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Jets release suspended CB Patterson, cut WR Hill

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Dimitri Patterson went from likely starting cornerback for the New York Jets to being out of a job — all in the span of one bizarre week.

The Jets released Patterson on Saturday, capping a strange stretch that included an unexcused absence, accusations from both the cornerback and the team, and a suspension.

The move came as the Jets got down to the mandatory 53-player roster limit. Also among the team’s 21 cuts were wide receiver Stephen Hill, running backs Daryl Richardson and Alex Green, and quarterbacks Matt Simms and Tajh Boyd.

The Jets also placed linebacker Antwan Barnes on the reserve-physically unable to perform list as he continues to recover from a knee injury suffered last season. Barnes could begin practicing Oct. 14, with the possibility of being activated within the following three weeks.

Patterson was suspended Tuesday for the rest of the preseason after he left the team, according to the Jets, and went missing before the preseason game against the Giants on Aug. 22 without speaking to anyone in the organization.

The team said Patterson was at meetings, a walkthrough and the pregame meal, but didn’t show for the game at MetLife Stadium.

General manager John Idzik said Patterson gave the Jets no warning he would leave the team, and didn’t speak to anyone directly until he met with Idzik and coach Rex Ryan two days later at the training facility.

Idzik also said he learned Patterson was OK only last Saturday through agent Drew Rosenhaus.

But in a statement to ESPN on Thursday, Patterson said the Jets’ claims that he went missing for 48 hours without notifying the team were “completely false.”

Patterson said Rosenhaus contacted the Jets “multiple times several hours prior to Friday night’s game.”

The 31-year-old Patterson was expected to start opposite Dee Milliner, who is recovering from a high ankle sprain, after signing with the Jets in April. He dealt with a few leg ailments throughout training camp, and played only in the preseason opener.

Patterson was eligible to rejoin the team on Monday, but the Jets decided to cut ties. There was some speculation that Patterson was disappointed with his standing on the Jets’ depth chart, but he denied that in his statement, saying it was “totally and completely false.”

But neither Patterson nor the Jets have revealed the reasons for his absence.

The move to part ways with Hill wasn’t a major surprise after the 2012 second-round draft pick had two seasons marked by injuries and inconsistent play.

Hill was a raw receiver when he came out of Georgia Tech, which ran a heavy run-first offense, but the Jets were high on his speed and athleticism. They traded up in the second round to draft Hill, but he finished with 45 catches for 594 yards and four touchdowns in two seasons — ending both on injured reserve.

“I’m disappointed in Idzik and Rex with the way the whole thing went down there,” agent Alan Herman told USA Today. “Two years in that kind of situation is disheartening. He didn’t have a chance that first year with that whole Tim Tebow-Mark Sanchez fiasco. His second year, Geno Smith was learning how to play quarterback. So they never threw the ball deep because they wanted to simplify things for Geno.”

The cuts of both Richardson and Green came after Ryan acknowledged the Jets could go with four running backs. It appears the Jets will go into the season with the trio of Chris Johnson, Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell in the backfield.

With Simms and Boyd both let go, New York will have just two quarterbacks on the roster: Smith and Michael Vick.

Also released were: wide receiver Clyde Gates, linebackers Garrett McIntyre, Troy Davis and A.J. Edds, tight end Chris Pantale, defensive linemen Tevita Finau, Kerry Hyder and Zach Thompson, guards Will Campbell and Caleb Schlauderaff, offensive tackle Brent Qvale, cornerbacks Brandon Dixon, Johnny Patrick and Jeremy Reeves, and safety Rontez Miles.

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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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