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Jets suspend Patterson for rest of preseason

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Dimitri Patterson’s suspension will last a few more days.

The New York Jets announced Tuesday night that the veteran cornerback who went AWOL for 48 hours last weekend will sit out for the rest of the week, including the preseason finale at Philadelphia on Thursday night, but is eligible to return to the team next Monday.

The team also said that additional terms of discipline would not be disclosed. Patterson is likely facing a team-imposed fine.

Patterson had been suspended indefinitely on Monday after he left the team last Friday night before the Jets’ preseason game against the Giants without speaking to anyone in the organization. General manager John Idzik said the team wanted to gather facts before determining how Patterson would be further disciplined.

The Jets wouldn’t provide details on the reason Patterson gave for what the team called an “unexcused” absence.

Earlier Tuesday, coach Rex Ryan said he didn’t anticipate a resolution to the situation in the next few days, and also didn’t have any additional updates.

Patterson, who signed a one-year, $3 million deal in April, might still face an uncertain future with the Jets, particularly after teams make their final roster cuts Saturday. Ryan wouldn’t speculate as to whether the Jets could release Patterson before the regular season.

“We’re not going to comment on what may or may not take place,” Ryan said. “We know what the situation is now and we’re moving forward. We’re going to coach the guys that are here and that’s what we’re doing.”

Patterson was at meetings, a walkthrough and the pregame meal last Friday, but didn’t show for the preseason game later that night at MetLife Stadium. He gave the Jets no warning he would leave the team, and didn’t speak to anyone in the organization directly until he met with Ryan and Idzik on Sunday night at the training facility.

Idzik said Monday that Patterson’s suspension would be “brief,” but the 31-year-old cornerback would face more discipline once the team had finished looking into the matter.

Patterson was not at practice Monday or Tuesday.

“I really don’t know what to say about that,” quarterback Geno Smith said of Patterson’s situation. “I just hope he’s fine, hope he’s OK. As a teammate, as a friend, I want to support him. Obviously, coaches are going to make their decisions on what they think is best for the team. We stand behind that.”

Patterson had been projected as a starter for the regular season, but has been hampered most of the summer by ankle, calf and quadriceps injuries so he has played only in the preseason opener against Indianapolis — and struggled.

The Jets expected Patterson to test out his leg during pregame warmups last Friday night, and would then determine whether he would play. Ryan acknowledged Patterson wasn’t going to start the game, but could have entered with the first-team defense at some point.

When asked if the absence might have stemmed from being upset about not starting, Ryan again refused to speculate.

Even before Patterson’s puzzling absence, the Jets faced a shaky situation at the cornerback position. Dee Milliner, expected to be the team’s top cover man in his second season, is still recovering from a high ankle sprain that has his status for the regular-season opener in doubt. Third-round draft pick Dexter McDougle is out for the year with a torn knee ligament. Safety-turned-cornerback Antonio Allen is working his way back from a concussion.

Backup Darrin Walls, who could end up starting in Week 1, has a leg ailment but Ryan said “it’s not a major issue.”

That leaves Kyle Wilson, Ellis Lankster, LeQuan Lewis and Johnny Patrick as the Jets’ top healthy cornerbacks. Ryan laughed when asked if he had ever been in a more dire situation in the secondary.

“Guys, I coached at New Mexico Highlands,” he joked. “I coached in Vegas, New Mexico. But, you know what? It’s like anything else. Sometimes, an opportunity presents itself that maybe normally wouldn’t. You end up finding a diamond in the rough, so to speak.”

NOTES: WR Stephen Hill pushed through practice despite vomiting on the field, Ryan said. He sat out Sunday with an illness and was sent home Monday after he vomited. Hill has been the subject of trade rumors because of his inability to be consistent on the field. When asked about an ESPN report that said the Jets looked into dealing Hill this summer, Ryan shrugged. “Well, I didn’t try to trade him,” he said. “I can comment on me. Again, a lot of times with anything, you’ll listen to whatever things are thrown out there. This is the first I’ve heard of it, though.” … QBs coach David Lee said third-stringer Matt Simms has “improved as much as any guy I think I can ever remember coaching.”

___

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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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