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
DrewDawg
September 28th, 2010
3:31 pm
Seriously… AJ you’re an idiot and you totally failed your team. You let your team down when they counted on you and you put your own benefit ahead of your team. You should be sitting another 2 more games for being so damn stupid. You said it yourself: “I thought it was just something minor” which to me indicates that you knew you were wrong. You were wrong… you ARE wrong… and now you get essentially no punishment for it. YOU are what is wrong with the attitude of my beloved Dawgs. You’re attitude is a virus, although it probably started with Stafford and Moreno, that left unmitigated spreads amongst your teammates and severely screws the team. Bravo AJ. Bravo.
JB
September 28th, 2010
3:32 pm
If I’m Richt, I open up ALL positions, even scout team…I bet we have some guys on the scout team who want to hit somebody…..Got to.
UGA’s Green sold jersey for extra Spring Break money | ChuckOliver.Net
September 28th, 2010
3:32 pm
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2010/09/28/a-j-green-i-sold-jersey-for-extra-cash-during-spring... [...]
gdawginkalamazoo
September 28th, 2010
3:32 pm
Great! This year if we are lucky we will end up in a bowl game where the jeserys will have zero value after the game. Okay they might be good for checking the oil or washing the car.
chdawg
September 28th, 2010
3:33 pm
Richt should kick his butt off the team and give him an job application for Macy’s if he want’t to sell wardrobe for a living. That would be making a leadership statement an let the rest of the team know that stupid actions have consequences for the entire team and the fan base. We can lose without AJ.
dawggone fire richt already
September 28th, 2010
3:34 pm
how about chris peterson and before you come back with what has he done. Where did Urban come form bowling green and Utah what has he done 2 nc in half the time richt has been in the sec so there is ur answer.
MURPHY
September 28th, 2010
3:34 pm
What % of 17-19 year old college football players wouldnt jump at the chance to pocket $1000.00 if they thought they would get away with it? Maybe 1 % Sad but true!
Patrick
September 28th, 2010
3:37 pm
So if he was honest and up front with the NCAA when they inquired, then why the F did they uphold the entire suspension. Still doesn’t seem like equal punishment when you compare it to the Alabama player who received even more from a monetary standpoint. The kid screwed up and did something he shouldn’t have done, but the NCAA is a complete joke…
GT92
September 28th, 2010
3:37 pm
A.J. violated a NCAA rule. Whether you agree with the rule or not, there should have been a consequence. However, I believe the consequence was excessive in light of other players at other schools getting only a 2 game suspension when they received a higher value of benefits from someone more clearly an agent.
unclefast
September 28th, 2010
3:38 pm
Everybody knows it’s Obama’s fault.
UGALEE
September 28th, 2010
3:38 pm
What do the initials NCAA stand for, anyway?
ItJustAintRight!!
September 28th, 2010
3:38 pm
Mannn, you gotta be kidding me! These college kids bring in millions and millions of dollars to their respective universities. And they are concerned about someone selling their jersey for a measly $1000 bucks. I know the NCAA has rules to abide by; But, C’mon Mann!! I think these student-athletes should be compensated monetarily for all their hard work on and off the field. This would definitely minimize unfortunate situations like this one.
Dawg_Mike
September 28th, 2010
3:38 pm
I could care less. At this point I’d kick him off the team, but CMR wants to save his job and having Pay J Green back might just help in that endeavor.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 28th, 2010
3:38 pm
Joe: What girls would hook up with a guy that got DRUNK on Spit and Liquor? Nasty!
dawggone fire richt already
September 28th, 2010
3:39 pm
there is your answer you can pick up the phone now pikedawg or did you realize im right.
McDawg
September 28th, 2010
3:40 pm
where does the NCAA get the right to players bank records???
unbelievable
Speed Racer
September 28th, 2010
3:40 pm
How did the NCAA get his bank records? This is not clear. Did he give them willingly? Does the NCAA have the power to get such private documents?
mdawg
September 28th, 2010
3:41 pm
How can any of you be optimistic? The apocalypse has come and gone. The season is over. Nothing to salvage now but the future of our program, and that future is definitely not with our current coaching staff. We might get 2 more wins this season.
HJF
September 28th, 2010
3:41 pm
People don’t realize how difficult it is for college athletes financially. Many of them do not come from families that are well to do. Because of their committment to atletics they don’t have opportunities to work for extra spending money. Some of the kids from our local area who have gone on to play at the college level did not have enough money to buy decent clothes, and it would have been an infraction for a booster to help them. The NCAA should allow athletes to be given a stipend for their support to the ;programs of the college.
ItJustAintRight!!
September 28th, 2010
3:41 pm
NCAA stands for No-Cash-AT-All…
fes
September 28th, 2010
3:42 pm
idiot. next time, do like everyone else and keep that money in your pocket. there’s no statement of that!
5150 P.O.A.D
September 28th, 2010
3:42 pm
ItJustAintRight: those rules are because boosters Maximized little situations with cash under the table back in the day.
I know I would pay to have a privite Gymnastic show from some of the Gym Dawgs.
P.T. Barnum
September 28th, 2010
3:42 pm
Has anyone besides Brett noted the fact that NCAA had access to this kid’s bank records? Excuse me, he’s not a kid, he’s a citizen of the United States of America. Mark Richt earns $4 million/year, gets Ford commercials and speaking fees and a 21 year-old cannot sell his private property? Green needs to “lawyer up” and take the NCAA to court like Ed O’Bannon from UCLA.
LtCol
September 28th, 2010
3:42 pm
I’m so tired about hearing that the Dawgs lost their first three SEC conference games that I could just puke. It takes a team – not one player – to win games. Let it rest already!!!! The team lost the three games, not A.J. What excuse will Dawg fans give when they lose a game in which their golden boy is a player?
WTF
September 28th, 2010
3:44 pm
Probably wouldn’t have matter in the South Carolina game anyway but lets see how he handles getting back on the field.
SadDawg
September 28th, 2010
3:44 pm
Green shoulda cashed the check and put the $$ in his wallet. The NCAA jumped all over rumors of AJ going to Miami.
If they had jumped on USC that quick, Troy probably could have kissed goodbye at least a couple of titles and a couple of Heismans . . .
Welcome Back
September 28th, 2010
3:44 pm
P.O.A.D. Agree with your response but this is not a Tech site. And for being your age you are way too over the top.
CATERDAWG
September 28th, 2010
3:44 pm
TECH82 go find a defense for your crappy team!! Nesbitt for HEISMAN what a joke!!!! 30-24 HAHAHA!!
joe
September 28th, 2010
3:45 pm
@5150– I seem to recall him jumping on a few grenades that week…even fat girls need spring break lovin’ too.
MURPHY
September 28th, 2010
3:45 pm
Speed racer,
AJ supplied the NCAA with his bank records.Either give em up or loose the whole year! NCAA used the strong arm tactic
Dawgs Back!
September 28th, 2010
3:46 pm
Green got hosed by the NCAA! With AJ back in action, the UGA offense explodes and the Dawgs will win out, including a huge upset of Florida!!! Mark it down–the Dawgs are back baby!!!
Red
September 28th, 2010
3:46 pm
He only owned up to it AFTER he was caught. Look what he did to his team. He broke a rule he knew about and then his team paid the price. Selfishness and greed. What a team player. Sounds like Richt has a disease running rampant in Athens.
st
September 28th, 2010
3:46 pm
Who has not been young and dumb? I’ve been in college and broke too & did crazy stuff. Don’t judge till you’ve walked in his shoes. The kid needs money, sells something that belongs to him to get by. Did not steal nor did he lie. Punishment way too harsh! Forgive and move on. I hope this does make him stronger and smarter.
dawg from a distance
September 28th, 2010
3:47 pm
He simply entered a buyers market. Now that same jersey and the 0-3 SEC start wouldn’t get him $5. Hope he is happy.
I hope it was worth destroying the chemistry of a team that had high hopes and is now the laughing stock of college football.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 28th, 2010
3:47 pm
Well whats done is done. I support AJ still and the rest of the team. The NCAA is a tough cookie. Once they didn’t have the evidence on the TMZ story they came back wanting his bank records. The NCAA needs to be put in charge of the hunt for Bin Laden!
Smitty
September 28th, 2010
3:47 pm
The ALMIGHTY NCAA. I played college football in the late 1980’s. There was a time when these college athletes could hold down a summer job and make some extra spending money. As college sports, especially D1 football require these kids to train year round, leaving no down time. This is big time baby!! Many of these athletes come from less than desireable family situations, and low-low income familes. Mommy and Daddy aren’t sending spending money for Tommy, and Molly. There is NO WAY to work during the season, or the remainder of the school year. All while the colleges and NCAA reap the rewards. Yes, I understand that I get a scholarship for school, room and board and books. The time and commitment that it takes at this level, most people could never imagine!!!! The kid is 20 years old. He made a mistake. Let’s move on. What needs to occur is that the NCAA needs to take a look at some sort of stipend for these kids. It is hypocritical to sell a #8 jersey at the UGA book store, and not know the reason for that purchase was AJ Green. For that at the BAMA bookstore # 22 Bama, Mark Ingram. There is so much money being made it has clouded those in power to the point or corruption. The same folks who can’t give us a D1 football playoff. Whatever…
German Shepherd Dawg
September 28th, 2010
3:49 pm
DP,
Next time you’re going to say something that dumb, you might want to think twice.
Some people might read what you say and think you’re being serious.
You don’t think it would hurt the whole team if AJ got suspended for the entire season?
He wasn’t thinking about himself. He was thinking about doing the right thing, which is to tell the truth and not lie when asked a direct question.
If you want to be mad at somebody, try the NCAA. Kid from Alabama goes to an agent’s party in Miami and comped on a trip worth $2k and gets two games. AJ sells his jersey for $1000 cash, ends up donating the money to charity and gets four games.
It makes me wonder who on the infractions committee hates Mark Richt. We get screwed regularly, and the “bashers” out there are too stupid to realize that recruits do actually catch wind of a fickle fan base.
I am a DAWG, not a fair weather fan. If we lose to UF and Auburn, I still want Richt to succeed. I’ve only known Dooley, Goff, (Glenn Mason for about 12 hours), Donnan and Richt. I’d take either bookend over the two in the middle. Who else are you gonna go get?
Do not tell me Smart or Muschamp. I don’t want KS here anymore and Muschamp is locked in at Texas. You couldn’t afford the Richt buyout and his.
Speaking of the Richt buyout, that pretty much guarantees he’s there another year whether you like it or not. I’m personally really happy and could care less if you aren’t. What’s important is, don’t you want to see a #1 recruiting class? We are well on our way, and now not only does the discontent possibly sway Crowell, Drew and Rome in the wrong direction, it may hurt is with Wesley-Scott.
As for the defense, I am amazed that Grantham has had four games and people are calling for his job.
Amazed. Curious about the intellect of said critics and interested to learn more of their own ability to perform miracles on the job. FOUR FREAKING GAMES! Two losses against Top 25 SEC opponents and a third loss on the road.
The only loss that really bothered me a little was MSU, but factoring no AJ, two lost touchdowns and on the road in Starkville, it was a recipe for disaster all along. I didn’t like it, but I understand why it happened.
It’s called the principle of entirely unrealistic expectations. Granted, they’ve fomented over several years beginning the the preseason #1 and nightmare blackout against Alabama, but that was then, this is now. Grantham is a great hire for the long run. He needs a heck of a lot more than four games. Give him a season and one recruiting class of his defensive guys. Remember, we signed him after recruiting was basically over because of the Cowboys being in the playoffs. BTW, doesn’t the Dallas defense look a lot better with him gone? (Sarcasm intended)
This is GSD saying
Go Dawgs! Sic ‘em! Woof woof woof!
Stupid
September 28th, 2010
3:49 pm
The investigation should have been dropped as soon as the NCAA confirmed AJ had never gone to Miami. Isn’t that the whole reason there was an investigation at UGA? They went way beyond the scope of their authority. It was a fishing expedition. Yeah yeah, they found wrong doing, but they shouldn’t have been in AJ’s bank records anyway. They overstepped the boundaries of the investigation.
On another note, student athletes shouldn’t get paid by the school. But if they can get an endorsement deal without an NFL agent, they should be able to get a pay check. College models/actors have agents. That would be no different than working at KFC – a job. If you think all players should get a check then let the endorsees split the endorsement deal amongst the players with different percentages going to those based on performance/playing time/other stats. Either way, scholarship players are getting tuition that at some schools cost well over $100K. Schools shouldn’t pay players – they’re students, not employees. If anything, lower the cost of tickets!
SadDawg
September 28th, 2010
3:49 pm
“I know I would pay to have a privite Gymnastic show from some of the Gym Dawgs.”
******************************************
Oh, now I know what P.O.A.D means, Perverted Only About Dawg gymnasts!
That’s sick!
dawg from a distance
September 28th, 2010
3:50 pm
HJF the problem is they don’t appreciate all that is being done for them already.
Scholarship, popularity. Come on they get enough and don’t appreciate it and have an expectation for more instead of thankfulness for what they do get.
MURPHY
September 28th, 2010
3:50 pm
Red,
The NCAA was investigating his bank records for any possible money given to him from an agent.AJ or the University had no idea they would come across the 1000.00 deposit for a jersey. They asked when they saw it and AJ told them the truth.He did do wrong but had no idea about the jersey incident untill they questioned the deposit.
jarvis
September 28th, 2010
3:50 pm
@Dawgs Back! AJ playing both ways now including handling the primary run blocking?
If not, this isn’t a huge gain.
GDAWG65
September 28th, 2010
3:50 pm
I think all those NCAA Gestapo “investigators” should have their books audited. 4 game suspension for selling a jersey – the “investigators” must have been paid to do it.
audioguy3107
September 28th, 2010
3:51 pm
Just asking….does the NCAA have a right to examine one’s private bank records w/o some type of legal consent?
NC Dawg Fan
September 28th, 2010
3:51 pm
So, what are the “mitigating circumstances” that would warrant the ‘BAMA player (who actually recieved gifts from an agent) only getting 2 weeks?
Zack
September 28th, 2010
3:52 pm
http://rebuildingthedawgs.blogspot.com/
SadDawg
September 28th, 2010
3:52 pm
LtCol, how about your fellow Techies crying about your best player missing ONE QUARTER against UGA last November. You boys have got short memories.
jarvis
September 28th, 2010
3:52 pm
No audioguy they don’t, but they won’t allow a player to play until they give legal consent.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 28th, 2010
3:52 pm
If you don’t like the rules then work to get them changed. Players are not going to get paid so get over that. Schools can’t pay the girl riding horseback and the star running back there is not enough money in sports for that. Football and Basketball makes money for all the other sports.
Baron of Brumby
September 28th, 2010
3:52 pm
Agree w Murphy..most of the comments sound like people who have never been young and in college and exposed to a lot of temptation. I went to UGA in the 80’s and did a lot of stupid things that I am glad someone never went through my personal records to confirm such stupidity. The reality is he did a dumb thing and he’s paid a price. Mark my words he will get drafted in the top 10 and make millions and be a great citizen in his NFL community. I personally think they should give all D-1 athletes the same amount they give grad school students. That would eliminate a lot of this short-sighted behavior.