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Column: Protect the shield? Or cover his butt?

By WTOP Staff

JIM LITKE
AP Sports Columnist

Roger Goodell likes to boast about “protecting the shield.” For all the high-minded talk, let’s see how good he is at covering his butt.

Sooner or later, the commissioner will have to explain how he missed a DVD copy of the inside-the-elevator video that The Associated Press reported had arrived at the NFL league offices five months ago. While he’s at it, maybe Goodell can also tell the truth about why he went easy on Ray Rice the first time. After all, like the rest of us, he didn’t need to see actual footage of the vicious punch Rice threw to figure out how Janay Palmer, then his fiancee and now his wife, wound up unconscious on the floor in the first video.

But when he was asked that question in an interview aired Tuesday on “CBS This Morning” Goodell effectively doubled down on his “see-no-evil” — “or at least not enough of it” — defense to explain why he initially suspended Rice for just two games.

“When we met with Ray Rice and his representatives, it was ambiguous about what actually happened,” Goodell replied.

“But what was ambiguous,” came the sharp follow-up, “about her laying unconscious on the floor, being dragged out by her feet?”

“There was nothing ambiguous about that,” Goodell said, adding that they didn’t know the details and couldn’t get the elevator video.

In most instances, the NFL’s security arm compiles dossiers so thorough they rival the work being done at the Department of Homeland Security. And the league promised yet another one, walking back it’s “We will look into it” response to the AP story and announcing late Wednesday that former FBI director Robert Mueller will head an investigation into how the evidence in the Rice case was handled.

No word yet on when it will be completed, but we’re certain of this much already: There’s no way Goodell watched the video of the punch before Monday. He’s too smart to lie about that.

The real questions are why he didn’t get his hands on the video, or learn the details of what went on inside the elevator, most of which was described accurately in a police report. He was either willfully ignorant or just plain incompetent, and neither bodes well for his future.

And while we’re at it, one more thing. League higher-ups knew the AP was asking about a copy of the video being sent to an NFL executive. Yet Goodell went ahead with his appearance on CBS, repeated his tale of plausible deniability and didn’t stop there.

“People expect a lot from the NFL. We accept that… We embrace that,” he said. “That’s our opportunity to make a difference, not just in the NFL, but in society in general.”

That kind of arrogance is breathtaking. It’s also a recurring theme with Goodell.

He’s been great for business, but bad at transparency. He didn’t get serious about concussions until improving science and a pack of lawyers forced his hand. He bungled the Saints “Bountygate” fiasco so badly, the league had to turn to Paul Tagliabue, Goodell’s predecessor, to bail him out. When the Patriots got caught stealing defensive signals from the Jets in 2007 in what became known as “Spygate,” he handed out stiff penalties and then unilaterally ordered the evidence destroyed.

There’s too much blood in the water this time, though, for Goodell to get away without a full review of the facts. The owners to whom Mueller will deliver his report — John Mara of the Giants and Art Rooney of the Steelers — are both pals, but they won’t be able to do him any favors, either.

At least one congressman and the head of the National Organization for Women have already called for Goodell to step down, but the biggest hit to his chances of hanging on might have been struck by Marriott, one of the league’s blue-chip sponsors. The hotel chain said it was “closely following the situation.”

“We trust that the NFL will address the matter appropriately,” a statement on the hotel chain’s Twitter account read.

The folks at Marriott won’t be the only ones paying close attention.

Since January 2000, 77 players have been involved in 85 domestic violence incidents with six being cut by their teams, according to USA Today’s NFL Arrests Database. Greg Hardy of the Carolina Panthers has already been convicted on two counts of domestic violence (he’s appealing the decision) yet somehow he’s still playing this season. Ray McDonald of San Francisco is on the active roster, too, despite being investigated on allegations of abuse.

Goodell has taken plenty of the credit for the quality of the product the NFL puts on the field any given Sunday. Now he’s got to answer a few tough questions about how some of it got there.

___

Jim Litke is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jlitke@ap.org and follow him at Twitter.com/JimLitke.

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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