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Just days before what is likely the most pivotal SEC East game left on the schedule, Georgia is down its best player with Todd Gurley suspended indefinitely:
University of Georgia tailback Todd Gurley has been indefinitely suspended from competition by the UGA Athletic Association during an ongoing investigation into an alleged violation of NCAA rules.
"I'm obviously very disappointed," said UGA head football coach Mark Richt. "The important thing for our team is to turn all our attention toward preparation for Missouri."
Bruce Feldman is hearing that this is related to "whether Gurley accepted extra benefits for his likeness with memorabilia brokers". Georgia beat writer Seth Emerson is hearing the same thing.
With Sony Michel out injured, Nick Chubb and Brendan Douglas are the running backs on duty for this weekend. Given Hutson Mason's inability to play up to his predecessor's level—and the fact that Missouri is going to score points on this UGA defense—it's a big blow to the offense.
In 2010, A.J. Green got a four-game suspension for selling his bowl jersey for $1,000. If Gurley gets the same, that would put him out for a road game at Mizzou, a road game at Arkansas, the neutral site game against Florida, and a road contest at Kentucky.
And yes, Georgia is making money by selling Gurley No. 3 jerseys in its shop.
UPDATE
SI is reporting that the money amount in question is at least, possibly exactly, $400. If the person or people who allegedly paid him aren't agents, that would imply a one or two-game suspension. If one or more do somehow fit the description of an agent, then that would mean a three-game suspension.
Take this with as many grains of salt as you wish, but TMZ claims to have contact with people who are shopping around photos video of Gurley signing things. Those people say Gurley got $2000. Who knows if they're legit—or if they'd cooperate with the NCAA's investigation if they are.
That's the big question here: how much evidence will end up in the NCAA's hands. With it being this close to Saturday, Gurley's probably gone for Missouri regardless. Anything beyond that will depend on how much actual evidence the NCAA gets. It got none on Johnny Manziel last year, so he didn't even get a full game. It did get some on Green, so he sat a third of the season.