Skip to main content

Niners lead NFL in penalties

By WTOP Staff

RICK EYMER
Associated Press

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — After three games the San Francisco 49ers lead the NFL with 36 penalties, a pace that would break the league record set by the Oakland Raiders three years ago.

The 49ers (1-2) are not making any excuses, though they say part of the problem is in the ambiguity of certain “points of emphasis” for NFL officials this year, rules already on the books that will draw more attention from officials.

“It does make you second-guess things,” San Francisco linebacker Michael Wilhoite said. “One thing I second-guessed was when the quarterback was running. Do I hit him or not? The hard part is knowing whether he’s going down feet first or putting his head down and running.”

The 49ers were called for nine penalties for 107 yards in Sunday’s 23-14 loss at the Arizona Cardinals. That was down from the 16 penalties for 118 yards called against San Francisco against the Chicago Bears.

“The frustrating part is not being able to get into a rhythm,” Wilhoite said. “Another penalty? Now what was called? You have to understand the rules and understand when you can hit a quarterback. I have to have the team’s best interest at heart. At the same I want to play football and we all want to make the plays.”

The 49ers averaged fewer than seven penalties and 53 yards a game last season. The New England Patriots have been called for 30 penalties and an NFL-leading 322 yards and the Pittsburgh Steelers have been flagged 31 times.

The 49ers are on pace for 192 penalties and 1,626 yards. The Raiders drew 163 penalties and 1,328 yards in their record-breaking 2011 season.

“I feel the same way now as I did after the game,” 49ers linebacker Dan Skuta said of an unnecessary roughness call that led to the Cardinals’ go-ahead touchdown. “I hit him with my shoulder, on his shoulder.”

Skuta tackled Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton after he scrambled 7 yards up the middle on the disputed play.

“He was out of the pocket and if he’s going to run like anyone else, I am going to hit him like anyone else,” Skuta said.

“It’s tough to guess when he goes down with his foot leading. I don’t know what to do about that. I know you have to treat the quarterback differently. I think I understand that. I’m just trying to get him down.”

Also, All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis was called for roughing the passer on the next play.

Willis was called for three penalties, only two were accepted, against Arizona.

San Francisco committed 103 penalties for 845 yards last year compared to 96 for 878 yards for its opponents. This year it’s 36 for 305 as opposed to 25 for 166 for opponents.

“We can always play better,” Skuta said. “Talking about penalties is not going to get us any better. We can’t worry about penalties. We have to get ready for the Eagles.”

The NFL has emphasized contact in the defensive backfield for this season.

The clipping penalty was also expanded to include contact by rolling up a player’s leg. San Francisco tackle Jonathan Martin was called for a clip.

“I don’t want to say too much,” Martin said. “It’s just frustrating to see penalties at critical points of the game. It’s just something I have to get better at.”

NOTES: The 49ers signed QB Josh Johnson to a one-year deal and waived TE Asante Cleveland. … TE Vernon Davis said his ankle “felt great. I feel like it’s going to be a good week for me.” Davis said he could tell on Saturday that the ankle wasn’t right. “It would have been a struggle. I wasn’t quite ready.”

___

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
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