Skip to main content

Bryant-Sherman marks showdown of mutual respect

By WTOP Staff

SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) — For all the drama Dez Bryant created on and off the field early in his career, the Dallas receiver has never really had a public spat with a high-profile rival.

Tony Romo’s top target isn’t going to start with Richard Sherman, the talented Seattle cornerback who’s been known to call out opposing receivers in pointed ways.

“I feel like at times he says what he feels and that’s what he believes,” said Bryant, who will try to match his second-longest touchdown streak at five games when the Cowboys (4-1) visit the Seahawks on Sunday. “There’s really nothing wrong with what he’s doing. He has issues with other players that are a conflict, but that’s not here. We have respect.”

Days after dismissing Washington’s Pierre Garcon as a receiver who “doesn’t matter,” Sherman had entirely different words for Bryant, one of the league’s most productive receivers since the Cowboys drafted him in 2010.

The timing might have had a little to do with it because Bryant had just made one of the best catches of his career — a leaping, juggling 37-yarder on third down to set up the winning field goal in a 20-17 overtime victory against Houston.

“He made a fantastic play for them last week, which is indicative of what he can do when the ball is in the air,” Sherman said. “He’s definitely physical throughout the route.”

The Cowboys bring a surprising record and NFL rusher leader DeMarco Murray to Seattle (3-1), and the matchup of Murray against the league’s top rushing defense is certainly a talker. But Sherman against Bryant is probably the most intriguing one-on-one battle in the game.

It’s unlikely that Dallas will follow the lead of other teams and simply stay away from Sherman. The Cowboys have generally been better when they’ve found ways to get the ball to Bryant, whose 44 scoring catches through 64 games are more than twice what Drew Pearson had and 15 more than Michael Irvin at the same point in the careers of those No. 88s for Dallas.

“They have really good players all across their defense, so I think if you got into that game with these guys you wouldn’t really snap the ball,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “They’re awfully good. Just put the tape on. But we have to do what we do.”

Even if Sherman took aim at Bryant the way he did with San Francisco’s Michael Crabtree, it’s unlikely he would get much of a response from Bryant. While the fifth-year receiver had a petty sideline moment as recently as last season when he went to the locker room before the clock expired in a loss to Green Bay, he usually dances away from headline-grabbing sound bites.

He wouldn’t oblige reporters Thursday when asked if he considered himself the best, and after Garrett playfully pushed him away from the conversation, he came back for one more answer — and a politically correct one at that.

But Bryant isn’t naive enough to believe all the niceties will extend into the game.

“I’m pretty sure he’s going to say something to me,” said Bryant, who said he chatted with Sherman and exchanged phone numbers at an event during the offseason. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to say something to him. But at the end of the day, when it’s all said and done, we’re going to congratulate one another and talk and take pictures and get back on the plane and go our separate ways.”

NOTES: LB Bruce Carter is out for a second straight game because of a strained quadriceps, but LB Rolando McClain (groin) practiced Friday. He’s listed as questionable, but owner Jerry Jones said on his radio show that he anticipated McClain playing.

___

Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

___

Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler

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