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DE Greg Hardy faces uncertain future with Panthers

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Panthers must decide how Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy’s conviction on charges of assault on a female and communicating threats will impact his long-term future in Carolina.

Carolina made Hardy its franchise player in March, signing him to a one-year, $13.1 million deal after a 15-sack season. But talks of a long-term deal fizzled after Hardy was first arrested May 13 for assaulting his ex-girlfriend and threatening to kill her after she said he “snapped” in his apartment following a night of partying.

The Panthers could release Hardy for conduct detrimental to the team, but there’s no guarantee they’d recoup his hefty salary.

The Panthers issued a statement after Tuesday night’s guilty verdict saying they respect the legal process and don’t have a comment right now. Hardy, sentenced to a suspended 60-day jail sentence and given 18 months of probation, has appealed the conviction and will have a jury trial at a later date.

Panthers owner Jerry Richardson declined comment to The Associated Press regarding Hardy’s future.

But some former Panthers said the guilty verdict won’t sit well with Richardson, who has shied away from signing players who might shed a negative light on the organization.

Former defensive end Mike Rucker said the team is naturally sensitive to the topic of domestic violence since the Rae Carruth ordeal. Carruth, a former Panthers wide receiver, was found guilty in 2001 of conspiring to murder his girlfriend, Cherica Adams, who was carrying his child. Carruth was sentenced to 18 to 24 years and remains in prison.

“This subject hits home for everybody that has been around the organization or followed the organization from the beginning,” Rucker said. “If you were around during that (Carruth) period of time it might be in the back of your mind, but it’s definitely still there.”

The Panthers can’t sign Hardy to an extension until after the season. That deadline passed Tuesday, about the same time the accuser in the domestic abuse bench trial talked on the stand. She said Hardy beat her up and threatened to kill her following a disagreement about her brief relationship with rapper Nelly.

“He looked me in my eyes and he told me he was going to kill me,” said the 24-year-old accuser, who is a cocktail waitress in Charlotte. “I was so scared I wanted to die. When he loosened his grip slightly, I said just, ‘Do it. Kill me.'”

Bill Polian, who served as Carolina’s general manager from 1994-97, said if he were making the calls the conviction would “absolutely” have an impact on whether Hardy would get a long-term contract.

“It’s a very serious issue and one they have to deal with,” Polian said.

Center Frank Garcia, who played with the Panthers in the late ’90s, said he believes Tuesday’s guilty verdict could keep the team from signing Hardy to a long-term deal.

In fact, Garcia isn’t entirely convinced Hardy makes it to this season.

“I think Jerry Richardson is turning in his bed deciding what decision to make right now,” Garcia said. “And I think it’s a 50-50 proposition. … It has to be a disturbing thing for him and a disturbing thing for the Carolina Panthers.”

Garcia said the Panthers have been trying to clean up their image ever since the Carruth ordeal.

Another concern with Hardy is the accuser’s statement she used cocaine the night Hardy assaulted her, leaving the team to wonder about the people he associates with off the field.

“Jerry Richardson doesn’t mess around,” Garcia said. “He wants a clean image. And we’ve seen it time and time again where they’ve bypassed quality free agents — guys who might have been able to come in and make an impact — just because of their image or something in their background.”

Coincidentally, Hardy’s first court appearance in May came on the same day the Panthers hosted a breakfast at their stadium for “Men For Change,” a group that serves victims of domestic violence.

Polian said he isn’t sure if the Panthers would be more sensitive to domestic violence issues than other NFL teams.

“The bottom line is it’s an awful situation,” Polian said. “A person with incredible strength that is assaulting woman. That’s just unacceptable.”

___

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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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