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Kevin Williams starting new chapter with Seattle

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — There was still a chance for Kevin Williams to return to Minnesota, the only place he knew in his NFL career. There was also a chance to join New England and play for the Patriots.

So why is Williams now wearing a Seattle Seahawks uniform when he potentially could have gotten more money elsewhere?

“I think at the end of the day they are doing some great things with a bunch of young guys,” Williams said. “A chance to play in a great rotation at the defensive line. I think it’s the best fit for me.”

Williams was the latest addition to the Seahawks roster just before the start of this week’s minicamp. After seeing the defensive line thinned by free agency and salary cap cuts following their Super Bowl title, the addition of Williams this late could be a major coup for the Seahawks.

“We always have cherished big guys and there was a spot, we thought, for Kevin. We’ve talked to him for a really long time; we’ve talked to him throughout the offseason with the thought of maybe getting this worked out,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “We have tremendous respect for the person that he is, the competitor that he is, the leader that he is. He’s a big man that plays tough. We want him to play good, physical football for us like he always has.”

Though his career, now entering its 12th season, Williams has only known playing for the Vikings. He lived up to the billing of being the No. 9 overall pick in the 2003 draft, becoming a five-time AP first-team All-Pro selection as one of the more dominant interior linemen in the game.

Williams believes he can still contribute. And Seattle is getting him at a bargain of $1.5 million for 2014.

“I try to do it all pretty good. If it’s rush the passer, stopping the run or whatever the case I think I can help out in each way,” Williams said.

Seattle was most attractive to Williams because at age 33 — he’ll turn 34 before the start of the season — he would not have to carry the load anymore. According to Football Outsiders, Williams played 718 defensive snaps last season for the Vikings. Meanwhile, no Seattle player on the defensive line — playoffs included — played more than 600 snaps last season.

Williams said that rotation was something he noticed as an opponent last season when the Seahawks played the Vikings.

“Man, those guys have a nice rotation on defense. They were having fun and you could see it. I think everyone that has watched them play lately can see how much fun they’re having offensively and defensively,” Williams said. “At the end of the day having fun and doing things right ended up in a lot of wins and those guys getting a Super Bowl last year.”

If Williams can match his production from recent seasons, it could lead to more flexibility on Seattle’s defensive line. One of the unique traits of the Seahawks front four the past few season was using big bodied Red Bryant as a defensive end in running situations. Bryant was released following the Super Bowl, leaving Seattle without that bigger option to try and hold the edge against the run.

The addition of Williams could solve that issue. Defensive tackle Tony McDaniel has a similar build and skills as Bryant. If Williams can be effective on the interior, Seattle could shift McDaniel to the outside if the need is there.

“Everybody loves what he’s about,” Carroll said. “We had him in earlier in the process, learned about him, studied him, talked to a million people about him and he’s just come out as a great guy to add that brings the big body dimension to us that we can utilize.”

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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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