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Posted at 8:45 a.m., Friday, July 27, 2007

NFL: Dolphins, top-pick Ginn agree to terms

Associated Press

MIAMI — First-round draft pick Ted Ginn Jr. agreed to terms today with the Miami Dolphins, a person familiar with the negotiations said.

The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, didn't want to be identified because the Dolphins had not yet announced a deal.

Ginn, a receiver and kick returner, reached the agreement after missing five practices for rookies. The deal means the Dolphins will have all 87 players on their roster under contract when the full squad begins training camp Saturday.

The agreement was first reported by ESPN.com.

All 10 Miami draft picks are now under contract, which is sure to please owner Wayne Huizenga. He was unhappy that the Dolphins' top picks held out in 2005 and 2006, and warned in March that any rookie holdouts this year would be benched when they finally reported.

Ginn scored 26 touchdowns at Ohio State, including a Big Ten-record six returning punts. He made 59 catches for 781 yards and nine scores as a junior last year, and he was the second receiver drafted, behind Calvin Johnson, who went to the Detroit Lions with the No. 2 pick.

But fans jeered new Dolphins coach Cam Cameron at the team's draft party in April for bypassing Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn in the first round and picking Ginn instead with the ninth choice.

Ginn was among the fastest players in the draft, but has been criticized for running poor routes, dropping too many passes and struggling to get off the line, and there have also been doubts about his health. He sprained his left foot during an end zone celebration after returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown at the BCS national championship game Jan. 8.

In May, Ginn said he might wear a protective boot to prevent further problems.

The Dolphins hope Ginn can bolster a sputtering offense that has been the primarily culprit in the team's five-year playoff drought.