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Packers draft 2 new targets for QB Aaron Rodgers

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Now that Davante Adams has been drafted by the Packers, the prolific receiver will have to settle for quality over quantity.

Having Aaron Rodgers throwing passes his way will be a nice consolation prize, though.

With the top tight ends snapped up, Green Bay went with the Fresno State standout in the second round Friday night with the 53rd overall pick to fortify a receiving corps that lost James Jones to free agency.

Then general manager Ted Thompson drafted another guy named Rodgers in the third round — from California, no less, just like the famous quarterback.

Tight end Richard Rodgers is going to love playing in Green Bay.

They were drafted nine years apart, the quarterback in 2005 in the first round. Fellow former Golden Bear Richard Rodgers went to Green Bay with the team’s second pick in the third round on Friday night, the 98th overall.

The 6-foot Rodgers had 39 catches for 608 yards and a touchdown in 11 games in 2013. At Cal, he was often used in motion and also saw time in the slot.

Adams had 131 catches for 1,718 yards and 24 touchdowns last year in Fresno State’s high-octane offense run by quarterback Derek Carr, himself selected in the second round by the Raiders.

Now, Adams will be learning from the 2011 NL MVP.

“I couldn’t imagine being in a better place,” Adams said.

He joins a Packers receiving corps led by Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Jarrett Boykin also emerged last year as a target after Cobb got hurt.

Say goodbye for now to 100-catch seasons. Still, Adams’ confidence remained high on the most momentous day yet of his young career.

“I feel like I’m one of the best playmakers in the draft, being able to catch the ball deep, or being able to catch on short routes,” he said. “I feel like I’m one of the best red-zone threats in the draft.”

The Packers might feel good given their recent success in the second with receivers, including Nelson (2008), Cobb (2011) and former wideout Greg Jennings.

Tight end may have been a more pressing need for Green Bay, but there was a run on that position earlier in the second round. Washington’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins went early in the round to the Buccaneers. Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro went to the Jets and the Cardinals took Troy Niklas a pick before the Packers went.

Thompson seemed happy with Richard Rodgers, the son of Carolina Panthers special teams coordinator Richard Rodgers, Sr. He called Rodgers a good athlete with “good genetics, we think he’s going to be a good addition to this group of tight ends.”

Thompson said the drafting of Rodgers isn’t necessarily linked to the future of free agent tight end Jermichael Finley, who suffered a season-ending spinal cord injury last season. The Packers did re-sign Andrew Quarless and have three other tight ends on the roster who played last season.

The Packers had two third-round picks, and selected Khyri Thortnon, a three-year starter at Southern Mississippi, with the 85th overall pick. The team likes his versatility and competitiveness on a team that didn’t win much.

The 6-foot-3, 304-pound Thornton had 39 tackles in 11 games in 2013. The senior finished his career with 116 tackles and 5.5 sacks. An NFL.com analysis said Thornton plays with a motor, and can play inside but also along the line of scrimmage.

The Packers in the offseason re-signed veteran B.J. Raji and signed ex-Vikings tackle Letroy Guion in free agency. Coach Mike McCarthy hoped to add impact players to the defense.

Green Bay drafted Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in the first round Thursday.

They’re hoping the 6-foot Adams can make a similar impact on the other side of the ball. Adams averaged 116 yards receiving per game, eighth-best in NCAA history. The third-year sophomore doesn’t turn 22 until December.

In just two years at Fresno State, Adams had 233 catches for 3,030 yards and 38 scores. An NFL.com scouting report listed Adams as having the top vertical jump for receivers at the scouting combine at 39.5 inches.

“You love how he’s a competitor,” Packers receivers coach Edgar Bennett said. “Catching ability, good hands, makes the tough catch and goes up and catches the football. Extremely productive.”

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Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

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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