Skip to main content

Dareus looking to move on from drug arrest

By WTOP Staff

MARK LUDWICZAK
Associated Press

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is hoping to put an offseason drug arrest behind him and focus on football.

Dareus participated in Buffalo’s first session of organized team activities Wednesday, three weeks after he was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance (synthetic marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia. The defensive tackle insisted he’s on the right path and chalked up his arrest as a youthful mistake.

“I feel like I’m on the straight and narrow,” Dareus said. “Things happen; young, dumb. You’ve got to correct it and just work through it.”

On the field, Dareus has been a force on the defensive line for the past three seasons. The 2011 third overall pick posted career highs in tackles (71) and sacks (7 1-2) and was chosen for his first Pro Bowl as an injury replacement last season.

But he’s also had his share of off-field issues over the past six months. Dareus was disciplined late last season for being late to team meetings; he was benched for the first quarter of Buffalo’s Week 16 game against Miami, and for the first half of Buffalo’s season finale against New England.

“It’s behind me,” Dareus said. “I mean, I’m not a trouble guy, I don’t cause any problems nowhere. I’m not a loud guy, I don’t do anything … if things happen, things happen.”

Dareus said he has not heard from the league regarding a possible suspension.

Following the draft, Bills general manager Doug Whaley and coach Doug Marrone said that they view off-field trouble on a case-by-case basis. Marrone said Wednesday that Dareus has done a good job since returning to Buffalo for strength and conditioning workouts earlier this month.

“(He’s) getting on track and staying focused,” Marrone said. “I think every time he’s here and he’s in this building, that’s what we see. I’ve always told Marcell that. The more that he can be here, the better job that he seems to do. Just going to stay on it.”

The Bills picked up a fifth-year option on Dareus’ contract at the end of April, keeping him under contract through 2015. Dareus knows he’ll need to stay out of trouble if he hopes to receive a long-term extension in Buffalo.

“They really put a lot of emphasis on it,” Dareus said. “We sat and talked as a group. They believe in me, they know that I’m not a trouble guy, they know that I’m not the person that is trying to look for any trouble, I’m not trying to do anything wrong. It’s just things happen and we’re moving forward, and they know I’m going to grow into the guy that they want me to be and continue to put myself in positions to get better.”

Dareus was one of the last players off the field following Buffalo’s practice Wednesday, putting in extra time with his pass-rushing work. He hesitated to call his most recent non-football development a wake-up call, but it’s clear that he’s eager to put the last six months behind him.

“Wake-up call? Of course, but at the same time, I’m here,” Dareus said. “I’m here with my guys, I’m here with the great fans of Buffalo, I feel at home and … I’m away from all the mess and I can focus and I can just be myself and have fun.”

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote