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Arizona’s Peterson relishes being highest-paid CB

By WTOP Staff

BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Patrick Peterson is the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.

Just ask him.

Not only did he tweet out the terms of his new contract — five years, $70 million, $48 million guaranteed — he referred to himself as the highest-paid at his position at least five times in the Arizona Cardinals news conference announcing the new deal on Wednesday — twice before he was ever asked a question.

He’s long maintained he’s the league’s best cornerback. Now he says has higher goals — the playoffs, a Super Bowl title, the Hall of Fame.

And Peterson doesn’t speak as if he’s boasting, rather just a matter of the facts.

In just three years, he has become, as he put it, “a face of the organization.”

“He’s earned it,” Cardinals president Michael Bidwill said, “and I agree — he’s the best defensive corner in the league.”

Peterson is the first of the 2011 draft class to sign a second contract. He had two years left on his previous deal after the Cardinals picked up his fifth-year option.

“It shows that we’re a first-class organization,” Peterson said. “We want to get the job done. We want to win, that’s the most important thing.”

By tweeting out his deal, Peterson made sure everyone knew his contract was bigger than that of Seattle’s Richard Sherman. The two have carried on a Twitter rivalry for some time.

Sherman signed a four-year, $56 million contract — $40 million guaranteed — earlier this year.

Peterson rubbed it in with a tweet on Wednesday that said “You mad bro!!!” followed by five faces crying.

Sherman responded with a close-up photo of his Super Bowl championship ring and said “Can’t ever be too mad.”

“I don’t have any beef with Richard,” Peterson said at the news conference. “I’m having fun. I don’t know if he’s having fun, but I think it’s going to make me take my game to the next level.”

He noted some of Sherman’s tweets are “a little salty.”

“I guess it will be must-watch TV when we play Seattle,” Peterson said.

It’s the second-largest contract in Cardinals’ history, exceeded only by the eight-year contract worth up to $120 million — with nearly $50 million guaranteed, that Larry Fitzgerald signed in 2011.

Peterson doesn’t cover a particular part of the field, as Sherman does, but is assigned to the opponent’s best receiver, wherever he lines up.

“Twenty-four years old, 48 straight starts,” Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said. “In my humble opinion there isn’t another corner in the league that has his size, speed, athleticism, explosiveness, ball skills.

“On top of that, Pat will probably be the first to tell you he hasn’t even scratched the surface yet, which is actually scary considering the fact that he could redefine the position.”

Peterson said “it’s a big deal” to have the biggest contract at his position.

“I think I have done a lot in my young career to be recognized not only as the best cornerback in the league,” he said, “but as the highest-paid cornerback in the league. I think my body of work is only going to get better.”

Peterson said the contract won’t mean an added burden.

“Honestly, I don’t think my responsibilities have grown,” he said, “because I’ve been the guy that wants to get better each and every day. I want to be the guy who leads this team. I want to be a face of this organization. I have accomplished that in my first three years. Now it’s getting championships.”

Peterson, who turned 24 on July 11, has made the Pro Bowl each of his three NFL seasons after Arizona selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 draft. He made it as a punt returner in his rookie season, and as a cornerback the past two years. He and Sherman were first-team All-Pro last season.

“He’s very, very mature,” Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said. “I don’t like using that role model word, but he’s a perfect citizen.”

Peterson has become a mentor for safety Tyrann Mathieu, who also went to LSU and had marijuana-related problems before coming to the NFL last year and excelling as a rookie before going down with a late-season knee injury.

Now, Peterson said, it’s time for him to aim for more.

“I want to be in the Hall of Fame someday,” he said. “I have bigger goals than a massive contract. I haven’t been to the playoffs since I’ve been here. I had one winning season since I’ve been here. I want to bring a championship to this city, to this organization. I want to hoist that Lombardi Trophy.”

___

Online:

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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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