Originally published Monday, November 10, 2008 at 12:00 AM

After first-quarter TD, it's clear Miami's Ted Ginn Jr. is catching on

When Chad Pennington flung the ball 39 yards downfield to a double-covered Ted Ginn Jr., just about everyone wondered what he was doing...

By Carlos Frias

Palm Beach Post

MIAMI — When Chad Pennington flung the ball 39 yards downfield to a double-covered Ted Ginn Jr., just about everyone wondered what he was doing — including a wide-open Greg Camarillo, who was at least 5 yards ahead of his defender.

"I was so open, I started slowing down, figuring the ball was coming my way," said Camarillo, the Dolphins' other wide receiver on the play.

If only Pennington and Ginn believed it was the right throw, that was enough. Ginn caught his first touchdown pass of the season, the opening score in Miami's 21-19 win against Seattle. The play showed that Ginn, a first-round draft pick who struggled as a rookie last season, has earned the confidence of his quarterback and coaches.

Ginn took his eyes off the ball to turn his head and catch it over his right shoulder as he neared the back of the end zone with defenders draped all over him.

"I've played on the highest level in high school, in college and now in the pros," Ginn said, "and I've never made a catch like that ... It fell in the right place at the right time. If I didn't catch it, it was going to hit me on my helmet."

His touchdown catch Sunday capped a series that started after he returned the opening kickoff for an apparent touchdown that was negated by a holding penalty.

He admitted the wiped-out score hurt "for a minute." But he added, "all you can do is come back and try to make the next play."

His four catches for 67 yards against Seattle gave him 34 receptions this season, matching his 2007 total. Ginn, a first-round draft pick in 2007, has caught a pass in 21 consecutive games, and he said he no longer feels judged after every effort.

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