A.J. Green: I sold jersey for ‘extra cash’ during spring break
ATHENS — Having served his four-game NCAA suspension for selling a jersey for $1,000, Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green on Tuesday told why he did it and how he got caught.
Green said he sold his Independence Bowl jersey to have “extra cash” during spring break and that the NCAA found out about it after asking him to turn over his bank records. He said he complied with the request.
“They had every bank statement going back to February ‘09,” Green said. “They looked and saw that [$1,000 deposit] and they were, like, ‘Hey, where did you get the money from?’ I told them. I’m not going to lie to them . . . and jeopardize my whole season.”
Green, eligible to play for the first time this season Saturday at Colorado, spoke to reporters in a UGA conference room Tuesday afternoon — his first interview since being suspended by the NCAA.
The star receiver did not deny knowing that selling the jersey was against NCAA rules, saying he “didn’t really think it through” and “everybody makes mistakes in life.”
“I broke the rule,” Green said, “and I paid my price. And I’m just ready to play again.”
He said he has never met the jersey buyer, Chris Hawkins, a former North Carolina football player, whom the NCAA considers an agent. Green said he and Hawkins communicated only through Facebook.
It also would be against NCAA rules to sell a jersey to a non-agent, but the NCAA’s designation of Hawkins as an agent might have added to the severity of Green’s penalty. Hawkins has denied that he is an agent and said that he bought the jersey as a collector.
Green said he was told the investigation started when the NCAA heard a rumor that he might have attended a Miami party sponsored by an agent (not Hawkins).
“I didn’t know anything about it,” Green said of the party. “When the NCAA told me about it, they said they heard it from [website] TMZ. [The NCAA] just heard it was a rumor, so they came down here and asked me.”
Green said he told the NCAA investigators, as he previously had told reporters and UGA officials, that he did not attend the Miami party. In the course of the investigation, he said, the NCAA asked for his bank statements, which led to the discovery of a rule violation — the jersey sale — separate from the Miami party.
“I guess when they couldn’t find [anything] on that trip, they went back and found this,” Green said.
He said the NCAA first asked him to explain the money about a week before Georgia’s Sept. 4 opener.
The NCAA declined to respond to Green’s comments Tuesday, and UGA has refused to turn over documents related to the case.
Green said the investigation was “a painful process, man. I’m not the type of guy who ever got into trouble here and stuff like that. Sometimes I couldn’t sleep just thinking about [it]. … I’m just glad that it’s over.”
Of the four-game suspension, he said: “I did something wrong. I deserve it, a penalty for what I’d done.”
Green said he had been approached about selling items before, “but I didn’t do it. But, like I said, it was spring break. So, you know, extra cash. I really didn’t think about it [being] a big deal, so I just did it.”
Georgia has lost three of four games without Green, who said the games have been “painful” for him to watch.
“I feel like . . . I caused a lot of people pain,” he said. “Because I feel like if I was out there some of the time we would have had a chance. . . . I beat myself up pretty much over that.
“But it taught me a valuable lesson. I’m growing up, and I’ve got to do the right thing.”
Georgia coach Mark Richt hopes the lesson spreads to Green’s teammates.
“I would think everybody saw what happened to A.J. and hopefully if they were in that position would not give in to whoever is trying to convince you that this is a good thing to do or that it’s OK to do,” Richt said.
Meanwhile, Green looks forward to his belated season opener Saturday.
“Now it’s about that time to show people what I was missing,” Green said. “I feel like I still got stuff to prove, that I’m behind and that I’m going to have a lot of catching up to do.”
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689 comments Add your comment
crabapplejoe
September 29th, 2010
11:05 am
@Lake Oconee Dawg: “Average” = Green has never had a 1000 yard season. “Good”= someone like Jordan Shipley with 1500 yards. “Good” = someone like Riley Cooper who scored two TDs against the Dawgs for the Gators in one quarter last year. “Average”= Green who has never scored on the Gators. Facts is Facts….hype is hype.
bulldawgbill
September 29th, 2010
11:08 am
I like the way A.J. owned up to his mistake and took his penalty. No complaining or arguing about it, even though he could have made a good case. The NCAA has blown this out of proportion and the penalty was excessive. It will be interesting to see what happens with the FL receiver who threatened to kill his girl friend and plead guilty to a felony stalking charge.
Roman Hruska
September 29th, 2010
11:15 am
The NCAA rules are stoopid. What if he sold the worthless item of clothing. Snooping in his bank account. Gimme a break. Go after the SCHOOLS who recruit mentally challenged HS kids to make the supposed grown-ups look good. This kid appears to be a decent guy caught up in crap that wasn’t worth pursing.
Papadawg
September 29th, 2010
11:34 am
I want to know why anyone would pay $1000. for a jersey from Shreveport
Gratefuldawghead
September 29th, 2010
11:38 am
Give’em Hell AJ!!!!
Snoop Dawg
September 29th, 2010
11:53 am
AJ Green said he’s paid the price. He has not.
He is a gansta thug. He needed more money to get bigger diamond earrings in antipation of his NFL status in a pimped out black SUV.
Listen, this loser sold out his teammates, his coaches, his family, his friends, his fans–everybody– for some loose coin. Kind of like Judas did…
He will never pay the price, because what should have happened is that he should have been kicked off the team swiftly, as should have every other player who has gotten arrested.
Does UGA actually bestow degrees on such idiots?
Tolerance of such scum is why the UGA football team dwells in the dumpster these days.
'94 UGA Grad
September 29th, 2010
12:38 pm
Thanks Pay J. Green,
I guess you couldn’t wait another 10 months for some “extra cash” when you will instantly become a millionaire. Was it worth costing UGA 2 games? We’d be 3-1 if you hadn’t been so selfish.
wow
September 29th, 2010
12:58 pm
Moral of the story, sell for cash. NCAA can suck it!!!
AJ Rules!
September 29th, 2010
1:23 pm
With AJ back Ga will not lose another game—bank on it! He’s a difference maker, the real deal and SEC D’s will not be able to handle him. Ga beats Florida and Tech and goes to a good bowl game. The dawgs are back baby!!!
Mtn Dawg
September 29th, 2010
1:44 pm
‘94 UGA Grad – Get over it. He’s a kid and kids make mistakes. Except for you I suppose when you were his age.
Maddawg
September 29th, 2010
2:04 pm
Should have put the money in his pocket, the bank keeps records.
buzz
September 29th, 2010
2:40 pm
AJ, how much you willing to wager on that “Ga will not lose another game” comment? I have $5,000 if you have the sack to put your money where your mouth is.
OC_Dawg
September 29th, 2010
2:47 pm
If he played for Bama or UF he wouldn’t have been punished at all.
hoochbear
September 29th, 2010
4:12 pm
OK Green and UGA paid too high a price.
– rata (rat) share of pay on the front end of each year of his pro contract for which he would have otherwise be assumed eligible for annual scholarship.
One week suspension AND probationary status for rest of year. Screw up, get booted for rest of year.
How bout this for future?
Soon as player cuts and runs early to the pros he gets the exclusive rights to all merchandise using his name, number, etc. Catch is he has to take delivery of them and figure out how to store and market them.
And, he agrees to reimburse the college
for 1/ the market value of that college scholarship and direct benefits he has used
for each year of scholarship he has participated (including red-shirt)
2/ A pro
These would help poor out little him on leaving college for the pros, and help compensate his old college team for taking a chance on him and foregoing scholarships for someone else who might have been more loyal. Bottom line is, the rich school will be compensated for their awol stepchild. the awol stepchild will feel what it is like to have some of his millions of pro earnings returned to the university early. No tax writeoffs
nor on the cheap donations years later. Just a cashier’s check from his account paid directly to the school. OUCH!
Then maybe he will learn at least one thing from college and football.
Key Man
September 29th, 2010
4:27 pm
I have never understood why students who get an academic scholarship can take an on campus job in the book store to make some spending money while athletes who make millions for the school cant get paid a small amount of money for the work they do. If you paid every athlete 500.00 a month it wouldn’t put a drop in the bucket of the athletic budget.
TechGuy
September 29th, 2010
4:37 pm
buzz – I seriously doubt that you even have $5,000 and do you really think that a college student like AJ has $5,000 to bet? You are an idiot!
Stephen CC
September 29th, 2010
4:56 pm
Hats off to A.J. for admitting his mistake and having a good attitude about the whole thing. It takes a lot of maturity to do that. That will take him far. All the best to A.J. from a Tech fan.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 29th, 2010
5:02 pm
OK to all you that say pay the players. Here are the numbers from UGAs teams.
Baseball 42, M Bball 12, W/M Cross Country 54, Football 124, M Golf 11, M/W Swimming 51, M Tennis 11, M/W Track 98, W Bball 12, Equestrian 67, W Golf 8, Gymnastics 13, W Soccer 31, Softball 22, W Tennis 10, and Volleyball 13. That is 570 Student Athletes. If “PAY UP” has their way that is $570,000 min. a month to $1,140,000 a month or $13,680,000/yr. HAHAHAHAHAHHA RIGHT UGA can afford that. As someone posted UGAA is like #2 in money rasing and there is no way in HELL UGA can pay PLAYERS. TITLE IX leveled the field. Pay ONE you pay them ALL. Hell if you just paid them $2,000/ semester that is $3,420,000/ year.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 29th, 2010
5:05 pm
KEY MAN I reposted from earlier in this blog pleas read the above post and maybe you will understand why schools can’t afford to pay players. And player can’t get jobs because they will get paid like $100/ day to check the air pressure on the coaches golf cart or make sure the sprinklers come on at the practice fields.
The Alamo and lines in the red clay
September 29th, 2010
6:02 pm
The Alamo is a good example of this football year. It does not look goof for the Dogs, no matter who plays. UGA is undermanned at running back, quality wide outs and nose guards and nose guards and did I say nose guards? We also lack quality D linemen, linebackers and safeties. Frankly at safety UGA has a couple of dumb asses. Rambo is awful.
As for AJ and Ealey …………..they can leave now like the old Col. Travis line in the sand routine, when he said you men that want to stay step over this line, the rest can leave now.
I would admire CMR if he did that …………..told them all, that if they stay make it count. Otherwise don’t let that door hit em in their a–es.
Go Dogs.
UGA class of 71 and 73
Fumbles can also be $$ costly
September 29th, 2010
6:06 pm
I am more concerned about how one UGA back ALWSY FUMBLES at the freaking 3 yard line and ends up blowing a TD in tight games. Anyone esle wonder about that? In 3 SEC contests ( KY in 09 and SC and MSU) his fumbles interrupted the UGA big MO and likely cost them the game.
I am just saying that ……………..
UGA class of 71 & 73
Ga Blue
September 29th, 2010
6:25 pm
With green back, Ga should blow out colorado, which is terrible. Their coach is more clueless than richt and will be fired for sure at the end of the year. Dawgs 41 buffalos 20
Tim Fluet
September 29th, 2010
6:49 pm
Eff the NCAA and their Nazi camp rules, I am a Carolina fan and I honor AJ for telling the truth but man, they dont give these kids an opportunity to hardly have spending money at all , and stringent rules that have nothing to do with playing ability, they are setup to fail…..and mind you they are still kids. Eff them Hypocrites at the NCAA.
michaelj
September 29th, 2010
8:28 pm
This is twice as bad as taking an agent’s cash and going to a stripper party in South Beach? These people are idiots. It’s pretty much like calling two unsportsmanlike conducts on one celebration. That was bull, so’s this.
cmdawg99
September 29th, 2010
8:58 pm
i agree with PDawg . a couple of cases of natty light done deal that was my spring breaks
Dawg Gonnit
September 29th, 2010
9:19 pm
So…AJ, in order to payback the fans for your dumb mistake. What say you forget about the NFL next year and come back to Athens for some unfinished business.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 29th, 2010
10:01 pm
Why would even think about coming back to UGA? Never going to happen. AJ got all he needed from UGA and now he is gone.
Christie
September 29th, 2010
10:16 pm
I agree, I am glad that he owned up to his mistake. He is still young and he is going to make mistakes. I also believe that the NCAA totally blew the situation way out of proportion! The media needs to stop dwelling on the past and step into the future. It is time to play some football. Hopefully the Dawgs will be able to turn the rest of the season around. It will definatly have to be a team effort.
L.A. BULLDAWG
September 29th, 2010
11:21 pm
HEY 5150 P.O.A.D AND 76-DAWG, WHAT WERE YOU LIKE WHEN YOU WERE 19 OR 20 YEARS OF AGE? EVERYONE HAS A VULNERABLE TIME INTHEIR LIFE! BY ALL ACCOUNTS, THIS IS AJ’S FIRST MAJOR MESTAKE IN HIS YOUNG LIFE FROM H.S. TO. HIS 1ST 3 YRS ON CAMPUS. LAY OFF OF HIM! THIS IS NOT RANDY MOSS OR REGGIE BUSH WHEN THEY WERE IN COLLEGE. HE HAS PAID HTE PRICE BY WATCHING HIS BULLDOG TEAMMATES STRUGGLE WITHOUT HIM! IF MIKE VICK DESERVES A 2ND CHANCE, THEN AJ GREEN DERVES ONE ALSO! LET HIM BE!
L.A. BULLDAWG
September 29th, 2010
11:37 pm
AND ANOTHER THING, 5150P.O.A.D. AND 76-DAWG, IT MAKES ME FURIOUS WHEN EVERYBODY HAS THIS HOLIER THAN THOU ATTITUDE RELATIVE TO AJ GREEN. A LOT OF US NEEDS TO LOOK IN OUR OWN BACKYARD AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE, AWAY FROM HOME FOR THE 1ST TIME! AJ WILL BE FINE. I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS THAT THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME WE HEAR HIS NAME IN CONTROVERSY AS HE WRAPS UP HIS COLLEGE CAREER AND ENJOYS A LONG STIN IN THE NFL. NICK SABAN HAS CALLED HTESE SO-CALLED AGENTS PIMPS. WHAT DOES THAT MAKE HTESE ADULTS CRITICIZING PROBABLY THE ONLY MAJOR MISTAKE THAT HE HAS MADE? THIS IS A GOOD KID! LETS NOT DESTROY HIM! BUSH AND RANDY MOSS AND THERS WERE REPEAT OFFENDERS WHILE ON THEIR RESPECTIVE CAMPUSES. AJ HAS PAID HIS PENANCE. PLEASE!!!!
Integrity
September 30th, 2010
5:32 am
I still cannot get over the lack of consistency with which NCAA football players are disciplined. Certainly punishment is necessary when there is wrong doing and rules are not followed. However, it is beyond me to understand how selling a jersey can require a four game suspension and “beating up” an under-cover cop requires no suspension. If the integrity of the game is to be preserved, I believe the NCAA needs to get together and take a look at such practices. Breaking some NCAA policies seems quite minor compared to criminal activity. Otherwise, are we really looking at legitimate champions for each conference, or ones which have possibly been determined by NCAA committees with preconceived biases?
jr
September 30th, 2010
9:25 am
when are you idoits going to lay off these kids. they make mistakes even grownups do. but for all the self righteous out there. their education is not free, they pay a heavy price with blood sweat and tears. and sometimes injuries that last a lifetime. for them to profit from their jersey sale on anything should be within the rule. if you give it to them they own it. georgia should fire mark richt and find a coach with guts and heart. one thats tough and demands the best from his players.
KnoxDawg
September 30th, 2010
9:42 am
AJ Green is a stand-up guy. Anyone else make a mistake at his age? I appreciate him telling the truth and taking his punishment like a man. Maybe some of the thugs from UGA and other schools will learn from this young man.
San Francisco Dawg
September 30th, 2010
11:18 am
Who’s going to believe AJ Green…He told the truth? BS! He had no choice but to tell the truth when they asked for his checking account…AJ Green was given a tougher penalty because he DID NOT tell the truth…a $1,000 for spring break? Where did he want to go…Monte Carlo? A $1,000 when you will sign a contract for millions in less than one year? Yea, you cared for the team, AJ…If I was Murray I would not throw a single ball to him….
RODEOOCLOWN
October 1st, 2010
12:36 pm
OK, doesn’t UGA have an orientation program for their athletes? Green’s claims he was
“unaware” selling the jersey was an infration of NCAA regs. Yeah right, and Santa Claus is an Islamic terrorist. Give me a break A.J., the only thing weaker the selling of the jersey is his belief the public is dumb enough to believe such.
Later Dude
Nick
October 1st, 2010
2:53 pm
Whats done is done. Just glad to have the hands down, best reciever in the country back on the field. “GO DAWGS”; “SICK EM”
quickfeet
October 1st, 2010
6:53 pm
At least he owned up to it and took it like a man. No excuses.
Danny
October 2nd, 2010
1:32 pm
…has anyone kicked the buyers are yet? Just saying!
Danny
October 2nd, 2010
1:32 pm
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