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Panthers upset over Burfict’s ankle twists

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Vontaze Burfict’s ankle-twisting return to the field has added to his reputation for crossing the line and put him in line to get fined again.

The Bengals’ Pro Bowl linebacker was penalized for two personal fouls during a 37-37 tie with Carolina on Sunday. He also twisted the ankles of Cam Newton and tight end Greg Olsen after tackles.

Even though the ankle twisting wasn’t penalized, the Panthers want to make sure the NFL gets involved.

Carolina coach Ron Rivera said on Monday that he’ll send the league video of plays that he thinks should be reviewed. Asked about what Burfict did, Rivera said, “There is no place in the game for a player doing extra stuff.”

Burfict was was fined $21,000 last season for hitting Jets receiver Stephen Hill with the crown of his helmet, one of his most prominent over-the-top moments. He faces another fine for his play on Sunday.

“And I think the punishment needs to go beyond a fine,” Olsen said in Carolina on Monday. “Guys like that don’t learn from that stuff.”

It’s been his history.

Burfict wasn’t drafted out of Arizona State in part because he couldn’t play under control. He was repeatedly penalized and punished for personal fouls. The low point: He head-butted Oregon State quarterback Ryan Katz.

The Bengals signed him after the draft in 2012 to a minimal-risk deal. He quickly emerged as one of the league’s top tacklers. The Bengals made him the centerpiece of their defense and signed him to a three-year extension in August that will pay him a maximum of $20.05 million.

Even as he made the Pro Bowl last season, there were reminders of his penchant for crossing the line. He was penalized eight times last season for unnecessary roughness.

Burfict got concussions in each of the first two games this season, forcing him to miss the next two. He was back on the field Sunday and back to drawing fouls.

Burfict bumped into Newton after he threw a pass, drawing a roughing-the-passer penalty in the first quarter. He got a penalty for unnecessary roughness as he tackled receiver Kelvin Benjamin in the second quarter.

The two plays that angered the Panthers came on touchdowns. Newton ran for a score, and Burfict twisted his left ankle as he rolled on the ground, prompting the quarterback — who had offseason surgery on the ankle — to kick at him. Burfict also twisted Olsen’s left ankle in the end zone.

On Sunday night, Panthers kicker Graham Gano tweeted: “Unbelievable that a player would intentionally try to hurt my teammates twice. I hope the NFL lays down the law hard. #Unacceptable”

Newton was unavailable to the media on Monday. Olsen said the league needs to get involved to protect players.

“At some if the NFL wants to say it really cares about guys’ safety, they need to start putting (suspending) guys out for weeks because me and Cam are lucky we weren’t out for weeks, or Kelvin isn’t out for weeks,” Olsen said. “If you’re going to start putting guys on other teams out, then the ramifications need to equal that.”

Asked if he thinks Burfict is a dirty player, Olsen said, “He’s a hard-nosed player and I think his style of game is what he is. I think that’s why he knocks himself out half of the time.”

Burfict declined to talk after the game on Sunday and again on Monday. Coach Marvin Lewis wouldn’t address the linebacker’s ankle-twisting other than to say: “Ankle wrenching. Sounds like the WWF.”

Lewis had been concerned that Burfict would be overly hyped for his return after missing two games.

“We knew that was going to occur,” Lewis said. “We tried to caution him all week about it, particularly at the end of the week, to relax and play.”

Notes: Lewis said it’s possible that receiver A.J. Green could practice this week. He was inactive on Sunday because of a lingering injury to his big right toe. … Lewis was pessimistic that receiver Marvin Jones would be back anytime soon. Jones hasn’t played this season because of a broken foot and a severe ankle injury. The Bengals could put him on injured reserve. … Lewis said the Bengals won’t bring in any kickers for tryouts. Mike Nugent missed a 36-yard field goal attempt as time ran out in overtime, leaving it tied. Since making his first five attempts this season, Nugent is 6 of 12, including one blocked kick.

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AP Sports Writer Steve Reed in Charlotte contributed to this report.

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Online: AP NFL website: 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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