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Lions DL star Suh still mum on future

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Ndamukong Suh stuck to his policy of not talking about his contract status and the free agency that awaits him at the end of the season.

“Focus on Buffalo,” the Detroit defensive tackle said. “I’m looking forward to playing against them, and it’s as simple as that.”

Over the weekend, an ESPN report citing unidentified sources said Suh and the Lions are preparing for the 27-year-old star to leave after this season. The report said the idea of playing in the New York area appeals to him.

“I cannot address that just for the simple fact that I have not spoken to any reporter about it, or any reporters about supposedly what has come out,” Suh said Wednesday.

Suh is in the final year of his contract. The Lions said at the start of training camp they were postponing contract talks with him until after the season, but the All-Pro hasn’t seemed distracted on the field. Next up for Detroit is a home game against the Bills, who will start Kyle Orton at quarterback instead of EJ Manuel.

The Lions beat Buffalo 23-0 during the preseason, but that was before the Bills even signed Orton, who was initially brought in to be a backup to Manuel.

“It’s obviously not the quarterback that we saw earlier in preseason, but we’ll have the opportunity to make adjustments and changes to adapt to that situation,” Suh said.

The Lions (3-1) are off to an impressive start this season, especially defensively. Suh is part of an imposing defensive line that also includes defensive tackle Nick Fairley, and Detroit is ranked No. 1 in the league in total defense.

But even that might not do as much for Suh’s profile as a move to New York would. Suh was asked how much his business decisions can affect football decisions he will have to make.

“Football is football and business is business,” he said.

And Suh says keeping those concerns separate isn’t too difficult.

“I think as a professional no matter what, especially being a high-profile person or being a high-profile coach, whatever it may be, in a business that you have to more or less do so many different things at so many different times,” Suh said. “Being able to compartmentalize things is a part of the job, so if I wasn’t good at it, or if I didn’t have an ability to adapt to things and understand that’s what I need to get done, I’d be struggling.”

Star receiver Calvin Johnson said the report about Suh hasn’t been a big issue in the locker room.

“Not at all,” Johnson said. “I never heard of it.”

NOTES: Johnson did not practice Wednesday. He’s been dealing with an ankle issue, and although he played in Sunday’s victory over the New York Jets, he caught only two passes. Golden Tate caught eight passes for 116 yards. “Almost half his yards came from yards after the catch, so that was big for us,” Johnson said. … The Lions signed RB George Winn off the practice squad, placed RB Montell Owens on injured reserve and signed RB William Powell to the practice squad. Owens has dealt with a hamstring injury this year, but coach Jim Caldwell was vague about the decision to put him on IR. “Just one of those things that happens just in terms of numbers and injuries at other positions,” Caldwell said. “Therefore, you have to find a way to get guys up, add new guys to your squad. That was more so the issue.”

___

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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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