A.J. Green could be Georgia's second No. 1 overall NFL draft pick in the last three years, joining Matthew Stanford.
With Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck announcing that he’s returning to school for another season, there’s only one question: Does A.J. Green send him a thank you note?
If Green says he’s coming back to Georgia, it would be even more stunning than Luck’s decision. I follow this general rule: When a college player sells his Independence Bowl jersey for $1,000, he’s ready to make money.
By Luck staying in school, Green could be the first overall pick. That would give Georgia two first overall selections in the last three years (Matthew Stafford went No. 1 to Detroit in 2008.) It would be a nice honor for the school but there also could be a sense of, “Why didn’t we do more with them?”
Green is considered a lock top-five selection. ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranked Green as the fourth best prospect on his current “Big Board” (requires Insider subscription), behind Luck, Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers and Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley.
With no other quarterback worthy of being drafted first overall, there’s no obvious No. 1 pick. But several mock drafts already have Green slotted in the No. 1 spot and going to the Carolina Panthers. Excerpts from a couple of them:
– The Orlando Sentinel: “Carolina has got to be upset that Andrew Luck, who was a lock here, is returning to Stanford. They could go with a defensive lineman here, but they are hurting bad at wide receiver and may take Green as an athletic, flashy pick to try and help Jimmy Clausen and pacify a restless fan base.”
– NFL Fanhouse: “So Andrew Luck won’t be the QB in Carolina next season. It’s a bad development for the Panthers, obviously, but what can you do? In this case, Carolina will either ride Jimmy Clausen or add a veteran QB (Vince Young? Donovan McNabb?) — either way, the Panthers need to give that quarterback some weapons. Green is an absolute stud.
Based on recent first overall picks and inflation, Luck left potentially $55 million of guaranteed salary on the table (pending changes in the next CBA that could cap rookie salaries). Two years ago, Stafford signed a contract worth up to $78 million, with $41.7 million guaranteed.
Maybe he and Green can build a library on campus or something.
– By Jeff Schultz
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698 comments Add your comment
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:52 pm
“Green had no character flaws outside of the silly jersey thing.”
Do you know him personally? NOPE
“Is that really a character flaw?”
It is when he’s on scholarship and NCAA laws say you can’t make any money while getting a free ride.
Sounds to me like you’re the one with character issues, Jesse.
GTBob
January 7th, 2011
2:53 pm
Not recently, Boob.
Two years ago isn’t recently?
RambleOn84
January 7th, 2011
2:54 pm
“Jesse?” Is that the name of your last sexually ambiguous girlfriend?
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
January 7th, 2011
2:54 pm
Every single metric on SoS has Oregon State near the top.
Look at their schedule:
at TCU L 21-30
Louisville W 35-28
at Boise State L 24-37
Arizona State W 31-28
at Arizona W 29-27
at Washington L 34-35
California W 35-7
at UCLA L 14-17
Washington State L 14-31
USC W 36-7
at Stanford L 0-38
Oregon L 20-37
Three(!) BCS bowl teams, four other bowl teams, and one powerhouse who is ineligible. Who else can say they played 3 of the 8 BCS teams, and four other bowl teams, who have actually gone 3-1 in their bowl games?
Oregon State was actually a pretty good football team this year, and people that know college football know that. If you don’t know that, then you don’t know college football.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:55 pm
“Two years ago isn’t recently?”
No.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:55 pm
““Jesse?” Is that the name of your last sexually ambiguous girlfriend?”
Jesse Jackson, Forrest.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:56 pm
“Oregon State was actually a pretty good football team this year”
5-7 does not equate to being a good football team. I think it’s hilarious that you are trying your hardest to defend Oregon’s crappy schedule.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
2:59 pm
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
Please explain the other six teams with losing records that Oregon played. Did Portland State play such a tough schedule? How’s about New Mexico State?
Auburn played three teams with losing records.
Big East Champions
January 7th, 2011
3:01 pm
All everyone else knows is that The PAC 10’s leader for the past 10 years was caught cheating,paying players and are now suffering from NCAA sanctions.
We and everyone outside of Auburn know that Auburn has a 30 year history of paying players, players never attending class, credidation issues, firing coaches who were not going along with the system, paying coaches for lifetime to keep them from speaking about the “Auburn Way”( Wayne Hall) and Board Members who control the athletic department like a bully on a 6th grade playground.
Anvilhead
January 7th, 2011
3:02 pm
You people must be smoking Georgia Gangy Weed….. A. J. Green is no overall #1 Pick
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
3:02 pm
RambleOn84
I’m going to go ahead and diagnose you with “being stupid.” There is no cure for this disease, either.
Sucks for you.
Buckeye
January 7th, 2011
3:02 pm
Here’s to Cam Newton Day!
Perhaps next year we can have Arron Murray day!
crabapplejoe
January 7th, 2011
3:03 pm
Stanford had a much tougher strength of schedule than Alabama or any other SEC team. Stanford would be Alabama by two touchdowns this year.
Red Panties
January 7th, 2011
3:03 pm
Jeff,
Are you kidding? Green was only the 3rd or 4th best WR in the SEC. He is
not going to be the #1 pick, althought he should go in the first round. Defensive players will push him back farther than 5th place.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
3:03 pm
Big East Champions
We all know the Big East is on par with the WAC conference. Good luck with that.
Thins to do today---get Starbucks coffee, krogering, and FIRE RICHT
January 7th, 2011
3:03 pm
Come on—Is it really the best time to be running a Ford F-150 commercial with Richt? He needs to consider himself lucky because I would send him packing—UGA is on the way down and other SEC schools on the way up—WAKE UGA FANS—DUMP THE CHUMP
RambleOn84
January 7th, 2011
3:04 pm
A liberal? Ha ha, far from it.
But I guess not being enamored with Sarah Palin makes one a liberal, huh?
I am a libertarian.
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
January 7th, 2011
3:04 pm
I’ll explain this ONE MORE TIME:
When you play a 9 game round-robin schedule, as does the Pac-10, then you more likely to have more teams with 5-4 and 4-5 in-conference records. When those same 5-4 and 4-5 teams schedule difficult out-of-conference games, then a lot of teams end up ant 5-7 and 4-8. This doesn’t happen in the SEC because there are only 8 conference games, and 3 of the 4 out-of-conference teams are cupcakes. So, a team that finishes 2-6 in conference (like Kentucky) can finish 6-6, after winning their 4 out-of-conference games (Louisville, Western Kentucky, Akron, and Charleston Southern in the case of Kentucky).
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
3:04 pm
“Stanford had a much tougher strength of schedule than Alabama or any other SEC team.”
So what BCS teams besides Oregon, did Stanford play?
Crickets…..crickets…….crickets………………..
“Stanford would be Alabama by two touchdowns this year.”
How would Stanford “be” Alabama?
Iceman
January 7th, 2011
3:05 pm
AJ would probably go to the Bengals with the #4 pick.
DawginLex
January 7th, 2011
3:05 pm
Sturdivant returning for senior season
http://www.dogbytesonline.com
Big East Champions
January 7th, 2011
3:05 pm
However, if I were an NFL GM, I would draft Newton first and base his contract on meeting goals, stats, wins, attending meetings, division championships, Conference titles, and Super Bowls. Then build the rest of the team around him. He is a specimen.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
3:06 pm
“But I guess not being enamored with Sarah Palin makes one a liberal, huh?”
No, but you are a race baiting liar. THAT we do know.
Big East Champions
January 7th, 2011
3:06 pm
Did I ever say we were in the same class as The SEC? No, I know our pecking order when it comes to football, I am no fool.
Big East Champions
January 7th, 2011
3:07 pm
2010 SEC Champion..
I will wait for a basketball blog to start on the march of ranks…
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
3:08 pm
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
Auburn played and beat 6 top 25 teams. One of those teams twice.
Oregon played and beat 3 top 25 teams.
Auburn played THREE teams with losing records. Oregon played SEVEN.
Now, anyone with half a brain could figure out that Auburn played a tougher schedule.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
3:09 pm
“I will wait for a basketball blog to start on the march of ranks…”
The ACC owns basketball. Are you a Duke fan?
just a fan
January 7th, 2011
3:09 pm
Red panties,
AJ is considered the best WR prospect by Mel Kiper and Todd Mcshay which includes Julio Jones in that group. I agree I do not think he will be the number 1 overall pick but top 5-10 range and number 1 WR without a doubt.
RambleOn84
January 7th, 2011
3:09 pm
And how do you know that, 2010 Bandwagon Champ?
crabapplejoe
January 7th, 2011
3:09 pm
@2010 SEC champs: Read it and weep:
http://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/ranking/strength-of-schedule-by-team
Stanford’s “strength of schedule” is ranked #1 in the country. They had a tougher strength of schedule than Alabama in 2009 as well.
And “be” was obviously “beat”…..yep, Stanford would beat Alabama by at least two touchdowns this year.
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
January 7th, 2011
3:09 pm
So what BCS teams besides Oregon, did Stanford play?
The only team to have played three BCS teams was Oregon State (Oregon, Stanford, and TCU). Some Big 10 and SEC teams played two. Both Oregon and Auburn have only played one BCS team (so far).
BMDPD
January 7th, 2011
3:09 pm
Back to Green…Don’t forget he is from Carolina.
Big East Champions
January 7th, 2011
3:09 pm
DawgLex,
Let me seriously ask you a question. Is Sturdivant coming back a good thing after the way the O-line played this past year? I think I would have started from scratch.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
3:11 pm
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
Did it ever occur to you that the Shat-10 has to play OOC games because their own conference sucks so bad?
Auburn, USC, Alabama, Miss St, LSU, UF, UGA, and Arkansas were all ranked in the top 25 at some point in 2010. That’s more than half the SEC ranked.
See where I’m going?
Big East Champions
January 7th, 2011
3:12 pm
crabapple joe…put the pipe down….You need to get out and see a month long prepared Saban team. Stanford loses by 10 at least
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
3:12 pm
“Both Oregon and Auburn have only played one BCS team (so far).”
So……….how to come to the conclusion that Oregon is better than Auburn?
Auburn put up more points against Arkansas, which played in a BCS game, than Oregon did with Stanford.
Pago Pago Dawg
January 7th, 2011
3:13 pm
Actually, aj along with king DO have character flaws…it’s pretty obvious. Now take that receiver from Ohio State, the Great Dane, not only a fine player/captain but a guy of high character. Granted, not that many on that team.
Big East Champions
January 7th, 2011
3:14 pm
Another question, after looking it up just seeing how much some of you know.
Of the three losses suffered by Alabama how many came against teams with a bye week before they played them?
No other team played more Bye Week teams then they did, just looked up the schedule to schedule rankings it is all there.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
3:14 pm
“Stanford’s “strength of schedule” is ranked #1 in the country. They had a tougher strength of schedule than Alabama in 2009 as well.”
Stanford played 3 top 25 teams. Alabama played 5. Your logic is flawed.
Where does Stanford’s defense rank compared to Alabama?
That’s right, it doesn’t compare.
Oh, and who won the title last year? ALABAMA
crabapplejoe
January 7th, 2011
3:14 pm
@The Catholic Hammer: Note that six of the top ten “strength of schedule” teams are from the Pac-10. Also, note that Virginia Tech, who Stanford beat like a rented mule, is ranked third on strength of schedule…..LMAO.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
3:16 pm
crabapplejoe
This site is very very different from the one you posted.
Alabama #15
Stanford #34
Read it and weep.
http://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2010/june10/DBJune07.html
DawginLex
January 7th, 2011
3:17 pm
Sturdivant returning is a good thing. He is a kid who tore his ACL twice and is just now returning to form. He didn’t play the entire season.
Him coming back is a plus from the experience side and the character side. Starting over with freshmen offensive linemen is not the answer.
Delbert D.
January 7th, 2011
3:17 pm
2010 – Georgia played 7 teams with a losing record and beat 6 of them.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
3:18 pm
Here’s another one
# 23 Alabama
# 76 Stanford
http://www.gberatings.com/sos/
crabapplejoe
January 7th, 2011
3:18 pm
@2010 SEC champs: It ain’t “my logic”…..I gave you a link to a site that ranks strength of schedule…Stanford is No. 1….if you have a problem with that then you should e-mail that website. And Alabama won the title last year only because Colt McCoy got hurt early in the game…otherwise Texas would have been national champions.
Big East Champions
January 7th, 2011
3:19 pm
Oregon is 53rd based on article written on Dec 14 2010….
http://blog.philsteele.com/2010/12/14/2010s-toughest-schedules-2/
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
3:20 pm
“I gave you a link to a site that ranks strength of schedule”
I gave you TWO links showing Stanford nowhere near Bama.
“And Alabama won the title last year only because Colt McCoy got hurt early in the game”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!! More excuse from a Shat-10 apologist!
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 7th, 2011
3:20 pm
“Oregon is 53rd based on article written on Dec 14 2010….”
Yep, and Auburn is something like #15.
Chico
January 7th, 2011
3:21 pm
Maybe AJ, Staff and I can bank roll Bail Bonds in Athens…….
gdawginkalamazoo
January 7th, 2011
3:21 pm
Buckeye,, How about that Terrell Pryor Day? You know the one where he announces that he is going to enter the NFL draft this year?