"Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter verbally slapped down Wednesday's claim by Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson that Dolphins wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. backed out of a match race down Miami Beach's Ocean Drive.

But Porter did acknowledge being a spark behind setting up a Ginn-Johnson race last Memorial Day weekend, when hip-hop-themed parties drew fans, entertainment celebrities and sports figures to South Beach.

``The race was supposed to be here at the [Dolphins' Davie practice] facility. You're not going to have two Pro Bowl guys like that running out there on the concrete in the street,'' Porter said Thursday. ``[Johnson] knew where the race was set up. He was in our town. It was nothing for us to come over here to the facility. You've got all that grass out there, and, if it was raining that day, you've got the bubble.

``We weren't going to race on Ocean Drive. How are you going to clear out the street like that during Memorial Day weekend? Let's be realistic.''"