Green receives four-game ban; UGA plans appeal
(Updated 8:40 p.m.)
ATHENS – The NCAA came down hard Wednesday on A.J. Green, ordering Georgia’s star wide receiver to sit out four games as punishment for selling a game jersey to a sports agent.
Green sold the jersey he wore in last season’s Independence Bowl for $1,000, according to the facts of the case stipulated by Georgia.
The school plans to appeal the NCAA ruling in hopes of having the length of the suspension reduced. The appeal could be heard next week, coach Mark Richt said.
Green was held out of last week’s season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette, pending the results of the NCAA investigation, which began in July. He must sit out the Bulldogs’ next three games -– Saturday at South Carolina, Sept. 18 at home vs. Arkansas and Sept. 25 at Mississippi State –- unless the appeal is successful. He will be eligible to return for the Oct. 2 game at Colorado.
“Certainly I’m disappointed with the outcome,” Richt said. “However, we have games to play, and that’s where our focus needs to be in the coming days and weeks. Other players will have to step forward, and I’m confident they will do that.”
Richt informed his players of the NCAA ruling shortly before Wednesday’s practice.
“He assured us we have the talent on this team to play with or without [Green],” tight end Aron White said. “We’re still Georgia. One player doesn’t make Georgia. That’s something [Richt] made very clear to us, that he still has complete confidence in us.”
The NCAA did not name the individual who bought the jersey from Green but said the person meets the organization’s definition of an agent -– “any individual who markets or promotes a student-athlete.” That put Green in violation of the NCAA rule against receiving benefits from agents.
Selling a jersey to a non-agent also would violate NCAA rules, which prohibit student-athletes from receiving money for memorabilia.
Green has donated $1,000, the amount he received for the jersey, to charity, the NCAA said.
The four-game ban is at the top end of the range the NCAA typically imposes for this type of violation.
The NCAA said it reviews each case “on its own merits based on the specific facts. Staff decisions are made based on a number of factors including . . . the student-athlete’s responsibility for the violation, as well as any mitigating factors presented by the university.”
In another recent case, the NCAA last week suspended Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus for two games for accepting almost $1,800 in benefits from an agent. In that case, the NCAA said Dareus received a two-game ban, rather than four games, “based on mitigating circumstances.”
Green will be allowed to practice with the Georgia team during his banishment from games and, in fact, did so Wednesday.
”I want to apologize to my coaches, teammates and the Georgia fans for the mistake in judgment,” Green said in a statement. “I very much regret all that has taken place and the distraction that’s been caused. I’ve learned a valuable lesson and hope others can learn from my mistake. I can only focus my attention now on practicing and looking ahead to getting back with my teammates as quickly as possible.”
Green did not meet with reporters. Richt summed up Green’s reaction: “He’s hurt. He’s sad. He’s sorry for what happened.”
Wide receiver Tavarres King said the Green news was “pretty shocking” to him and vowed to help pick up the slack in the star player’s absence.
“I got to step up and make plays to fill the void for A.J.” King said. “Big shoes to fill. Huge shoes to fill.”
Green, a junior from Summerville, S.C., was named to preseason All-SEC and some preseason All-America teams. He is projected as a high first-round pick if he enters next year’s NFL draft, as most observers expect him to do.
Green caught 53 passes for 808 yards and six touchdowns last season, when he missed three-plus games with injuries. He caught 56 passes for 963 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman in 2008.
Georgia’s appeal will be heard by the NCAA Division I Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, which is comprised of representatives from NCAA member schools. Green cannot play in games during the appeal process.
As is standard procedural form in such cases, Georgia declared Green ineligible and the NCAA set his penalty and the terms of his reinstatement.
The NCAA informed Georgia on July 21 of the Green investigation — one in a series of probes at a number of schools into dealings between athletes and agents. Green said on July 22 that he was asked by Georgia officials if he attended an agent-hosted party in Miami that triggered investigations at several schools. He said he did not.
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1,225 comments Add your comment
AJ Red
September 8th, 2010
6:18 pm
BIG TECH FAN
why all the hate? easy
BIG TECH NERDS
September 8th, 2010
6:18 pm
Tech fans….is it the last 8 of 9 or 10 or whatever.
Taco
September 8th, 2010
6:19 pm
This is load of crap. This kid does not deserve this. I hate UGA with a passion but what he did is MINOR. The whole program has run wild with THUGS stealing crap, running away from accidents, drinking binges and beating up regular students and the maybe one good kid over there gets this. NCAA is wrong. Suspend the whole team or CMR for a total lack of institutional control but give it a rest on this petty crap.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 8th, 2010
6:19 pm
UGA 7 how do your type from the grave in the Cesspool of the South’s endzone? You sir are a Damn Great Dawg if you can pull that off.
Jay
September 8th, 2010
6:19 pm
It could be worse. We could be the Gators or Tech with far worse on-the-field problems than losing one player (Pouncey, Nesbitt). The Dawgs proved on Sat. that they can play without Green, even if it was against a not-so-great team. I agree with a previous poster that the Dawgs can be motivated by this NCAA ruling and use it against their opponents. I have a feeling that the Dawgs will be fueled by this come Sat.
Red Panties
September 8th, 2010
6:19 pm
Where did AJ get that $1000 to give to a charity? You very well know the first grand was spent long ago. Another violation????????????????????
Nic Satan
September 8th, 2010
6:19 pm
To bad he did not get suspended for the typical UGA sister’s of the poor game! CMR would have done his usual. Sit for the no name game son.
Florida Dawg
September 8th, 2010
6:20 pm
Adams has his nose stuck up the NCAA butt so he want do anything.
JV
September 8th, 2010
6:20 pm
To read the crowing from the haters and the whining from the supporters you’d think the rest of Georgia’s receivers were Division III players. I hope T. King, Durham, Charles, Brown, et.al. are catching this “we’re doomed” vibe and get a chip on their shoulders.
Ummmmmmmmmm
September 8th, 2010
6:20 pm
They are trying to do their (NCAA) part, and trying to do all they can to keep this agent thing under control. IMO, in the end they will probably not succeed, and who knows at this point and time how out of control this matter is. They will probably have to give some school the “death penalty” like they did to SMU, to get the right people attention on this matter.
Gamec0ck Pete
September 8th, 2010
6:20 pm
AJ aint Cleared and the Dawg Nation is Skeered….. I love it… Bring on that overrated underachieving offensive line to Columbia !
raymond
September 8th, 2010
6:20 pm
I say kick him off the team. I am so tired of these kinds of things, you know you can’t do it so why do you? Don’t tell me about how these kids don’t have any money and its not fair that they don’t get paid. I will guarantee you that every one of the players at a big time program live a very good life with nothing to worry about. This move may cost us dearly.
It's me Mike.
September 8th, 2010
6:21 pm
You all wish you was him. So shhhhhh.
Count Raoul
September 8th, 2010
6:21 pm
These kids aren’t indentured servants or anything of the sort. They are given the spotlight with an opportunity to show their skills on the longshot likelihood that they make millions of dollars in just a few short years thanks to the stage UGA and NCAA give them. On top of that, there are meeting after meeting where it is explained to the fast and the slow just what can and cannot be done off the field. This was a selfish act that AJ expected to go unnoticed. Are there things I would change, hell yes and quickly. But for now, this stupid kid cost his teammates big.
Peter
September 8th, 2010
6:21 pm
Green repaid the $1000.00 already……..gee where did THAT money come from ???
His other Agent ?
Easy Win over USC
September 8th, 2010
6:22 pm
Relax Dawgs—South carolina’s overrated as usual and Garcia’s terrible. Grantham’s D will shut them down cold. It will only take 17 points to win that games. Dawgs in a cakewalk: 30-13! mark it down.
Seafood Gumbo
September 8th, 2010
6:22 pm
Doesn’t matter, Boise state has already won the NCAA Championship according to ESPN
yes sir
September 8th, 2010
6:22 pm
Einsteindawg
Its Harvard.
No, seriously, Yellow Fuzzy, I will personally kick your ass. Just give me an address.
September 8th, 2010
6:22 pm
Not sure if the typo comment was related to our friendly discussion here, JacketFan, (mostly because it didn’t make sense) but surely you’re not overlooking, dare I say endorsing, the unabashed racism of your fellow Tech supporter? Cripes, man, grow a pair and call him out.
Dawg Tired
September 8th, 2010
6:22 pm
Tim – Do you know why my posts are being blocked? Any help would be appreciated.
what's important
September 8th, 2010
6:23 pm
Nic Satan, you’ve got GSC on your schedule for Christ’s sake. You shouldn’t say anything to anyone about no name games.
Florida Dawg
September 8th, 2010
6:23 pm
OK…WHO did AJ sell his jersey too? Name please?
Big Dawg
September 8th, 2010
6:23 pm
Nice try “yes sir”…a true Harvard grad would know that it is “it’s” not its.
Seafood Gumbo
September 8th, 2010
6:24 pm
Gamec0ck Pete
wow your dumb
Seafood Gumbo
September 8th, 2010
6:24 pm
I have gas and it hurts
les wood
September 8th, 2010
6:24 pm
Where is the coaching staff when it comes to instilling honor and pride in the team members ? If you continue to recruit thugs and those who have no respect for their school and their place as a role model then what do you expect . When you wear a school uniform anything you do on or off the field reflects on the player , the coaching staff and the school. The coaching staff at Georgia does not instill discipline in their players . Just look at all the suspensions, arrests , and students booted from the team . The problem starts at recruitment and ends with the coaching staff . Recruit athletes who can read and write and who are looking for an education . Stop recruiting those who see this as a ticket to the NFL or worst case jail because of their stupidity and sense of entitlement.
Seafood Gumbo
September 8th, 2010
6:25 pm
LSU all the way baby
Jay Dawg
September 8th, 2010
6:25 pm
Appeal??? We should not be appealing, we would go above and beyond and tack on another 4 games. What a crap thing to do, and expose the program to the magnifying glass of the NCAA. At some point we have to draw a line in the sand that players can’t cross, rather than trying to explain away thier mistakes.
Danny G
September 8th, 2010
6:25 pm
What is an agent and how do you kill them?
Contractor
September 8th, 2010
6:25 pm
How many games did Mark Ingram and Julio Jones get last year for their fishing trip paid for by a Bama Booster? AJ Green deserves to be suspended, but not for four games. How many did Masoli get for his fraternity house theft? Just doesn’t seem like the NCAA is being uniform with their judgements.
melanienougafan
September 8th, 2010
6:25 pm
We have rules to follow people!!! If you break the rules, you suffer the consequences!!! How many more UGA players are going to get caught drinking, parting, fighting, etc? I hope the NCAA continues to come down on these boys & make them responsible for their actions. He did something wrong UGA people….he has to answer to it, own it & take the fine!!! Quit crying over one player for God sake!!
Seafood Gumbo
September 8th, 2010
6:25 pm
My left nipple is peirced
Bama Fan #2
September 8th, 2010
6:25 pm
Now you know why bama fans HATE THE FREAKING NZAA!!! RTR
REAL DAWG- FALCON FAN
September 8th, 2010
6:26 pm
DAMN DON’T THEY TEACH YOU TECH GEEK’S HOW TO SPELL? BESIDE THAT WHO WOULD BUY A TECH JERSEY?
5150 P.O.A.D
September 8th, 2010
6:26 pm
I hear Drew Butler gave his dad a game jersey to pay for some of Kevin’s old cocaine debts in Chicago.
Seafood Gumbo
September 8th, 2010
6:26 pm
do you use close up tooth paste?
Einsteindawg
September 8th, 2010
6:26 pm
My point exactly “les wood”. These gifts (athletic scholarships) are worth about $40,000 per year according to our Athletic Association.
10SEConds
September 8th, 2010
6:26 pm
Many commenters here are missing the point here. AJ should be punished. No question about that. The problem is one of proportionality and therefore of predictability and reliability of NCAA rules. The 4 game suspension is simply too harsh. No matter how the NCAA’s lawyers parse the fine points, the bottom line is that the public sees a naive kid get hit with a sledgehammer for being tricked into selling an agent a uniform for $1000, while Masoli gets almost a free ride after committing a felony, the Miami party participants get lesser suspensions, and law breakers at UT and even at UGA miss a single game (if any) for much more serious transgressions. I realize these last have nothing to do with NCAA rules violations, but my point is that if players and the public perceive the process as being unfair and unpredictable, the process itself loses credibility. The other effect is to create a “circle the wagons” mentality in fandom; I personally do think the Georgia program has a discipline problem and that the Ealey and Ogletree punishments are too light, but this one is over the top.
Danny G
September 8th, 2010
6:27 pm
Don’t worry all you Bee women on this site. He will there for your yearly beat down by the Dawgs.
T. King
September 8th, 2010
6:27 pm
I’m the next AJ Green anyways folks
baddog
September 8th, 2010
6:27 pm
SC, Arkansas and Miss St. How many wins without AJ?
Coffee Bluff Dawg
September 8th, 2010
6:27 pm
AJ feel bad for you. As mentioned earlier the NCAA, UGA, and others can make a ton of money from #8 UGA jersey, except for him.
That’s OK, we’ll be 4-0 when he returns. Look out SEC.
1980 was so long ago
September 8th, 2010
6:27 pm
Still dirty after all these years
Modeana pigeons
September 8th, 2010
6:28 pm
I love Mike Tyson so much
Albany dog
September 8th, 2010
6:28 pm
Buzzkill + NCAA + the sad SOLUTION = Glenn Beck
Dawg Tired
September 8th, 2010
6:28 pm
4th try!
4 games = indefensible. Compare the Alabama case. Disparity is indefensible. Compare the importance of the games being missed. Disparity is indefensible. Compare the violations. Disparity is indefensible. We should hire the Alabama lawyers. They apparently have more experience in these matters.
Modeana pigeons
September 8th, 2010
6:29 pm
Georgia Tech fans are so jealous, shut up dummys
5150 P.O.A.D
September 8th, 2010
6:29 pm
DAMN, a NAVY player just received 4 Demerits and not off campus pass for spitting on the Quad. I bet he is looking to be a UGA stupid player and take grass cutting 101 classes now.
Vinnie Do Lee
September 8th, 2010
6:29 pm
Sorry dawg fans but this season is already OVA.
Modeana pigeons
September 8th, 2010
6:30 pm
Mark 337 515 3822, call me if you want to fight