Skip to main content

NFL domestic violence: What’s next

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

The legal system doesn’t work on the NFL’s schedule. The players facing child abuse or domestic violence allegations might wait a long time for their cases to play out in the courtroom. A look at what’s next in each case:

___

RAY RICE

Ray Rice is appealing his indefinite suspension from the NFL on the basis that he shouldn’t be punished twice for the same incident. Rice was cut by Baltimore after video surfaced showing him punching his fiancee and knocking her out cold, but was initially suspended for only two games.

Under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, a hearing date must be set within 10 days of the appeal. But a speedy resolution might not be likely — the player’s union is asking for a neutral arbitrator to determine what information about the incident was available to the NFL, and when.

Rice was going to make $4 million this year. He lost that and income from canceled endorsement deals.

___

ADRIAN PETERSON

The Minnesota running back is on the exempt-commissioner’s permission list until a charge of reckless or negligent injury to a child in Texas is resolved. Peterson will make $11.75 million this season while he addresses allegations that he injured his 4-year-old son by spanking him with a wooden switch. Peterson is not appealing that decision by the Vikings.

His first court date is scheduled for Oct. 8 in suburban Houston’s Montgomery County. Peterson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, has made it clear through his statements that he is preparing for the case will go to trial, which likely would not happen until 2015. That means if he does not reach a plea bargain earlier, Peterson could miss the entire season. He said he never intended to harm his son, but faces up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine if found guilty.

___

RAY MCDONALD

The defensive end continues to practice and play for San Francisco while being investigated on suspicion of domestic violence. McDonald is out on $25,000 bail following his Aug. 31 arrest at his San Jose home where he was celebrating his 30th birthday with teammates and friends. Police said the alleged victim had “visible injuries.” A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 29.

Coach Jim Harbaugh said the 49ers would let the legal process play out before making a determination about McDonald’s future. California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for the team to bench McDonald, but Harbaugh said: “Our response would be, we have two principles at play here, and one is respect for due process, and we’re not going to flinch based on public speculation.”

The 49ers restructured McDonald’s $3.5 million annual base salary for this season to create salary-cap space.

___

GREG HARDY

Carolina’s Pro Bowl defensive end is on paid leave after being placed on the NFL’s exempt-commissioner’s permission list. He was convicted July 15 of assault on a female and communicating threats after the victim said he threw her in the bathtub and onto a sofa covered with guns before threatening to kill her. He has appealed, putting his 60-day suspended jail sentence and 18 months of probation on hold, and a jury trial is set for Nov. 17. If acquitted, he could return to the field for the final month of the regular season.

Hardy, the team’s franchise player, will continue to make more than $775,588 per week while sitting out.

___

JONATHAN DWYER

The case against the Arizona backup running back is in its early stages, but the team quickly deactivated him after he was arrested Wednesday and accused of breaking his wife’s nose after she refused his sexual advances and punching her in the face the next day. Dwyer spent the night in jail and was released on $25,000 bail ahead of court hearings scheduled for next week.

When asked as he left court if he will play football again, he said, “I will.” But his future with the team is in serious doubt. The Cardinals placed him on the reserve/non-football list, and police said Dwyer had been sending suicidal text messages to his wife since the start of training camp.

Dwyer is on a one-year, $730,000 contract with Arizona.

___

Online:

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