Sore subject? Ginn may not be ready for camp
DAVIE, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins coach Cam Cameron might want to brace for another round of boos: Top draft pick Ted Ginn Jr. says he's unsure whether he'll be healthy for the start of training camp.
Ted Ginn Jr. paid a visit to the Dolphins' complex Sunday and said his sprained left foot will be in a boot for about a month. Rehabilitation will follow, and Ted Ginn Jr. said there's no guarantee he'll be ready to practice when camp begins in three months.
"It's whatever the training staff says," the speedy Ohio State receiver-returner said. "I hope that I'm going to be able to be there day one."
Ted Ginn Jr. will miss mini-camp May 4-6, but the Dolphins said they expect Ted Ginn Jr. to be healthy for the start of training camp.
"We feel good about Ted's foot," general manager Randy Mueller said.
Ted Ginn Jr. was hurt in the BCS national championship game Jan. 8 after returning the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown against Florida. The injury happened during an end zone celebration.
Fans jeered Cameron at the Dolphins' draft party Saturday for bypassing Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn in the first round and picking Ted Ginn Jr. instead.
There was less melodrama Sunday, when the Dolphins selected two defensive linemen, a linebacker, an offensive lineman, a fullback and a punter. The draft concluded without Miami completing a long-anticipated deal to acquire Kansas City quarterback Trent Green.
Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson said Miami never budged from the late-round draft choice it originally offered, which apparently was far from the early-round compensation Kansas City sought.
"Obviously we went ahead and drafted today, so it is what it is," Mueller said. "There have been negotiations ongoing obviously for quite some time. To go back and forth as to what was, you don't have enough paper, trust me. We move on from this point."
The Chiefs also have Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle at quarterback. With Green due to make $7.2 million this year, he could wind up being released and signing with Miami as a free agent.
Among the Dolphins' 10 picks -- their most since 1998 -- the selection of Ted Ginn Jr. created by far the biggest buzz.
Ted Ginn Jr. said he's now 85 percent and would be able to play in a game if necessary.
"I just have the ability to go out there and work through anything, any pain," he said. "I have done workouts on it. I have practiced on it for weeks."
Ted Ginn Jr.'s father, Ted Sr., a high school football coach in Ohio, said his son should be fine by the start of training camp. Mueller said Ted Ginn Jr.'s injury isn't a long-term concern.
"We think he's a month or so out," Mueller said. "We're obviously going to treat him with kid gloves a little bit to get him right, but we don't think there's any long-term effects, and we think he'll be fine."
Ted Ginn Jr. said he doesn't regret the end zone celebration, which sidelined him for the rest of Ohio State's 41-14 loss.
"Going back doesn't do anything but give you bad memories," he said. "It was the national championship. Guys have never been there before. We were just excited. It was nobody's fault."
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