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Smith plans to meet soon with Commissioner Goodell

By WTOP Staff

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith expects to sit down with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell “in the near future” to discuss any potential suspension for his off-field issues.

Smith was sentenced last Friday to serve three years of probation and to spend 11 days with a work crew after he pleaded no contest to drunken driving and weapons charges. Smith said he hasn’t had time to begin the work yet, and will do so as his time permits.

Of the ruling, Smith said he is “glad how it worked out.” He didn’t want to guess whether he would face a suspension from the league, and said he is unsure whether Ravens running back Ray Rice’s two-game penalty Thursday for his offseason arrest for domestic violence provides any indication.

“I’m glad it’s behind me. I’m ready to move on. … I’ve never been in this situation so I’m not going to speculate,” Smith said of possible punishment. “I know I’m meeting with him in the near future — as soon as possible. We don’t have a solid date, so I’m not sure.”

Smith said he has been sober since entering rehab last year following his Sept. 20 DUI arrest. He underwent treatment at an in-patient facility and missed five games. Coach Jim Harbaugh was asked Thursday whether he thought the NFL might take the rehab stint into account as time served.

“Going through a process, which is, there’s accountability for some mistakes made. And also he’s been given the opportunity to do what he says he’s going to do. So far he’s doing that,” Harbaugh said. “That’s in their hands. They will discipline if they warrant it.”

Tight end Vernon Davis said before the team’s first practice that his desire for a new contract is no longer a focus and he will leave that to the team and his agent to discuss.

“That’s in the past, I’m not really worried about the contract,” he said. “That’s between the team and my agent. That’s not my focus right now. My focus is out here, trying to get better.”

Of being fined up to $70,000 for missing the mandatory minicamp last month, Davis said, “I’m sure they did, absolutely.”

So, why did he sit out the offseason program with two years remaining on his current deal?

“It was a very easy decision. All you have to do is think about the team,” Davis said. “That’s what I did. I thought about my teammates, especially some of the guys like Frank Gore, guys that they’re on the last end of their contract. There’s nothing like being here.”

For Smith, he hopes 2014 is a fresh start — and he insists he is in the best shape ever entering his fourth NFL season.

In his latest run-in with the law, Smith was arrested April 13 at Los Angeles International Airport. Police said the 24-year-old Smith was randomly selected for a secondary screening and became uncooperative with the process, telling a TSA agent that he had a bomb.

In November, he pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of illegal possession of an assault weapon, stemming from a June 2012 party at his home. Investigators said several shots were fired, two partygoers were injured and Smith was stabbed. In the subsequent investigation, prosecutors say detectives found five unregistered, illegal weapons in Smith’s house.

Yet, what Smith brings on the field makes him one of the NFL’s best at pressuring quarterbacks.

Smith emerged as one of the league’s most-feared pass rushers in 2012. He had a franchise-record 19 1/2 sacks that year, but failed to record a sack in his final six games including the team’s postseason Super Bowl run.

Smith finished with 8 1/2 sacks and 34 tackles in 11 games last season, making eight starts. His 42 sacks are second-most in the NFL since he entered the league.

Harbaugh, for one, is only thinking about another year and another opportunity for success after three straight seasons coming oh so close.

“It’s like it’s your own birthday. It’s a family reunion. It’s like a rebirth, feel like you come out of the womb and reborn into football,” Harbaugh said in his first news conference at new Levi’s Stadium. “And definitely having Vernon there added to that. Everybody sees their friends, sees their family, haven’t seen them for a month or so as we’ve been apart after the minicamp. …

“Our team is the least unhappy team I’ve ever been around.”

NOTES: Rookie first-round pick S Jimmie Ward made a diving interception on a tipped pass by Colin Kaepernick. “If I keep making plays like that I’m going to be seen,” Ward said.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

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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