Report: Former UNC player, considered agent by NCAA, bought Green’s jersey
The person who paid Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green $1,000 for his Independence Bowl jersey is a former North Carolina football player whom the NCAA considers an agent, ESPN.com reported Thursday night.
Chris Hawkins identified himself in Facebook messages to Green as a financial advisor and memorabilia collector, according to the report, which cited unnamed sources.
The report quoted Hawkins as saying: “I didn’t come at A.J. like a marketer or an agent. I’m not an agent. I talked to him about ‘Good game this’ and ‘Good game that.’ I wanted the jersey because I collect jerseys.”
Green was suspended for four games by the NCAA on Wednesday for violation of the organization’s rule against accepting benefits from agents.
Georgia is appealing the decision to the NCAA Division I Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement in hopes of having the length of the suspension reduced. The appeal is expected to be considered next week. Green is not eligible to play during the appeal process.
Hawkins, a former North Carolina defensive back, is “at the center” of an NCAA investigation into alleged rules violations in the Tar Heels program, ESPN.com said. According to the report, a source said Hawkins contacted several sports agents about their interest in representing North Carolina players in the NFL draft.
The NCAA defines an agent as “any individual who markets or promotes a student-athlete.” According to the facts of the case submitted by Georgia to the NCAA, Green sold the jersey “to an individual who meets the NCAA definition of an agent.”
It also would be against NCAA rules for a student-athlete to sell memorabilia to a non-agent.
“It’s in a frame in a basement right now,” Hawkins said of Green’s jersey, according to the report.
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
346 comments Add your comment
big bad john
September 10th, 2010
11:36 am
The “Bull Dog Nation” is the lamest thing in sports today!
Keeping It Real
September 10th, 2010
11:48 am
how2fish /DawgFan1987
Mr. Hawkins is a product of the system. He knows how it works. He was just trying to put some money in AJ’s pocket like some of the alumni does on occasion. They recognize where these kids come from in our society. They are being groomed for the NFL as far back as the 4th grade. Take a look at the high school booster clubs who probably have a direct link to a lot of the colleges. I have even heard of private high schools who scout the youth leagues and offer the kids free tuition. To say that education is a priority in the big time colleges is a joke. Take a look at what some of these kids are majoring in. How about Urban Studies at Auburn? I am sure that some of the other schools are doing the same thing. The only exceptions would be Vandy, Duke and maybe Tech.
Blanche
September 10th, 2010
11:52 am
Green’s actions are just typical behavior by a dawgturd. It’s either NCAA violations or being arrested. And the majority of UGA players are barely semi-literate morons at best. However, anyone who knows the history of UGA football should not be surprised at the 44 arrests or the NCAA infractions.
And speaking of UGA history, 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.
Get Real
September 10th, 2010
11:54 am
You people are missing the point. He’s not allowed to sell jerseys to ANYONE – until he’s off the team. He knew that and the person he sold it to knows that. He denied violating the rules and that is why they threw the book at him. They’re asking that in exchange for 3 years of room and board, a free education, and free job training – you keep your head down and follow the rules.
For some reason, Richt doesn’t believe in instilling the fear of God to behave – this is just the diet coke of his players not obeying the rules. He’s so far in denial about the state of his program, it’s pathetic.
“The flaw is if a guy does something that deserves to be disciplined and you don’t discipline him. That’s where the flaw is. The flaw is in us as humans. We’re flawed, we’re human, we make mistakes. When we make a mistake, then we get disciplined for it. As long as we have 18- to 22-year old guys who are human beings, they are going to make mistakes. That’s just all there is to it. If you don’t discipline it, you have a problem. If they don’t learn from it, then they have a problem.”
How about telling players from day one that they’re off the team if they step out of line just once- because they’re not above the law? Sounds like you have the problem, Richt. Losing player after player is why your team ISN’T as good as it ought to be. Talent is nothing without character behind it.
Andy
September 10th, 2010
11:55 am
SC 31, UGA 27.
Tom Lotspeich
September 10th, 2010
12:00 pm
Hey GoBigDog, college players do receive compensation, they dont have to pay for their education. Green is just another crook running around on the uga campus & football field. The thing I want answered is this, if someone like myself or any other “normal” person committed some of the crimes committed by some of these players, we would be in jail not just suspended for a game. I dont really see Green as a crook. He was trying to get money in an illegal way and may not have known that that was a rules violation. He may have also been mislead by the buyer. But the others should be punished by the law like you or I would be. If I had a crash and left the scene the authorities would have had me in a jail cell in no time. Was Ealey even taken into custody? Of course most of these crimes have happened on campus and the campus police probably called coach richt first. Being an athlete he and others got special treatment!
Nick Saban
September 10th, 2010
12:00 pm
I bought Brandon Spikes sex tape.
Dr Phil
September 10th, 2010
12:03 pm
Blanche- I truly hope you are getting the help you so desperately need for all of your mental and emotional issues. If you aren’t already in therapy, please consider it.
bulldawgbill
September 10th, 2010
12:04 pm
To “The truth about A. J. and Darius” — Is you BCS trophy still at the Wall Mart?
Bulldawg Nation
September 10th, 2010
12:05 pm
Referring to oneself as “big bad john” could be lamest thing ever. Do you have “big bad john” airbrushed on your truck?
Blondie
September 10th, 2010
12:06 pm
I’ve seen Tech players that not only go onto the pros, but also got their engineering degrees. A few have even done so in THREE years, not four, because they take it so seriously. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to play football, but it doesn’t hurt if they are either. Maybe your precious coach should stop recruiting dumb@$$es that can’t even cut it as management majors.
UGA Players = Basket weaving majors on cell block 6. Cesspool of the South.
Les Miles Clock Management Team
September 10th, 2010
12:07 pm
Gator Fan, we’re sorry your kids are fat, slow, and stupid and can’t get athletic or academic scholarships but being bitter and jealous is no way to go thru life.
Kenny Anderson
September 10th, 2010
12:08 pm
I went to Georgia Tech and I’m a complete dumb*ss and flat broke.
LSU fan
September 10th, 2010
12:10 pm
This is such a BS ruling! The problem that I have with the NCAA is the fact, that it is his own property!!!!!! Don’t these players receive all types of gifts from the Bowl gifting rooms as part of going to the Bowl game they were invited to? What would be the case if he gave the jersey to his parents, and then they turned around ad sold it? Would he be held liable for that too! The NCAA needs to police big recruiting violations and not worry about trivial matters such as this!
Laughing Vol
September 10th, 2010
12:22 pm
LSU why would anybody give him $1,000 for that jersey? What if somebody gave him $10,000 for it? Would that still be OK? What about $100,000? What if he gave it to his parents and they got a bunch of money for it (wink, wink)? What if the person he, or they, sold it to was acting like an agent? Just wondering.
marc
September 10th, 2010
12:26 pm
I’m sick of the NCAA….not the rules..we need some..but they’re refusal to recognize the realities of today…and adjust. They truly see the world through their own rose colored glasses…and it seems self serving.
Observation
September 10th, 2010
12:26 pm
I heard an agent asking about a Gtu jersey. He had run out of toilet paper and needed something to wipe his rear with.
JIMB
September 10th, 2010
12:28 pm
Green is from south carolina and I’m sure is upset about his last opportunity to beat carolina, these are kids, were you a kid in college? this is horrible for the player and the team, but may be a great thing for Georgia a kick into another gear on saturday. A.J. Green will have enough money in the future to buy and sell many jerseys. This is stupid.
michaelj
September 10th, 2010
12:48 pm
Look, the NCAA thinks it transcends the Constitution And the NCAA is vengeful when Georgia is in the picture because Mr. Ponsoldt embarrassed them twice. . And this thug garbage about Washaun, You moron has dinged a car in a parking lot, and if you haven’t, your kid has. You probably wrote a fake note to fool bystanders.
But seriously, how stupid are those folks in Shawnee Mission? Selling a jersey that is his personal property matches taking cash from an agent to party in Miami? No, it’s twice as bad. If I sell my stereo to my next-door neighbor, am I a “crook”.?
The NCAA is not the law, no matter what over-inflated opinion they hold. Their rules are arcane and self-serving, and they wield them against schools that challenge their self-proclaimed omniscience.
Mr. Ponsoldt took money out of their pocket they had no right to in the first place:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/uga/uga-helped-end-ncaas-602120.html
They have spent time trying to get revenge. Some years back, UGA lost scholarships because an assistant coach drove an athlete to attend a family member’s funeral, because the kid couldn’t afford to get there. So, whose side are you on?
Selling your own jersey is worse than attending a party thrown in another city by an actual sports agent? Please, give me a break, and the behavior of the NCAA in all of this? Kinda like that odious piece of excrement Ken Starr. If it doesn’t convict, we keep digging until we find something entirely unrelated.
ryan
September 10th, 2010
12:56 pm
Just in NCAA is looking at Vols basketball program more bad news for Tenn program .
big bad john
September 10th, 2010
1:01 pm
Seriously, the bulldog nation could not be any lamer? What does how I identifty myself on a blog have to do with it? You my friend are just as lame as the dog nation itself.
big bad john
September 10th, 2010
1:04 pm
What is a Gtu Jersey?
SEC Fact Checker(the real one)
September 10th, 2010
1:04 pm
I am not going to get into this is AJ’s punishment too harsh, did he lie, did he know who he was dealing with. The fact as they stand now as listed by the NCAA:
AJ sold a jersey to a person who has represented a player or two and has agent ties.
AJ knew this was not allowed according to the NCAA rules as UGA AD has commented.
Now we all know AJ will be a top 10 pick in the next NFL draft.
AJ will be a millionaire in the very near future.(unless a Prothro injury occurs)
As for the Auburn and Mississippi St. game: Auburn still has no defense, Mississippi State can not catch. Cam Newton is pretty darn good, but he will not last getting popped 20 times a game.
Cam Newton will be in the NFL this time next year. Gus Malzhan will have a head coaching job somewhere in a major conference. Ted Roof will be let go as the AU defense does not improve. The defenses around the league catch up to the Auburn offense and slowly are able to slow it down.
Great games this weekend and we all hope the SEC does well in every contest.
dogfish
September 10th, 2010
1:04 pm
Can someone explain to me how you could possibly consider this guy an agent?? Does he sell insurance or something?? Is he an insurance agent?
Lot of garbage on this blog, like always. Can’t you guys find anything better to do than act like a jack$#@?
dawg for life
September 10th, 2010
1:05 pm
Big Bad John, you are an idiot, and probably a nerd from North Ave. Go find your own blog to waller in, DORK!!!
Big Bad John
September 10th, 2010
1:07 pm
Actually Dawg for life, I am not a techy, but nice try. I went to Georgia State and we have a brand new program full of excitement and no thugs like you have in Athens. We have kids playing their hearts out and working hard for a slot on the team. You my friend, are the DORK!!
SEC Fact Checker(the real one)
September 10th, 2010
1:12 pm
michaelj..not going to argue here..but
Eligible players are not allowed to sell, market, or promote any items that are to be used as private entities. What that means is he can not sell his jersey, likeness, autograph to anyone or any group. The NCAA has stated in two previous rulings that the student athletes may not be allowed to use University Team likeness or uniforms in the act of non -university related activities unless approved by the school, conference and NCAA. The jersey, ring, or other forms of SWAG may be loaned, sold, leased unitl all eligibility is exhausted or the player is no longer a quallified student athlete.
Just to make sure you understand the guidelines and the amateur athlete guidelines. The AAU and NCAA, NJCAA, NAIA, all follow this guideline.
ryan
September 10th, 2010
1:15 pm
Big Bad John UGA is not the only school has problems i know there are other Jan Kemp’s at those schools .
Delbert D.
September 10th, 2010
1:21 pm
The NCAA oversight is from the member institutions. They have a working committee on commercialism in place *now*. They announced during the offseason that they would be cracking down on the agent problem. ncaa.org is easy to find and the rules are stated simply. Go look at them.
Mark Schlabach’s espn.com has details on what is known about the connection with Hawkins and Greene and between Hawkins and several agents. Investigative reporting is a valuable resource to coming to your own conclusions about issues like this. Wild speculation and accusations by posters is not particularly interesting to read on these blogs.
Many frequent posters to ajc blogs have their own opinions, and several of them present rational, well-conceived ideas. The people who have populated these blogs know who they are. The posters who act like juveniles throwing rocks at passing cars have other unknown agendas.
Nacho Daddy
September 10th, 2010
1:26 pm
I hope that UGA wins the SEC this year. ( I’ll look for the rings on EBAY )
Big Bad John
September 10th, 2010
1:32 pm
You are right, UGA is not the only school with problems. But they are the only one who has problems and its entire fan base, the “lame dog nation”, takes up for the idiot athletes who make stupid decisions to get them in trouble in the first place. Aj Green is an idiot, end of discussion. Also, UGA acts like they have such a tough schedule every year, and it simply is not.
UGAX
September 10th, 2010
1:36 pm
Enough of this football nonsense, I just want to know where Dagmar is going…..
poopdawg
September 10th, 2010
1:37 pm
Big Bad , AJ is not an idiot. From your blogs it would be hard to defend you!
Big Bad John
September 10th, 2010
1:39 pm
AJ = Idiot
UGAX
September 10th, 2010
1:39 pm
I have to admit that Cam Newton looked pretty solid last night but Mississippi State is horrible on offense. I think Auburn will be a force by year’s end……
Booby's booger finger
September 10th, 2010
1:43 pm
.. what up, dog? how much for the jersey? got any championship rings? NO ? – wanna b agent
Well
September 10th, 2010
1:43 pm
if ga fans don’t like the NCAA, why don’t ya’ll take a hike
DEAD RED
September 10th, 2010
1:46 pm
JACK ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's
September 10th, 2010
1:46 pm
an Association that Ga freely joined, and therefore must abide by the rules. Break the rules and pay the price.
Keeping It Real
September 10th, 2010
1:50 pm
Get Real and Others of the Same Ilk,
Despite all that is said, the NCAA and college football is not about a free education, thugs, morality, teaching moments, teamwork, or any other discription you may give. It’s about winning and satisfying the alumni while making a lot of money doing it. Just look at some of the comments on this blog and think that most of these people actually went to college.Get real.
Typical Ga Fans
September 10th, 2010
1:50 pm
bitch,gripe moan and complain when things don’t go their way. It’s always somebody else who is at fault
Booby's booger finger
September 10th, 2010
1:52 pm
What up UGA?, Boosters a little short on cash these days? What happened to the $100 handshakes?
Typical Ga Fans
September 10th, 2010
1:58 pm
Enter your comments here
ReddJonn68
September 10th, 2010
2:02 pm
AJ Green is like every other kid his age,learning that some the choices you make can effect the rest of your life. My Gripe with NCAA ruling is that they are total garbage. Masoli was actually involved in a felony, burglary & is reinstated for the full season, the Bama kid accepts 1800 $ worth of stuff & gets 2 games.
Is the NCAA infraction committee drinking moonshine or what? There is no consistency on any of its rulings !!! I have no problem with the powers that be policing its schools, just maintain some equaulity with punisments. Its just like raising children if they break the same house rules you don’t ground one for a week & ground the other for a month, do you ???
Booby's booger finger
September 10th, 2010
2:06 pm
…did AJ Green report this $1K to the IRS ?? more trouble down the road?
Dawg Roll
September 10th, 2010
2:12 pm
Wow, Cam Newton put up over 200 yards against Miss State! There is only one reason Kirby Smart did not go after this kid, and we all know what it is. Saban and Smart effectively handed AU a physical freak of nature while Bama is stuck with Greg McElroy at QB.
Saban failed to sign every D-1 offensive lineman in the state, plus he should have some of his backup defensive linemen playing on the OL. These type blunders are why Bama is the laughing stock of the SEC. Mal Moore should do something about it, but will look the other way. Glad I am not a part of it. Roll Dogs!
Jan Kemp: the rest of the story
September 10th, 2010
2:17 pm
UGA manned up and took its medicine from the Kemp exposes. It was costly in a way, as the raised academic standards for athletes cost us some bigtime prospects to our ACC/SEC rivals. Today, however, Dog fans can take pride in its academics and first-rate athletic program. The university took lemons and made lemonade.
Delbert D.
September 10th, 2010
2:19 pm
UNC has an interesting approach to managing it’s athletes’ responsibilities. Dick Baddour is the AD:
“The NCAA governs intercollegiate athletics; the Honor Court at UNC is an autonomous, student-run judicial system that hears student conduct cases, including those involving cheating. It can impose penalties up to and including dismissal from the university; its punishment for athletes found cheating might very well be harsher than what the NCAA imposes, Baddour said.
“If the NCAA says you have to sit out four games, and the honor court says you’re not going to be in school, then you’re not going to be in school,” he said.”
Partial quote from the news-observer.
ryan
September 10th, 2010
2:22 pm
Didn’t Auburn turn the ball over several times .
AltamahaDawg
September 10th, 2010
2:43 pm
Tom did I just hear you accuse the UGA police of giving preferential treatment to UGA players? That might be the first time I have heard that one.
For the record yes Ealey went to jail, and NO you would not have been treated any differently. You would have been cited for the failure to render aid, and arrested had you been driving under a suspended license
BTW, you have the AJ deal completely backward. He fully understood it was against the NCAA regulations, however there was nothing illegal about it.