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
HE IS A LIAR!
September 8th, 2010
7:15 pm
I WILL PRAY FOR THE SINS OF AJ GREEN! MAKE NO MISTAKE HE WILL ROT FOR ETERNITY!
UNC Rocks and Rules
September 8th, 2010
7:15 pm
“Ocho Stinko”
ryan
September 8th, 2010
7:15 pm
Spikes is a sex addict !
Big Dog
September 8th, 2010
7:16 pm
What a dumba$$.I heard they asked him about his SAT and he said he did great.He said he’s20-20.USC scores the first 2 times with the ball.UGA has to abandon the run.Murry can’t win it with his arm!!!!
Coffee Bluff Dawg
September 8th, 2010
7:16 pm
TheTaxJacket
Will be great fun to see the Bees try to stop AJ this year. Is the sheriff going to bring his pop gun to Athens?
sylvia seawright
September 8th, 2010
7:17 pm
I’m glad none of you don’t live in glass houses. Isn’t it easy to tear down on other people when we have never done any wrong in the world? I know that all of you folks that are ripping Mark and A.J. were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. You have always had everything you wanted and are perfect. OOps there is only one man I know that was Perfect Jesus Christ. Don’t criticize and then you won’t be criticized for others will treat you the way you treat them.
The young man made a mistake he will have to live with it. Don’t be cruel you have not walked in his shoes and until you do, then you can begin to throw your rocks.
Name me another coach that you know that has gone on misssion trips to help the downtrodden people in other countries. Mark is a wonderful person he walks and talks with God daily. Ga will do fine this yr. and A.J will too.
Daddy Mojo
September 8th, 2010
7:19 pm
Ah the cult of the athlete. A player makes a mistake and the school and athlete cultists come to the surface to make apologies. The important question could be what is this kid studying and what does he plan to do with his life? Odds on him playing pro? I don’t know, maybe they’re good, maybe not. Take the four games and study AJ.
steve h
September 8th, 2010
7:19 pm
These guys know wrong from right. A.J. violated the rules of the NCAA and the stipulations of his scholorship. If I were Mark Richt, I would dismiss him from the team immediately. Our Dawgs are out of control. He is not coming back for his senior year! He put his self above the team. When my fellow fans try to justify this kind of behavior they just enable it too continue. Cut out the crap. Let, someone who has honored his team play. LET THE GOOD DAWGS EAT
poopdawg
September 8th, 2010
7:20 pm
This punishment reminds me of the harsh treatment the ncaa handed Dez Bryant last year for lying to the ncaa. Bryant did nothing wrong but when questioned , got scared and lied about a meeting he had with Neon Deon. Bryant was suspended the rest of the year. The ncaa continues to tarnish their own image.
Gavin Taylor
September 8th, 2010
7:20 pm
Oh and not to mention the millions of times we have lied. A lie is a lie. (Little lie, white lie, big lie, just kidding lie…)
Also, remember the trouble that your children have been in and the shame they caused the ‘family name’. And if you don’t have kids…just wait.
SLim
September 8th, 2010
7:21 pm
Love it! Georgia is a joke…..
Where is a GT cheerleader when you need one
September 8th, 2010
7:21 pm
Wow, a lot of GT folks postings here where it has nothing to do with their school or their football team. Shouldn’t they be at work building bridges and making a difference in the world instead of going to a UGA blog and wasting time? Guess they’re all out of work. Sucks to graduate from GT and be unemployed suffering through 4 years of intense pain and getting robbed on the streets of Atlanta.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention, (((24-14))) Orange Bowl 2010
catlady
September 8th, 2010
7:21 pm
On what basis are they appealing?
Reality Check
September 8th, 2010
7:21 pm
The guy who ought to be locked up just for being real, real stupid? Yep, that’s the brainchild that wanted a FREAKIN’ INDEPENDENCE BOWL JERSEY SO BADLY HE COUGHED UP A GRAND………Now that’s just funny…..
Later this year he can probably travel with the uga team to Shreveport and get the 2010 version for about $59.95.
mml
September 8th, 2010
7:22 pm
i’m sick of agents and the ncaa…both should know better.
Double Rainbow Guy
September 8th, 2010
7:22 pm
Free AJ Green!!
Cary
September 8th, 2010
7:23 pm
How can ;one person be so stupid. He`ll be making millions in one yr. and does that.
Do they ever get the message. To be blessed with what they were born with and can`t
handle it.
Get riid of him and show some balls even tho;ugh I know the A director wont do that. Just
when I think we have one player with a little since this crap hannens. Somebody step up.
I don`t think he sould get the pub. after he has let the team down. How often do you think
he has been talked to abouit this. Just another loser thats been blessed. I know Mark has
his arm arouind him now telling him to not worry about it.
Chuck Doodle
September 8th, 2010
7:23 pm
Coach Richt…….water girl wants to know how UGA players become so E bay savy ?
Josh Nesbitt
September 8th, 2010
7:23 pm
I killed a guy once. Never got caught. Dumped the body behind a Waffle House.
NCAAwhislteblower
September 8th, 2010
7:24 pm
What idiot paid a $1000 for a jersey anyway? How can the A$$es at the NCAA decide that selling a jersey was worth four games when flying to Miami and trying to be wanta be pimp is olny worth two games?
GALAWYER
September 8th, 2010
7:25 pm
Who paid the Charity? If he needed the 1000.00 then how could come up with the money to send to Charity?
Ricky Bobby
September 8th, 2010
7:25 pm
The NCAA are a bunch of communist D-bags!
Dawg8589
September 8th, 2010
7:26 pm
What kind of idiots are we recruiting? What is funny is that he said,”he hopes that others learn a lesson from this.” I wonder how many weeks it will take before another UGA player is suspended for the samething. I am absolutely ashamed to be a University of Georgia graduate.
Jefferson Davis
September 8th, 2010
7:27 pm
The NCAA has a better plantation system than we ever did!
Govols
September 8th, 2010
7:27 pm
Hey dog fans you should be proud that somebody is willing to pay $ 1000 dollors for one of your players jerseys.I got a number 8 Crompton jersey for a pack of of gum and a bottle of mad dog 20/20
joseph
September 8th, 2010
7:27 pm
i understand there is rules you have to follow. but you cannot sell something that belongs to you:
DAWG07
September 8th, 2010
7:28 pm
NO WAY 1K EQUATES TO 4 GAMES AND 2K IS 2 GAMES.
Pole Vaulter
September 8th, 2010
7:28 pm
Georgia’s record wihtout AJ Green is 7-1.
The NCAA
September 8th, 2010
7:28 pm
Student-Slaves… I mean Student-Athletes must obey our draconian rules!!
poopdawg
September 8th, 2010
7:30 pm
Dawg8589 AJ Green is a great kid , he just made a mistake . AJ is not an idiot. Don’t let the door hit your ass 8589. GO DAWGS!
GA FAN
September 8th, 2010
7:30 pm
Tech Engineers cant go build bridges, because there aren’t any jobs! HAHAHAHAHA. AJ new better and did it anyway. Hell if he cant play football he has no need to be on team. Mettenburger gets drunk, has fake ID, and slaps a ho on the butt in Valdosta and gets banished from UGA and AJ gets a pass, only so he can use UGA 1/2 the season to increase his draft potential. SAD……………….actually pathetic.
Greg Talley
September 8th, 2010
7:30 pm
Would someone please buy one of my old jerseys?
Evansdawg
September 8th, 2010
7:30 pm
He owes us a senior year. He owes it to the fans at UGA to stay for his senior season. (period)
uga
September 8th, 2010
7:31 pm
Are we going to miss AJ? Didnt we lose five games with hi, last year?
#1DAWGINMISSISSIPPI
September 8th, 2010
7:31 pm
cann
September 8th, 2010
6:53 pm
Really enjoyed your post and it is always good to hear a post from a logical fan that has a brain in there head and does not think with there a$$ !!! I have never seen I in TEAM and one player does not make a TEAM !!!! Go Dawgs!!!! Finish what you started on Sept. 4th, 2010 Between the Hedges!!!
Deion Sanders
September 8th, 2010
7:31 pm
I did worse in my sleep when I was at FSU!
Yippy Yappy
September 8th, 2010
7:31 pm
Soem of you bloggers need to be banned.
That’s why AJC doens’t allow comments, to keep the looney fringe away.
Hopefully, AJC will just ban handles like:
Ricky Bobby. Josh Nesbitt, ryan, etc.
Rick Bobby
September 8th, 2010
7:32 pm
You sound like a commie Yippy Yappy. Shake and Bake!
Roger G.
September 8th, 2010
7:33 pm
Ok, let ALL the ‘Thugs’, ‘Slaves’, or whatever you racist people want to call God’s creation not play another day in college sports…what would we have then?
Hale Almand
September 8th, 2010
7:34 pm
out of order…..we’re all out of order. Just leave us alone ,leave us be I say. Jan you started all this and now we can’t fart with out the NCAA telling us what we had for lunch. We will never own up for anything, you’ll have to catch us. I hope these kids misplace your mail or forget to pick up your trash, then you’ll see who has the last laugh…….Gooooooo Dawgs.
TheTaxJacket
September 8th, 2010
7:34 pm
**** Nesbitt for Heismen ****
HBTD
September 8th, 2010
7:35 pm
I hope they reduce your suspension AJ. but go ahead and take your medicine. The dawgs will miss you this Saturday, but should be just fine. Seems to me the last time you were out of the lineup we kicked the little yellow jackets ass all up and down North Avenue. Practice hard and be ready to contribute when you get back.
Jefferson Davis
September 8th, 2010
7:36 pm
Roger G.- they aren’t thugs or slaves but they are being exploited by the NCAA. I think they should go on strike for a weekend bring the NCAA to it’s knees!
Roger G.
September 8th, 2010
7:38 pm
I agree Jefferson Davis…my point exactly. No one is perfect, and they DO have the most talent. People just have to use common sense in knowing that ALL people do not come from the same background.
Roger G.
September 8th, 2010
7:39 pm
Survival of the Fittest!
STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES
September 8th, 2010
7:40 pm
HYPOCRITE’S!!!! IT’S FUNNY WHEN ANOTHER TEAM’S PLAYER SCREW’S UPBUT LET A”HOLIER THAN THOU” DAWG GET CAUGHT & JESUS H. ROOSEVELT CHRIST YOU BONEHEAD’S DAWG FAN’S TAKE THE CAKE!!! COULD NOT HAPPEN TO MORE DESERVING FANBASE!!!
THUGA FOOTBALL
September 8th, 2010
7:43 pm
Why are UGA FANS TAKING UP FOR A RULE BREAKER ??????
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Roger G.
September 8th, 2010
7:44 pm
So with that being said…let the school appeal if they wish, let the NCAA do their ‘thing’, let AJ serve his penalty and move on people…You all need to be worried about your next move in life! What are you going to wear to work tomorrow? Paying your bills on time. Planning your next trip. Apologizing to your mate. There are 1 millions things for you to figure out rather than dragging AJ, UGA and/or CMR through like your life is peachy clean!
HBTD
September 8th, 2010
7:45 pm
THUGA FOOTBALL
September 8th, 2010
7:43 pm
Because we’ve all made mistakes, especially at age 19,
Common Sense
September 8th, 2010
7:45 pm
How did anyone find out that he sold the jersey in the first place? Seems reasonable that someone fitting the description of an agent bought the damn jersey then reported doing such to the NCAA?
Can’t imagine GREEN would ‘turn himself in’……
I smell a rat.