Word just came in that A.J. Green has been suspended four games, including the opener, when he was held out by Georgia.
Green was found to have sold a jersey - his Independence Bowl jersey - for $1,000 to someone later found to be an agent, according to the NCAA.
"According to NCAA rules, an agent is any individual who markets or promotes a student-athlete," the NCAA said in a release.
Georgia is appealing, but Green will be ineligible during that process. That basically ensures that the star receiver will miss Saturday's game at South Carolina, because if the suspension was reduced it would likely only be by two games.
If Green misses a full four games, he would be eligible to return for Georgia's Oct. 2 game at Colorado.
"I want to apologize to my coaches, teammates, and the Georgia fans for the mistake in judgment," Green said in a statement released by the school. "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."
Georgia head coach Mark Richt said in a statement that was "disappointed with the outcome."
"However, we have games to play and that's where our focus needs to be in the coming days and weeks," Richt said "Other players will have to step forward and I'm confident they will do that."
Here's the full release from the NCAA:
University of Georgia football student-athlete A.J. Green must miss four games as a condition of becoming eligible to play again, according to a decision today by the NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff.
The university declared the student-athlete ineligible for violations of NCAA agent benefits rules. According to the facts of the case submitted by Georgia, the student-athlete sold his Independence Bowl game jersey to an individual who meets the NCAA definition of an agent. Green has repaid the $1,000 value of benefits to charity.
During the reinstatement process, the NCAA staff reviews each case on its own merits based on the specific facts. Staff decisions are made based on a number of factors including guidelines established by the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, the student-athlete¹s responsibility for the violation, as well as any mitigating factors presented by the university.
The university can appeal the decision to the Division I NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, an independent committee comprised of representatives from NCAA member colleges, universities and athletic conferences. This committee can reduce or remove the condition, but it cannot increase the staff-imposed conditions. If appealed, the student-athlete remains ineligible until the conclusion of the appeals process.
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17 comments:
4 GAMES??? That's a 1/3 of the schedule. Any heisman hopes vanish. That is horrible. 4 GAMES? I understand missing a game, but no way does this deserve 4 games.
It's not like he did something illegal like using drugs, dui, etc.
The appeals have probably already been filed.
Didn't the AL guys only get 2 games for larger sums of money?
Can someone please explain to me how Marcell Dareus is suspended for 2 games after receiving money for two trips to Miami totaling $1,787.17 and AJ is suspended 4 games for selling a jersey that is valued at $1,000? And, what the hell took so long for them to decide AJ's case? He has been under investigation since mid-August. If they had made the decision on September 2, like they did for Dareus, then there might have been a chance to have the appeal heard before conference play. The NCAA is a joke.
From what I understand, it wouldn't have been so severe BUT he didn't just sell the jersey...he sold it to someone that was an AGENT! Two lines were crossed and TWO rules were broken....I understand that it is harsh, and I wished it weren't, but because he was dealing with someone deemed as an "agent", his penalty is very strict!
So Marcel Dareus makes 2 trips to Miami, which equals $1787.00 from a known agent and gets 2 games, but AJ sells a jersy for $1000 to someone who turns out to be an agent and gets 4?
Heisman - I don't think there was any Heisman hype about him at all anyways.. haha. Delusional UGAy fan.
He certainly deserves a suspension, but 4 games is ridiculous.
Others have done worse. Hell, Reggie Bush got to play a whole season.
Good report, Seth.
The real issue with Green's suspension, beyond the number of games, is that he is our best player. It would not sting so bad it were had a stellar running game, or a great O-line (Saturday proved we have neither), or even an experienced QB. Now we are left with an average to below average SEC team heading out on the road. And raging against the NCAA is simply silly. We got what we got! Hammering the NCAA is like be mad at your parents when you were a teenager and screwed up and got caught. Hello 1-2 start!
I think we are all overlooking the fact that the jersey was an Independence Bowl jersey. I'd like to repeat that...an Independence Bowl jersey. If they get their hands on a winning national championship jersey, let them do whatever they want. I could care less if they have hit and runs, steal bike helmets, get DUIs, or sell jerseys. Until then, I have no sympathy for these guys because their actions cause detriment to a team that needs all the help that it can get to compete in the SEC.
Should have been suspended. No doubt. But it seems as if the NCAA completely forgets what penalties they have levied on previous issues. Its like they make it up as they go along. Dareus you get 2 games. Green you get 4. Random player from random school, you get 28 games for stealing a piece of gum. The NCAA is a joke.
4 games is too steep. but i will say, there is a difference between letting somebody buy you a plane ticket, and letting somebody give you $1K cash. the amounts aren't the issue. the issue is what AJ did is closer to straight up getting paid by an agent.
still hope they can get it reduced, though.
We've only got AJ for this season anyways so we might as well start thinking as if he's gone...I believe other guys will step up and show we aren't a 1 receiver show....I agree that to me 4 games is to hard a suspension but we'll see what happens....
How did they find out he sold the jersey?
Are they going to name the agent?
They should.
He could have sold it to a pawn shop guy and the NCAA would consider them an "agent" according to their rules. Doesn't neccesarily mean he sold it to an NFL agent.
4 games is ridiculous.
I hear a lot of the punishment in matters such as this is mitigated (or not) by the level of honesty and how forthcoming the player is during the investigation. Who knows at this point how much heat the NCAA had to put on Green and UGA to get to the bottom of it? I hate to see any kid do something dumb that will affect their career, but they don't seem to learn....
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