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Bills’ Mario Williams dismisses Houston homecoming

By WTOP Staff

JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Already running late for a team meeting after practice Wednesday, Bills defensive end Mario Williams informed reporters gathered at his locker that he had little time for questions.

“I’ve got time for two,” he said.

Though two questions eventually stretched into eight, it became quickly evident that Williams had no interest talking about facing the Texans, his former team, or what reception he might receive in making his second trip in three years to Houston on Sunday.

“I don’t know. I don’t really care,” he said. “I don’t even understand why that is even is a topic of discussion.”

Never big on sentiment, Williams’ focused approach is a reflection of how little the pass-rushing star wants to risk being a distraction for Buffalo (2-1), which is seeking to rebound from a 22-10 loss to the San Diego Chargers last weekend.

The Bills were picked apart by quarterback Philip Rivers.

They managed a season-low one sack, gave up a season-high five passes of 20 or more yards, and were unable to get off the field at critical junctures. The Chargers enjoyed two scoring drives that lasted seven-plus minutes.

“The biggest thing for us is just going and winning,” the start pass-rusher said. “We’re not worried about changing this or changing that, or flipping this or flipping that. It’s going out and competing and winning this. That’s it. That solves it all.”

And a game at Houston (2-1), where Williams spent his first six seasons, hardly registers.

“Nah, not really,” Williams said. “I mean, it’s a football game.”

Winning hasn’t come easily for Williams in Buffalo since he created a huge buzz and raised expectations in March 2012 by signing a $100 million contract in free agency.

Though Williams has delivered with a team-best 25-1/2 sacks in 35 games, his presence has barely made a dent in the Bills’ win-loss record.

The Bills are coming off consecutive 6-10 finishes that extended their playoff drought to 14 seasons — the NFL’s longest active streak.

It has been no different for Williams, who enjoyed very little success in Houston after being selected with the first pick in the 2006 draft.

The Texans made the playoffs only once during Williams’ tenure, and yet he was unable to take part in that 2011 run because he was sidelined by a season-ending injury.

Before the start of this season, Williams acknowledged he is growing frustrated over the lack of playoff appearances.

“There’s a lot guys who never played in a playoff game. And I think they would say the same thing,” he said. “I don’t like really talking in general about it, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t bother me.”

Williams has earned the respect of his teammates. For only the second time in his career, and first in Buffalo, he was selected a team captain in a players’ vote.

It followed a distraction-free offseason for Williams, who hardly made a peep while attending nearly every offseason workout and practice session.

That’s a switch from the previous year. Williams was the focus of a highly publicized breakup with his fiancee, which included a headline-grabbing lawsuit over the possession of a $785,000 diamond ring.

“Personally, all that stuff at home, I don’t know. I don’t live with him,” defensive tackle and fellow captain Kyle Williams said. “But everything he’s done in here has always been the same. It’s always been the top level of professionalism.”

Veteran running back Fred Jackson has also taken notice.

“More than anything, no matter what the situation is, he comes in and he works,” Jackson said. “He’s somebody that didn’t just get his check and then just quit working. If anything, it’s motivated him more. And that’s what guys respect the most.”

Williams dismisses questions about his high-priced contract and whether he feels a need to prove himself as one of the NFL’s top-paid defensive players.

“I’m not worried about that,” Williams said. “I just feel like I need to step up and play and be held accountable by the other 52 guys on the field. That’s all I’m worried about.”

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://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
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