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Bills cap NFL draft with more moves, big bodies

By WTOP Staff

JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Bills president Russ Brandon had only one regret when assessing the series of bold moves and big splashes Buffalo pulled off during the NFL draft.

Pausing briefly to gather his emotions after the final round was completed Saturday, Brandon wished Ralph Wilson, the team’s founder and owner, could have been around to enjoy it.

“I thought about him a lot as we led up to it. He would have loved the last three days,” Brandon said, referring to the Hall of Fame owner who died in March. “He loved to wheel and deal.”

The Bills did plenty of that over the past three days.

The trading began on Thursday, when Buffalo moved up five spots to select Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins with the No. 4 pick. And the Bills weren’t done dealing until Saturday, when they acquired running back Bryce Brown in a trade with Philadelphia, and then swapped draft picks in a deal with Tampa Bay.

Add in the deal on Friday that sent receiver Stevie Johnson to San Francisco, and the Bills completed five trades involving a combined seven picks and two players in Doug Whaley’s first draft since taking over as general manager.

Whaley wasn’t making any promises that every draft weekend in Buffalo would feature such drama. But he wasn’t shying away from the “win-now” approach he took in a bid to transform a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs in 14 years — the NFL’s longest active drought.

“I can’t say it’s always going to be like this, but I will say, I will not be afraid to be aggressive and bold,” Whaley said. “I anticipate doing everything in our power to make this team better, and make this team a playoff team.”

Whaley particularly delivered on his pre-draft objective to spur the development of quarterback EJ Manuel by surrounding him with more talent entering his second season.

Buffalo used four of its seven picks on offensive players, including two of their final four picks on Saturday to select big-bodied lineman.

Baylor guard Cyril Richardson, who is listed at 6-foot-4 and 343 pounds, was selected with the 153rd pick. And the Bills took a calculated risk on drafting Miami offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson with their final selection, 237th overall.

Henderson, who is listed at 6-7 and 331 pounds, raised attention at the NFL combine by acknowledging his college suspensions were related to marijuana use. Henderson started 26 of 43 games for the Hurricanes, and at one point was projected to having first-round potential.

“I’ve been putting it behind me,” Henderson said. “I want to move on and become a professional and work hard and be a Buffalo Bill.”

Whaley defended the selection by saying everyone deserves a second chance.

And yet, he acknowledged that one more chance is all Henderson will get.

The Bills rounded out Saturday by drafting Duke cornerback Ross Cockrell in the fourth round and Florida Atlantic linebacker Randell Johnson with their first of two seventh-round picks.

And then there was the addition of Brown, a running back Whaley said he had been interested in acquiring for the past 18 months.

The deal finally came together when the Bills agreed to give up a conditional draft pick — either a fourth-rounder next year or a third-round selection in 2016. The teams also swapped seventh-round picks this year, with Philadelphia moving up five spots to land the 224th selection.

The Bills regard Brown as someone who can add a dynamic dimension to an already solid group of running backs, rounded out by co-starters Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller.

Brown has 190 carries for 878 yards and six touchdowns in two seasons with the Eagles. He overcame fumbling issues during his rookie season to finish with 564 yards rushing and four touchdowns in 16 games, including four starts.

“Yeah, I was definitely surprised,” Brown said. “But I think it’s a great opportunity for me to come in and be able to contribute any way that I can. I’m excited about the journey. And I can’t wait to get started.”

Brandon is confident the Bills have the pieces in place to finally start contending for a playoff spot.

“Where we’ve been as an organization on the field is unacceptable to anyone that’s sitting up here,” Brandon said. “It’s all about winning. There’s nothing else — absolutely nothing else — that matters.”

___

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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