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Washington president Jason Wright says Ozzie Newsome was one of his role models

By Quinton Mayo

Jason Wright says Ozzie Newsome has been a role model for him originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

In August the Washington Football team hired Jason Wright as their new team president. As soon as Wright accepted that position he became the first Black team president in NFL history. The pressure of calling the shots in one of the most dysfunctional organizations to date already has it’s challenges — doing so as a Black male opens the door to other pressures seen and unseen.

Recently, in an interview with NBC Sports Washington’s Brian Mitchell, Wright discussed how his transition into the new role, especially as a person of color, has gone. And how the Baltimore Ravens executive vice president, Ozzie Newsome has operated as a pivotal example for him.

“[Ozzie] Newsome has long been a role model of mine. I played most of my career with the Browns, so did Ozzie, so I always followed him,” Wright said. “Then, he was GM’ing our rival. He was extremely professional.”

“I knew that he knew he was carrying this burden of  ‘I need to be on point for every other person that looks like me that didn’t get a shot, and for everyone that wants a shot,” Wright continued. “And that’s not a fair burden for the first or the person of color to carry, but it’s real.”

Newsome served as a front-office executive with the Cleveland Browns from 1991 until their relocation to Baltimore in 1996.  He has remained an executive with the Ravens since their inaugural season and then was named the first general manager of the Ravens — the first African-American to occupy that position in the NFL.

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Newsome earned two Super Bowl rings during his time as Ravens’ general manager — his first coming in 2001 when the Ravens defeated the New York Giants 34-7, and his second when they defeated the San Francisco 49ers in 2013.

Recently the NFL has taken a step back in managerial diversity hiring — in 2016 there were seven African American general managers. In 2020? Just two. In 2018 there were eight minority head coaches. In 2020? Four. Wright is well aware that his position is not one that most Black men/women can say they’ve held. His response to the lack of diversity? It’s on him.

“Like it or not the NFL has tried to get ahead on this. The Rooney Rule is not something that companies do. You can say it’s ineffective, you can say it doesn’t work but companies outside of this industry aren’t even doing that!” Wright said. “They don’t even have a rule that requires you to interview somebody, even though it doesn’t work as well as we would all like.”

“As I learn this industry and see the barriers that exist, I can speak on those. I can be a thought-partner to everyone, the league office and others, on what they’re trying to do to solve it and I’m here to do that,” Wright said. “I’m here to help as much as I can to create those open pathways.”

 

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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