Ted Ginn to Panthers: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Following a disappointing 2014 campaign with the Arizona Cardinals, wide receiver and kick returner Ted Ginn has signed a deal with the Carolina Panthers.

According to Max Henson of the team's official website, the eight-year veteran inked a two-year deal on Monday. 

The Cards signed Ginn last year but released him after just one season with the team. Arizona obviously had high hopes for the former Ohio State standout, as it had signed him to a three-year deal.

After Ginn caught just 14 passes for 190 yards and provided average production as a return man in 2014, though, the Cardinals cut him to avoid dealing with an overpriced cap hit, per Kyle Odegard of AZCardinals.com:

USA TODAY Sports

As pointed out by Jonathan Jones of The Charlotte Observer, there was no longer a need for Ginn on the Cards roster due to the emergence of younger options:

In addition to that, it wasn't as if Ginn provided Arizona with much of a spark on either offense or special teams, according to NFL on ESPN:

Ginn did manage one punt-return touchdown in 2014, but with very little production to speak of as a pass-catcher, it was difficult to justify paying him so much money.

As a whole, Ginn's NFL career hasn't lived up to the hype since the Miami Dolphins made him the No. 9 overall selection in the 2007 NFL draft.

Aside from a 790-yard effort in 2008, Ginn hasn't been a consistent factor. One team he did leave a mark with, though, was the Panthers, as he caught 36 passes for 556 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in 2013.   

Because of that, there was some interest on Carolina's end to bring him back, but he was being pursued by the Cleveland Browns as well, per Joe Person of The Charlotte Observer and Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com:

Cleveland emerged as a possibility since it is Ginn's hometown, and former Buckeyes teammate Donte Whitner revealed that he was pulling for his buddy to sign with the Browns, according to Cabot:

"

I think it would be a natural fit and I think it would give our fan base another big boost from a hometown guy like Teddy, who played at Ohio State, who played at Glenville High school, who's a Cleveland native. And I think it would give him a boost also, playing in front of his friends, and family and fans that grew up watching him, so I think that would be a big career boost for him also. I'm hopeful that it happens.

"

Despite Ginn struggling through a 2014 season that left plenty to be desired, he had no shortage of potential suitors after his release.

Speed is one thing that never goes out of style in the NFL, and while Ginn may not be as fast as he was when he entered the league, he can still outrun most defensive backs.

Ginn is a low-risk and potentially high-reward signing for Carolina, and there is little doubt that he will have a chip on his shoulder after getting cut.   

Because of that, it is easy to envision Ginn enjoying a bounce-back season in 2015, especially with the team expected to lean on him in the passing game.

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