Skip to main content

49ers eager to focus on football amid distractions

By WTOP Staff

JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — In a week that should be filled with talk about another Super Bowl run and the pomp and circumstance of finally playing the much-hyped season opener, the San Francisco 49ers once again find themselves dealing with potential embarrassment and legal problems away from the field.

Only days after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell cracked down on domestic violence offenses with far harsher penalties, defensive tackle Ray McDonald could become an example. Yet, the 49ers are determined to let the legal process play out before casting judgment.

McDonald faces felony domestic violence charges for an incident during his 30th birthday party with teammates and friends Sunday, when police say his alleged victim suffered “visible injuries.”

San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh hasn’t ruled out McDonald playing in the opener Sunday at Dallas, and the defensive lineman is practicing.

Harbaugh said Wednesday the decision “will be based on information and facts.”

“There’s two very strong principles in play. No. 1 is we will not tolerate domestic violence. The second principle is the respect for due process,” Harbaugh said. “It’s something we all know, we all live in America, and we all understand that sometimes patience is required when it comes to due process. … You’re innocent until proven guilty.

General manager Trent Baalke and Harbaugh have spent recent days denouncing such behavior and reiterating their stand for zero tolerance when it comes to domestic violence.

All of this after star linebacker Aldon Smith was suspended for nine games Friday for what the NFL called violations of the league’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies.

So, how ready will this team regroup and be ready for the Cowboys in a raucous road environment?

“Obviously, this isn’t something that any of us are happy about, but it’s the situation we’re in,” Baalke said. “Any time you face adversity, it’s how you deal with it. We’re going to do the best we can to bring a resolution to this and to do the best job we can, of all of us, players, coaches, everyone else, being the best members of this community that we can be. That’s our goal. Always has been, always will be.”

McDonald hasn’t been available to the media this week, but his teammates are standing behind him as the allegations are investigated.

“We never condone anything of this magnitude, but it is what it is and nobody knows, you know, there’s two sides to every story,” linebacker Patrick Willis said. “So we just hope that everything gets situated, and we can get right back out on the field and everybody can be at peace.”

The NFL’s new rules call for a six-week suspension for a first offense and at least a year for a second. San Francisco officials are in communication with the league on the matter.

It’s been a turbulent year since Harbaugh publicly criticized the rival Seahawks in June 2013 for their run of performance-enhancing drug suspensions and said, “You always want to be above reproach, especially when you’re good, because you don’t want people to come back and say, ‘They’re winning because they’re cheating.'”

Since then, cornerback Chris Culliver has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor hit-and-run charges and felony possession of brass knuckles after a March arrest.

In his latest run-in with the law, Smith was arrested April 13 at Los Angeles International Airport. Police said Smith was randomly selected for a secondary screening and became uncooperative with the process, telling a TSA agent that he had a bomb. No charges were filed.

San Francisco went 5-0 during Smith’s absence last fall to undergo treatment following his Sept. 20 DUI arrest.

“We’re versatile, and we have players who can come in and play,” said linebacker Corey Lemonier, one of the reliable replacements in 2013.

In a season that’s considered Super Bowl championship or bust by the players’ standards after a trio of near misses, this is far from an ideal start. Especially for a defense that has been among the NFL’s most staunch units in recent seasons. All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman is already sidelined for at least half the season as he recovers from a terrifying left knee injury during the NFC championship game in Seattle that required surgery.

If San Francisco can beat Tony Romo and Co. on Sunday, everybody will begin to move forward.

“Losing those guys you can look across the board and find every reason to run the other way or make excuses as to why you may not be as good or why we can’t be as good, but at the end of the day, you’re only as good as the guys that are out there on the field anyway,” Willis said. “All these guys have our support, injured, situations, whatever they may be. At the end of the day, we’ve just got to win ballgames.”

Notes: RT Anthony Davis (hamstring) and WR Michael Crabtree (calf) worked out in the weight room at the start of practice and didn’t participate.

___

AP NFL website: 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