ATHENS, Ga. - Throwing to junior receiver A.J. Green was supposed to be the best part of the job for Georgia redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray.
Then Green received a four-game NCAA suspension for selling his Independence Bowl jersey for $1,000. Then the Bulldogs suffered their first 0-3 Southeastern Conference start in 17 years, as the only passes from Murray to Green occurred in practice.
"I didn't even want to throw to him sometimes, because I would be a little upset that I couldn't throw to him on Saturdays," Murray said Tuesday.
This Saturday he can, as Georgia's most talented player is eligible again and will suit up when the Bulldogs visit Colorado. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound fabulous flanker from Summerville, S.C., sat out last season's games against Kentucky and Georgia Tech with a separated shoulder, so he actually has missed six straight regular-season contests.
Green couldn't do anything about his shoulder, but his bad off-the-field decision has haunted him.
"I feel like I've caused a lot of people pain, because I feel like if I had been out there some of the time, we really had a chance of coming out," Green said during his first interview since the season started. "I've beaten myself up pretty good over this, and it has taught me a valuable lesson about growing up and doing the right thing."
Green said he sold the jersey earlier this year to Chris Hawkins, a former North Carolina defensive back who reached out to him through Facebook. He added that he has yet to meet or talk by phone to Hawkins, who has been linked to troubles in UNC's football program.
According to Green, the NCAA requested and checked copies of his bank statements dating back to February 2009 and asked where he received the $1,000. Green said he then told the NCAA about the jersey.
"It was spring break and I needed extra cash," Green said. "I didn't think it was a big deal, so I did it."
Asked if he was surprised someone would pay $1,000 for an Independence Bowl jersey, Green said, "Not really, because of some of the auctions - I heard one of my jerseys went for $10,000 at a horse race. I knew it could go for more than that. I didn't really think about it, the value of jerseys."
Green was a top-10 prospect nationally in the 2008 signing class and was Freshman All-America that year when he amassed 56 receptions for 963 yards and eight touchdowns. Despite missing three games last season, he nearly matched those numbers with 53 catches for 808 yards and six scores.
"We're glad to have A.J. back," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "He's a great kid, and he's a heck of a football player. He has certainly paid a price for what he did, and now that he has a chance to play, I'm sure we'll enjoy thinking of ways to use his talents."
Said fellow receiver Tavarres King: "There are 92,000 people waiting for him to get back. One player won't change the outcome of a game, but he can sure make some noise. I'm interested to see what his presence does."
Using "painful" multiple times to describe the experience, Green believes the past few weeks have allowed him to see who support him through thick and thin. He thinks that has made him stronger, and he is ready to move on.
Which means this Saturday and a date with the Buffaloes.
"I'm going to get loose out there," Green said. "I've worked so hard and had to miss four games. I still have stuff to prove."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.