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Thursday, September 9, 2010

Links, and answering your questions about A.J.

I promise I’m going to write about things other than A.J. Green over the next 48 hours. But obviously the suspension is still fresh and sort of overtaking everything right now.

The issue is getting a lot of attention nationally, mainly because of the jersey-selling angle. It was the fifth story on ESPN's PTI, with Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser both seeming to take issue more with the NCAA than Green.

A lot of writers have pointed out that while Green was penalized for selling his jersey for $1,000, his school and the NCAA benefit every day for selling jersey No. 8.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell reported that there are 17 different options for Green’s jersey on Georgia’s web site.

SI.com’s Andy Staples has a column about the “double standard” in the situation.

The great Tony Barnhart isn't mad at A.J.

Darren Heitner at sportsagentblog.com wonders who the agent was.

(By the way, the line on the game had not changed much overnight, at least according to Vegasinsider.com. South Carolina was favored by between 2-3 points, and now it’s 2.5-3.5. We’ll see if it inches up some more.)

Let me also address a few questions:

Seth - I'm curious to here how the team is handling this. The one thing I most fear out of this situation is the team to take on a defeatist attitude. … Have you been able to pick up any vibes coming from the team or coaching staff?

I’m not in the locker room, but I can say that the players we spoke to after Wednesday’s practice were clearly stunned. But I wouldn’t call it funeral-like. (A few players were joking around like normal.) Mark Richt also said he didn’t detect any difference in practice. Maybe, in a perverse way, all the off-field issues have prepared the locker room for something like this. Yeah, it’s a shock to the system to lose your top player, but it’s not like these guys haven’t woken up to bad headlines before.

Can you research the appeal process? How long does it take? Ole Miss got an answer rather quickly it seemed.

Masoli’s appeal went to a subcommittee that the NCAA described as being “comprised of representatives of NCAA member schools and conferences.” I suspect Green will go through the same process.

To me, his chances depend on two things we don’t know for sure yet: Was he honest during the process, and just how closely did he interact with an agent?

The reason he got four games was the dollar amount, which fit the NCAA’s guideline for that length of a suspension. So did Alabama’s Marcell Dareus, but his suspension was reduced because he convinced them there were other mitigating factors.

The one thing we know is Green will not play Saturday, since Richt said they didn’t expect anything on the appeal until next week.

So what was the "super-secret, nobody comment" bit that the NCAA imposed on UGA?

Good question.

How did they find out he sold the jersey?

Another good question. In a lot of cases where an agent is involved, another agent is often the source.

Did Green know the individual was an agent when he sold the jersey?

That would appear to be a key question in the appeal.

Any idea on the chances of the appeal being successful?

I wouldn’t be optimistic. A bit less than 50-50 it gets knocked down to three games, about 25 percent it gets knocked down to two.

Why can’t the name of the agent be revealed?

I suspect the NCAA doesn’t release it for legal reasons. If someone in the media feel confident enough to print it, they will.

This is going to be like striking down Obi Wan Kenobi. The team will rally around this and smash the Cocks into the dirt.

This isn’t a question, and I’m not necessarily agreeing, but I like the reference and the metaphor.

4 comments:

Buster Chappell said...

"the great Tony Barnhart"? Do you have a problem with Mr College Football?

Randall P. Floyd said...

Don't think he was knocking him... but come on, Buster. He calls himself "Mr. College Football". Get over yourself, Tony B.

Dooms Day Dawg said...

It is time for the NCAA to hammer down on this agent/player issue. My proposal: If a player is found guilty of receiving cash from an agent, said player forfeits his amature statues and repays what is left on his scholarship. The agent in question is not eligible to sign a player for 1 year in that particular sport. I am fed up with this mess. Time for CMR to step up and get a handle on all of the garbage that is currently surrounding UGA football. Yes, players must be accountable, but the buck stops with the head coach.

Buster Chappell said...

Tony B. went to UGA! That's good enough for me! :-)