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Cowboys’ Claiborne back after anger over demotion

By WTOP Staff

SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Morris Claiborne is backing up Orlando Scandrick and preparing to play plenty of snaps against New Orleans, just as he did in several games last year.

For reasons he wouldn’t fully explain, the third-year Dallas cornerback had a much harder time accepting that plan this time around.

Claiborne returned to practice Wednesday a day after walking out on the team upon hearing that he was being replaced as a starter by Scandrick.

The former top-10 pick skipped meetings and a short walk-through practice Tuesday before returning to the facility about eight hours later to meet with coach Jason Garrett, who said Claiborne would be disciplined but wouldn’t reveal how.

Claiborne said he left the facility because he was angry over how the lineup change was “presented to me,” not because he was being demoted. But he wouldn’t offer more details.

“I was ready for whatever fines or anything came with that,” said Claiborne, who said he hasn’t been told how he will be punished. “I felt like if I stayed, who knows what would have happened. I felt like the best thing for me to do was to leave.”

Scandrick missed the first two games because of a four-game drug suspension. When that ban was rescinded last week, he returned and played about as much as Claiborne, who was beaten several times but made a clinching interception in a 34-31 victory at St. Louis.

Claiborne said himself that he “stunk it up” against the Rams, and that the late pick wasn’t enough to make up for getting beat repeatedly. But that didn’t mean he was ready for someone to tell him he’d lost his job.

“I think he understood that he made a mistake,” Garrett said. “Guys are competitors. When they hear news that doesn’t go their way, different guys react different ways. He obviously knew he didn’t react the right way.”

After meeting with Garrett, Claiborne said he apologized to his teammates Wednesday morning. After practice, several players said they supported Claiborne and understood why he felt the need to leave.

“I think Mo cares a lot,” quarterback Tony Romo said. “I think it was something he probably wishes he would have made a different decision. In saying that, he’s a good teammate and he works hard and he’s going to help our football team a lot this year.”

The cornerbacks will be a focal point Sunday night against Drew Brees and the Saints (1-2), who became the first team in NFL history to get 40 first downs in a 49-17 blowout of the Cowboys (2-1) last year.

Brees has thrown for 838 yards and seven touchdowns the past two seasons against Dallas.

“I’m going to play a big role on this team in this game to come and in games to come down the road,” Claiborne said. “I’m here to stand up and fill the shoes that I need to fill and do whatever I need to do for this team.”

Because of injuries and inconsistent play, Claiborne hasn’t lived up to expectations since the Cowboys gave up their second-round draft choice to move up eight spots and get him with the sixth overall pick out of LSU in 2012.

Owner Jerry Jones even acknowledged on his radio show Tuesday that Claiborne hadn’t produced like he hoped. But the former Louisiana high school star said the burden of what he cost the Cowboys wasn’t a factor in Tuesday’s drama.

“That’s what people say,” said Claiborne, who has one interception in each of his three seasons. “I don’t feel it. I never really think about it.”

Scandrick started a career-high 15 games last year and was one of the best players in training camp, but Claiborne got the first three starts this year because of Scandrick’s suspension for violating the policy on performance-enhancing drugs. A change to the policy brought him back early.

Asked last week whether he should start, Scandrick said it was up to the coaches. Asked again after Claiborne’s demotion, the seventh-year player offered a stronger opinion.

“I feel like I’m still ascending as a player,” said Scandrick, a fifth-round pick in 2008. “And yes, I do feel like I’ve earned the right to play full time.”

Claiborne doesn’t disagree. He just feels the same way about himself.

NOTES: Romo skipped practice Wednesday, just as he did last week before playing his best game since returning from back surgery. … LB Justin Durant (groin) returned to practice and will likely return against the Saints after missing two games, while LB Rolando McClain is still out with his groin problem. … Henry Melton (hamstring), Terrell McClain (concussion) and Davon Coleman (knee) didn’t practice, leaving just two healthy DTs in Nick Hayden and Ken Bishop.

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Online:

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

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Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler

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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