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University of Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green was suspended for four games by the NCAA for selling a jersey to a proposed agent. According to the USA Today, Green sold his 2009 Indepedence Bowl jersey for $1,000.
So does that mean that its okay to sell your game jerseys to fans? I mean, it’s not like his scholarship is covering his tuition, books and room and board costs.
In an idiotic move, one of the Bulldogs top offensive players will be sitting out for a third of the season. He led the team in catches last year, and was a five-chip recruit for the class of 2008. The 21-year-old junior will now be on the sideline pondering whether or not it was even worth it to sell his jersey.
The Independence Bowl? It would be even funnier if he got to sell his prized jersey for an even more ridiculous bowl game: “Georgia wide receiver suspended for allegedly selling his Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl jersey.”
Although this is not the case, he should still feel a little bit embarrassed about his actions. Not only is it detrimental to the team, but it would, I hope, be demoralizing to such a prospective athlete, who could probably declared himself eligible for the 2010 NFL Draft.
But like the clouds of suspicion behind ineligible players, agents, recruiting violations, the clouds of controversy are now hoovering over the Dirty South. I mean Athens, Georgia.
Green was already investigated for allegedly receiving improper benefits from an agent, but he has salted his wound of suspicion more drastically with this act of stupidity.
From Southern California to North Carolina, hell the entire eastern seaboard, recruiting violations and NCAA sanctions appear to be the norm for the college football world these days. In a game defined by boosters, agents, and the fight for the best recruits to play for storied programs with high expectations, it comes to no surprise that such “illegal” measures are being taken by numerous coaching staff around the country.
A.J. Green is a fantastic athlete; has great hands, speed, agility, and is a deep threat everytime the ball is snapped from the line of scrimmage. However, like many great athletes, there is this constant trade-off: one’s intelligence level.
You should know better. At 21 years old, this is not a time to experiment with the gray areas of ethical behavior. Like a little kid that discovers putting his hand on the stove causes the hand to burn, Green should know that selling personalized items for a profit is strictly forbidden among student athletes.
I want to meet the guy that would actually pay $1,000 for an A.J. Green jersey. I wouldn’t even pay that much for a jersey worn by Mark Ingram in last year’s national championship game, heck a Kobe Bryant game seven of the NBA Finals jersey.
Either the agent is on a two-way street of idiocracy along with Green, or Green let his arrogance and ego get the best of him. Not even a BCS bowl game jersey. So disappointing.
That’s college football for you. Makes you wonder how they pass their classes. Oh wait, do they? Oh boy. A whole other issue.