The NCAA has released it’s decision on the investigation into wide receiver A.J. Green, and it’s a serious blow for both the player and the Georgia football program.
According to a press release issued by the school, Green, who had already sat out the opener, will miss an additional three games in accordance with a ruling handed down by the NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff.
From the release:
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. According to NCAA rules, an agent is any individual who markets or promotes a student-athlete.
The university plans to appeal the decision to the Division I NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement. Per NCAA rules, Green would remain ineligible until the conclusion of the appeals process.
Both Green and head coach Mark Richt released statements regarding the NCAA’s decision.
“I want to apologize to my coaches, teammates, and the Georgia fans for the mistake in judgment. 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.”
“Certainly I’m 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. Other players will have to step forward and I’m confident they will do that.”
If an appeal is unsuccessful, Green would be eligible to return Oct. 2 versus Colorado, meaning he would miss SEC games against No. 24 South Carolina and No. 14 Arkansas as well as Mississippi State.
The loss of Green, especially for the first two conference games against ranked opponents — not to mention the Bulldogs on the road in the third game — is a huge blow to the Georgia offense and simply cannot be overstated. Green has led the Bulldogs in receiving each of the past two seasons and is once again a runaway favorite for first-team All-American honors.
Georgia will be able to put another player in his spot for the next three games, but there will be almost no way to replace his production. Or the pressure he puts on opposing defenses just by being on the field.
When you do really dumb stuff and you KNOW it’s against the rules you suffer the consequences.
Not starting with this case but in many cases I think the school should double the NCAA games suspension because they have let down their team and the school. If the NCAA said you sit 4 games and then a school came back and said then you will sit 4 games more for violating TEAM rules that would get these kids attention really quick….. missing games is missed TV face time and will ultimately cost these big time players $$$ in their draft position. In most cases these situations involve a teams better players and they already in alot of cases are “me 1st guys”.
It always takes making an example or 2 to get someones attention–you have to start somewhere……..here comes the attacks from the pay them, wine & dine them, chauffeur them around, spoon feed them fan base. Have at it!
Green + $1000 = 4 game suspension.
Dareus + $1787 = 2 game suspension.
NCAA using some national Championship math I guess.
Please tell me how this is worse than the kid from Bama who got 2 games? Makes no sense to me the NCAA is a joke.
The rumblings on message boards is that the length of the suspension is due to some lack of cooperation from Green or something on the matter. Dareus was apparently going to get 4 games according to the NCAA but his penalty was reduced to 2 due to his (apparently complete) cooperation.
This news makes me physically sick.
And Green breaks a rule that was inspired by UGa when, in ’03, 9 football players sold their championship rings on ebay. Insane!
They should sue the agent or charge him. That would put a damper on this ridiculousness pretty damn quick.
Okay, how the hell can they suspend him for 4 games for selling HIS jersey but at the school store they have 8 kinds of his jersey for sale ranging from 75 dollars to 150 dollars oh I forgot he gets a free education while he gets exploited for 4 years. What a country!!!
Hmmmm, sooooo….
The NCAA you get suspended 4 games for selling something that belongs to you.
And in the NFL you get suspended 4 games for alledge Rape.
That’s BRILLIANT!
Well I guess the NCAA has to sell 15 copies of NCAA football 11 with his likeness to get the same value for AJ’s 1 game jersey. So it make sense.
[...] got a glimpse of what life would be like without A.J. Green when the All-American wide receiver was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season. A win and three losses later, Green returned and led the Bulldogs in [...]