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Bills DT Dareus attempting to put past behind him

By WTOP Staff

JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Saying he’s “a grown man,” Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus intends to focus on putting his best foot forward to straighten around a career that was nearly derailed by an offseason string of troubles.

“I’m going to do the best I can just to straighten my own things out because I am a man, I am human,” Dareus said Tuesday. “And I’m going to do the best I can to continue to move forward and be positive from here on out.”

Dareus spoke during an impromptu gathering with reporters following practice at the Bills’ training camp facility in suburban Rochester. It marked the first time he’s spoken publicly since late May, when the 2011 first-round draft pick’s on- and off-field problems began to grow.

Dareus was arrested twice in the span of four weeks in May. He then reported to camp out of shape and failed a conditioning test that contributing him to missing the first four days of practice.

“It was just a hurdle I had to get over. And mentally I got over it, and got over everything else,” he said. “I’m 100 percent sure that everything is just fine, and we’re just going to keep moving forward. I don’t have any worries.”

Dareus declined to talk about his legal issues, or discuss the possibility of facing any NFL disciplinary action.

“I’m not really discussing that because that’s something I’ll have to talk about with them,” he said, referring to the NFL.

Dareus did indicate that he has not yet been contacted by league officials.

Dareus first ran into trouble on May 5, when he was arrested in his native Alabama and charged with possession of synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Last month, he agreed to enter an NFL substance abuse program in a bid to have the two felony charges dismissed.

He still faces a reckless driving charge and numerous traffic violations after crashing his 2012 Jaguar into a tree during an alleged car race with teammate Jerry Hughes not far from Ralph Wilson Stadium on May 30.

Dareus is still attempting to resolve those charges after failing to accept a plea deal last month. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 9, two days after the Bills open the season at Chicago.

He said the legal issues were a distraction that led to him reporting to camp out of shape.

“My weight is a lot better. I’m staying focused on doing what I can on the field,” Dareus said. “I’m feeling good. Mentally I’m in a good state. I’m just happy to be back out here.”

He credited his teammates and coach Doug Marrone for their support. It was Marrone, especially, who backed Dareus after his second arrest. Marrone met with the player and suggested Dareus take two weeks off from voluntary practices to clear his head.

Dareus has been a three-year starter in Buffalo since he was drafted with the third pick out of Alabama. He’s coming off a career season in which he was credited with 71 tackles and 7 1/2 sacks and made his first Pro Bowl appearance as an injury replacement.

On the field Tuesday, rookie receiver Sammy Watkins was very limited in returning to practice a day after being held out because of bruised ribs. Watkins was limited to taking part in individual drills and did not catch any passes.

“I’m fine. I can go out there and do a practice if I need to,” Watkins said, noting the team is taking a cautionary approach to his injury. “It’s just being safe.”

The first-round draft pick was hurt in a 19-16 preseason loss at Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Marrone said Watkins hasn’t been fully cleared for practice and said it’s too early to determine whether he’ll play Saturday, when the Bills host Tampa Bay.

___

AP NFL websites: 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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