Skip to main content

Jets’ Vick says Goodell doing ‘great job’

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Michael Vick fully supports the man who gave him a second chance in the NFL.

The New York Jets quarterback defended NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell while the league and its teams have come under heavy criticism during the past two weeks over how they are dealing with several players facing domestic violence allegations.

“I think he’s doing a great job,” Vick said after practice Thursday. “I think some situations are more complicated than others. You’re not going to get it right all the time on the first time. These situations that are arising are situations that we have never dealt with before in the NFL from a PR standpoint, just from a situational standpoint.

“It’s kind of new to everybody. That’s why we’re all talking about it right now.”

Goodell has remained mostly silent during the last two weeks as the NFL has dealt with perhaps its most brutal stretch ever, starting last week when video surfaced that showed former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocking out his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City, New Jersey, elevator.

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was indicted on felony child-abuse charges and deactivated by the team. Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy was also removed from the active roster until his domestic violence case is settled. He appealed a ruling in July when he was convicted of assault on a female and communicating threats.

On Wednesday, Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer was arrested on aggravated assault charges and deactivated after police said he head-butted his wife and broke her nose after she refused his sexual advances, and punched her in the face the next day.

“There’s a lot going on and there’s a lot of issues that are taking place and I think in due time, they’ll all be cleaned up,” Vick said. “But it’s kind of hard right now. Hopefully, everything will resume (to) normal in the next couple of months. We just can’t continue to keep feeding into it. Every day, there’s a new story that’s being written about and being talked about. We don’t seem to let it go.”

The pressure has increased during the last several days from lawmakers, sponsors and fans who have taken issue with whether the NFL is acting swiftly enough to investigate or discipline players.

“Nobody’s perfect,” Vick said. “Nobody can make the correct decisions right then and there on the spot when faced with all forms of adversity.”

Vick dealt directly with Goodell when he was suspended in 2007 and reinstated after serving nearly two years in prison for his role in a dog fighting ring.

“You’ve got to give the man a chance,” Vick said of Goodell. “You’ve got to give everybody a chance to get it right. You see that the other teams that are dealing with it now are making the right decisions based on what’s happened in weeks prior. You’ve got to give people a chance, man.

“You’re not going to get it right all the time the first time.”

Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa, currently on the practice squad, was arrested and charged with domestic violence and simple assault on Aug. 31. The NFL is reviewing the situation under its domestic violence policy, but neither Enunwa nor the team has commented.

As a member of the practice squad, Enunwa is not on the active 53-player roster, so he is not eligible to play in games. Enunwa, whose next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 1, has continued to practice with the team. He was a sixth-round draft pick out of Nebraska in May.

Despite the tumultuous time in the league, Jets coach Rex Ryan doesn’t think it’s getting tougher to deal with players’ off-field conduct. He said the team regularly brings in specialists to speak to players about a variety of issues, to try to educate them before they face any problems.

“How different was it from 15 years ago or whatever? I’m not sure it was a whole lot different,” Ryan said. “It just seems like it’s out there front and center now, some of these issues.”

___

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote