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Dolphins’ Shelby suspended in wake of arrest

By WTOP Staff

STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins reserve defensive lineman Derrick Shelby was suspended indefinitely after police used a Taser on him three times while arresting him on misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and trespassing at a nightclub.

Shelby was suspended hours before Monday’s practice for conduct detrimental to the team. Coach Joe Philbin said he talked with Shelby, and said the Dolphins will gather more information before making a final determination on disciplinary action.

According to a Fort Lauderdale police report, nightclub security said Shelby was touching women without their permission early Saturday. Shelby appeared intoxicated, was ordered to leave several times by an officer and refused, the report said.

When officers tried to place the 6-foot-2, 282-pound Shelby in custody, he pushed away and took an aggressive fighting stance. He was placed on the ground and continued to resist, and officers used a Taser before he was subdued.

A mug shot showed Shelby with a swollen lower lip and a bruise on his cheek. He was released from jail on a $100 bond and entered a plea of not guilty.

“We’re still gathering information,” Philbin said after practice Monday. “I feel like from the information I have at the present time, I took the appropriate action and suspended him indefinitely.”

Shelby’s agent, David Canter, released a statement saying he was disappointed by the Dolphins’ decision to suspend to his client.

Defensive end Jared Odrick, a friend of Shelby’s, said he was surprised to learn of the arrest.

“I thought it was like The Onion news reporting it, thinking it was fake, because he’s such a smart guy,” Odrick said. “He loves his job and working hard and setting a standard with the team. So it was shocking.”

Odrick said he took no issue with the suspension. But Odrick said he, Shelby and other black players face special challenges regarding their conduct in public.

“The thing we’re reminded of as professional athletes and black men is we’re targets more than anybody else walking down the street,” Odrick said. “We’re targeted sometimes, and we have to understand we have to uphold standards and society’s rules more than a regular passer-by. We have to set the example.”

Shelby, a third-year veteran, has played in all four games as a reserve this season. The Dolphins had a bye last weekend, and players were off Thursday through Sunday. Miami plays Green Bay on Sunday.

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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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