If A.J. Green leaves early, what’s his place in UGA football lore?
If the quarterback could get the ball anywhere near A.J. Green, he usually came down with it. (Associated Press)
A.J. Green tweets he isn’t gone yet, no matter what Channel 2 reports, but you’re not likely to find many observers of the Georgia football program who expect A.J. to be putting on the red No. 8 jersey next season.
He’s already considered a lock to go in the first round of the NFL draft, so about all he could do by returning for another season in Athens is run the risk of an injury that could endanger his pro career.
Oh, I’d love it if he came back. And if he shocks the world and does that, he’ll instantly elevate himself to the highest level of Bulldog Nation folk hero status. But I don’t expect it to happen.
So, assuming Green is gone after this season, what will be his place in Georgia football history? As was the case with Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, he won’t have helped bring a championship to UGA before leaving early. And generally it’s the players who at least bring home an SEC championship trophy who are the most beloved among fans.
However, there’s one big difference when it comes to Green. Stafford and Moreno were top-notch players, but they weren’t the best I’d ever seen play at their positions for UGA. Stafford had the biggest arm but never completely mastered the mental side of the quarterback position and wasn’t the team leader he could have been. Moreno was a fantastically talented back, but he was no Herschel Walker.
Merry Christmas, Bulldog Nation! (Danbury Mint)
But A.J. is, hands down, the best receiver I’ve ever seen play for Georgia.
He might not have lived up to his full potential, due to injuries and the missed games caused by his stupidity in the jersey-selling affair, but those circus catches, his running after the catch and, most importantly, his ability to go up high in double or triple coverage and still snag the ball in a clutch situation are unequaled.
It’s been a pleasure to watch him play. If I could get my Christmas wish for the Bulldogs, he’d return for his senior season. I don’t think we’ll be that lucky, though.
Speaking of Christmas wishes, here’s hoping you and yours have a safe and enjoyable holiday and all of you come back next week for some bowl talk.
Go Dogs!
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211 comments Add your comment
Dawg Tired
December 23rd, 2010
2:23 pm
Bill – I agree that AJ is the best wide receiver we’ve had in my 50+ years of following the Dawgs. His legacy: not so much, at least not yet. He simply has not led us anywhere significant – not necessarily his fault – but still true. IF he were to stay another year (which I don’t see happening) he could possibly do something great and become a much more significant player in UGA football history.
Ramblin Man
December 23rd, 2010
2:33 pm
As an outsider looking in I would say he falls in line with Calvin Johnson for GT, minus the jersey scandal. Yes they are both the best WR ever for either team, but due to a lack of a supporting cast neither brought home the big trophy or ring. Also like Calvin poor AJ will end up with a bottom tier team and look good while catching with very few wins.
Coolio is Awesome
December 23rd, 2010
2:48 pm
I give AJ credit.. He stuck with his recruitment. Committed his Junior year in HS. I wish he would stay, but that is an after thought. Its all about the money. I am surprised UGA has not recruited a high profile receiver this year
nostrodamus
December 23rd, 2010
2:56 pm
AJ will be back
jrmdvm1
December 23rd, 2010
3:01 pm
I have a few words for AJ: Finish the Drill
First, no matter what you decide about next year, Finish the Drill like Fred Gibson and get your degree. It will serve you well when football is finished for you ( hopefully far into the future before that happens ).
Second, Finish the Drill by staying for your Senior year. You will instantly eliminate the negative parts of your “legacy” at UGA. If you leave early, your legacy will be more about what could have been rather than what was.
Lastly, do what is best for AJ. Money isn’t everything, but the amounts you are looking at are hard to ignore. Real Dawgs will be proud of you for what you have done on the field in the past and what you will do on the field in the future.
senoiadawgs
December 23rd, 2010
3:08 pm
No place in Dawg lore for me. All I can see is he is the best receiver hands down I have ever seen play for the Dawgs.
No championships, no obvious leadership and under utilized(not his fault) puts him in that category of fun to watch with memorable catches but no where near the great Dawgs of the past.
Mr. Tony Geinzer
December 23rd, 2010
3:21 pm
Santa Dawg is not happy with AJ Green having Georgia no longer on his mind and I find he is a big pig and a liar to think he can behave like Soulja Boy and be ethically unconcious later. I think any Southern Football Fan feels Richt’s equity is burnt to a crisp.
KB
December 23rd, 2010
3:23 pm
AJ is the epitome of the Bulldogs over the last 4-5 years. Tremendous talent and potential defined by under achievement and disappointment.
AJ has missed a lot of playing time as he was hampered by injuries and suspensions; again a personification of the team and system he is in. If the worse thing we can say about his character is that he sold a jersey so he could have some spending money at the beach then AJ is an above average young man by today’s standards. AJ Green will be fine and we will be watching him on Sundays, in All-Pro Games, in the playoffs and most likely in Superbowls.
The most important commentary regarding AJ is to reflect on UGA, not AJ:
1.) Factor out the enticement of millions of dollars and ask the following question – why would AJ want to return to UGA? If AJ where to return for his senior year will he be a member of a cohesive, winning, up-and-coming program – a part of “something special?” Or, would AJ be spending another year in a dysfunctional system?
2.) MOST IMPORTANT. What does the current coaching staff do with the talent it gets????? It’s undeniable that AJ is a one-in-a-million athlete and the most talented receiver ever at UGA. But here we are talking about whether or not he is the greatest UGA receiver. Under a better system AJ ends his collegiate career as the greatest UGA, SEC and NCAA receiver. At worst a Heisman finalist. AJ Green is twice the talent and player of the last two Heisman winners.
If I am the next AJ Green why would I want to play of Richt, Bobo and company? Saban takes a slightly better than average running back and wins the Heisman Trophy and BCS Championship; its debateable if Ingram is even the best runningback at Alabama. Chiznik takes a player dismissed from UF and wins the Heisman Trophy and is playing for the BCS Championship.
The Truth
December 23rd, 2010
3:23 pm
Every since the NFL mandated college football players to play at least 3 seasons in College, I can only think of one UGA junior coming back without being redshirted (medical or otherwise). Fred Gibson. Every other UGA junior let the money persuade their decision and who can blame them. What argument can be legitimately made to persuade anybody for that matter to return for their senior season without the universal deal killer counteracting it. “What if I get hurt?”
If AJ stays for his senior season, he will be a Heisman candidate. He may even win it. There are so many positives for AJ next season that we will never get to see because just like Stafford, Moreno and the rest of the UGA players that left before AJ, it’s not about UGA anymore. Good luck in the NFL AJ.
That’s The Truth.
CTR
December 23rd, 2010
3:25 pm
some of the comment on this blog are so stupid. Aj is a stud. He will be missed beyond any player we have lost in Mark Richts tenure. The guy can catch anything and obviously opens up the field when he is playing. He owes us 12 games but we wont get it. I wish Aj the best and look forward to him being on my fantasy roster next year.
KB
December 23rd, 2010
3:29 pm
CTR you are so right. It blows my mind to read these blogs and see all the comments that blame 18-20 year kids for the crappy situation that UGA is in.
The Truth
December 23rd, 2010
3:37 pm
One more player comes to mind Mohammad Massaqi (forgive the spelling).
Dawgfaninmichigan
December 23rd, 2010
3:43 pm
Any news on Caleb King eligability for the bowl game?
Reality Check Dawg
December 23rd, 2010
3:43 pm
AJ Green will go down as one of the best UGA receivers to every suit up between the hedges! However, I’m really tired of getting the 4 or 5 blue chips who come play and leave without ever and I mean ever sniffing an Eastern division title, an SEC title game, a SEC title or the mythical NC title. Richt and his staff have down absolutley nothing with the talent that plays on the Sanford green grass. You homers that love Richt have been given one more year to watch the sainted one pace the southern side of Sanford stadium and do absolutley nothing once again to bring UGA another SEC championship. My prediction for 2011 6 and 6 or 7 and 5.
My question to all the Richt homers. Do you keep the saintedone with a record like that? Oh, the blue and orange monster to the south of us racks up his first victory against the Dawgs late Oct once again.
Will you want to keep him with a 2-9 record?
Reality Check Dawg
Max
December 23rd, 2010
3:50 pm
7567DAWG is a fool. AJ played hard for a team that wasn’t good. He went after every ball with no regard for how he was going to have to land or who was around him. My favorite Dawg ever for not quitting on this lousy team and their 2nd rate offensive coordinators.
KimZ'spackage
December 23rd, 2010
3:52 pm
Where will AJ rank compared to UGA other 1st Round Draft picks? Many were a bust or just OK.
72 Royce #8
82 Lindsey Scott #13
89 Tim Worley #7
90 Ben Smith #22
Rodney Hampton #24
93 Garrison Hearst #3
94 Bernard Williams #14
98 Robert Edwards #18
99 Champ Bailey #7
Matt Stinchcomb #18
01 Richard Seymour #6
Marcus Stroud #13
02 Charles Grant #25
03 Johnathan Sullivan #6
George Foster #20
04 Ben Watson #32
05 Thomas Davis #14
David Pollack #17
09 Matt Stafford #1
Knoushon Moreno #12
Chris
December 23rd, 2010
4:00 pm
Great player who never won anything….just like Stafford and Moreno. He is obviously the best reciever we’ve ever had, but he doesn’t even rank in the top 10 of greatest players because the teams he played on won aboslutely NOTHING. He has no one but Mark Richt to thank for that….hopefully we will only have one more year of preacher man.
Copper
December 23rd, 2010
4:03 pm
Good riddance to the thug. Don’t let the door hit your fat azz on the way out.
georgia87
December 23rd, 2010
4:03 pm
It might help if we had a copy of the naked pictures of the NCAA enforcement staff that the folk at Auburn and Ohio State have…
KB
December 23rd, 2010
4:04 pm
Reality Check Dawg
What’s the odds of UGA beating UCF and Boise State? (Did you ever in your wildest imagination think that picking UGA over UCF or Boise State would be risky.) It will be hiliarious reading the Richt worshipers after he loses one or both against UCF and Boise State.
Max
To call Coach Bozo a second rate OC is to insult all the other ‘average” college OC’s. I have said before – this will be Bobo’s best coaching job ever, Bobo will get fired and never hired away. At best Bobo will go to a lower tier college after UGA. Most likely he will be a high school coach. Or, RIcht will reward Bobo’s failure with a $100,000+ non-working job in UGA atheletics. Man I wish I could fail for Richt, I would be set for life
Dirty Dawg
December 23rd, 2010
4:05 pm
I had posted earlier that unless he decides that he has some ‘unfinished business’ at Georgia, he’s gone….to which somebody responded that he didn’t owe Georgia anything and therefor he had no ‘unfinished business’. Well Bill has just asked the question and 7576Dawg answered it – if he leaves now he’ll have no place in Georgia football lore…he’ll just be a footnote to a question of ‘what might have been.
He could’a been the ‘greatest of all time’….he could’a been a legend in the mold of Hershhh….well maybe not that big…but big. But as it is, he’ll just be another one ready to ‘cash in’ – by the way, I know Stafford and Mereno have a lot of money, but injuries will keep them from ever achieving greatness at that ‘next level’, and greed kept them from achieving greatness at this one.
A.J., is that what you want to be remembered for…a guy that passed through on the way to signing one big contract…or do you want to be ‘the greatest’?
like2win
December 23rd, 2010
4:08 pm
i will remember him most for costing the dawgs millions in losses for a lousy grand
Santa
December 23rd, 2010
4:10 pm
There were a lot of things for the dawgs to celebrate this year. Let’s see…
1. A drunken, whoring athletic director.
2. Twelve players arrested.
3. A player suspended for violating NCAA rules.
4. Winning the Fulmer Cup for the most players arrested.
5. Winning the title of #1 party school (i.e., the most drunken student body in the USA).
6. A sleazy assistant coach who razzes opposing players, unethical coaching conduct in violation of NCAA rules.
7. A super sleazy head coach who thinks he’s a saint, but recruits thug wannabes, gangbangers, and illiterate morons.
8. A 6-6 record despite having a team full of 4- and 5-star recruits.
Really something to be proud of!
And sickening to decent people.
KB
December 23rd, 2010
4:24 pm
Santa
And to think Jim Donnan (2009 College Hall of Fame Inductee) was fired from UGA because of “player/off-field issues.”
Richt couldn’t be Jim Donnan’s towel towel boy in any other universe.
KB
December 23rd, 2010
4:31 pm
Santa
All I want for Christmas is for Richt to leave the State of Georgia and start a church. That way all the buffoons and imbeciles that worship St. Mark will leave Georgia to be united with the spiritual leader.
Then the real, sane, thinking UGA fan base can start the task of rebuilding the program.
Bippitty Boppitty Boo
December 23rd, 2010
4:35 pm
Somewhat wasted talent and what should have been is AJ’s legacy. Too bad he was overshadowed by Alshon Jefferies of the lamechickens.
Tech Alum
December 23rd, 2010
4:37 pm
I believe KB and Santa are one and the same idiots!!! If you are a Tech fan…..please quit sending such stupid and destructive comments. No Dog fans I know would ever be this hateful.
Mark Richt won with Donnan players and BVG.
December 23rd, 2010
4:37 pm
Too bad AJ was wasted at UGA. He joins Moreno , Stafford and Momass.
Damon Evans.
December 23rd, 2010
4:39 pm
I have those Red panties hung by the chimney with care.
KB
December 23rd, 2010
4:45 pm
KB and Santa are not one in the same. Not sure how that was computed….
Not only am I a Dog fan but I am a UGA grad. I really do “hate” the current state of UGA football. Especially since the problems, and hence solutions, are some blatantly obvious.
I should have considered the fact that effeminate males would be offended by my comments. I apologize to any and all effeminate males who have been offended by my comments.
will dawg
December 23rd, 2010
4:50 pm
AJ Best Ever at WR. 7576 you are an idiot. go root for Tech. Oh wait you are the error free for life John Kincaide. AJs Jersey your rankings are dead on.
Tech Alum
December 23rd, 2010
4:50 pm
To Santa’s comment #8……your case can also be made for: Texas, Miami, Southern Cal, Michigan, Florida, Tennessee, etc. They all had bad seasons with 4 and 5 star recruits. Let it go dude!!! P.S. I’m sure you are such a great fan that you will support your Dogs by traveling to Memphis to the Liberty Bowl. I’m upset about my defending ACC Champion Jackets, but I will still support them by traveling to Shreveport (bummer). Of course I’m a “real” fan, not a “fair weather” fan who only supports my team when they have great seasons!!!
KB
December 23rd, 2010
4:52 pm
Tech Alum
To get on a blog and call other bloggers “the same idiots!!!” is very hateful. So who is the bigger idoit?
One who makes just “hateful” statements, or, one who makes “hateful” statements about those whom he accuses of making “hateful” statements.
Hey at least I passed philosphy and reasoning 101 at UGA
will dawg
December 23rd, 2010
4:52 pm
Cooper u are an @$$!!
Tech Alum
December 23rd, 2010
4:58 pm
KB (aka, Santa)…..You must be the same because there can’t be 2 Dog fans in this state who are so out-of-touch and so blatantly nasty. Also, regarding your (masculinity) comment….I’m an athlete who has kicked Georgia athletes all 7 times I went against them in competition….enough said.
Tech Alum
December 23rd, 2010
5:01 pm
KB…..you didn’t answer the question. Are you going to the Liberty Bowl or not? You are not a real Dog fan are ya?
the Owl of Prophecy
December 23rd, 2010
5:02 pm
First of all…Merry Christmas to everyone! I think AJ will be great in the pros if he stays healthy. Too bad he had to play in Richt’s antiquated “pro-style” offense and with Joe Cox or he might have challenged Cam for Heisman. Past time for a change…we deserve better (or at least our money’s worth).
Bo
December 23rd, 2010
5:10 pm
@waiting for fireworks
I think you are off base. Yet your grouse is familiar (and tired) among these blogs.
AJ was the focal point of the offense. You can’t throw the ball to him on EVERY play. As for not playing up to his potential…have you been watching another receiver this year? The guy has been a highlight reel for the longest time. His routes are solid, he is physical and atheletic. I’d love to see him stay at UGA another year but he won’t leave with wasted potential. You’re also dead wrong about AJ not being mentioned in the years to come. He is the best WR to ever suit up at UGA.
As for Stafford, he had excellent coaching and was universally praised by the NFL teams that interviewed him for being well prepared. Stafford had a tendency to rely on his arm too much and he bolted the pocket unnecessarily too many times his last year in Athens. I will say that he had 1-1/2 seasons of poor blocking but the lost potential was Stafford’s own doing.
He didn’t deserve to be on the All Decade team. David Green was better than Stafford by his sophmore year. Stafford was the more physically gifted QB but Green was better by a wide margin. Heck, there are probably 4-5 UGA quarterbacks who were better than Stafford.
Bad scheme? I guess half of the NFL runs a bad offensive scheme.
KB
December 23rd, 2010
5:16 pm
Tech Alum (aka Swinging Richard’s regular)
Do you actually expect other bloggers to believe that you are a “collegiate athlete” from the Georgia Institute of Technology when you get on UGA fan-based blog and chase other bloggers with your prissy, effeminate comments and insults?
Does that sound like the psychological profile of a secure, self-assured male who was a successful intercollegiate athlete?
the Owl of Prophecy
December 23rd, 2010
5:19 pm
KimZ’spackage,
Thanks for the research. Seeing Ben Watson on the list reminded me what a treasure he was. Also, Donnan could sure evaluate talent.
Nick Fairly
December 23rd, 2010
5:21 pm
AJ has picked his agent and will sign right before kickoff.
Tech Alum
December 23rd, 2010
5:26 pm
KB, looks like I really have you going on this one…..you sound very insecure and quite “phobic”!!! Sorry I have to leave this blog, but I need to get packed and go support my team in good times and bad. Enjoy watching yours on TV…..you “fair weather” fan!!! P.S. I read UGa’s blogs to laugh at folks like you and admire intellectuals like Bo.
KB/Santa…you are doing more damage to UGa than any of the coaches!!!
Dawg with bag over his head
December 23rd, 2010
5:28 pm
A.J.’s career is a reflection of the program in microcosm. Lots of potential and talent wasted by an inept coaching staff focused primarily on keeping family and friends employed instead of hiring the best minds available.
Go Pro
December 23rd, 2010
5:34 pm
Take the money…take care of your loved ones…get as far away from the sorry NCAA as possible…put Athens in the rear view mirror, but cherish the memories…
Dirty Dawg
December 23rd, 2010
5:34 pm
Hey ‘dawgwithbagoverhead’…make it plastic and we’ll all be happy.
Jamie
December 23rd, 2010
5:40 pm
AJ who?
1eyedJack
December 23rd, 2010
6:02 pm
What would be tragic is if he leaves “for the money” and then there is an NFL lockout resulting in a rookie salary scale. It could happen. Draftees will not even be able to negotiate until there is a new CBA.
Dawg with bag over his head
December 23rd, 2010
6:21 pm
So Dirty Dawg, you’re happy with the product our $3M-a-year coach put on the field during A.J.’s tenure?
Steve Spurrier
December 23rd, 2010
6:45 pm
He has great ability,but no personal pride! He sold him self out and the University of Georgia.Go forth with no pride and grace the NFL.
joey
December 23rd, 2010
6:47 pm
1. A.J
2. Terrance edwards
3. hines ward
4. mo mass
5. lindsey scott
6. fred gibson
7. andre hastings
8. reggie brown
9. brice hunter
10.hmm….champ bailey
FINALLY! Thanks Bird dog. I been waiting for this exact list.