NCAA responds to Hawkins comments

Last Friday Chris Hawkins, who purchased A.J. Green's jersey, leading to the receiver's four-game suspension, said he never spoke to the NCAA about the case. Hawkins, who paid $1,000 for the jersey, said the NCAA "never really came to me."

Stacey Osburn, the NCAA's associate director for public and media relations, responded Monday.

"Actually, the NCAA contacted Chris Hawkins on several occasions to discuss the matter; however, he was not responsive or cooperative," Osburn said in an e-mail. "He did not return the four different phone calls attempting to gather information. He also canceled a conference call with the NCAA and a member institution, and failed to join the conference call when it was rescheduled."

Georgia and Green have appealed the suspension, and are hoping to have it heard Wednesday.

At this point, since Green has apparently admitted selling the jersey, the only way Hawkins could help Green's case is by convincing the NCAA he is not an agent, or affiliated with one. He said Friday he was not, though he knows a few through former North Carolina teammates.

(Incidentally, I say Green has "apparently" admitted selling the jersey because he said in a statement last week that he made a "mistake in judgment.")