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Jets’ Smith lashes out at fan after loss to Lions

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Geno Smith completely lost his cool — and maybe a bit of his grip on the New York Jets’ starting quarterback job.

Frustrated after a third straight loss and calls for his backup increasing, Smith was caught by a TV camera yelling an expletive at a heckler in the stands as he walked off the MetLife Stadium field following a 24-17 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

“Before we start this off, first of all I want to apologize if any kids saw me saying any negative remarks walking off the field,” Smith said to open his postgame news conference. “I kind of let my temper get the best of me in that situation, and it’s a part of my learning process.”

Smith had two more turnovers as chants of “We Want Vick!” echoed throughout the stadium at times, perhaps none louder than after he was intercepted by Darius Slay in the fourth quarter.

“That stuff, to me, is B.S.,” wide receiver Eric Decker said of the chants.

Asked what he thought when he heard the calls for Vick, defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson was blunt.

“Shut up,” Richardson said. “If that’s the case, produce a child who can come and make it to the NFL and let’s see what he’s got. Other than that, just shut up.”

Vick didn’t get into this one, and coach Rex Ryan confirmed that Smith will start again for the Jets (1-3) next Sunday at San Diego despite his struggles.

“No, I’m not going to replace him,” Ryan said. “I feel good about Geno. I think he will get it turned (around). He’s a tough, resilient young man. I think we’re going to win. We’ll win soon.”

Smith was 17 of 33 for 209 yards, including an 11-yard TD pass to Decker, but threw an interception and lost a fumble — giving him seven turnovers in four games.

That’s what has many fans frustrated, tired of the mistakes being made by the second-year quarterback.

“He’s got to keep his composure, no matter how frustrated he gets,” Richardson said. “But it happens.”

Despite the skid and the struggles, the Jets players insist they still believe in Smith as the starting quarterback.

“One hundred percent, yeah,” Decker said. “It’s hard to see him take, really, all the criticism. It’s not just him. Everyone is doing this together. … We’ve got to make some plays for him, take some pressure off him.”

Matthew Stafford got the Lions up and down the field — even without Calvin Johnson being much of a factor.

Stafford threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score and the Lions overcame Johnson being limited by an ankle injury. Jeremy Ross and Eric Ebron caught scoring passes for the Lions, who are off to a 3-1 start for the second straight season. Stafford finished 24 of 34 for 293 yards, and appeared unfazed by his top receiver being in and out of the game.

Johnson was clearly impeded by his injured ankle, which had him questionable for the game. He had just two catches for 12 yards, but Golden Tate picked up for him, catching eight passes for 116 yards.

“We knew Calvin was going to be limited today and we were hoping to not have to use him unless it was an emergency,” wide receiver Golden Tate said. “I think we responded well.”

The Jets, who made it close on Chris Johnson’s 35-yard run with 6:58 left, fell to 1-3 for the first time in Ryan’s six seasons as coach.

New York stayed in it by scoring on its first possession of the second half, an 11-yard touchdown from Smith to Decker midway through the third quarter that made it 17-10.

But the Lions reclaimed control on Stafford’s 1-yard run for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter to give Detroit a 24-10 lead. Stafford’s run — upheld by video review — capped a 14-play, 90-yard scoring drive.

“We have the ability,” Decker said. “It’s about executing the plays. Period.”

NOTES: On New York’s next possession after Slay’s interception, former Jets safety James Ihedigbo had a strip sack of Smith on New York’s next possession. The fumble was recovered by Darryl Tapp. … Jets WR David Nelson (left ankle) and S Calvin Pryor (thigh) left and didn’t return. CB Antonio Allen also had a significant limp after the game. Lions RB Joique Bell was being evaluated for a head injury, while running back Theo Riddick and fullback Montell Owens left with hamstring injuries. Neither coach had any updates.

___

AP NFL websites: 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
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