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Marrone backs Bills DT Dareus after latest charges

By WTOP Staff

JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is taking the next two weeks off from voluntary practices as he faces criminal charges for the second time in a month.

Coach Doug Marrone said after practice Tuesday that he and Dareus had a lengthy discussion and agreed the player should take a break from football.

Dareus crashed his 2012 Jaguar into a tree while allegedly racing another car not far from Ralph Wilson Stadium on Friday. According to Hamburg Town police, Dareus was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment. He was also ticketed for several traffic violations, including drag-racing.

The accident occurred about a month after Dareus was arrested in his native Alabama and charged with possession of synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Marrone was disappointed in Dareus for making what he called “some poor decisions.”

“I just want to make sure that I’m clear that everyone understands that I believe in Marcell, and I will do everything I can to make sure that we can get him on the right track,” Marrone said. “I’m going to do everything I can to help a 24-year-old man make better decisions.”

Without going into detail, Marrone said Dareus was dealing with “personal issues.” Marrone also wouldn’t reveal what Dareus would be doing during the next two weeks or where that would occur. He does expect Dareus to return for the team’s three-day mandatory minicamp that opens June 17.

The accident occurred about three hours after Marrone closed a three-day voluntary minicamp by warning his players to avoid trouble during their long weekend off.

After receiving a complaint of two cars racing down a major street, police arrived to discover Dareus’ Jaguar badly damaged by a crash into a tree near a busy intersection. Dareus was arrested and then released and is scheduled to appear in court June 17.

A person familiar with the investigation confirmed to The Associated Press that Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes is alleged to have been driving the second car, described by witnesses as a black Camaro. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the accident is still under investigation.

The Buffalo News first reported on its website Tuesday that police are investigating whether Hughes was driving the other vehicle.

Dareus was the Bills’ 2011 first-round draft pick. His troubles date to the end of last season, when was benched for portions of each of Buffalo’s two final games because he violated a team rule.

The legal issues could lead to disciplinary action from the NFL, including a fine or suspension.

As recently as last week, Dareus said he was ready to put his troubles behind him when he arrived for the start of minicamp.

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

Dareus has been a three-year starter in Buffalo since being drafted with the third pick out of Alabama. He’s coming off a career season in which he was credited with 71 tackles and 7½ sacks and made his first Pro Bowl appearance as an injury replacement.

It was a bounce-back year for Dareus, who acknowledged he lacked focus on football the previous season after his younger brother was one of three people shot and killed during a burglary in Alabama.

Marrone emphasized that Dareus’ two-week break was not a punishment.

“It was both of us sitting down and talking about how do we move forward, how do we get this thing right, and working together in coming up with that decision,” Marrone said. “Anyone that makes a poor decision hurts. I have to do whatever I can to make sure that our players, our coaches, everyone, makes a better decision.”

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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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