Skip to main content

Abbrederis starts catching on in Packers WR corps

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The crowd roared nearly every time receiver Jared Abbrederis touched the ball.

Looks like the in-state rookie is catching on just fine so far with fans watching Packers’ offseason workouts.

“Ever since he was a kid he’s wanted to play for the Packers,” said backup quarterback Scott Tolzien, who played with fifth-round draft pick Abbrederis at Wisconsin. “I hope he realizes it shouldn’t be pressure. It should be an opportunity to live your dream and make an impact. Have fun with it.”

The workouts give rookies their first opportunity to prove themselves with the veterans. The Packers receiving corps is in flux a little after reliable veteran James Jones left for Oakland via free agency; Abbrederis and two other wideouts were selected in last month’s draft.

None of them has the Wisconsin pedigree of Abbrederis, a decorated high school athlete in Wautoma, about 90 miles west of Green Bay. He then walked on with the Badgers before turning into one of the most productive receivers in school history.

Now he’s ready to prove himself again. Abbrederis prides himself on his reliable hands, but his experience in the return game could also make him valuable.

“I’ll do whatever they want me to do,” he said.

The opportunity is certainly there. Besides Jones, veterans Greg Jennings and Donald Driver left the receiving corps after 2012.

That leaves Jordy Nelson, in his seventh year with the team, and fourth-year pro Randall Cobb as the team’s senior receivers. Both are also entering the final years of their contracts.

“It’s so weird just to think how much has changed over the three years that I’ve been here, going into my fourth year. But that’s part of the business,” Cobb said. “We’ve got a challenge in bringing in these new guys and getting them up to speed. I’m trying to help them as much as I can.”

Besides Abbrederis, the Packers took Davante Adams from Fresno State in the second round, and Jeff Janis from Saginaw Valley State in the seventh. Adams, who led the major college football with 24 touchdown catches, missed last week’s workout after attending an NFLPA rookie symposium.

Position coach Edgar Bennett said Adams has been doing a good job learning the playbook and putting the time in when he has been at Lambeau Field. “When he gets back … we’ll hit the ground running,” Bennett said.

Another team workout comes Tuesday, another chance for the new receivers to earn starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ trust.

In that respect, Abbrederis has had one more opportunity than Adams. At first glance, Rodgers likes Abbrederis’ route running.

“Watched him in college, did a lot of nice things for Wisconsin,” Rodgers said. “His biggest thing just like any young player is to be able to learn the offense quickly, be able to play fast and think so. If he can do that on our offense there’s always a place for guys like that.”

Maybe even an extra roster spot or two given the Packers’ numbers at receiver.

“There’s going to be a lot of competition and I would think some strong consideration about keeping an extra guy there as opposed to some years past,” Rodgers said.

Notes: Both Rodgers and Cobb said they have done yoga in the offseason to help with flexibility. Rodgers said he shied away from some workouts, like heavy lifting with his shoulder, but otherwise feels good after sitting out most of the second half in 2013 with a collarbone injury.

__

Online:

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

___

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote