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New 49ers tackle Jonathan Martin back from illness

By WTOP Staff

JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Jonathan Martin’s early weeks with his new San Francisco 49ers teammates have been spent recovering from mononucleosis and regaining strength zapped by the viral infection.

Because he was contagious, Martin initially had to isolate himself for part of this month while sick. That has limited his on-field time during the team’s offseason program, and he didn’t practice during the voluntary organized team activity Wednesday.

“I was working out here for a couple of weeks before I got sick,” Martin said. “I was here from the beginning. It was important for me to be with the team and start the program. It’s been fun to be around the guys and get to know everybody and learn the offense. It’s been great. My teammates are great. The coach is great. So I’m excited to get back at it. It kind of stunk to have mono.”

Martin was traded from the Dolphins to the Niners in mid-March, providing him with a new start after his departure from Miami last October. He accused teammate Richie Incognito of bullying in a scandal that overshadowed the franchise’s 8-8 season.

Martin is aware of Incognito’s apologetic posts directed to him on Twitter from March following the veteran offensive lineman’s earlier rant and harsh comments about Martin.

Martin said again Wednesday he is thrilled to be “moving forward” and he hasn’t given the situation with Incognito “a second thought.”

An NFL investigation determined Incognito and two other Dolphins offensive linemen engaged in persistent harassment of Martin. Incognito was then suspended and missed the final eight games.

San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick said he hopes a Miami investigation from April that names him will soon be over.

Earlier this month, Miami Police released two calls to a 911 dispatcher saying a woman identifying herself as Jesus was lying naked in a bed and refusing to leave. The callers said the woman wanted to spend time with a third man who wasn’t there.

Police say the players also involved in the case are 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton and Seahawks receiver Ricardo Lockette. None of them has been charged with any wrongdoing.

“Well, the district attorney has the information today,” Kaepernick said. “At this point, I’m going to let them handle their business. I did nothing wrong in that incident. So, I want to do everything I can to let the DA close this matter. I’m very eager to have the matter closed.”

Coach Jim Harbaugh reiterated Wednesday he would like the 49ers to re-sign Kaepernick before the season starts, while also acknowledging reaching agreements on long-term commitments can be complicated. Kaepernick, who took over as the starter in November 2012 from departed 2005 No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith, would enter the final season of his original rookie deal.

“Again, I’m hopeful. I’m a big proponent of Colin Kaepernick, his abilities. On record as stating that I would like to see that happen. It’s a process. I know you’ve heard me use that word before in many other ways. But, that is not like some of the other examples. There’s a process in place. And it’ll play out.”

Kaepernick wouldn’t say what he thought would be a “fair” contract, a word he has used regarding his future with the franchise.

“I’m letting my agents handle all of that and I’m worried about being out here trying to get better with my teammates and get ready for the season,” Kaepernick said. “I’m playing football regardless.”

And he is thrilled to get to work with his deep receiving corps featuring Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree and Brandon Lloyd, who hardly looks as if he just spent a year out of football.

Lloyd signed to a one-year contract last month to rejoin the team that drafted him the fourth round in 2003.

He caught 105 passes for 1,510 yards and 13 touchdowns for San Francisco from 2003-05. That included leading the team with 48 receptions, 733 yards receiving and five TD catches in 2005.

Lloyd has also played for the Washington Redskins (2006-07), Chicago Bears (2008), Denver Broncos (2009-11), St. Louis Rams (2011) and New England Patriots (2012) during his career.

“I had seen plays he had made. But, I hadn’t seen him on a consistent basis,” Kaepernick said. “Coming off of a year off from football, he’s been amazing out here. Very smooth, very disciplined with his routes and an easy target to throw to.”

NOTES: New WR Stevie Johnson sat out Wednesday because “he had a little something he’s working through,” Harbaugh said without elaborating. … Whether RG Alex Boone is absent because of his frustration with an unsettled contract situation, Harbaugh wouldn’t say. “I’ve always chosen, as a policy, not to discuss contracts publicly,” he said. … Also absent: TE Vernon Davis and RB Frank Gore, who has been a regular working out at team headquarters “The workouts are voluntary,” Harbaugh said.

___

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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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