Tag: aj green uga

ESPN ranks top-50 CFB WRs of last 50 years, featuring one Georgia Bulldog

One former Georgia football player made ESPN’s list of the top-50 college football wide receivers of the last 50 years

ESPN recently ranked the top-50 college football wide receivers of the last 50 years and the Georgia Bulldogs had one player make the list.

That player was Georgia great A.J. Green, who is arguably the most purely talented receiver in Georgia history.

Green checked in at No. 44 on the list.

On Green, ESPN’s Bill Connelly wrote:

Years: 2008-10
Career Stats: 166 catches, 2,619 yards, 23 TDs (also: 105 rushing yards)

Despite playing basically only 2.5 seasons, the former five-star recruit from Summerville, South Carolina, was one of the sport’s steadiest stars, catching between 53 and 57 balls for between 808 and 963 yards in each of his three seasons.

Green likely would have been higher on this list if not for his four-game suspension to start the 2010 season after admitting to selling his 2009 Independence Bowl Jersey for $1,000.

But what is there not to say about Green? From his amazing one-handed catches to his prime-time performances, this guy was an absolute beast. If he didn’t declare for the NFL draft after his junior season, he would undoubtedly hold every Georgia receiving record in the book. In just 2.5 seasons with Georgia, Green managed to place fourth in career receptions (166), second in career receiving yards (2,619), and second in career TD receptions (23). He also holds the Georgia record for most receptions by a freshman with 56 back in 2008. In 2009 and 2010, Green was named as a first-team All-American. He went on to be the fourth pick in the 2011 NFL draft (Bengals) and a seven-time Pro Bowler.

A total of 10 former SEC stars made the list.

  • No. 3 – DeVonta Smith, Alabama
  • No. 14 – Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
  • No. 15 – Reidel Anthony, Florida
  • No. 17 – Josh Reed, LSU
  • No. 20 – Wendell Davis, LSU
  • No. 25 – Amari Cooper, Alabama
  • No. 32 – Mike Evans, Texas A&M
  • No. 33 – Wes Chandler, Florida
  • No. 39 – Ozzie Newsome, Alabama
  • No. 44 – A.J. Green, Georgia

No. 1 on the list was Marshall’s Randy Moss.

Should Georgia’s Terrence Edwards have made the list? 

He is the only receiver in school history to record over 1,000 receiving yards in a season (1,004 in 2002) and over 3,000 receiving yards in a career (3,093). He holds both records for UGA. Edwards was even the SEC leader in receiving yards for about 10 years until Vanderbilt wide receiver Jordan Matthews broke his mark in 2013.

Will UGA great A.J. Green be back with the Bengals?

Former UGA receiver A.J. Green’s contract ends soon. Where will the 10-year veteran wind up? Details here.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green is set to become a free agent on March 17, which marks the end of a one-year, $18 million franchise tag contract.

The Georgia legend was drafted by the Bengals with the fourth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and has had an incredible 10-year career in Cincinnati, especially when you consider the state of the Bengals organization.

Paired with the arm of former TCU quarterback Andy Dalton from 2011-2019, Green caught his way to seven straight Pro Bowls and was named by his peers in the NFL Top 100 each year until 2020, when Green struggled with injuries and the new turnover in Cincinnati.

The Bengals hired head coach Zac Taylor who brought in a new offense and a new quarterback in No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow, but even with Burrow heathy for the first half of the season, Green just never looked comfortable with the offense and his injury issues made the gap larger.

ESPN’s Ben Baby quotes Green here after the Bengals loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 14.

“I love my time here,” Green said. “Who knows what is going to happen? I will be ready for anything and be excited to get back to playing football whether it is here or somewhere else.”

Green’s injuries were minor and the 32-year-old still sounds like he has gas in the tank. The question is where to now?

If Green is looking for a title contender, I’d say look now further than the L.A. Rams, who just acquired Green’s college quarterback, UGA great Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions.

Wherever Green winds up, I hope he finally gets a chance to play in a Super Bowl.

Georgia Bulldog great AJ Green returns to Bengals practice

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green suffered a hamstring injury over a week ago and is now returning to the practice field

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green suffered a hamstring injury over a week ago and is now returning to the practice field. Green, a former Georgia Bulldogs, is the No. 1 wide receiver for Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ offense.

Green’s injury was never considered severe, but it is good to see him back out there. The UGA product missed all of last season with an ankle injury.

A.J. Green has struggled off and on with injuries since the 2015 season. He’s only recorded one season (2017) with over 1,000 receiving yards since 2015.

If Green can stay healthy for Cincinnati, then he should have a great season. A.J. Green and the Bengals offense has a lot of weapons for top pick Joe Burrow.

Running back Joe Mixon and an improved offensive line should take some of the pressure off Joe Burrow. Burrow enters his rookie season after having a record setting season at LSU.

The Joe Burrow to A.J. Green connection could be something special. Burrow showed incredible accuracy, especially for jump balls during his time at LSU. A.J. Green is a man who has won his fair share of jump balls over the years. In fact, Green has 63 receiving touchdowns over his NFL career.

September 12, 2009; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver A.J. Green (8) catches a touchdown pass behind South Carolina Gamecocks cornerback Akeem Auguste (3) at the end of the second quarter at Sanford Stadium. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

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Report: Cincinnati Bengals WR, former Georgia football great A.J. Green dealing with hamstring injury

Cincinnati Bengals receiver A. J. Green has reportedly suffered a hamstring injury. Details here

Cincinnati Bengals receiver A.J. Green reportedly suffered a hamstring injury during Monday’s practice.

Jay Morrison of The Athletic reported the details –

“A.J. Green not in for this set of 11s. Was getting left hamstring looked at and stretched after last set of 7 on 7. He’s still on field. No ice. But appears done for the day.”

Obviously a big scare for both Bengals fans and DawgNation, because of Green’s season-ending ankle injury in July of last season.

One of the best receivers to ever dawn the red and black, Green has been one of the only bright spots for the Bengals since he was drafted No. 4 overall in 2011.

The good news, however, is the injury is now thought to be minor after a report by Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic involving comments from Bengals head coach Zac Taylor on Green’s injury.

 

Twitter reacts: former Georgia Bulldog AJ Green signs franchise tag

Cincinnati Bengals and former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver A.J. Green has signed the franchise tag.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green has signed the franchise tag. Green, a former Georgia Bulldog, was unable to hit NFL free agency this offseason.

Green signed the deal after he failed to reach to a contract extension with the Bengals before the July deadline.

Hopefully former LSU Tigers standout Joe Burrow will have success with A.J. Green, who has never won a playoff game in his NFL career. It’s not Green’s fault, but that could be motivation behind him thinking twice before signing a long-term extension with Cincinnati.

Here’s what No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow said about A.J. Green at the NFL Combine:

Cincinnati avoids a dreaded holdout. Here’s how social media reacted to the news of Green’s signing:

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Georgia fans: there’s another AJ Green in the NFL

Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver AJ Green could face former Oklahoma State Cowboys DB AJ Green twice per season.

Former Georgia Bulldog great AJ Green is arguably the best wide receiver in UGA history. Despite some recent injury issues, Green is among the best receivers in the NFL.

Now, Bengals receiver AJ Green isn’t the only AJ Green in the NFL. The Cleveland Browns have signed former Oklahoma State Cowboys defensive back AJ Green to an undrafted free agent deal:

As ESPN’s Field Yates notes, AJ Green isn’t the only undrafted player to have a familiar name. It remains to be seen if the Oklahoma State product will be able to stick to an NFL roster. If he can crack the rotation of Cleveland’s defensive backs, then he would face Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver AJ Green twice per season.

To confuse matters further during his spectacular career at Georgia, AJ Green, played a game against the Oklahoma Cowboys. Green caught four passes for 52 yards in the contest. Notably, he faced off against Dez Bryant, who scored two touchdowns to help the Cowboys get the better of the Dawgs 24-10 on that season-opening day.

Sept 4, 2009; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys Perry Watson defends a pass intended for Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver A.J. Green in the first quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium. Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2019; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback A.J. Green runs back an interception for a touchdown against the McNeese State Cowboys. Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports

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Cincinnati Bengals franchise former Georgia Bulldog

The Cincinnati Bengals are giving former Georgia Bulldog star wide receiver A.J. Green the franchise tag.

The Cincinnati Bengals are giving star wide receiver A.J. Green the franchise tag. Green, a former Georgia Bulldog, will not be able to hit NFL Free Agency since he’s been given the franchise tag.

The Bengals are fresh off of releasing a former Georgia Bulldog. Tom Perlissero reported the news of A.J. Green’s franchise tag:

The move is an expected one. Hopefully Joe Burrow will have success with A.J. Green, who has never won a playoff game in his NFL career.

Green will be an elite target for rookie quarterback Joe Burrow, who’s been stated saying he’d like A.J. to play with him. Cincinnati has the number one overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Here’s Burrow’s statement on Green:

 

A.J. Green will reportedly not attend OTAs since he got the franchise tag. That being said, there may be no OTAs for Green to attend due to the Coronavirus.

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Bengals to place franchise tag on Georgia great A.J. Green

The Cincinnati Bengals will place the franchise tag on former Georgia wide receiver A.J. Greene, according to ESPN. Green, coming off a 4-year, $60 million contract, missed the 2019 season with torn ligaments in his ankle suffered during preseason. …

The Cincinnati Bengals will place the franchise tag on former Georgia wide receiver A.J. Greene, according to ESPN.

Green, coming off a 4-year, $60 million contract, missed the 2019 season with torn ligaments in his ankle suffered during preseason.

He also missed significant portions of the 2016 and 2018 seasons and the Bengals are hesitant to sign the 31-year old South Carolina native to a long-term deal.

Drafted in the first round by the Bengals in 2011, Green’s 8,907 receiving yards rank fourth since he entered the league. His 602 receptions is second in Cincinnati history, he’s second in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns (63).

After Green’s ankle injury, the Bengals announced they will franchise Green if they can’t reach a long term deal by free agency. Green, one of the league’s most respected players responded that he will play under the franchise tag but would not participate in OTA’s and probably skip training camp as well.

The franchise tag is estimated to be worth about $18.5 million and the two sides have until July 15 to reach a long-term deal.

With the Bengals expected to select LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the number one pick, Green would be a huge asset for the Heisman Trophy winner.

Fan react as Bengals plan to franchise WR AJ Green

The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly planning to give wide receiver A.J. Green, a former Georgia Bulldog, the franchise tag

The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly planning to give star wide receiver A.J. Green the franchise tag. Green, a former Georgia Bulldog, would not be able to hit NFL Free Agency if he’s given the franchise tag.

Green would be a great target for rookie quarterback Joe Burrow, who’s been stated saying he’d like A.J. to play with him. Cincinnati has the number one pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Here’s Burrow’s statement on Green:

Here’s how social media reacted to the news, which was initially reported by ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler:

A.J. Green will reportedly not attend OTA‘s if he gets the franchise tag.

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