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Briggs didn’t tell Bears reason for day off

By WTOP Staff

ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — When Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs asked coach Marc Trestman for a personal day this week, he left out a detail — it was to attend the grand opening of his barbecue restaurant.

He didn’t mention it afterward, either.

Briggs raised a few more eyebrows with that revelation while being grilled by reporters Wednesday.

With the season opening this week he found himself at the center of attention for missing practice to be at the opening of his barbecue restaurant near his hometown of Sacramento, California.

His comments Wednesday added some more heat.

He said “no” after someone asked if he told Trestman the day off was for the opening of the restaurant he part-owns.

He also said he didn’t tell his coach later and they haven’t discussed it since.

Trestman would not say if he would have granted Briggs the day off had he known the reason.

“There’s been a lot of different reasons of why players have asked for personal time,” Trestman said. “I just don’t feel I should have to comment on that because now you’ve set a baseline for each and every situation. It’s not just all about the player; it’s about the best interest of the team.”

Asked if too much is being made of this, Briggs said, “That’s my opinion. Everybody is entitled to their own.”

Had the opening occurred on an off day, this probably would be a non-issue. But Briggs said his partner chose Monday because it was Labor Day, when many people are not working. And the seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker was there posing for pictures with fans and signing autographs on a day when his team was practicing, albeit on a limited basis.

Even so, that raised questions about his commitment to the Bears.

“I poured my heart out on the field every game and every play,” Briggs said. “I think if you’re questioning whether I care more to be there than to be here, my history has always spoken for me. You can take that how you want to.”

Briggs’ accomplishments are hard to argue, and they’re counting on him after he missed a big chunk of last season with a broken left shoulder.

The Bears are counting on an improved defense to get them back to the playoffs for just the second time since the 2006 team’s Super Bowl run. They rebuilt a unit that ranked among the worst in franchise history last season, adding five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen along with defensive end Lamarr Houston.

They’re healthier after being hit hard by injuries last season, with defensive tackle D.J. Williams and cornerback Charles Tillman healed after missing big portions of last season along with Briggs.

But the optimism that surrounded the Bears at the start of training camp is somewhat tempered.

The defense underwhelmed in the preseason and is still trying to come together.

“The cohesiveness … we can all gel this week and be sharp and play shutdown defense,” Briggs said. “But this is the NFL and they get paid too. In this game there are going to be some mistakes, but you have to make up for those mistakes with getting to the ball, getting a lot of guys around the ball and creating turnovers and stuff like that.”

Briggs’ restaurant-related absence with the opener approaching only added to the angst.

He pointed out that Monday was a light practice and that the Bears don’t start installing their game plan until Wednesday. He also mentioned that the Bears have often gotten Mondays off following victories.

“I asked (Trestman) for a personal day, he said OK,” Briggs said. “I guess my announcing the opening of my restaurant made bigger news than we kind of expected. It is what it is. Right now we’re on Wednesday preparing for the Buffalo Bills.”

___

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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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