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
greg
September 8th, 2010
5:04 pm
Any word on the USCe players who stayed in the hotel at reduced rates? At 4 grand they should be done for the year…right NCAA?
Jona
September 8th, 2010
5:04 pm
The sky is not falling, we have other very good players and we’re about to play hapless sc. Life is good and we’ll get AJ back and healthy in 3 weeks. Calm down people.
ryan
September 8th, 2010
5:04 pm
ALL HATERS ON ARE A BUNCH OF A HOlES this borderline police brutality !
FLA DAWG
September 8th, 2010
5:05 pm
BAMA BOY,
I agree. One or two game suspension would have been fair – but FOUR!?
It only proves that when you cooperate with the NCAA (just like the government) they take advantage and run with it out of control.
big g dawg
September 8th, 2010
5:05 pm
the kid has no money, dad out of a job and the ncaa suspends him 4 games for selling a jersey? no wonder they all want to leave college early, nice job ncaa!
82Dawg
September 8th, 2010
5:05 pm
Please tell me how this is Richt’s fault?You make no sense with that stupid comment
Mark richt
September 8th, 2010
5:05 pm
Let us pray now to the football god
Mike S
September 8th, 2010
5:05 pm
The whole first and second thing is really old, seriously get a life. Are you two 6 years old? Secondly, there’s serious hypocrisy involved here but I understand where the NCAA is coming from. If they rule that it’s ok for Green to sell a jersey what’s to stop other players from making thousands of dollars from selling items and nullifying the lines between amateur and professional sports. Green was dumb to sell it and it was unfortunate if he felt he needed the money bad enough that he had to.
collegeballfana
September 8th, 2010
5:05 pm
This statement was made by a UGA fan earlier: “You can find replicas on line for $74.95..”
This fan ignores the fact that “someone” paid $1000. for the jersey.
In short, Green took a bribe from someone connected to an agent.
I am stunned that UGA is appealing the suspension. Appealing is just candy-as*ed at best. UGA has a problem with its players getting arrested, what is it, 23 in 3 years?, and they wonder why. Maybe they should consider that they do not really punish any players, just a gentle slap on the wrist.
Let the suspension stand! So he misses 4 games. Is his presence that critical for a win? If so, UGA has a lousy team.
GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER UGA
September 8th, 2010
5:05 pm
Embarrassing? We are beyond that. When you are given the OPPORTUNITY to play for the University of Georgia you better damn well understand what that means. I am sick and tired of this immature BS that our players continue to show us. Most importantly, now instead of us getting ready for the most important game of the season thus far… we are now dealing with another off field incident that could very well impact the outcome of the game. GET IT TOGETHER BULLDOGS… You ARE EMBARRASSING the very people who support you.
TrueDawg
September 8th, 2010
5:05 pm
Agree that it was a stupid thing to do, but that the penalty does not fit the crime unless there is more to the story. I would hope that if there’s not more, than the penalty will get reduced to two games and he’ll be eligible for Arkansas. However, I don’t think this will influence him to stay his Senior year. If anything, I think he’ll be more inclined to go pro so he can be done with the NCAA and get a big contract.
Georgia’s A.J. Green suspended 4 games | TheMatadorSports.com
September 8th, 2010
5:06 pm
[...] news from the Atlanta Journal Constitution is claiming that Georgia star WR A.J. Green will be suspended for 4 games after allegedly selling a [...]
Jeff
September 8th, 2010
5:06 pm
The NCAA is full of hypocrites. These kids scrape by on $30 per week allowances from their parents… they are not allowed to work and hold jobs to make any money… they can’t profit one d*** nickel from their athletic achievements… but the NCAA can sell their likenesses and use them to make BILLIONS OF DOLLARS from TV contracts, video games, replica merchandise, tee-shirts, books, DVDs of great plays, bowl games, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.
In the past I have been resistant to the idea of players getting paid… but ya know what? The money is too big now. It’s big business… let the kids have a slice of the pie. $200 a week or so during the season won’t make any athletic department go bust. And in the offseason, let them work jobs to make some cash… and have that go hand-in-hand with a mentoring program from various professionals… and, lastly, have a mandatory NCAA rules class and a mandatory money-management/life skills class, BOTH to be taken 1st semester as a freshman.
Tough luck, AJ… we’ll see you in October. And to all you idiots gloating about this, be careful… it can happen to your program. And by the way, UGA will still kick your team’s a** even without AJ… the Dogs have a ton of weapons this year, it’s not just the AJ show.
Go Dawgs!!!
SOOHSO
September 8th, 2010
5:06 pm
Another thUGA!!!!!!
Rogue U
September 8th, 2010
5:07 pm
This thug lied to the investigators and got caught in the lie. Thats why the punishment is what it is.
Auburn Fan
September 8th, 2010
5:07 pm
This is stupid. We need to pay the players and dump the NCAA. The schools and NCAA are getting rich while the players can’t sell a jersey?
????
September 8th, 2010
5:07 pm
The NCAA wonders why athletes don’t stay 4 years….they run things like a Nazi Concentration camp…
Oh and if they really wanna know how kids are getting money, check the “book buy backs”…yeah you know at the end of each semester when the athletes resale the books that were given to them by the athletic department….some of those books are fetching upwards of $1,000…I know of one SEC school in particular that does it, and its not Georgia (however I’m sure it goes on everywhere)
King Gator
September 8th, 2010
5:07 pm
More NCAA stupidity and if I were a good/great player with NFL talent I’d leave as soon as possible.. let the NCAA make thier own $, while the player makes his in the NFL. NCAA doles out punishment based on offense and how forth coming the player/school is.. probably the difference between Bama kid and AJ; but still stupid. Go Gators!
St. Richt
September 8th, 2010
5:07 pm
MoDawg, your program being out of control and always making headlines for off the field transgressions is reality, not “witty” banter.
Phil Fulmer
September 8th, 2010
5:07 pm
Geeeeeeeeez dawgs
You already WON The 2010 Fulmer Cup.
Why the hell are you trying to pad the score, now?
Jeff
September 8th, 2010
5:07 pm
well well well….is their any doubt that the NCAA is run by a bunch of slim and dirt????????? Bama guy gets two games and AJ 4 games…hmmmmm…The NCAA is a joke. sewage is to good of a word to describe these low lifes…..
UGA = Clemson = Perennial Underachievers
September 8th, 2010
5:07 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’ll be lucky to go 7-5
CDAWG
September 8th, 2010
5:07 pm
Bama Boy, have you notice on ESPN how much they are talking about the teams out west? It’s almost as if they are really trying to promote the lesser conf. Bottom line is SEC is the beast.
T Knight
September 8th, 2010
5:07 pm
Why would McGarity appeal the ruling? Why not make Green sit out all 4 games and teach him a real life lesson. If UGA appeals and wins, it’s just another incident of a jock getting away with making bad choices.
bornloser
September 8th, 2010
5:07 pm
he knows the rules!!!!!!!!!!! kick his ass off the team!!!!!!!!!!!!! and take cmr with him, this good christan garbage must go, CMR IS WEAK WEAK WEAK
Aiken Chicken
September 8th, 2010
5:07 pm
He would have been no factor against us anyway. Stephon would have shut him down like he did the star from So Miss. I wish AJ were playing so there would be no dawg excuses.
Gregory
September 8th, 2010
5:08 pm
The players should not be given rings, jerseys, tropheys or any other awards from bowl games, championships, etc until they have used up their elligibility, drafted in to the pros, or essentially completely out of school. They could then sell whatever they want; we’ve been through this before. Just a few years ago selling SEC Champ rings. It’s going to happen; if they don’t have the prize it can’t be sold. It might mean a little more to them once their out of school………..
Gratefuldawghead
September 8th, 2010
5:08 pm
Time for T King to step it up!
GO DAWGS!
bugkiller
September 8th, 2010
5:08 pm
uga=clemson what team do u pull for
appeal?
September 8th, 2010
5:08 pm
is there a point in appealing if he has to sit out during the that process? we saw how long this decision took, by the time the appeal is finished he’ll already miss some games in addition to whatever games they decide to reduce, if any
Dawgs73
September 8th, 2010
5:08 pm
I don’t understand the NCAA’s ruling on this one…4 games for selling a jersey???? They were initially investigating the “agent party” and now they come up with this…sounds like a witch hunt.
mASSoli appeals the NCAA’s decision not to allow him to transfer to Ole Miss, and he is reinstated immediately…WTF???? I think it’s time for the NCAA to be investigated for just being plain stupid.
football is in the air
September 8th, 2010
5:08 pm
Thankfully it’s not just an AJ show this year. I thought we were going to have to go other places for receptions but it was because he was being double teamed and left others open.
This hurts for sure but hopefully it will make us stronger.
“footballs are in the air” but AJ is not catching them.
go DAWGS! 30-24
Kentucky DAWG
September 8th, 2010
5:08 pm
How can you even begin to put a price on what #34 made for Ga. and yet still these kids can’t make a thing off of their own property. What BS. It certainly doesn’t seem like Ga. is being treated remotely fair. Still though how stupid do you have to be?
Jeremiah Masoli
September 8th, 2010
5:09 pm
Throw the book at him!
U-GAG
September 8th, 2010
5:09 pm
WE
R-U-I-N
THIS
STATE
lawzoo
September 8th, 2010
5:09 pm
“Independence Day Bowl shirt ”
That’s what he sold? This obviously gets into the fraud realm.
Jm
September 8th, 2010
5:09 pm
SC 27, GA 13
Bob
September 8th, 2010
5:09 pm
Steelers QB, Rape, 4 games out
AJ Green, sales a jersey, 4 games out
Stinger
September 8th, 2010
5:09 pm
Someone actually wanted a Jersey from the Shrievport game????????? How funny is this ?? Typical for UGA fans and family.
Johnny DangerDawg
September 8th, 2010
5:10 pm
Big mistake by AJ, but WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG for the NCAA to reach this decision?
Warhorse
September 8th, 2010
5:10 pm
Likely will be eliminated from any individual post-season honors, just about the only thing a poodle player could hope for this year.
Roadrunner
September 8th, 2010
5:10 pm
How can the NCAA even pretend this punishment fits the crime??!!! 4 games out of his senior year? Georgia without one of its top players, all this because a player sold his bowl game jersey? Rules are rules, I get that but this is so over the top!! I’d say the same thing if it happened to a player from that North Ave. insect team. Appropriate response NCAA? Hardly, you should be ashamed.
tt44
September 8th, 2010
5:10 pm
NCAA, YA KNOW, IT WONT BE LONG UNTIL ALL THE BETTER THAN AVERAGE COLLEGE ATHELETES WILL BY PASS COLLEGE! ODLY ENOUGH, PENALTY TOO STEEP, REALLY, IF FAMILY BENEFITED FROM THE THE SALE AND NOT AJ,,,,SHOULD BE NO PENALTY….WHAT DO YA THINK ABOUT THAT HUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
What's that got to do with this?
September 8th, 2010
5:10 pm
Any word on the USCe players who stayed in the hotel at reduced rates? At 4 grand they should be done for the year…right NCAA?
SC’s players were cleared for that ‘violation’…..the NCAA ruled they didn’t receive any additional benefit on account the rooms were available to anyone who stayed thre long-term for the same rate.
ugatiger
September 8th, 2010
5:10 pm
So AJ gets 4 games for selling his jersey but Alabama player can take $2000 worth of goods from an agent and get 2 games?
Beast from the East
September 8th, 2010
5:11 pm
I would not appeal. He did it, he knew it was against the rules and he has to suffer the consequences. The rest of the team just needs to approach it like he’s injured and go on without him. They sure didn’t look like they missed him too badly last week.
Good luck, Dawgs.
DaveDawg96
September 8th, 2010
5:11 pm
“The NCAA suspended Dareus two games and ordered him to repay $1,787.17 for airfare, lodging, meals and transportation for two trips taken to Miami during the summer.”
Yeah, this is real fair NCAA! I’m glad A.J. “cooperated” with your investigation. What an insane double-standard — we’re always getting the sh*t-end of the stick. Complete BS.
Chris
September 8th, 2010
5:11 pm
Even as a GT fan I think this punishment is excessive. But maybe this is the NCAA dropping the hammer on UGA for their summer of shame. I’m not sure though. 4 games is a lot though!
CDAWG
September 8th, 2010
5:11 pm
collegeballfan, AJ did not do anything illegal nor did he get arrested. Get your facts straight.
Tony Barnhart
September 8th, 2010
5:11 pm
Just another “unspeakable human tragedy” in Athens