Skip to main content

Geno, Jets’ offense hold players-only meeting

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Geno Smith and the rest of the New York Jets’ offense got together and huddled up.

Behind closed doors. No coaches. No media.

During an offensive players-only meeting Monday, the quarterback and his teammates spoke about what has gone so wrong, why they’re 1-3 and what needs to change.

“Myself and a few other guys just expressed our feelings,” Smith said, “and ways to move forward.”

There was no finger pointing or passing blame. The Jets realize they’ve got themselves in a tough spot, with games at San Diego, home against Denver and at New England coming up.

If they don’t get things turned around fast, Rex Ryan’s team could be facing a full-blown crisis.

“No grievances,” Smith said of the meeting. “I understand the semantics are a huge thing in this market, but no grievance. I don’t want you guys to get that misunderstood. No one’s hanging their head around here, no one’s sad, no one’s down on themselves. We’re ready to go out and play.”

That came a day after the Jets lost 24-17 to Detroit, Smith lashed out at a heckler using an expletive, and defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson said fans calling for a quarterback switch to Michael Vick should “shut up.”

It was an ugly end to a lousy loss, and Smith made headlines more for what he said walking off the field than for anything he did — or didn’t do — on the field. He and Ryan spoke about how he lost his cool, something he had managed to avoid all during a shaky rookie season and up until the scoreboard clock hit zero Sunday on the Jets’ third straight loss.

“It should never happen, I know that,” Smith said.

Smith wouldn’t disclose what the fan said to him, but is aware that he faces a fine from the NFL for his actions.

“Whatever the ramifications will be,” Smith said, “I will accept it.”

Giants quarterback Eli Manning has resisted the urge to respond to hecklers during his 11 seasons playing in the area, and has learned that if fans are screaming at him “then you probably deserve it, in some sense.”

“Yeah, every quarterback goes through it,” Manning said. “You’re going to have some good games and you’re going to have some bad games. You’ll have some tough stretches, just getting through it, working through it and work hard. And if you’re doing the right things, it will ease up.”

Smith has taken a lot of the blame for the Jets’ early-season struggles, and much of the wrath is focused on his seven turnovers: five interceptions, two lost fumbles.

Some fans and media have suggested Smith has taken a step back in his development, a regression that has compromised the offense.

“You guys try to make it about something else, but it’s football,” Smith said. “When you play football, you understand that there are going to be a lot of ups and downs throughout a game and through a season. The key thing is that in this locker room, we’re sticking together, we’re going to get better from this and we’re going to continue to move forward.”

Chants of “We Want Vick!” echoed throughout MetLife Stadium at times Sunday, and several players complained about that after the game. Many of his teammates have publicly backed Smith, and so has Ryan, who did so again Monday.

“Because I believe in him,” Ryan said. “I believe that we’re going to get it done and I believe that he’s going to be one of the main reasons we get it done and get it turned.”

The Jets signed Vick in the offseason to give themselves a veteran backup who could get the offense back on track if Smith struggled. Vick didn’t play a down Sunday.

“I’m only one person,” Vick said when asked if he thinks he could be a solution. “I can’t answer the question until I actually go out there and play three or four games and then maybe we can talk about it. As of right now, I can’t just say I’ll be the difference maker.”

If Smith struggles again at San Diego, Vick might get that opportunity. He insists, though, that Smith hasn’t lost any confidence and just needs to stay patient.

For the Jets and Smith, their season could depend on it.

“I don’t anticipate us as a team continuing to struggle,” Ryan said. “I think this team needs a win in the worst way, and I think that will help us more than anything. We have guys that believe in each other and I think, to a man, that our team believes in Geno.”

___

AP Sports Writer Tom Canavan in East Rutherford, New Jersey, contributed to this story.

___

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
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