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Sherman finds San Diego comments ‘hilarious’

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Richard Sherman heard the comments coming from the San Diego locker room after Seattle’s 30-21 loss to the Chargers.

His response: It was just someone seeking attention.

“I thought that was pretty hilarious,” Sherman said. “You know when a guy wants to get his name in the paper he has to say something crazy.”

Sherman’s comments Wednesday were his first since the Seahawks fell to 1-1. He did not speak after Sunday’s game, but clarified on Wednesday that he was available Sunday at his locker after the defeat and was not approached.

But while Sherman didn’t talk after the game, some of San Diego’s players were clearly taking shots.

“He’s just a normal guy. We can go at him. We are not going to shy away from him. He’s not really a shutdown corner,” Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen said. “We definitely wanted to come out and show we could go anyway we wanted to and that we were in control of the game.”

Added wide receiver Malcolm Floyd, “Keenan was lighting up Sherman on defense.”

Sherman made a note of responding to those comments, but avoided using the name of either Chargers receiver.

“It’s humorous. It’s funny. It’s really funny,” Sherman said. “Especially when you’ve got little guys like the Chargers guys saying they’ve exposed something. They had 60 and 50 yards. (Antonio) Gates, Hall of Famer, had a fantastic game and Philip (Rivers) had a great game, and the rest of the guys were there. You see stuff like that and it makes you laugh.”

For still being without an interception or even credited with a pass breakup, Sherman has been in the news in each of Seattle’s first two games.

In the season opener, Green Bay decided to cut off half the field and never threw in Sherman’s direction. Seattle chooses not to switch its cornerbacks from side to side and Aaron Rodgers only looked to the opposite side of where Sherman was lined up.

San Diego wasn’t as adverse, throwing Sherman’s direction on a number of occasions, including a few receptions by Allen. According to STATS, Inc., Sherman was targeted six times and allowed four receptions for 54 yards against the Chargers.

“I think it’s pretty normal. And I think it amplified because the first week the ball didn’t go his way at all. They just played normal football and a couple of plays went that way and he defended some stuff and they got a couple of balls. But that is totally going to happen,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “I thought the San Diego guys were on point with it. You heard Philip Rivers talk about it, they just played a regular game plan and they showed respect for the player that Richard is and it worked out pretty normal I think.”

Sherman will likely get tested plenty this week with Denver coming to town. It’s just the sixth time the previous Super Bowl participants have met the following season. Peyton Manning did challenge Sherman in the Super Bowl, but it was a rarity. Sherman’s championship night was mostly quiet before leaving late in the game with an ankle injury.

“I think he’ll spread it around pretty good. Peyton always does,” Sherman said. “He’ll complete a lot of passes, he’ll check it down, he spreads the ball out great. I’m sure we’ll be very prepared and everybody will be on it.”

NOTES: RB Marshawn Lynch did not practice on Wednesday with a sore back. Lynch left the field and went to the locker room in the final minute on Sunday, but Carroll said that’s because his back was bothering him. … SS Kam Chancellor (ankle) and TE Zach Miller (ankle) also did not practice.

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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