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Jets’ Patterson rejoins team after going AWOL

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Dimitri Patterson’s mysterious absence is over.

The veteran cornerback rejoined the New York Jets on Sunday night after inexplicably not showing up for the team’s game against the Giants on Friday night.

The Jets announced that Patterson returned to the team’s training facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, and spoke with general manager John Idzik and coach Rex Ryan.

The team didn’t release any other details.

Patterson left the team for about 48 hours, a situation that Idzik called “highly unusual.” Idzik announced during a conference call Sunday that he learned through agent Drew Rosenhaus on Saturday that Patterson was OK physically and it is not believed to be a legal issue.

But at that time, neither Idzik nor Ryan had heard from Patterson directly after leaving several messages for him.

“I’d like to talk to him,” Idzik said, “so we could figure out what’s behind it.”

It wasn’t immediately clear if Patterson would face any discipline from the team, or if he would practice with the team Monday. Idzik said his “unexcused” absence would be handled accordingly, but added that he would rather not speculate on anything, including possible discipline, until the team had the chance to speak to Patterson.

“Needless to say, this situation was not expected and is highly unusual,” Idzik said.

The 31-year-old Patterson was with the team Thursday night at a walkthrough practice at Hofstra University. Idzik said he was also present for meetings, a walkthrough and the pregame meal Friday, but didn’t show for the game at MetLife Stadium that night.

“Obviously, as the game went on, we still had major concerns for his health and where he was, but were unable to locate him,” Ryan said.

Ryan was asked about Patterson after the game, but the coach didn’t let on that there was anything wrong, saying that the Jets would see if he could play in the preseason finale at Philadelphia on Thursday.

“Quite honestly, at that point, I had no idea where he was, what his situation was and was really uncomfortable to go into details about it,” Ryan said.

Patterson, who has been dealing with ankle, calf and quadriceps injuries all summer, was expected to play against the Giants but it was uncertain how much.

Both Idzik and Ryan said they had no indication that Patterson was unhappy, but thought he might have been frustrated with his injuries — although he was working his way back onto the field.

“There really wasn’t any warning that we had of something like this,” Idzik said. “There was nothing to indicate this kind of behavior.”

Patterson was expected to start for the Jets as long as he was healthy. New York signed him to a one-year, $3 million deal in April.

“Selfishly, we want Dimitri on this football team and I think we made that clear when we signed him that we had big plans for him,” Ryan said. “Obviously, we’d like to see him out here, so I’m a little shocked he wasn’t here. Still feel that way, but I’m not real comfortable talking about it until we talk to Dimitri and find out what’s going on.”

The players had a day off Saturday, but returned to the facility Sunday. Patterson didn’t show until sometime Sunday night.

Patterson’s situation is the latest in what has been a brutal summer for the Jets’ cornerbacks. Top cornerback Dee Milliner is recovering from a high ankle sprain, and it’s uncertain whether he’ll be ready in time for the regular-season opener on Sept. 7.

Third-round draft pick Dexter McDougle was lost for the season during training camp after tearing a knee ligament. A few other backup cornerbacks have also dealt with injuries throughout the summer.

The team is so thin at the position, safety Antonio Allen has started the past two preseason games at cornerback. But Allen is going through the NFL’s concussion protocol after injuring his head against the Giants.

“We hope that with Dimitri everything works out and he’s with us, but we’re going to be full steam ahead,” Ryan said. “That’s the way we’ll handle our business.”

NOTES: Ryan announced that QB Michael Vick will start at Philadelphia against his former team Thursday night, “but don’t expect him to play long.” Geno Smith and the rest of the team’s starters are expected to sit against the Eagles. … Smith, announced as the Week 1 starter by Ryan on Friday, said he has always been confident, but “I caught myself second-guessing myself last year for a lot of reasons.” Smith, who struggled through an up-and-down rookie year, said he always knew he could play, but had to “fight through a bunch of different things, and I had to learn as well.” … LBs Troy Davis (quad) and Ikemefuna Enemkpali (foot) didn’t practice Sunday, and neither did WR Stephen Hill (illness).

___

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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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