Ted Ginn’s ultimate revenge against the Cardinals is a trip to the Super Bowl
The wide receiver had something to prove to his former team and his big plays against the Cardinals helped propel the Panthers to the Super Bowl.
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. said early in the week leading up to the NFC Championship that he held no ill will toward the Arizona Cardinals for releasing him one year into the three-year deal he signed with them prior to the 2014 season.
“It’s the next team up. That’s all,” Ginn said before he faced off against his former team.
But the way he played against the Cardinals suggested there may have been some residual hard feelings.
In the Panthers’ 49-15 rout of the Cardinals, Ginn had just two catches for 52 yards, but he made his presence felt throughout the whole game. Although he just missed out on a touchdown when he slipped on a 39-yard punt return, Ginn made up for it five plays later after he scored Carolina’s first touchdown of the game on an explosive 22-yard run.
Right before halftime, Ginn found an extra gear and ran down Patrick Peterson on an interception return to keep him from scoring.
On the next play, teammate Kurt Coleman intercepted a pass and the Panthers preserved their 24-7 lead going into the half.
Ginn admitted that even though he did try to set aside his feelings about the Cardinals, it was personal for him.
“I tried to take me out of it early in the week, but you know as well as anybody else that it meant a lot to me,” Ginn said after the win over the Cardinals. “I tried to go out and play ball, just trying to give them that energy, and my team fed off me.”
Ginn was previously with the Panthers in 2013, contributing 556 receiving yards and five touchdowns to Carolina’s offensive efforts. The deal he signed with the Cardinals should have kept him in Arizona through the 2017 season, but the team cut him last February. Relegated mostly to return duties, Ginn played in all 16 games for the Cardinals during the 2014 regular season and had just 190 receiving yards.
“I felt like deep down inside that they felt like I couldn’t do it, and they sent me back out to the wolves,” Ginn said after the win over the Cardinals.
Ginn returned to the Panthers in 2015 and, in the absence of Kelvin Benjamin, became the team's No. 1 receiver. The 30-year-old recorded 739 receiving yards, his highest total since the 2008 season. His 10 receiving touchdowns doubled up his previous career best, which he set when he scored five touchdowns for the Panthers two seasons ago.
“The great thing about Arizona not wanting him was he came back to this place he was wanted and we know his skill set, and we truly believe in him here,” Panthers receiver Jerricho Cotchery said. “When you have someone who truly believes in you, you can just go out and play. That’s why he was able to showcase his talents all year long.”
Quarterback Cam Newton said that it was evident Ginn had something to prove to the Cardinals.
Newton: "Besides the win, you can tell Ted Ginn wanted to play well against his former team and it gave him a little extra motivation"
— ESPN 730 (@ESPN730) January 25, 2016 Head coach Ron Rivera singled Ginn out for his contributions on the field by giving the receiver the game ball following the win over the Cardinals. But Ginn's biggest prize was a trip to the Super Bowl with the Panthers while his former team headed back home.
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