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49ers GM: NFL discipline on Smith could come soon

By WTOP Staff

ANTONIO GONZALEZ
AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said Saturday that he expects the NFL’s decision on a possible suspension for linebacker Aldon Smith to be announced soon, perhaps even before the preseason begins Aug. 7.

Baalke also stressed that he had not been told of any specific timeline from the league — just that Smith will meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell soon and a decision should come shortly after that.

“Don’t have a date. We know it’s going to happen sooner rather than later. Certainly, this isn’t something that’s going to drag into the season and may not even drag as far as into the preseason games itself,” Baalke said. “It’s something that’s going to be addressed. We’ve been in contact with the league, the league’s been in contact with us, but we don’t have a set date at this moment.”

Smith was sentenced last week to three years of probation and to spend 11 days with a work crew after he pleaded no contest to drunken driving and weapons charges. He is expected to serve on the work crew on Mondays, which are a scheduled day off for the 49ers.

Baalke said 49ers owner Jed York has spoken with Goodell about Smith’s expected discipline. The linebacker underwent treatment at an in-patient facility and missed five games last year following his DUI arrest, though he did play the first game after the incident.

Baalke said the team can lobby on Smith’s behalf and for a speedy decision but can’t decide how the process plays out.

“Do we have any say? We can give our thoughts. We can give our input. But it’s really up to the commissioner,” Baalke said.

Baalke’s comments came during a rare and impromptu visit with writers inside the new media workroom at Levi’s Stadium. He addressed all team matters — or, in many cases, declined to address them — during the 47-minute session, including the contracts of tight end Vernon Davis and training camp holdout and right guard Alex Boone.

Davis and Boone skipped the team’s voluntary offseason workout program and mandatory minicamp, which could draw a fine up to $70,000. Davis has since returned for training camp and said he’s focused on football.

Baalke declined to discuss either’s contract status at length. Asked if Davis should be among the recent players such as quarterback Colin Kaepernick and left tackle Joe Staley given an extension, Baalke said “he’s certainly one of those guys that deserves to be a 49er.”

Baalke also was asked if there had been any recent discussions with Boone or his agent, possibly trading the lineman and the team’s philosophy about negotiating with training camp holdouts. Each time, Baalke said he didn’t want to get into a “merry-go-round” of discussing the issues.

“I find nothing positive is going to come from discussing any of this, our strategies, how we deal with players, how we deal with this situation versus others,” Baalke said. “I’ve never seen anything positive come from that, with anybody that’s used those techniques.”

Baalke also reverted to that answer when asked about the contracts of wide receiver Michael Crabtree and left guard Mike Iupati. Both are entering the final seasons of their deals.

But the general manager spoke of a consistent theme throughout while addressing the countless issues around that team: that the 49ers have enough talent and depth to compete for the franchise’s elusive sixth Super Bowl title.

San Francisco has gone to three straight NFC championships and one Super Bowl without winning the Lombardi Trophy. Baalke said it’s up to the players in camp to come together and make it happen now.

“The saying that I like to go by is, ‘Individuals win games. You win a lot of games with individuals. You win championships with teams,'” he said. “Teams win championships — that’s the bottom line. Can you take 90 guys at the start of camp and meld them into a team that has the fortitude, the resolve, the work ethic, the passion, the compassion, all those things that go into building a team? That’s the challenge. That’s the greatest challenge. We like our odds.”

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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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