Skip to main content

Jets suspend CB Dimitri Patterson ‘indefinitely’

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Dimitri Patterson ended his puzzling absence after 48 hours, but his future with the New York Jets is now uncertain.

The Jets “indefinitely” suspended the veteran cornerback Monday after he left the team Friday without contacting the organization. General manager John Idzik said Patterson spoke to him and coach Rex Ryan on Sunday night, but neither Idzik nor Ryan would discuss the reason for the absence.

“Obviously, Dimitri felt he acted appropriately, but until we discussed it last night, you don’t understand,” Idzik said. “And, to be honest, we’re still trying to understand all that went behind it. So, I would rather not characterize it.”

Idzik added that the “indefinite” suspension will be “brief,” but the 31-year-old Patterson will face more discipline once the team has gathered all the facts. Patterson wasn’t on the practice field Monday.

“It’ll give us a little time to gather more information around what led to his behavior,” Idzik said. “I think that way, we’ll feel like we’ll make a very well-informed decision as to what discipline will be forthcoming — and there will be discipline involved.”

Idzik wouldn’t speculate whether that could result in further suspension, fines or Patterson being released. Ryan said “it’s safe to say” he has never been involved in a situation in which a player didn’t show up for a game.

“I don’t want to say anything one way or the other about the situation because it’s a serious situation,” Ryan said after practice. “How I feel, whatever, I’ll just leave as private thoughts right now.”

Patterson was with the team last Thursday night at a walkthrough practice at Hofstra University. Idzik said he was also at meetings, a walkthrough and the pregame meal Friday, but didn’t show for the preseason game against the Giants at MetLife Stadium.

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. He gave the Jets no warning he would leave the team, and no one in the organization knew if Patterson was even OK physically until his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was able to confirm that Saturday.

Idzik announced that Patterson had gone missing during a conference call Sunday. A few hours later, Patterson, through Rosenhaus, told Idzik he would return to the facility that night to speak to them.

“The conversations we had with Dimitri will remain private,” Idzik said. “He presented what led up to that, and basically last night was a listening session for Rex and for me, to understand what went into it. Now that the lines of communication are open, there will be two-way discourse now, which I think will be healthy.”

In a text message to ESPN’s Josina Anderson, Patterson said he was OK, but took issue with reports that said he was AWOL, calling them “comical.”

When told of Patterson’s comments, Idzik said: “I’ll just say, he left and we didn’t hear from him until we saw him yesterday evening.”

Patterson’s teammates said they had no idea he was going to not show up for the game, and they were surprised to hear he was nowhere to be found.

“Dimitri’s a great person and I never expected him not to show for the game,” cornerback Darrin Walls said. “I’ve never known him to miss anything. He’s always on time and he’s always present for everything else, so to not see him was kind of a shock.”

Quarterback Michael Vick became good friends with Patterson while the two played together for two years in Philadelphia. Vick was sad to hear about the situation.

“Dimitri’s a great player and a guy who has put in a lot of hard work throughout the course of his career, and he has an opportunity to do some great things with this team,” Vick said. “I don’t know what happened. I just hope it works out for him.”

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, but now there are questions about his commitment to the team.

“That’s what we’re going to try to decipher,” Idzik said. “That’s why you really want to get to the bottom of it.”

The Jets are in troubling shape at cornerback with Patterson’s situation the latest in a dismal summer for the team at that spot. Top cornerback Dee Milliner is still recovering from a high ankle sprain and might not be ready for the regular-season opener. Third-round pick Dexter McDougle is out for the year with a torn knee ligament, and safety-turned-cornerback Antonio Allen is dealing with a concussion.

But before Patterson is reinstated, the Jets are gathering information to find out whether he can be counted on.

“I think you have to let that kind of unfold,” Idzik said. “We’re still going through that. Trust is earned over time.”

___

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
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