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Mathis apologizes to teammates for suspension

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — NFL sacks champion Robert Mathis made one thing clear Wednesday: He’s coming back this season as a motivated man.

In his first public comments since learning he would sit out the season’s first four games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy, Mathis was his usually blunt self after speaking to his Colts teammates.

“I told them I’m sorry, and I’ll be back,” Mathis said.

Last week, he explained in a statement that the substance, Clomid, was found in a fertility medication he was temporarily using. His wife is now pregnant.

But Clomid also can be used as a masking agent for other PED treatments, and Mathis acknowledged that the mistake he made was not checking with the NFL or the NFL Players Association to determine if the medicine could cause a positive drug test.

Some contend the explanation for making such a big jump in sacks, from eight in 2012 to a league-high 19½ at age 32, can be linked to PEDs. Mathis denied any such connection in a statement late last week and his agent, Hadley Englehard, has repeatedly said Mathis’ position change, from defensive end to outside linebacker, was the primary reason his numbers improved. Mathis first made the switch in 2012 and looked much more comfortable at his new position in 2013.

He reiterated that position Wednesday.

“Let them say what they may,” Mathis said. “In my heart of hearts, I know what it is and what it is not.”

Under league rules, the Pro Bowl linebacker will be allowed to participate in all offseason team activities, training camp and the preseason. He will be suspended without pay for the first four games and is not eligible to return to the Colts until Sept. 29.

Mathis did attempt to appeal the ruling, but Commissioner Roger Goodell did not show any leniency.

“It’s been a long process. It ran its course and I accept its responsibility,” Mathis said. “I was just following directions. I shouldn’t have did it. It was banned.”

Teammates, like defensive end Cory Redding and Andrew Luck, accepted Mathis’ explanation.

“I didn’t need to hear it because I know who he is, you know?” Redding said. “I have no doubt the kind of person, the kind of character, the kind of man he is. So I didn’t need to hear it for my betterment.”

Losing Mathis could be a huge blow for the Colts. He is the franchise’s career sacks leader and last year set a single-season franchise record. The rest of the Colts combined for 22½ sacks.

Indy does have options.

Bjoern Werner was the Colts’ first-round draft pick in 2013. Though he made the same position switch as Mathis and contended with knee and ankle injuries throughout his rookie season, Werner appeared to be making solid progress over the final month.

The Colts also have outside linebacker Erik Walden, who they signed as an unrestricted free agent in 2013, and they selected college defensive end Jonathan Newsome in the fifth round of this year’s draft — a player former Colts general manager Bill Polian compared to Mathis. Polian drafted Mathis.

Redding is convinced there’s enough talent to make up for Mathis’ absence.

“We have 53 men on the team, probably more than that because we’re going to have walk-on guys and all that kind of stuff,” Mathis said. “I’m pretty sure Robert has a backup. If he were to get hurt, sprain an ankle, bust a shoelace, next man has got to get in there, right? Next man has got to get in there and play ball, period.”

It just won’t be easy for the Colts or Mathis.

“From my understanding, it’s all set in stone, so there’s really nothing you can say about it that’s going to change anything,” Luck said. “I know we’re not wasting our breath talking about it too much. We realize the circumstance. We realize we’re going to be without our best player probably for the first four games, so guys are going to have to step up.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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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