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Bengals CB Leon Hall cleared to practice

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

CINCINNATI (AP) — Cornerback Leon Hall jogged toward the right side of the defense and took his customary place, matched against receiver Mohamed Sanu. The play was a handoff, so Hall didn’t have to do much.

That’s not what mattered.

Hall lined up for the first 11-on-11 play in the Bengals’ first practice of training camp on Thursday, an encouraging sign for one of the NFL’s top defenses.

“It means a lot,” Hall said.

The 29-year-old cornerback tore his right Achilles tendon midway through last season, the second time he’s sustained such an injury. He tore his left Achilles in 2011, but was back as the starter the following year and played very well.

He’s made another quick and full recovery.

“There was never really a doubt in my mind,” Hall said. “It was just trying to be patient enough to go through that long process again.”

Even though he’s fine physically, Hall hasn’t been able to be on the field during offseason workouts, so he’s still got a lot of work to do on his form. At one point during the afternoon practice, he went to the sideline and worked on his side-to-side movement.

“I felt good,” he said after practice. “No pain. I felt strong. My footwork wasn’t very good, but that’s going to come in a few days.”

Defensive tackle Geno Atkins is coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and wanted to participate in the first practice, but was held out on Thursday as a precaution. Coach Marvin Lewis wants to give him a few days to ease in before he’s cleared to fully practice.

Hall is a mainstay on a defense that has ranked among the league’s top 10 for each of the past three years, finishing third overall in yards allowed last season. The Bengals never doubted that he’d be ready despite his second significant injury in three seasons.

“Leon, he works hard at everything he does,” defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. “If you can have a poster child for a coach’s guy, that’s him. He’ll do whatever he has to do. He spent the whole offseason getting that thing back to go. I’m excited to see him back on the field.”

After Hall’s Achilles surgery in 2011, there were doubts about whether he would still be quick enough to cover the other team’s top receiver. When he got back on the field, he was just as good, if not better.

“His speed became better last time, which is really something,” Lewis said. “I thought he played faster in 2012 than he did before. I think that’s what excites him about this: ‘Maybe anatomically I’ve got something that made me better.'”

Hall doesn’t know if he was that much faster after the first Achilles surgery, but all of the rehabilitation work has him in good shape for the start of camp.

“I feel like I felt years ago, before I did the first one,” Hall said. “I’ve heard numerous times that your Achilles is technically stronger after you have the surgery. I wouldn’t suggest going and tearing your Achilles, but that’s just what I heard from the doctors and people in general. That’s good news.

“I feel better. Let’s just hope it translates to the field.”

Notes: The Bengals claimed first-year WR Conner Vernon off waivers from Cleveland and signed free agent WR Jeremy Johnson, a rookie from Southern Methodist. They waived punter T.J. Conley. … OL Andrew Whitworth was held out of practice with a sore calf. … At the start of practice, a couple of fans hung two banners from a public bridge that overlooks the practice fields. The first banner urged the Bengals not to sign quarterback Andy Dalton to a contract extension. The other said: “AJ to AJ, the future is now.” The Bengals signed quarterback AJ McCarron in the fifth round. McCarron didn’t throw to A.J. Green on Thursday — he’s resting a sore passing shoulder.

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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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