touchdowns on punt returns and another 6,899 yards and three scores on kickoffs.
There’s no evidence that slight receivers can’t succeed. There’s plenty of evidence that Devonta Smith is special.
We have officially reached the portion of the NFL calendar when body measurements become talking points and the subject of heated internet tiffs. Inevitably, the never-ending debate over which measurements matter for draft prospects starts back up again and never really gets resolved.
The debate, itself, seems silly. We’ve seen players of all shapes and sizes succeed at positions all over the field, but that doesn’t mean we can (or should) just totally dismiss physical thresholds. They do seem to matter.
Which brings us to this week’s main character on Draft Twitter, Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith, who told the media Monday that he’s weighing in at 170 pounds at the moment. Even for receiver standards, that’s light. For first-round receiver prospects, it’s pretty much unprecedented.
And here's the BMI of every WR drafted from '94 to '20, on the Y-Axis, next to the round they were drafted in on the X-Axis. And yes, I put Smith down in the first round.
Tanier makes a compelling point, for sure. The track record is concerning, but I don’t know if any of the players on that list are comparable to what we think of Smith as a prospect. Yes, 95% of the skinny receivers drafted over the last 20 years did not become star players; but, outside of Ginn, none of those players were really expected to develop into stars in the first place. At least based on where they were drafted.
Using Chase Stuart’s draft value chart, I compared that group of players’ expected Approximate Value through the first five years of their careers to their actual AV through the first five years and found that only seven out of the 22 failed to exceed expectations based on draft position.
via Pro-Football-Reference
Here it is in bar chart form…
Based on those results, an argument can be made the league undervalues lighter receivers. But, really, the sample size is too small to draw any firm conclusions. And I just don’t know how useful any of this is for a prospect as unique as Smith, who will almost certainly join Ginn as the second sub-180 receiver taken in the first round in the past 20 years.
But even a Smith-Ginn comparison is a bit of a reach. Ginn was a top-10 pick, but that was seen as a stretch due to his lack of polish as a receiver. This isn’t hindsight, either. Directly after the draft, an anonymous scout wrote this for ESPN:
“While he has excellent speed, he ran just three routes at Ohio State, so he has a tremendous amount of work to do in that area.”
There are no such concerns with Smith, who is an elite route-runner with a strong pair of hands that allowed him to finish tied for fifth in the class in contested catches, per Pro Football Focus. He’s seen as an all-around receiver who can win in just about any way an offense could ask of him. The film doesn’t show a player with play strength issues, either. He has no problem working against press coverage or worthing through contact down the field.
If those issues did show up on a film, then his weight would be a legitimate concern. I’m just not seeing any evidence, that in his particular case, that it should be something we’re concerned about.
I guess another concern would be durability. Smith is a hard-nosed ball carrier who will take on tacklers in the open field and that might be unsustainable at the next level. But he didn’t miss any time playing in the SEC, which is probably the closest approximation to the NFL you’ll find. And, other than Jackson, injuries weren’t really an issue for players on that list above.
I don’t think it’s hyperbole to call Smith a truly unique prospect. That doesn’t mean he’ll turn out to be an exception to the rule. But we can say that his scouting report already is an exception and should probably be viewed through a different lens.
Ginn is a player who has had a long relationship with Rivera, so his availability might cause Washington to take a look at the free agent.
The Washington Football Team is getting a lot of their depth at the wide receiver position back this week after the bye, thanks to a little bit of time to get healthy. On Wednesday, we saw Steven Sims Jr. return to the field, as well as both Isaiah Wright and newcomer Robert Foster. Sims Jr. is now eligible to return from the IR, with hopes that rookie WR Antonio Gandy-Golden can do the same soon as well.
So, things are looking a bit better at the position for Washington, but a player was recently cut from the Chicago Bears that might cause Ron Rivera to take a chance and pick him up off of the waivers.
The Chicago Bears released WR Ted Ginn, per source and as @AdamSchefter 1st reported.
Fwiw, Ginn played 47 games w Carolina under Ron Rivera from 2013-16. Career-high 10 TD in 2015. Only 12 TD over next 4+ seasons. 3 rec in 6 games in 2020. Seldom used in return game anymore.
Ted Ginn is a veteran receiver who knows his way around the NFL and could instantly take over a role similar to Dontrelle Inman’s though he is arguably a bit better than Inman is. There are several arguments for Washington to do this, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see them pass up on the opportunity simply for the same reasoning that they passed up on adding Eric Reid to the roster a week ago: It might be unfair to the young players on the roster.
Players like Wright, and Inman, and Cam Sims, and Gandy-Golden have worked hard throughout training camp and done things “the right way” as Rivera would claim, and it’s likely that they’ve earned his respect, as both Jeremy Reaves and Kamren Curl did at the safety position. Because of this, making a move to bring in a veteran receiver that would instantly slot in higher up on the depth chart may not be something that Rivera is willing to do so quickly, but it’s at least something to keep an eye on.
We surveyed every unit on the Bears offense to decide if they project to be better or worse in 2020, or if we can expect more of the same.
The Chicago Bears have kicked off training camp, where both returning and new faces to the roster have arrived at Halas Hall to begin preparation for the 2020 season. Obviously, the 2019 season didn’t go as planned for the Bears. But the hope is that, with some of the changes made this offseason, that Chicago can prove that last season was more of an anomaly than a trend.
Starting with the offense, there have been some big changes made to this roster, particularly at quarterback and tight end. Following an atrocious outing on offense in 2019, they were changes that needed to be made. Whether those changes ultimately result in a complete turnaround on offense remains to be seen, but it’s hard to imagine it could get worse than last season.
We surveyed every unit on the Bears offense to decide if they project to be better or worse in 2020, or if we can expect more of the same.
Quarterbacks
USA Today
Gained:
QB Nick Foles
Lost:
QB Chase Daniel
Heading into 2019, the belief was that Mitchell Trubisky was poised to take the next step in his young career and establish himself as the Bears franchise quarterback. That obviously didn’t happen. Following a disappointing outing by Trubisky, Chicago traded for former Super Bowl MVP quarterback Nick Foles, who will battle Trubisky for the starting job in training camp.
The main difference is that, this year, the Bears have two quarterbacks on their roster that, for all intents and purposes, are starting quarterbacks. No offense to Chase Daniel, who was an adamant backup for the Bears. But whoever Chicago’s back-up quarterback winds up being, he could be expected to step in and not miss a beat. Despite whoever wins the starting job, you can’t say the Bears didn’t upgrade at quarterback.
The Chicago Bears have reportedly agreed to sign former Ohio State wide receiver Ted Ginn to a 1-year deal.
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You have to feel good about this one. After his contract ran out with the New Orleans Saints last season, former Ohio State wide receiver and 13-year veteran Ted Ginn expressed interest in continuing his career in the NFL. At the ripe age of 35 though, you began to wonder if the phone would ring. Especially after some declining years stat-wise over his last couple in the Big Easy.
Hello Chicago Bears.
According to a report from NFL insider Ian Rapaport, Ginn has agreed to sign a one-year deal with the Monsters of the Midway. The needs are mutually beneficial. Chicago lacked a deep threat with speed, and despite his age, Ginn is still one of the fastest receivers in the NFL.
The #Bears have agreed to terms on a 1-year deal with veteran WR Ted Ginn Jr, source said. Chicago has been searching for a speed WR, now they have one.
This will be the sixth NFL team for Ginn. He started his career with the Miami Dolphins, but has also spent time with the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, and the aforementioned Saints.
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Former Georgia football and Carolina Panthers star Thomas Davis teams up with Ted Ginn to a buy a Charlotte arena football team.
Georgia great Thomas Davis announced on Instagram that he and former Panthers teammate Ted Ginn have purchased the Charlotte Thunder arena football team.
This year, the team changed its name from the Carolina Energy to the Charlotte Thunder. The team competes in the American Arena League, which was formed by a merger in 2018.
Davis played for the Carolina Panthers from 2005-18, where he and his family made Charlotte his home. Ginn was Davis’ teammate in 2013 and then again in 2015 and 2016.
On March 13, 2019, Davis signed a two-year, $10.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Davis was a monster at Georgia, and though he made his NFL earnings as a linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, he actually played safety in Athens before becoming a first round pick. One of the hardest hitters in school history, Davis was a two-time All-SEC selection, making the second team in 2003 and the first team in 2004. Also, if that’s not enough, the dude has come back from three torn ACLs in the same knee. And you know who he credits his perseverance to? UGA.
NFL.com suggested Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault as a draft prospect for the New Orleans Saints to watch closely at the combine.
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The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine will be here before we know it, and the New Orleans Saints should be on the lookout for help at wide receiver. One suggestion for a boost through this year’s draft came from NFL Media analyst Charley Casserly at NFL.com, who connected the Saints to dynamic Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Laviska Shenault:
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado. The Saints need a player to complement Michael Thomas and this year’s class features a ton of options. Shenault’s physicality and ball skills could add to an already-explosive offense.
Shenault has been a popular pick for the Saints in early 2020 mock drafts, with the versatile pass-catcher’s ability to line up anywhere expected to translate well in New Orleans’ offense. Beyond his expansive resume (Shenault played every receiving position at Colorado, as well as tight end and halfback), Shenault is known for his physical brand of football. He rarely shies away from contact and is a sure bet to win in contested catch situations.
And that’s very much an element of the Saints offense that has stagnated. While Thomas proved to be an all-world talent, the cupboard is bare behind him. Last year’s second-best wideout, Ted Ginn, trailed Thomas by 119 catches and is headed for free agency shortly before his 35th birthday. Whether it’s through the draft or on the open market, the Saints must invest better in the passing game.
Whether they’ve earned a huge contract or performed poorly, not all of the New Orleans Saints pending free agents should re-sign in 2020.
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The New Orleans Saints have dozens of tough decisions to make in the next few months. They’re facing a large group of pending free agents, with several starters and many big contributors among them. New Orleans is going to be dealing with limited salary cap resources again this year, but the 2020 signing period could be the first time they’ve really been limited by it.
Not all of their free agents should return. Whether it’s because they’ve played themselves out of the Saints’ price range or have disappointed by not playing as well as expected, some Saints will be looking for new squads in March. Here are our five picks for players who shouldn’t re-sign, for one reason or another.
Ted Ginn Jr., wide receiver
Hopes were high for Ginn after his breakout 2017 campaign with the Saints, having posted the highest rate of receptions per game (3.53), receiving yards per game (52.5), and catch rate (75.7%). Each of those numbers trailed off during his next two years in New Orleans, falling to 1.9 catches and 26.3 yards per game in 2019, with a catch rate of just 53.6%. He closed out the 2019 season with only three catches for 41 yards in his final four games. It’s time for the Saints to invest in younger, more capable options in the receiving corps behind Michael Thomas.
Andrus Peat, guard/tackle
The Saints have been patient with Peat, trying him out at four different offensive line positions before he settled in at left guard. Film study gurus swear that he’s one of ten or twelve best guards in the NFL, but that says more about the sad state of guard play in the league than anything great about Peat. He’s been a liability in too many big moments and is by far the weak link for the Saints up front. Even if they have to draft a rookie guard highly or invest in another veteran, they have to find a way to upgrade his roster spot.
A.J. Klein, linebacker
Klein has developed into a fine starter for the Saints, and even come through in some clutch situations. With two of next year’s three projected starters currently rehabbing injuries, it does make sense for the team to consider re-signing him. But the relatively-high salary cap hits for Demario Davis ($9.9 million) and Kiko Alonso ($6.4 million) make it tough to justify investing too much in a third veteran, and this could be Klein’s last opportunity to cash in with a big NFL contract. It’ll be tough for the Saints to reach a compromise with him, because he probably deserves more than they’ll be able to budget for him.
David Onyemata, defensive tackle
Much like Klein, Onyemata is someone the Saints picked up and developed into a quality NFL player — he hadn’t even heard of football until he started classes at the University of Manitoba. He’s come a long way; Onyemata created 3 sacks and a career-best 11 quarterback hits in 2019 while starting 15 games in place of Sheldon Rankins. He’s a big part of the rotation up front, having led all interior linemen with 37.7 snaps played per game. Losing him would be huge, but he’s set himself up to earn at least as much as the Saints just paid nose tackle Malcom Brown ($15 million over three years), and the Saints may have bigger fish to fry. At least they’ve been developing backups like Shy Tuttle and Taylor Stallworth for larger roles.
Austin Carr, wide receiver
Carr played the fourth-most snaps at wide receiver for the Saints last year (188), which is almost as much as Deonte Harris, Krishawn Hogan, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and Keith Kirkwood had combined (213). He used all those opportunities to catch one pass for nine yards. The Saints were so thin at receiver this year that Carr was averaging 31.3 snaps per game and he still wasn’t a viable part of the passing game. If he’s back on the roster in 2020, it’s because the Saints failed to take a serious look at the depth chart and realized big changes are needed to support Drew Brees.
New Orleans Saints wideout Michael Thomas celebrated his third Pro Bowl nod by gifting each teammate a fresh pair of Air Jordan sneakers.
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Michael Thomas was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl on Tuesday, and helped celebrate the season on Wednesday by gifting every one of his teammates their own pair of Air Jordan 11 Bred sneakers ahead of Christmas. These shoes run for about $300 at retailers, but Thomas can afford it between the five-year, $100 million contract extension he signed with New Orleans earlier this year and his exclusive sponsorship agreement with Nike as one of their few Jordan brand ambassadors.
He’s previously gifted sneakers to Saints coach Sean Payton, who wore a pair of Air Jordan 11 Concords at the Zurich Classic golf tournament. “He’s got a pretty good shoe deal, different than any coaches have,” Payton joked.
The Saints put together a supercut of various Saints players’ reactions as they received their new kicks, ranging from Pro Bowl kicker Wil Lutz to veteran wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. It’s great to see Thomas embracing the giving season, and his teammates’ responses speak for themselves. New Orleans’ front office has put a lot of effort into cultivating strong team chemistry in the locker room, and the appreciation these people have for each other is on clear display. You love to see it.
So @CantGuardMike gifted every teammate a pair of Air Jordan 11 “Bred” for Christmas! 🎅
