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Trent Williams and Fred Davis address the team

By WTOP Staff

George Wallace, wtop.com

Gathering as a team for the first time since the news became official, the Redskins heard from Trent Williams and Fred Davis today in a team meeting.  They both stood up and apologized for their actions.

“They feel bad about it and they’re remorseful.  They know they made a mistake and have to pay some pretty harsh consquences for it, ” Rex Grossman said of his teammates.

“Just to hear from those guys, address the team was a good sign. They want us to understand, but it’s difficult not having those guys out there for the wrong reasons, says DeAngelo Hall.  “It’s a tough pill to swallow, you want to have those guys on the field, but because of choices they made, we aren’t going to have them.”

Mike Shanahan was able to speak on the situation for the first time as well,

“I’m disappointed in their decision to do what they did.” 

Shanahan said he did not ask them to speak to the team, but the players came to him and asked.  The coach agreed,

“I think that’s what a person with responsibility would do especially when you let down your teammates when you get suspended for the rest of the season. Everybody’s accountable. Everybody’s got a job to do. When you can’t fulfill your obligation, obviously it’s a big disappointment.”

This comes at a time when Mike Shanahan is trying to change the culture and preaches about having character guys in that locker room.  Trent Williams was the fourth overall pick two years ago and supposed to be a cornerstone on the offensive line.   Can  you trust a guy after an incident like this?  Keep in mind, one more positive test and they are suspended for a year.  Is that the kind of character you are looking for?

Fred Davis overslept during the first week of his rookie training camp.  He was finally beginning to get past that while having a career year taking over for Chris Cooley. He finishes with 59 receptions for 796 yards and three touchdowns.  Oh, and he is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.  Talk about bad timing.  Trent Williams is under contract through 2015.

The Redskins will have to decide what direction they will go with Fred Davis.  Can Mike Shanahan afford not to re-sign one of his best offensive weapons?  Will the play on the field outweigh what has happened this season?  It should be another interesting off season in Ashburn. 

Don’t worry, there are still four weeks left in this season for something else to go wrong.  If it could go wrong, it has this season.

I thought the drama was supposed to leave the building with Albert Haynesworth and Donovan McNabb.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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