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Flacco eager to get started anew under Kubiak

By WTOP Staff

DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Fifteen months after winning the Super Bowl, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is attempting to rebound from the most disappointing season of his NFL career.

After guiding the Ravens to the championship in February 2013, Flacco threw 22 interceptions last season — 10 more than in any of his previous five seasons — and his 73.1 quarterback rating was the lowest of his career.

Even worse, the Ravens went 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the first time since his arrival in Baltimore.

“It was not a good year all around,” Flacco said Thursday after a team offseason practice session. “We didn’t win enough football games, and the biggest thing is just taking care of the football. That’s my No. 1 job.”

The Ravens worked hard this offseason to help Flacco bounce back. They hired Gary Kubiak as offensive coordinator and signed several new receivers, including veteran free agents Steve Smith and tight end Owen Daniels. Baltimore also re-signed wide receiver Joe Jacoby and tight end Dennis Pitta, two key players in the Super Bowl win over San Francisco.

“There’s no doubt about it, we’ve got some weapons out there,” Flacco said. “These guys can all run, they can all go get the ball, they can catch. They’re strong, they’re physical. Every single one of them. I feel good about where we are out there.”

Kubiak takes over for Jim Caldwell, who left to become head coach of the Lions. Kubiak has been working diligently to install a new West Coast offense, and Flacco has been toiling even harder to get a grasp on the system.

If nothing else, it’s been a different kind of offseason for the quarterback.

“Probably more similar to my rookie year I guess, because you’re learning a new offense and have a couple new players and things like that,” Flacco said. “But I’m excited about it. It brings new challenges, and that makes it fun.”

Head coach John Harbaugh and Flacco came to the Ravens at the same time in 2008. Harbaugh was hired to replace Brian Billick and Flacco was a first-round draft choice out of Delaware. Together, they took Baltimore to the postseason for five straight years. Last season, the string ended

Eager to get another playoff streak going, Flacco has been poring over the playbook and trying his best to take his newfound knowledge to the line of scrimmage. The process hasn’t always been smooth, but it’s a long time until training camp starts.

“I think he’s very businesslike about it,” Harbaugh said. “He’s got a lot to learn. There’s a lot of offense on his plate right now, there’s a lot of communication. It’s all different.”

On a soggy field during the last week of May, Flacco showed the arm strength that enabled him to earn a $120.6 million, six-year contract in the weeks following his Super Bowl triumph.

“Far hash, 20-yard comeback, the ball is pretty close to numbers-high. That’s always a tell-tale sign of a good quarterback,” Smith said. “We’re both learning the system and learning each other.”

Unfortunately for Harbaugh, his offseason focus hasn’t been entirely on Xs and Os. Four players have been arrested, most notably Ray Rice on assault charges for allegedly striking his fiancee in Atlantic City in February.

Offensive lineman Jah Reid was charged with battery for an incident outside a Florida strip club; receiver Deonte Thompson was arrested and charged with suspicion of possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia; and last weekend rookie running back Lorenzo Taliaferro was arrested for breaking the window of a taxi cab.

This did not sit well with Harbaugh, who addressed the team Wednesday.

“There have been a lot more phone calls this year than other years to find out what the heck some guys are thinking at times,” he said. “I’m disappointed with some of the silliness that’s going on. Character really matters to us. You don’t do the right thing just because you call a cab. How about we start out with the idea that we’re not going to go out and drink?”

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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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