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Marshawn Lynch missing as Seahawks camp begins

By WTOP Staff

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Marshawn Lynch famously said during Super Bowl week that he was “all about that action, boss.”

His action on Friday was defiance. The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks opened training camp and Lynch chose to stay away because of his current contract situation.

Beast Mode’s status: absent and unhappy.

“Everybody is calling him, but it’s a business at the end of the day,” Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett said. “… So all you can do is support him. You want him to be here, but as a player you understand the business side too.”

Lynch’s absence was expected after former teammate Michael Robinson said Thursday night on NFL Network that Lynch would not show for the opening day of camp.

Seattle coach Pete Carroll said he was disappointed Lynch was not present, while reiterating the team wants him there and intends on him being an integral part of their plans for this season.

But the message was clear that Seattle put a plan in place before Lynch was signed to a four-year contract in 2012 and the Seahawks management is not inclined to stray from those plans.

“We’ve had a substantial plan working for us for years now and Marshawn was a big part of this plan. Just a couple of years back we made a big statement and made a big effort for him and we wish that he was with us now,” Carroll said.

“But this is a tremendous opportunity for the guys getting their shot. Robert Turbin and Christine Michael they’re ready to go and really fired up about this opportunity and are going to try and take full advantage of it.”

Friday’s result was building throughout the offseason with Lynch staying away from organized team activities and rumors that he would skip June’s mandatory minicamp in protest of his contract structure.

Lynch showed up for the minicamp in June to avoid a hefty fine. But he finally decided to make a stand with the start of training camp.

Lynch can make up to $5.5 million this season in base pay and roster bonuses. It’s the third year of a four-year contract and he’s scheduled to make $5.5 million in base salary in 2015. He now faces fines of $30,000 for each day of camp he misses. Carroll said he’s remained in contact with Lynch throughout the offseason.

“I’m hoping that he will be back with us,” Carroll said.

Lynch has been the workhorse for Seattle’s offense since his arrival via trade during the 2010 season. Lynch has 1,066 carries for 4,624 yards and 41 touchdowns in the regular season since joining the Seahawks.

He brought a physical style that helped define a young team early in Carroll’s tenure.

“The attitude that he brought these past few years has been significant. When we were trying to make a mark that we were a physical, tough football team he stood right at the front of that and was a big part of it,” Carroll said.

“But I think we have accomplished that now and that is our mentality and makeup. We’re grateful that he was part of that and would like to get him back into it.”

In Lynch’s place, Turbin and Michael took most of the reps at running back Friday. Turbin is entering his third season, while Michael barely saw the field last year as a rookie as he struggled with the transition between college and the NFL.

“We all wish he was here,” Michael said. “He’s a great leader. We learn a lot from him. He’ll be back soon.”

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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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