2:00 am November 18, 2010, by Tim Tucker
ATHENS – With A.J. Green widely projected as a top-five NFL draft pick, Georgia’s Nov. 27 game against Georgia Tech could be the junior wide receiver’s last in Sanford Stadium. And unless Georgia wins to qualify for a bowl, it also could be Green’s last as a Bulldog.
Green said Wednesday that he hasn’t decided whether to enter the 2011 NFL draft and that there will be a lot of factors to consider after Georgia’s season is completed.
On one hand, he mentioned the threat of an NFL lockout and his mother’s desire for him to get his college degree. On the other hand, he mentioned the risk of injury if he returns to school for his senior season.
“I’m not going to make that decision right yet,” he said. In the end, he said, “you’ve got to do what is best for you.”
Note: More to come on this. I’m working on a story about players who will be — or might be — playing their final game in Sanford Stadium next week. Another Georgia junior who has a decision to make regarding the 2011 draft is outside linebacker Justin Houston.
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136 comments Add your comment
KeepDreaming
November 18th, 2010
10:52 am
Anyone who believes AJ isn’t going PRO and taking the money is a moron!
DawgnMD
November 18th, 2010
10:53 am
Enter your comments here
DawgnMD
November 18th, 2010
10:55 am
Dang Mac. not used to my wife’s PC. Anyway if AJ were crazy enough to pass up the bucks and stay I hope CMR keeps him on the bench when Auburn comes to town. I’d hate to see him end his career on some cheap shot over the middle.
Saint Simons
November 18th, 2010
10:55 am
I came on here to defend myself. Listen people, I am only posting the UGA losing scores and laughing because it brings me great joy to revel in the failure of everything UGA. I am a Tech grad, why wouldn’t I do this? Like my mom always tells me after she brings me mini pizzas to my basement bachelor pad- I am really only good at annoying people. Well, that and math. I would spend more time pleasuring myself to online pornography but it is simply not possible because my genitals are too small to be manipulated. I would spend more time with girls, but they can’t seem to get over my awful stench, my protruding gut or my prematurely bald head. So, I am relegated to waiting for the second an AJC.com article is published and making sure I am first so I can post and laugh at UGA. Thank you for understanding.
cantondawg
November 18th, 2010
10:56 am
There are some things that are more important than money. Being able to be in college for your senior and enjoy the friendships that you have made are worth more than money. You will always be able to make money in the future but you can never relive your last year in college. UGA should purchase a multi-million dollar insurance policy for him.
Saint Simons
November 18th, 2010
10:59 am
Also, if any of you guys want to meet up and fight me, I will be at Swinging Richard’s from 10pm-11pm this Friday. I’ll be the short, fat, bald loser wearing a Georgia Tech tee-shirt with pit stains. If you’re interested, please come wearing a UGA jersey. It really turns me on.
@Saint Simons
November 18th, 2010
11:01 am
Wow, I actually kind of feel bad for you. Dude, leave the basement get some sunlight (which I’m sure is much needed)and see if you don’t feel better. Maybe I’ll see you at next year’s ComicCon.
BG
November 18th, 2010
11:02 am
1 more year AJ!!!!!!!!!
Penn pal
November 18th, 2010
11:02 am
would love to see him back at UGA..but why do you go to college? To prepare for your future career…His is playing ball on Sundays..He is ready. Why risk injury and millions?
Reality
November 18th, 2010
11:03 am
Dap01
November 18th, 2010
10:49 am
“If he played for Auburn there would not be the financial need to leave school early.”
EXACTLY!!!
gbal
November 18th, 2010
11:05 am
Problem for AJ is that he must declare for the draft PRIOR to knowing if there is going to be a NFL lock out….I think!??/
Snack Shack
November 18th, 2010
11:05 am
German Shepard Dawg…..You have correctly assessed the mental problems of the person who calls himself ST SIMONS. In addition, however, he needs to talk things over with his mama for I’m sure she’s tired of his living at home.
RedandBlack
November 18th, 2010
11:05 am
AJ Green should not decide anything until the current football season is concluded. However, it would be helpful to the University of Georgia to know as soon as possible to benefit recruiting at the receiver position. The Dogs will be in a lot better shape next year if Green were to return for his senior season. Let us hope that he does return along with Justin Houston so the Dogs will have a complete team for 2011. Go Dogs!!
Red
November 18th, 2010
11:07 am
To add to my comment, if he gets hurt in the NFL, he can go back to school. He can go back to school when he retires. It’s never too late. Who says you have to be in school four or five years to get a degree? Enmity Smith is a good example. You all are just selfish for your own reasons.
Ed (The Original)
November 18th, 2010
11:07 am
His draft grade will never be higher. He sold a jersey for money. The kid is gone.
R.I.P GEORGIA 2011 Season
November 18th, 2010
11:08 am
AJ Green is gone and so is your season now, geirgia will be 5-7 again with no bowl
1eyedJack
November 18th, 2010
11:08 am
The way I understand it one of the major sticking points in the new NFL collective bargaining agreement is a rookie salary cap and I think the owners are going to be hard to budge on this and I don’t see where the players would risk their paychecks to fight it.
Let’s start a collection to buy AJ and Justin some insurance so they can feel secure about returning for their senior season.
harold
November 18th, 2010
11:09 am
HE HAS TO GO FOR THE MONEY! EVERYONE KNOWS THAT!HE WOULD BE STUPID TO STAY!
Schmeckdawg
November 18th, 2010
11:11 am
NFL lockout and both Green and Houston will be staying. One can only hope!
Irony
November 18th, 2010
11:11 am
People who want to run AJ down or any other player for not being a “team” player for not wanting to risk millions of dollars are actually MORE selfish than the players themselves.
If you had million dollar check made out to “cash” , IN HAND and someone said hey, don’t cash it wait a year and better yet, take a cross country road trip to california and mail it back to yourself just for a gamble, THEN you can cash it if it doesn’t get lost or stolen in the mail or you happen to die in the next year, you’d laugh right in the person’s face for even suggesting it.
Hunker Down
November 18th, 2010
11:13 am
A nickel to a dime that he goes pro and has continues to show loyalty to the face of George Washington just as he did when he sold his jersey and helped cause the backwards slide of this season and the heat that the coaching staff is receiving.
Schmeckdawg
November 18th, 2010
11:13 am
@Red
You are 100% correct and I am not ashamed to admit. With the money I give to UGA every year so that I can have my season tickets you’re damn right I want the best player’s playing. If that is selfish, touch s_t!!
Hunker Down
November 18th, 2010
11:14 am
PS money can get you lots of things in life but it will never buy you character.
Dogs Smell
November 18th, 2010
11:19 am
He had already made his choice when he was caught taking Cash and his agent came up with the excuse of selling a jersey. He left Uga last year. He is playing for NFL stats at this point. Who does Murr- throw to next year from his back?
Red
November 18th, 2010
11:24 am
Then there you go, Schmeckdog. You buy season tickets to watch every UGA home game and that is you choice. Does AJ owe you for making that decision? You too will do what’s best for you and would not care about what other people feel about you decision. CASE CLOSED!
Vick=Dog killing Thug
November 18th, 2010
11:28 am
I know I’m contradicting myself but PLEASE STOP mentioning St. Simons. He’s a TROLL, ignore him and he will go away.
Bloom on the Rose
November 18th, 2010
11:36 am
Leave Saint Simons alone. Why don’t you dawgtards worry more about the many failings of your players and coaches than the insightful and helpful comments of Saint Simons,
TrueBlue
November 18th, 2010
11:37 am
Remember when Staffard and Moreno “weren’t sure if they were going to enter the draft”?
haha. So long Green. Thanks for screwing the team over the first 4 games.
TrueBlue
November 18th, 2010
11:38 am
http://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/messagetopic.asp?p=22778676
wow
November 18th, 2010
11:44 am
Greener Pastures (pun intended), you are complete morons. Fans like you saying complete crap make me embarrassed for the bulldawg nation.
Dogs Smell
November 18th, 2010
11:45 am
Im embarrassed for them and I am No part of BS Nation !
dawgdawgdawg
November 18th, 2010
11:47 am
It will be hard for any college player to turn down the amount of money a top 10 pick will get – I don’t think he’ll stay
Schmeckdawg
November 18th, 2010
11:49 am
@ Red
Well if the case is closed, I guess I can’t add anything!
Joshhh...
November 18th, 2010
11:56 am
He’s gone.
I can’t wait to draft you onto my Fantasy team A.J.!
dawgfan
November 18th, 2010
11:58 am
AJ sells a freaking jersey and gets suspended for 4 games. Nick Fairley intentionally drives his facemask into Aaron Murray’s spine a good 5 seconds after the ball left his hand and gets 15 yards. Am I the only one that sees a problem here?
College football is becoming almost unbearable to watch with all the politics and hypocrisy. AJ is a goner and I don’t blame him one iota.
Summit Dawg
November 18th, 2010
12:00 pm
Hey A.J. Should you read this, You owe “DAWGS at least four games!!!!
disco dawg
November 18th, 2010
12:01 pm
Aj is gone and he should go….he made a mistake…get over it people…Free education??? UGA makes millions off him and others and that education aint free people…The hours put in to be a student and an athlete are difficult to juggle for some…College has prepared him to be successful at the next level….just so happens his next level can be attained by playing in the NFL…thanks AJ and make sure you give back to those who helped you including our beloved institution.
Mike Smith
November 18th, 2010
12:05 pm
AJ should stay. In fact, I dont encourage anyone to leave early unless they might be in trouble like what could happen with Cam Newton. There is evidence to suggest a Senior year helps greatly in their performance at the next level. It gives them an extra year to grow, mature, and be physically ready for the grind that is the NFL.
As far as injury goes, only a rare freak disaster of an injury would keep Green out of the top 5 in the draft next year. Look at Bradford. Came back to OU, was injured for most of the year (shoulder), and still was #1 pick. He now starts for the Rams.
Mike Smith
November 18th, 2010
12:09 pm
Also, someone mentioned about the college years and how you never get them back. That is true, plus the importance of finshing school. Ask the Mannings, Tebow, or Calvin Johnson if they regret coming back.
I do tire of UGAs bad luck in this area recently. They have had a lot of juniors skip out on them in the last two years. Meanwhile, we get to watch Bradford return to OU, Spikes and Tebow to UF, and now Pryor says he is returning to OSU for his Senior year. It would be nice to recruit guys that want to stick around. Think we could have used Stafford and Moreno last year? Think Grantham would have like to have Curran and Jones back for the D? It is what is I guess.
BBBieUgaVIII
November 18th, 2010
12:14 pm
Like YES he has not made a choice yet! HAHAHAH. He is going and there is NO QUESTION.
BBBieUgaVIII
November 18th, 2010
12:16 pm
If AJ need a GRAND then he will be gone for the NFL money. Brother needs a Big Diamond Earring.
azdawg
November 18th, 2010
12:20 pm
It would be a great boost if either AJ or Houston would stay but have to face reality both would risk their futures if they stayed and risk injury. I believe part of their decision will be based on the outlook of GA’s 2011 team. It looks dismal based on graduation and this years performance especially on defense. Its unlikely the D will be better next season w/no standouts waiting in the wings. Why go through another disappointing season and risk future earnings in the millions. Its a slam dunk both will leave unless someone talks them out of it and thats also unlikely.
GA’s D is in shambles. Its the primary reason GA has lost 6 games this season. Regardless of the fumbles and offensive woes in our losses, if the D could have stopped our opponents from running the ball and scoring TD’s we’d have a few more wins. It’ll be more of the same next season unless they raid the jr college level for huge D linemen, like a Cody of AL. You cannot win w/o D. Grantham has failed as a coordinator but low and behold CMR will not fire him and will probably be Richts demise. Another embarrassing season like this one and he’ll dig his own grave.
So bye, bye AJ and Justin and our senior class as well. Good luck to you all.
LkB
November 18th, 2010
12:26 pm
I will write him a huge insurance policy against injury if he stays. Payment deferred until 2012. It is pretty simple.
Dogs Smell
November 18th, 2010
12:29 pm
dawgfan
Get your head out of whatever it was in! It is NOT that A.CASH J. sold his jersey, we all know that but the truth is he took cash from an agent and the excuse was he sold a jersey. Wake up ! The future at Ga is so bright you need headlights !
tim st simon
November 18th, 2010
12:55 pm
Tim Tucker is Saint Simon. Or someone at the AJC. It’s there to get you riled up and keep you talking.
Hilton Head Island
November 18th, 2010
1:01 pm
A.J. owes UGA another year.
Dogs Smell
November 18th, 2010
1:07 pm
Hilton Head Island
Really ?
I'm Just Saying
November 18th, 2010
1:14 pm
UGA owns you tasty bees.. Juniors leaving is a regular occurance at Georgia…Translation all that talent and yet you still need to beat Tech to finish .500 Damn what a friggin waste.
Itstheshoes
November 18th, 2010
1:16 pm
Sam Bradford.
GTBob
November 18th, 2010
1:18 pm
Zero chance he stays. If he wanted money enough to sell a jersey for a thousand bucks then he is not turning down millions.