A.J.’s legacy at UGA: A great player who didn’t go great places (UPDATE: Green Tweets he’s not leaving – at least not yet)
It's no stretch to say he's the best Georgia receiver ever. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
If A.J. Green is indeed gone to the NFL, as two sources close to the Georgia program have told Zach Klein of Channel 2 Action News, he’ll leave a hollow legacy at Georgia. He’s the best-ever Bulldog receiver, and his surpassing has taken Georgia, in chronological order, to the Capital One Bowl, the Independence Bowl and the Liberty Bowl.
Part of this can blamed on circumstance: Green worked with three different starting quarterbacks in his three seasons. Part can be blamed on Green himself: At a time when his team needed him most, he got himself suspended for the silly sin of selling his jersey from a nondescript bowl for $1,000. On cue, the 2010 Bulldogs lost three of the four games he missed, thereby relegating them to yet another nondescript bowl.
There can be no complaints about Green the player. He made big plays, spectacular plays, winning plays. Had he arrived at the beginning of the decade and not its end, he might have been the difference between Georgia coming close to playing for a national championship and actually seizing one. But his first season was 2008, which was the beginning of the slide that has seen the Bulldogs go from 11-2 in 2007 to 6-6 now. He was the right man at the wrong time.
He’ll be a great pro. Of this there’s no doubt. Mel Kiper of ESPN lists him third on his latest Big Board, behind only Andrew Luck of Stanford and Da’Quan Bowers of Clemson. If there’s a difference between Green and Tech’s Calvin Johnson as collegians, it can be measured in Angstrom units. But the great Johnson at least helped lift Tech to an ACC title game in 2006. For all Green’s excellence, Georgia got worse over his time in Athens. Which doesn’t seem fair. But sometimes life just isn’t.
Twitter update: A.J. Green — he’s @ajgreen_uga8 — says he’s not going pro. Or at least not yet.
Tweet at 12:19 a.m. Thursday: “Idk where these ppl got that I’m going pro..this is def not true.”
Tweet at 12:34: “Haven’t even made a decision yet!”
By Mark Bradley
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418 comments Add your comment
J-Man
December 23rd, 2010
11:08 am
Will A.J. leave? 30 million guarenteed……DUH!!!
Cam Newton
December 23rd, 2010
11:08 am
I don’t know what my Dad is getting me for Christmas! I NEVER know what he does behind the scenes for me. I know NOTHINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
Alphare
December 23rd, 2010
11:08 am
With him, UGA didn’t win a champ. Why does it matters?
DawginLex
December 23rd, 2010
11:09 am
This is why,
Another question for you.
Who is Eric Berry’s father and where did he go to college?
Be very careful before you answer
Cecil Newton
December 23rd, 2010
11:10 am
Does anyone if Auburn is going to send me a “1099″ for Cam enrolling at Auburn?
I am trying to wrap up my 2010 taxes.
SID
December 23rd, 2010
11:11 am
who the hell is eric berry????
1eyedJack
December 23rd, 2010
11:11 am
Nothing is “gauranteed” in the NFL after the Super Bowl is played.
GTBob
December 23rd, 2010
11:11 am
Honestly, Green just got caught on a team in a downward spiral. It’s not really his fault. His level of play never really dropped. He will be a great pro.
Skitty Fritty
December 23rd, 2010
11:11 am
SID:
Mrs. Berry’s son
Santa
December 23rd, 2010
11:14 am
I have always been a DAWG fan. This is why I where Red & Black.
Merry Christmas!
JAYBO
December 23rd, 2010
11:15 am
Speaking of unfair Bradley…..your article is very unfair to Green!!!!!!!!!! Last I checked, football is a team sport!!! You can’t measure the success or lack of success of a football team by a wide receiver…no way!! Now if AJ was a QB, I would understand your position, but he’s a receiver. Man I wonder what you were thinking about Mark when you wrote this??????!!!!!!!!
cantondawg
December 23rd, 2010
11:15 am
I don’t understand the negative comments on this board about Fred Gibson. He was a damn good player as a dawg and a great deep threat. AJ is better than Gibson. AJ is a once in a lifetime player like Herschel. However Gibson was still one of the best to play at UGA. Show some class and respect for former players
Dogs Smell
December 23rd, 2010
11:18 am
SID must be a Georgia grad. Bottom line A.J is gone. Does it really matter? They didnt win after he returned. 1 player does not make a team. Everyone knew he was going pro when he took $ from his agent and then they came up with the excuse of selling a jersey for it. Obviously he has to go , he signed with an agent last year. Please try pup fans to be realistic and honest to yourselves. Pup fans, How many SEC teams have won National Championships since you last played for 1 ?
Rayburn Golf
December 23rd, 2010
11:20 am
Let me see… AJ sells a soiled jersey for $ 1,000 and sits out 4
games ( thereby destroying his teammates season ) and you ponder
whether or not being a top 3 pick will be enough.
If he doesn’t go then I’ll expect CMR to start teaching wiccan
classes next year instead of falling off the high dive.
AltamahaDawg
December 23rd, 2010
11:22 am
Depends …is the question the best WR to “have played” at UGA…or the best UGA WR. He is 3rd or 4th in that later list.
the Owl of Prophecy
December 23rd, 2010
11:23 am
You can blame Mark Richt for AJ’s underachievement when he tanked the ‘09 season by playing Joe Cox rather any of our more talented (and younger) QBs. Another example of Richt’s poor management/loyalty-to-a-fault skills, and another reason why it’s past time for him to go. Maybe Richt can leave for the pros and AJ can stay another season.
DollarDawg43
December 23rd, 2010
11:23 am
I hate to see AJ go but it, if his draft projection is accurate, it will be financially irresponsible for him to stay. That is just the reality of the world we (and he) live in. The window of opportunity for that kind of cash is very small. I just don’t think he can afford to pass it up.
Even some kind of insurance (which will be VERY expensive) to protect him if he suffers a catastrophic injury during his senior year won’t come close to what he can get with a signing bonus and some guaranteed money from the team he signs with.
That is just simple math and logic. He can always finish his education and get his degree later. I hope for his sake he does the latter if he does leave early.
As for some of the other (idiotic? inflammatory? wildly imaginative?) posts on here: How do some of you come up with that and what kind of weird enjoyment do you get out of it? Seems odd to me but to each his own I guess.
DawginLex
December 23rd, 2010
11:31 am
owl of prophecy,
So Logan Gray should have played QB in 2009?
Murray was hurt for 3/4 of the year.
Mett wasn’t ready.
There was no one else. Cox threw 24 TD passes. Think anyone else listed above could have done better?
NO, No and NO
DawginLex
December 23rd, 2010
11:32 am
Dogs smell, if he signed with an agent last year as you state, he would have been ineligible in 2010.
icedawg
December 23rd, 2010
11:34 am
Talent-wise he is an exceptional receiver and athlete. He should do well in the pros as long as he is able to be durable. It is a real shame that he did not have the supporting cast to have the impact that a player of his caliber could have had. The DAWGS have fallen on very hard times defensively. No more Junkyard DAWGS. Poor defense has undermined the team effort so that offensively games could have been won but the defense has given them away. Haven’t been able to stop anybody, especially the good teams. Barring a miracle, with the current “talent” so to speak and the defensive scheme it looks like another disaster in the making.
how2fish
December 23rd, 2010
11:35 am
DawginLex careful my bull dog brother some of thee trolls might ruin your X-mass spirit ! By the way Merry Christmas to all of you in the Bull Dog Nation…and the rest..LOL Happy Holidays!
the Owl of Prophecy
December 23rd, 2010
11:36 am
Logan Grey was better, and how do you know Mett wasn’t ready? He outplayed everyone in the Spring game. Don’t believe everything you hear from CMR.
Arch Dawg
December 23rd, 2010
11:37 am
He could have gone to Auburn and been getting a salary all these years. Maybe then he would not need to sell his Jersey or jump to the NFL for the money.
Ueeediot
December 23rd, 2010
11:40 am
Will I, or Wont I care….
Jason
December 23rd, 2010
11:52 am
So it’s a receivers fault that UGA has not won anything in 3 years? Come on Mark, you are better than that. The coaches are highly overrated. He has been the best player UGA has had since Champ. Please don’t compare to UGA in early 2000’s. Didn’t time and place. Sorry newspaper industry is going under. Hopefully you can join espn or yahoo.
DollarDawg43
December 23rd, 2010
11:52 am
Owl; last year Murray was still recovering from the broken leg he suffered during his senior year in high school, Mett was not ready and Cox had a better command of the offense than Logan Gray. Why would Richt NOT play his best players? That just doesn’t make sense.
gdawginkalamazoo
December 23rd, 2010
11:53 am
AJ thanks for representing UGA. Good luck at the next level!
bUBBA
December 23rd, 2010
11:54 am
Bobo needs to stop the charade.
Just admit it, he wants to throw it 50 times a game.
Put 2 tight ends in the backfield (he’s already moved Figgins back there), let them passblock, and then wing it 50 times a game.
Then, if he can get a QB who can throw accurately in the 4th quarter, red zone, and on 3rd downs and against winning teams, like Lemay or Mett, then he’ll be ok.
Just stop runing the ball completely.
DawginLex
December 23rd, 2010
11:55 am
Merry Christmas how2fish
reservoirDAWG
December 23rd, 2010
11:59 am
Please stay A.J. Make something big happen next year!
Jim
December 23rd, 2010
12:00 pm
AJ’S gone, and good riddance. He’s not tough, injury prone, and his 4 game suspension was responsibe for Richt’s worst year as a coach.
AJ doesn’t make his team better, throughout his career, UGA was better WITHOUT AJ than with him.
Has a tendancy to pout when he’s not getting thrown to.
Bradley sucks
December 23rd, 2010
12:00 pm
Bradley needs to find some reliable sources.
Bradley sucks
December 23rd, 2010
12:01 pm
What are you talking about Tim? AJ has great character and excellent demeanor on the field. How can you not respect him as a football player as well as a person?
Eddie
December 23rd, 2010
12:02 pm
AJ just isn’t a team player. Julio got the ring, AJ had the stats.
AJ = multi-millionaire, MBradley $11 per hour
December 23rd, 2010
12:02 pm
Mark Bradley, how do you feel about publishing this irresponsible and frantic article? Your title is “A.J.’s legacy at UGA: A great player who didn’t go places?” He’s arguably the best receiver to ever play in the SEC and may return for his senior year. You’re not doing us any favors by printing this BS. He’s a great player and will have a great career. Can you say the same for yourself. Perhaps you hold off before jumping the gun to be 1st to report such garbage. This player is going places…
Scott
December 23rd, 2010
12:05 pm
I just wish we could have seen what AJ could do for one complete season with a good QB. His freshmen year we barely used him to begin the season…sophomore year he had Cox throwing to him (he saved a lot of poorly thrown balls that season with some incredible catches)…junior season, he misses the first 4 games.
I can’t blame him for going pro if he will be a top 5 receiver, but I can still wish to see what numbers he could put up playing as our #1 WR for 12-13 games with Murray throwing to him. He has been the best player on the field in pretty much every game he has played – definitely a once in a generation player for UGA.
AJ = multi-millionaire, MBradley $11 per hour
December 23rd, 2010
12:05 pm
Jim, you’re an idiot. As soon as he decides to leave, you’ll be the first to cry. Get real man. AJ made all the difference when he returned. You already saw the results without him but now you think we will magically be better with him gone? Really? Get a job Jim.
Gus
December 23rd, 2010
12:05 pm
Got 2 porblems with AJ Green,
1- Character issues–sold a jersey, which meant nothing to him, for $1200, got suspended, cost the team the whole season. I hope his srtock drops because of that. like the OK St’s WR Dez Bryant’s did.
2- Lack of toughness- had injuries last 2 seasons, not durable, has never played in all 12 games. He’s got a small frame, he’ll get smashed at the next level.
Jim
December 23rd, 2010
12:07 pm
AJ couldn’t even beat Colorado when he returned. Had to quit in the 3rd quarter, cost Georgia that game.
Jim
December 23rd, 2010
12:08 pm
UGA’s record WITHOUT AJ is better than it’s record WITH AJ. That’s a fact.
BULLDAWG BILL
December 23rd, 2010
12:11 pm
AJ had better “beef up” some before he goes to the NFL. He has had several minor injuries that would have been avoided if he had been a little heavier with more muscle. I think this goes back to UGA’s poor weight training and conditioning program that hopefully Richt has just corrected.
Best of luck to AJ no matter what he decides!
Ed (The Original)
December 23rd, 2010
12:12 pm
Green’s legacy will be that of one of many superbly talented players who collectively underachieved under Mark Richt. He joins Matthew Stafford, Knowshown Moreno, Reshad Jones – all pros, to name a few.
The problem obviously isn’t with Green.
But he can make millions in the NFL and never have to worry about money the rest of his life. Somehow I don’t see him fretting over his legacy at UGA.
Big Brain
December 23rd, 2010
12:17 pm
Mark, word on the street is that he also traded his text books for comic books. Wait till NCAA gets hold of that!
Dostoveyskiy
December 23rd, 2010
12:19 pm
You think AJ’s red jersey for bucks was big deal, what about AD’s bucks for red panties?
1UGADAWG
December 23rd, 2010
12:22 pm
Hope he comes back, and have a feeling he is, but could not blame him for going pro! Oh well, Go Dawgs!
1UGADAWG
December 23rd, 2010
12:23 pm
Gonna really miss Chris Durham! I wish he had 1 more year!
AJ Green to the NFL Draft
December 23rd, 2010
12:30 pm
[...] SO FAST! A.J.'s legacy at UGA: A great player who didn't go great places | Mark Bradley Reply With [...]
TampaGator
December 23rd, 2010
12:36 pm
Janoris Jenkins plays his last game for the Gators on Jan. 1….and he is better than A.J. Green and proved it on the field the last two years when he shut the great A.J. Green down. Note to A.J…..you will be playing against top corners every week in the NFL…and you better learn how to block and play all out all the time….real soon….because you didn’t do any of that against the Gators the last two years. Welcome to the NFL….pow! @#%@##
how2fish
December 23rd, 2010
12:36 pm
Just watching the CNN live coverage of Tattogate at OSU they are suspending 5 players for 5 games for getting discounts for TAT’s…4 of then are starters…is the NCAA making the rules up as they go ?
TampaGator
December 23rd, 2010
12:38 pm
1UGADAWG…..
your 6′6″ WR, Chris Durham, couldn’t beat 5′9″ strong safety, Ahmad Black, in the corner of the end zone in overtime to put your team up by 7….next play….INT return by Will Hill on a pass toward the great A.J. Green. Gators win! Just saying!