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.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,225 comments Add your comment
Bee Lover
September 9th, 2010
9:05 am
Rick
September 8th, 2010
4:44 pm
My God! What was he thinking?!?!? If this is true, it was monumentally stupid and he deserves what he gets.
Uh, Rick……we knew he was stupid going in, that was a given…..this is the kind of players UGA recruits for their “football factory”. Actually, for being so stupid, his punishment should have been much greater…..he should have been kicked off the team for the duration of the four games he can’t play in. I know y’all are pretty liberal down there in Athens because of your EGO regarding your football? team, but me thinks if another incident surfaces involving any player, the administration at UGA will be forced to do something……maybe your next coach
will be able to get y’all on the right track
tide roll
September 9th, 2010
9:08 am
Richt’s flotation device for Lake whatever – $25.00; Bobo’s case of Budweiser- $25.00; Auburn signing Cam Newton- Priceless.
LHardingDawg
September 9th, 2010
9:17 am
If my family needed the money, I would sell the damn jersey to.
Chuck
September 9th, 2010
9:18 am
The Bama kid told the truth. “Yes I was there at he party” He knew if he had to answer to Saban he may never wear Crimson agian. AJ Green when asked about the party “didnt go, dont know what you are talking about”. Clearly Green is not scared what his coach might do to him. There is a trend at UGA. More and more players arrested, nothing really happens to them. Ever notice how Bama players dont get arrested. Richts players need discipline both on and of the field. This type of news will be the norm at UGA untill a staff comes in and teaches responsibilities. His players just dont get it. I am not a hater, I am just calling it like I see it.
jiuce sourcer
September 9th, 2010
9:21 am
As a Summerville High grad in South Carolina I always questioned why AJ went to an out of state school like Georgia instead of Clemson. Now it’s confirmed that he made a really bad decision by getting into the sesspool of Georgia Bulldog football…it’s creates an environment that makes you do bad things…look at the frigging track record.
LHardingDawg
September 9th, 2010
9:24 am
jiuce
He wanted to play in a big time program, in a big time conference.
Tired of the BS
September 9th, 2010
9:25 am
This is going to take awhile, so here goes. A.J., I don’t have to ask the question if you are stupid or not, you have proven that. Your actions have helped bring down Coach Richt even more in the media for not being able to CONTROL his players. I know for a fact that he does a great job of doing that, but I guess you are just another one of those who lets it go in one ear and out the other. You do your own thing! Just think, you sell a jersey (that you did not buy) and sell it for a $1000.00; several months from now you will have a chance to become a millionaire, does that make sense?
You can apoligize to your team mates, coaches, and fans all you want; that is nothing but BS. You are another one of those who does not give a damn about TEAM, it’s all about you! You need to pay the UGA back it’s scholarship money back for you time of your suspension, your not doing us any good; just giving UGA another bad rap! Last time I checked, it took 4 years to receive a degree in the area of your study, you’ll never make it! You will flip your finger to UGA, go to the pros early and sell all the balls you catch or jersys you have on E-bay for all you want. That’s truth and you know it. Or you will be like many other UGA players, you get expossed to an NFL team that you don”t have the brains to compete in that league; so you flip burgers for a living. In your case you possess all the characteristics of being great! It is sad to say that another agent or the same will be pumping you up to turn pro after you 6-7 games at UGA this year. Those people don’t give a damn about you, only what you can bring to them “$”!
I, along with most of the “Nation” would like to see you take the high road to your success in the pros. Rededicate yourself to UGA, prove to yourself that you can achieve a 4 year degree and be a positive role model. The low road is an early departure, if that is the road you take, you validated everything what has been said. And, if that is the way it is going to be; please quit now, pay your schorlarship money back to UGA, hire you a pimp agent who is not concerned about you, and last of all, haul ass out of UGA and let us start all over coaching a freshman who wants to learn and have a future at UGA.
I’m all about forgiveness, but prove that you are worthy; where are you at!
I read these blogs, and all of these people who are behind you 100% in your actions, well, there morals are no higher than yours if you choose that route. I’ve been there (UGA football career), I know what it takes; believe and trust me, there is life after football. Are you going to become a great ambassador from UGA, or continue to follow a thugs life?
In the words of the great “Erk Russell”, (if you even know who he is,) “Do what’s right”!
Or you can take the other famous comment, don’t know the author, but it is a correct statement; you can’t make chicken salad out of chicken S____!
Where you at A.J.? Step up, be a Man, not an idiot!
KA
September 9th, 2010
9:32 am
Top performing college athletes become celebrities. Celebrity status inflates their egos and makes them greedy for attention and money, and like a drug, they just want more and more. Perhaps a college course in character development would help them to recognize the pitfalls of becoming self-important and greedy celebrities.
Shane
September 9th, 2010
9:34 am
The agent was a Florida Gators fan! They already weeding out the competion for October 30, 2010!
coo coo bird fan
September 9th, 2010
9:47 am
The oddest thing about this too me is that the jersey is a part of the bowl package, its a gift for making and playing in the bowl game. Kind of like getting a NCAA jacket when you get to the tournament in basketball. So it yours rite? U should be able to sell it for however much to whomever you’d like. For that reason alone, I feel the NCAA will back down and Green will play this weekend. U want this to stop? Start compensating the college athlete w/ more than an education, like he’s there to get that in the first place.
Dawgs Drool!
September 9th, 2010
9:48 am
Hey, you hoLier than thou pup fans. WAH WAH WAH WAH and WAH SOME MORE!!! Another year of lofty rankings and failed expectations with losses to South Carolina, Tennessee and the Yellow Jackets!
For Georgia Tech Only.....
September 9th, 2010
9:49 am
Who is running that damn zoo in Athens, sure as hell isn’t CMR? Party On Dawg Nation!
Coming from A Gator Fan
September 9th, 2010
9:52 am
I feel bad for AJ Green, totally unfair bc I was a college student-athlete. The NCAA has a big problem on their hand & it’s basically all their fault. The NCAA makes millions & millions of dollars off these kids. So the University can pay these big time coaches whatever high demand salary they want but can’t pay the kids who are actually making them who they are in the 1st place. But even if they payed the student athletes “a salary”, the agents would still be dishing out extra cash to the future lottery picks or franchise players. It’s definitely a lose lose for NCAA. Just my take on it..
coo coo bird fan
September 9th, 2010
9:52 am
I repeat, the jersey was a gift for playing in the bowl game!! Look it up, any team, any bowl game, every player gets to keep the jersey. Its theres to burn, make love too, or sell. Yeah he lied, he’s a kid! Your kids dont lie? The NCAA makes a mountain out of a mole hill, and continues to rake in cash hand over fist exploiting these young men for there talent on the football field. Once again, for those who say there getting a free education! Open your eyes! Take a good look at the college football landscape and tell me honestly how many kids are out there for the education, and If they didnt play football would they be in college at all?
Wreckmaniac
September 9th, 2010
9:54 am
Look, UGA fans, you want the “5 Stars” so learn to take what comes with them.
dawg1
September 9th, 2010
9:58 am
UGA football don’t depend on one player. If it did we would be in deep sh!!……………One monkey don’t stop the show said Bear.
mowreck
September 9th, 2010
9:58 am
Just wondering where Green got the $1,000 to donate to charity? Did he save the $1,000 the agent gave him? I mean if he has that kind of money, he wouldn’t have needed to sell the jersey. Hummmmm.
Realitycheck
September 9th, 2010
9:59 am
The truth of the matter is that he knew the rules, broke them, and from all that has been reported lied when questioned about the sale of his jersey. The lying is what got him the 4 games. Whether you agree with the rule or not, it is there for a reason. Imagine what would happen if the players were allowed to sell memorabilia. This would open the door to that wealthy alumnus paying $5000 for that game jersey or $3000 for the chin strap he wore when making the winning catch or perhaps $10,000 for that coveted helmet. What a can of worms would be opened if we allowed players to sell their own items. We would then have boosters basically buying recruits with over the top payments and there would never be an even playing field again. If you think that players should be paid, why not just support a farm system for the pros similar to what they have in baseball and forget about college football altogether because paying the players would only create a different level of professional football. I would agree with a weekly allowance set by the NCAA and equal across the board but anything else would create the same system we have in the pros….the stars being vastly overpaid.
CraZyaZZbullPuP
September 9th, 2010
10:00 am
Enter your comments here
CraZyaZZbuLLPuP
September 9th, 2010
10:03 am
Yall gotta quit doin stupid stuff man? Maybe Richt has lost control?!?!?
Coming from A Gator Fan
September 9th, 2010
10:05 am
Here is another case where the NCAA got it all wrong.. A kid has a catastophic knee injury as a freshmen in JUCO. It takes him 2 years to get his knee back together & playing @ a high level. He returns to bball after those 2 years to play his sophomore year @ another JUCO. He has a standout year & is rewarded a full scholarship to play @ Iowa State & goes on to average a double double in the Big 12!! Well he is classified as a Senior. He APPEALED to the NCAA for a 5th or 6th year of eligibilty (medical hardship) & they DENIED him!! This is a kid who potentially would have went into that next season & perhaps had an even better year & get drafted in the 2011 NBA Draft.. The NCAA definitely dropped the ball on this one!!
Jacket22
September 9th, 2010
10:06 am
I know all you UGAY idiots think the punishment is to harsh but consider this. Maybe the NCAA is sick and tired of all the crap that comes out of Athens every season, what with all the UGAY players getting arrested every year and now the former AD getting arrested with CMR’s panties in his lap no less maybe they are making an example out of AJ. UGAY officials should also want to make an example of him instead of sweeping it aside as they always do..case in point washaun ealey. Everyone knows there is more to the story than UGAY officials will admit, you don’t leave the scene of an accident for nothing, what a joke to say he left the scene because it wasn’t his car and because he had a suspended license. As anyone with a brain knows the car owner would find out anyway so why run and if his license was suspended it was for a reason, (DUI MAYBE?) Washaun was most likely high, drunk or getting a bj from CMR when it happened and this is another cover up from the fine leadership at UGAY. UGAY is so used to this even their recruits are getting in on the action early so they can be well skilled at running afoul of the rules when they enroll..READ CHRISTIAN LEMAY!!! his daddy thought the school and community should bow down to his boy and change the rules–they didn’t and now UGA has a prized recruit that will have played his last football game 2 years before being eligible to hit the field in gay town. Oh well that is typical of UGAY athletes and officials..STUPID, THUG WANNABE, ALCOHOLICS
gdawginkalamzoo
September 9th, 2010
10:06 am
Well according to Derek Dooley UT stinks! LMAO!
http://www.ajc.com/sports/vols-coach-tells-players-609750.html
Always10 to 9 in Dallas
September 9th, 2010
10:09 am
This old recollection makes a point:
UGA defeated # 1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl,10-9 in 1983 after Walker went to the N Jersey Generals.
Texas did not scoore a TD on UGA and John Lastinger olled around his right end and scored one late.
My point? UGA or for that matter, ANY team can move forward with out the so claled star. Take Florida, they likely will do well this year AFTER Tim Tebow’s departure.
UGA fans ………….the team either crumbles or they act like men. I am sure that TG will have his side of the ball ready …………will the UGA O? Will Ealey come out and be a man? Will Wooten? Will Orson and will the UGA Offensive line? Will they have some attitude?
How about Marlon Brown? He was a super star 6′5″ receiver in HS, so prove it in Columbia. Supposedly he is equal to a Julio Jones or AJ ………….. he did come back to the ball last Saturday, which is something UGA receivers never do. Marlon might fill in nicely.
Kids ought to be thinking ” um, ah, NOW this is my shot” and I am going to grab the brass ring. If they are really competitors ………..let them show it, gang.
We should be fine and very aggressive in Columbia. We will need some close in turn overs for sure.
Go Dogs.
coachmarkymarkricht
September 9th, 2010
10:13 am
it should’ve been more games…
NCAA suspensions give hint on eventual UNC punishment – ACC Insider - Wilmington Star News - Wilmington, NC - Archive
September 9th, 2010
10:18 am
[...] for instance, Georgia’s star wide receiver A.J. Green was suspended for four games for selling his jersey from last year’s Independence Bowl to someone who qualifies as a sports [...]
South GA Dawg
September 9th, 2010
10:18 am
NCAA should be ashamed of what they are doing. They deliberatly waited as long as possible before giving out the punishment. Knowing that the appeal process would take long enough to last through his next three games. This is not intended to hurt AJ but a direct slap in the face of the UGA football program. Do you really think he was the only kid in college to sell a jersey? Give me a damn break. He is just a high profile player for UGA and the NCAA dug deep to find something to hurt the program. YES, I believe it is all related to the law suit over the NCAA being a monopoly. UGA won then and will win now. Find someone else to screw with. Looks to me like they are scared of Alabama because Saban aint going to put up with their crap.
LHardingDawg
September 9th, 2010
10:18 am
I hav’nt read one thing about his lying to the NCAA except by blogers.
Ace
September 9th, 2010
10:21 am
Rule breaking cheater.
how2fish
September 9th, 2010
10:22 am
Hey anyone thinking that this was a plot to get AJ kickoff the team for the year are idiots and it didn’t work..Bugs he baring injury will be working you over in Nov..and guess what if this team has the heart it needs this will unite them further and not in a Bugish Tickle Pile way..but bond them as a team..Go Dawgs!
bobbylove
September 9th, 2010
10:23 am
…..and the AGENT (who I am sure is aware of the rules)…….his punishment is……………….????
JdawgT
September 9th, 2010
10:26 am
I bet Buzz was laughing last year when his bumbling bee’s were gettin the brakes beat off them. HAHAHHAHAHHHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHA.
Taylor
September 9th, 2010
10:27 am
I hate to say it, but this program is out of control and there is no other way to say it. Richt is a fraud and that’s all there is to it.
That sums it up nicely. The kind of crap that goes on at UGA is not happening anywhere else, at least not remotely to the degree that it is in Athens.
#1drunk party school, the Fulmer Cup, players routinely lying to the coaches, 44 arrests, Damon Evans and other DUIs in the athletic office, Jan Kemp, Jim Harrick, etc. This sh*t only happens at UGA, where Mark Richt has zero control or influence over the players. Things are completely out of control, and most dawgtards still have their heads buried in the sand.
It’s just going to get unimaginably worse until Richt is sacked and replaced by a head coach who has morals and integrity.
Until then, enjoy watching the red panties falling from the sky.
Dawgturd Relief
September 9th, 2010
10:30 am
UGA folks can brag all you want to about beating Tech in football most years, and that’s perfectly fair. What’s also fair is to point out that with a history of Jan Kemp (Vince Dooley days), Jim Harrick, Damon Evans, and 44 arrests, UGA is truly “The Cesspool of the South,” and is richly deserving of that title. No one outside of Georgia has any respect for UGA or its athletic department, and that is a fact. It has been said many times: “Tech people are proud of their school, Georgia people are proud of their team.” What a legacy to be proud of!
UGA fans can now return to your mobile home parks and resume waiting for your unemployment checks.
And watching those red panties falling from the sky, always a good time-killer for thUGA dawgtards. :-) :-) :-)
BS
September 9th, 2010
10:30 am
NCAA #???????????????
Degas
September 9th, 2010
10:32 am
I wonder if any of the books about UGA football include the perspective of someone speaking for the late Jan Kemp? The perspective that “student” athletes like Lindsay Scott were playing years without taking college level courses? That the proudest moment of the football program was earned by players who never earned a single college credit?
Dawgtards love to return to 1980, but their memories are really short when it comes to remembering an earthshaking event that happened a few years later that showed the world what a joke UGA athletes were and what a scam artist their beloved Vince Dooley was (and is). So for all those dawgtards with short memories or who think their athletes are actually taking real courses and trying to graduate, here’s the quote that broke the trial wide open and showed what a slimeball Dooley is:
O. Hale Almand Jr., a lawyer for the defense, offered a justification for the favorable treatment accorded the athletes, citing a hypothetical player. “We may not make a university student out of him,” he told the jury, “but if we can teach him to read and write, maybe he can work at the post office rather than as a garbageman when he gets through with his athletic career.”
Nothing has changed at UGA, they just do a slightly better job of keeping things quiet, but that’s hard to do when 44 of your player-thugs have been arrested, isn’t it?
UGA: WINNER OF THE FULMER CUP AND THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
CraZyaZZbuLLPuP
September 9th, 2010
10:33 am
South GA Dawg
Your right the NCAA is out to get you!
Coach
September 9th, 2010
10:34 am
Let’s see. How can I funnel money to our players? Well, AJ, I’ll give you $500 for the shoe laces, $250 for the chin strap, $750 for the tee shirt, ….
CraZyaZZbuLLPuP
September 9th, 2010
10:35 am
You think maybe Mark should have been the one to lay out a bigger suspension he needed to make an example of someone. He needs to say enough is enough. Starting today if you are arrested or do anything that results in arrest or NCAA investigation or suspension you are off the team.
lakesidegator
September 9th, 2010
10:35 am
Wait a sec, he didn’t sign and sell a pair of red panties. so, what’s the big deal?
South GA Dawg
September 9th, 2010
10:36 am
I heard his lawyer was a GA Tech graduate. Practicing under a fake degree. He is damn lucky they didnt give him life in prison without a chance of parol. NCAA was heard saying that Selling your jersey is serious and if we have to let a few terrorist out of prison to make room for him then that is what we will do. Hey heard GA Tech was next to be investigated.
lakesidegator
September 9th, 2010
10:37 am
$1000 is way overpriced.
Papadawg
September 9th, 2010
10:38 am
dawg turd relief, you’re a complete idiot. What’s your degree. Mine from UGA has me retired at 50, money is no problem and I own 2599 acres which my 4200 sq ft house sits on. No I don’t know anything about engineering but I do know how to make a Buck or 2 or 3. How many of your precious GEEK TURDS can match me.
J.Nesbitt
September 9th, 2010
10:39 am
What a dumb-A$$. I got $ 4,500 for mine!
Coach
September 9th, 2010
10:41 am
And did any of you folks bashing the NCAA note that he sold it to an agent?
Ace
September 9th, 2010
10:41 am
Papadawg, you should have gave AJ some of that jack so he wouldn’t have to break the rules.
South GA Dawg
September 9th, 2010
10:43 am
UGA, retired at 47 sold my company for 24m. all profit. Traveling with wife to Europe for 6 months.
David
September 9th, 2010
10:44 am
This is another example of why the NCAA is outdated. The NCAA is a Billion Dollar a year buisness that gets free labor from student athletes that have no rights at all to their name or image. The NCAA makes tons of cash off of the players, schools can drop a player at anytime for no reason at all (a scholarship if for one year only with the school having the sole right to determine if they want to continue it), but the student athele can’t change their mind without a penalty, i.e. they have to sit out a whole season. Talk about a monoply.
Realistic Dawg Fan
September 9th, 2010
10:45 am
Love how all the Tek fans gloat. As always they change the subject to non-football related topics(because they can’t beat us) as if they have have a pristine program (which they don’t.)
UGA will still beat SC and still beat tek…… Changing the subject doesn’t change 60-39-5 and 8 of the last 9 …. including stomping the ACC champs in their own backyard… How sweet it is….
EuthanizeaDAWG
September 9th, 2010
10:47 am
AJ Green was unsuccessful in his attempt to offer me his jersey first after he cleaned my gutters. I guess that’s why he turned to ebay.