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
BowWowWow Has Left the Building
September 8th, 2010
6:30 pm
The worst whippings I ever got as a kid was ALWAYS when I got caught lying in my excuses by my parents. Had AJ simply been forth coming AND honest about this whole incident he would’ve possibly received no suspension at all other than repaying the money received or at worst served a max 2-game suspension. The moral here? 1.Baby Jesus Hates Liars 2. No Lie/No Suspendy…
p.s. Have a Wonderful Day!
1980 was so long ago
September 8th, 2010
6:30 pm
“We should hire the Alabama lawyers. They apparently have more experience in these matters”
uga lawyers too busy getting bail and parole for half the starting lineup.
GT Dummy
September 8th, 2010
6:30 pm
I’m so dumb
Einsteindawg
September 8th, 2010
6:30 pm
“yes sir”…I’ll cut you some slack over your gramatical error. Ivy League games are the very best because the fans, players, families, and students enjoy them, and everyone leaves as friends.
bee killer
September 8th, 2010
6:31 pm
To the idiot(s) posting the HA HA HA: You really need to step back and look at your life. It is really pathetic! Go step in front of a car on North Avenue. Nobody will miss you.
M-Rob
September 8th, 2010
6:32 pm
900 Hemphill Avenue.
There. Gave you an address. Come kick my ass.
Sincerely,
A Techie.
Gamec0ck Pete
September 8th, 2010
6:32 pm
I love the Georgia Bulldogs and they will beat South Carolina by 20 points this saturday
Dawg
September 8th, 2010
6:33 pm
???? of the day? WHO IS REALLY BEHIND THIS NCAA SUSPENSION? THERE’S A MOLE IN THE CROWD. LET THE BOY PLAY .
Jay
September 8th, 2010
6:33 pm
I predict:
UGA 27 SC 17
UGA 30 ARK 17
Yeah AJ violated the rules, but the punishment far exceeds the violation. Anyway, we will be fine folks. We will have him back in plenty of time for UT, UF, AU, and GT.
No, seriously, Yellow Fuzzy, I will personally kick your ass. Just give me an address.
September 8th, 2010
6:33 pm
M-Rob — ask and you shall receive.
Big Dawg
September 8th, 2010
6:33 pm
M-Rob…that’s the YMCA address.
Gamec0ck Pete
September 8th, 2010
6:33 pm
I like men with big arms and hairy backs and big toes
Gamec0ck Pete
September 8th, 2010
6:34 pm
Man, i love taking it in the ……
ryan
September 8th, 2010
6:35 pm
LET AJ PLAY LET AJ PLAY LET AJ PLATY !
What's Outrageous is.....
September 8th, 2010
6:35 pm
…he lied to the NC2A and ONLY got 4 games off!!! Dez Bryant is the one that should appeal……
M-Rob
September 8th, 2010
6:35 pm
no please I’m scared
5150 P.O.A.D
September 8th, 2010
6:35 pm
the 337-515-3822 is not the # or the person answering is a Chiken…t and will not back his typing.
No, seriously, Yellow Fuzzy, I will personally kick your ass. Just give me an address.
September 8th, 2010
6:36 pm
M-Rob — good location, btw — the Techie PD is only a couple clicks from Crecine to break things up when it gets messy.
SouthCaroliaDAWG
September 8th, 2010
6:36 pm
My issue is that all the hype and all the attention to AJ for what? He missed several games last year and won’t play a down until the 5th game this year. What good is Top 5 NFL caliber player if he’s never on the field? I’m tired of seeing him on the bench with a towel around his neck!!!!!
chilidawg
September 8th, 2010
6:36 pm
Looks like the NCAA is playing some Calvinball here…
5150 P.O.A.D
September 8th, 2010
6:36 pm
Man that dude just came to my house and beat me up, booo hoo it hurts all over
Jackets 12-0
September 8th, 2010
6:36 pm
To the guy that will “come kick my ass if I give him my address”…
If I give you my address will you come clean my toilets and empty my cesspool?
It seems thats all UGA fans/grads/players are good for nowadays.
Delbert D.
September 8th, 2010
6:37 pm
The NCAA told all coaches during the offseason that they were going after agent-related infractions hard.
BowWowWow Has Left the Building
September 8th, 2010
6:37 pm
Jay, you wrote the following:
UGA 27 USC 17
UGA 30 ARK 17
Hate to break this to you pal but both games will be UGa losses
UGA 9 USC 27
UGA 13 ARK 24
gatorman770
September 8th, 2010
6:37 pm
Being a Florida Gator I am required too hate on the Curs (even though both of my parents are/were UGA grads which proves 2 wrongs do make a right), but I hate the NCAA morans much more due to their asinine rulings in cases like this. What is the difference in the NCAA, conferences, and teams selling hundreds of millions of dollars worth of jerseys and other team gear (many to agents) and a student athlete selling one friggin jersey or any other property that belongs to him? I think this punishment is clearly excessive.
Michael
September 8th, 2010
6:37 pm
Is it too late to try out for an NFL team?
5150 P.O.A.D
September 8th, 2010
6:37 pm
I like men to lick me all over
What's done is done
September 8th, 2010
6:37 pm
We can’t change what happened. So on another note did anyone here what Herbstreet said about the sooner defense being soft?
5150 P.O.A.D loves Jackets 12-0
September 8th, 2010
6:38 pm
Being gay is so awesome
dawgster
September 8th, 2010
6:38 pm
Ok, here goes , alot of you on here are bashing this young man and yet i doubt you know any of the facts..what we do know is that yes he sold a jersey, his own jersey and that is against NCAA rules, fair enough, but many of you are calling him a liar and think he may not have been forthcomeing with the NCAA…We don’t know what he told them or when, but he was honest about not being in Miami..If is was the univerisity, i would be asking the NCAA if they are being consistant in their punishiment of AJ as compared to similar incidents at other schools…if they are then the 4 games would be fair…if not, then i hope the georgia lawyers can make that a key point…As far as blaming Coach Richt for this, let it go, Coach Richt or any other coach, Saban, Meyer, Miles, Johnson, etc, cannot prevent this type of stuff from happening…these kids have to take that responsibility…We really don’t know what the money was used for by AJ, but did any of you people that are so easy to bash him consider that it might be to help his family…i don’t know myself, but neither do the rest of you…i do believe that the dawgs will be fine without AJ as this is the opportunity for others to step up and show what they can do…Go dawgs and good luck AJ…
Barkin'Dog
September 8th, 2010
6:38 pm
Nobody will read this, but here it is. SC will be beaten like a drum. This team will pull together and totally embarrass USC. I felt they would win by more than 2 TDs anyway. Now it will be more like the Clemson game a few years back — UGA 31, USC 9. AJ… hang in there! Your best games are ahead of you, man! This season will blow the ‘talkin’ heads’ at ESPN away! Relevance… you want relevance, “Haters?’ Here it comes! Go Dawgs!!
Special K
September 8th, 2010
6:38 pm
I can’t believe this. The Dareus deal and Aj are two totally different situations. Hold off on the beat down folks. We already know Dareus was upfront about the situation as it happened. I want to wait and see what is reported as to how AJ handled this. If AJ danced around the truth then he gets what he gets. If he was truthful then let’s just see.
GaBorn2777
September 8th, 2010
6:39 pm
All of you who say that AJ Green deserves this should be held responsible for every load of crap mistake you ever made x3!!! I cant believe the NCAA would even rule so harshly. Those of you who want him off the team and say that the punishment fits the crime are certainly not TRUE GEORGIA BULLDOG FANS! I’m willing to bet you are really FLA, SO CAL or WORSE…TENNESSEE SYMPATHIZERS!!!! GO FIGURE…SUCK SOMETHING INTENSELY SOUR!!!!
GOOOOOOOOOOO DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWGS!!!
Einsteindawg
September 8th, 2010
6:39 pm
On another note, how many of you think the Braves s*x and will fold faster than last year’s Mets?
Jackets 12-0
September 8th, 2010
6:39 pm
Man have you ever tried to swallow a horse’s load?
1980 was so long ago
September 8th, 2010
6:39 pm
Drunk drivers, hit and runs, assault and battery, illegal dealings with agents, RED PANTIES – and they are proud of their “college” football team.
ryan
September 8th, 2010
6:39 pm
I bet Obama had something to do with NCAA’s decision he most have taking control and payed them off .
The Real Jackets 12-0
September 8th, 2010
6:40 pm
haha nice try…
Jackets 12-0
September 8th, 2010
6:40 pm
I need a man right now. please call me soon
Ummmmmmmmmm
September 8th, 2010
6:40 pm
Hey 10………..if he was “that” naive he would not have LIED…………….
No, seriously, Yellow Fuzzy, I will personally kick your ass. Just give me an address.
September 8th, 2010
6:40 pm
Jackets 12-0 — Empty your cesspool? Where the hell do you live — the landfill? Seriously, modern man has made big strides in sewage disposal, like using, say, sewer lines.
Guess What
September 8th, 2010
6:40 pm
Well the excuses have started. Wasn’t it on this same site last week when all the fans said” AJ is to nice of a kid to get messed up with anything like this.
He has admitted he lied and now he has to suffer the consequences.
Stop making all the excuses, if he played for another team in the SEC all of you would be calling for
his execution.
The Real Jackets 12-0
September 8th, 2010
6:40 pm
Wow, Goats are really tight
The Real Jackets 12-0
September 8th, 2010
6:41 pm
I like to put peanut butter on my thing and call my dog over to lick it
The Real Jackets 12-0
September 8th, 2010
6:41 pm
Actually can I have your address and come have fun with you mother?
CDAWG
September 8th, 2010
6:42 pm
I bet that agent gave him a lot more money than is being reported.He probably helped out his family…nothing wrong with that.
juvenal
September 8th, 2010
6:42 pm
real Tech grads don’t go the fuzzy/5150 route(after all, according to you, we went to school in the ghetto__cabbagetown?)besides, we are #1 in Afro-American engineer grads…isn’t there enuf violence on the field?..i wish this young man nothing but the best, we all learned more from our mistakes than anything we learned in a classroom…
Tthe Truth
September 8th, 2010
6:42 pm
I don’t know what the big deal about college player’s getting paid is, when in fact, most of them are getting paid. It is called a scholarship, which is worth a lot of money, even at UGA. However, those who think otherwise probably didn’t go to college. So instead, they just became UGA fans.
The Real Jackets 12-0
September 8th, 2010
6:42 pm
No, seriously, Yellow Fuzzy, I will personally kick your ass.
I love you, take me now
5150 P.O.A.D
September 8th, 2010
6:42 pm
Fake p.o.a.d stop telling my secrets or I will have to make the wife put on her Big Strap-on and take your Ball Gage out so the neighbors can hear you scream “Do Me Like UGA III Used 2 Do Me”.