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Jets’ Vick will always be grateful toward Eagles

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Michael Vick remembers taking the drive to Philadelphia to restart his NFL career — and loathing every minute of the ride.

He was getting a second chance after serving nearly two years in prison for his role in a dogfighting ring. But Vick wasn’t sure if the Eagles were the right fit.

What if, he thought, after all this time away from football, he was making a huge mistake?

“I’ll never forget,” Vick recalled Monday. “It was a place I didn’t want to be. I wanted to go to a team and start, but I knew I was going to sit behind Donovan (McNabb) and Kevin Kolb. I just remember being angry the whole trip and kind of upset — almost a disgruntled employee before I could even get there.”

Once Vick arrived on that August day in 2009, he sat down with McNabb, then-coach Andy Reid and then-offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, and everything changed.

“I said, ‘OK,'” said Vick, now with the New York Jets and reunited with Mornhinweg. “I didn’t know how long it would be, but I was like, ‘OK, this can be my home for a year,’ and it ended up being home for five years. That’s how God works.”

Because of that, Vick says, Philadelphia will hold a special place in his heart, despite the rocky start.

“There will always be the sense of gratitude,” he said. “That’ll never change.”

Vick, now the backup to Geno Smith with the Jets, is expected to take a few snaps Thursday night when he returns to Philadelphia in the teams’ preseason finale.

With the Eagles, Vick rehabilitated his image and re-established himself as one of the NFL’s most dynamic players. He dealt with injuries, too, but there was no doubt that the player whose eye-popping athletic ability was often compared to a video game was still there. Even last season, Vick was looking good in Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense until he injured a hamstring in the fifth game. He returned three games later, but was ineffective. Nick Foles replaced him during that game — and Vick never started again.

Despite how his five seasons ended in Philadelphia, Vick insisted he’s “absolutely” OK with it.

“I never want to play second fiddle to anybody,” he said, “but I just felt like that team was in such a groove that I didn’t want to try to become a distraction even though I could have fought for my position and fought for the job.

“But I just felt like that team was just in a good place and didn’t want to interrupt that.”

He became a free agent and signed with the Jets in March, fully aware that the team was going to give Smith every opportunity to be the starter in his second season. After the Jets’ preseason loss to the Giants last Friday, Rex Ryan announced that Smith would be under center in Week 1.

Meanwhile, Vick will be counted on to mentor Smith and be able to step in if the young quarterback falters — a role he accepted last season in Philadelphia.

“Yeah, I think it helped me for this situation that I’m in now and what’s taking place here in this point in my life,” Vick said. “You always envision yourself being a starter. You always want to be the guy behind the center, but times change and things change and we change as individuals, our feelings and emotions. I think I’ve changed over the years and I still have the same attitude, winning attitude, but now I kind of see things from a different perspective.

“It’s very humbling to be in the position that I’m in now because I get to see things from a different angle. That’s just as important as being a starter, if you ask me.”

Even at 34, Vick sees himself on film and knows he can play at a high level. That might have some wondering if Vick might still have signed with the Jets — rather than a place he could immediately start — if he had a chance to do it over again.

“Yeah, absolutely,” he said. “The worst thing I could do is tell you, ‘No.’ The worst thing I could do is say, ‘I would have done it differently.’ … I’m just happy to be in this position. I think from the beginning I wouldn’t have made the decision if I didn’t think it was the right one.

“I can honestly and candidly say right now that I’m very thankful and grateful to be here as a Jet and excited about what we can accomplish this year.”

___

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
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