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Suh says contract uncertainty is no distraction

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

DETROIT (AP) — Ndamukong Suh is ready to start training camp — and he says any uncertainty about his contract shouldn’t be a distraction.

“That’s what you’ve got agents for,” the Detroit defensive tackle told The Associated Press. “They can take care of business, and just go from there.”

Veterans report to camp Sunday, and the Lions will practice Monday. Suh is entering the final season of his contract, and as always, the spotlight will be on the two-time All-Pro when he takes the field for Detroit.

Suh does not seem overly concerned about the status of contract talks.

“I don’t have a timetable,” Suh said. “That’s my agent. I don’t have to worry about it. I can focus on football, and that’s my job, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Suh was drafted in 2010 by the Lions with the second overall pick, and he has 27 1/2 sacks in his four pro seasons. Suh and Nick Fairley form an imposing interior of Detroit’s defensive line, and the Lions are hoping for a big season under new coach Jim Caldwell.

Detroit finished 7-9 last season, and coach Jim Schwartz was fired, but the Lions have a strong core of marquee talent in Suh, Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford — all of whom are in their 20s. The 28-year-old Johnson is the oldest of the three.

“Looking forward to the start of the Caldwell regime,” Suh said. “Got a great group of guys coming back — very young, guys starting to get into their prime.”

The 27-year-old Suh enjoys traveling and immersing himself in different cultures, and the offseason is often a good opportunity for that.

“It’s always nice to get out of the states and kind of disappear,” he said.

This offseason included a trip to Brazil for the World Cup. Suh played soccer growing up, and the sport runs deep in his family.

“Brazil was an absolute blast,” he said. “A lot of fun — enjoyed every bit of it. Super-excited to go down there with my dad and enjoy some great international soccer.”

Suh said he saw the U.S.-Portugal match, and he also went to see Cameroon play Brazil. Suh’s father was born in Cameroon.

Now it’s back to American football — and although there will be plenty of questions in the next few days about his future with the Lions, Suh expects to stay relatively quiet about his contract.

“Obviously, starting here soon on Sunday, I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to just dive back into football 100 percent, and just put all my energy into that,” Suh said. “I like to be a person that has ability to multitask, but at the same time, you understand the task at hand and what’s most important.”

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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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