FanHouse Ted Ginn Jr

The Miami Dolphins were a laughingstock last season. Going 1-15 will do that. But the 2008 Dolphins are doing a lot of laughing right now.

Sure, their 3-4 record isn't going to scare anybody, but it is three times the amount of wins they had all of last year. And two of those three wins are against the two teams people feel are the favorites to win Miami's AFC East: the Patriots and Bills.

The Dolphins got it together and dominated late in their 25-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Ted Ginn Jr. set a career high with 175 yards receiving, which was a major part of Chad Pennington's 314 yards passing attack -- his first 300-yard game since 2006. Miami scored the game's final 18 points to get the win.

Probably the only thing that this game will be remembered for is Miami quarterback Trent Green suffering a concussion after blocking Texans defensive tackle Travis Johnson in the knees and flipping him onto his head. And Johnson angrily yelling and walking past the motionless body of Green. And then going into a tirade in the locker room about how Green's play was dirty. And then apologizing.

(There's lots being written and said about this--some inaccurate--so I suggest watching the video and deciding for yourself).

Whether or not Green's play was dirty, It's pretty ugly to watch someone scream at an unmoving body, or hear of such a locker room rant after a game being stopped for a long time after Green was being put on a stretcher. Apparently, Green has a concussion, and at least some are suggesting that this incident demonstrates that he should retire.

The game was nearly as ugly as the play on the field. Though Ted Ginn Jr. played well on returns against a good special teams, getting a great average field position for Miami, he also was part responsible for that broken play that led to Green's concussion. Miami fans are still waiting for his break out receiving game, though he did have one catch for a 36 yard gain.

Ugly defines the Texans running game. Against the worst run defense in the league, the Texans managed to get 59 yards from their backup running backs, Ron Dayne and Samkon Gado for an average of 2.4 yards a carry. The Texans need Ahman Green back and healthy, but given his history so far, they are in desperate need for a Plan B.

If you like to watch people in football uniforms running really really fast and doing fast things, this is your video.

In it, Muskegon (MI) receiver Ronald Johnson just torches some hapless opponent with several long receptions and punt returns. Johnson would later spurn the homestate Michigan Wolverines in favor of USC, shocking a lot of recruitniks.

The pure speed on display reminds me a little of Ted Ginn's videos from a few years ago. As soon as the ball is in Johnson's hands he's just gone, no doubt about it. It's all the more remarkable considering he was still recovering from torn knee ligaments at the time. That tends to rob guys of some of their explosiveness but apparently Johnson's doing just fine.

The scuttlebutt with him now is figuring out how USC will use him. The early talk is wide receiver, a la Ted Ginn. However, USC is loaded with receiver talent including several top 10 national recruits like Patrick Turner and Vidal Hazelton to go with the monstrous David Ausberry and speedy Travon Patterson. Did I mention USC also has Jamere Holland who broke his leg busted his shoulder just before fall camp last year but is otherwise one of the fastest players in the country (10.3 range in the 100 meters)?.

USC has numbers at receiver Ohio State simply couldn't match, which makes me think that Johnson finds his way to the defensive backfield within the year unlike Ginn who became a permanent offensive fixture in spite of his background as a defensive back. However, his speed and ball skills are hard to ignore. Look for him to moonlight as a punt or kick returner early in his career until that whole offense/defense thing is permanently sorted out.