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Geno Smith sharp in Jets’ first camp practice

By WTOP Staff

CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) — Geno Smith is a changed quarterback.

Puzzled pauses in the New York Jets’ huddle have been replaced by commanding playcalls. He’s also barking out audibles at the line of scrimmage and reading defenses unlike he did at any point during his rookie season.

For a first training camp practice, Smith certainly performed Thursday like a guy intent on retaining his starting job.

“I think Geno looked better than I’ve ever seen him,” wide receiver David Nelson raved.

With Michael Vick also in camp to push Smith and provide a veteran backup, Smith took the expected 75 percent of the snaps with the first-team offense, and was sharp while completing seven of 10 passes in 11-on-11 team drills.

“The game is slowing down a ton,” Smith said.

Sure, it’s only one training camp practice, and Smith started quickly last summer, too. But if there really is a competition at quarterback this year, Vick has quite a bit of catching up to do.

“Coming into this year, I’m a lot more confident in my reads and my footwork, and delivering the ball a lot stronger and a lot more accurate,” Smith said. “All good signs of progress, but we’ve got a long way to go — I’ve got a long way to go.”

Smith is coming off an up-and-down rookie season in which he threw 12 touchdowns and 21 interceptions, but finished with a solid four-game stretch in which the Jets won three times to finish 8-8. He went into the offseason knowing that his hold on the starting job was hardly more than tenuous.

And, it still might not be anything more than that. Not with a still-hungry Vick waiting for an opportunity. But, Smith has the confidence of his teammates — and that goes a long way in establishing yourself as a leader and building an offense in the NFL.

“Just knowing it’s his team and knowing that he has what it takes and the confidence,” Nelson said. “Last year, he didn’t really have a chance to worry about himself because he had a lot of different pieces coming in every week. He had a new offense. He had to learn the playbook. He had to learn adjustments. There was so much being thrown at him.

“Now, that’s kind of second-nature to him.”

Smith was flattered by Nelson’s comments that it’s “his” team, but refused to bask in any of it.

“I don’t look at it like that,” he said. “I love the confidence that my guys have in me. That’s what it’s all about. I work hard, man. I try to stay a gym rat. I don’t let anything else affect me, not even those positive things, because I look at it as, you’ve just got to keep working and you’ve got to keep getting better and you can never stay the same.”

Coach Rex Ryan praised Smith all offseason, saying the improvements the quarterback has made since he was a rookie competing with Mark Sanchez are clear each time he takes the field.

“This time last year, it’s like, ‘Man, is this a three-step, five-step, seven-step (drop), what is this?'” Ryan said. “Now it’s just automatic. He knows it. He knows this offense and you see it and he’s confident.”

Vick worked mostly with the second-team offense, as expected, and was intercepted by Jaiquawn Jarrett during team drills. He and Smith frequently talk about life as an NFL quarterback, serving as an invaluable resource to the young player.

“It’s very important that Geno understands what it takes to be successful in this league,” Vick said. “I’ve been there before.”

Indeed Vick has, especially when he was one of the NFL’s most dynamic players early in his career. And Smith recognizes that. While Vick still believes he can be more than just a backup, he has also selflessly and seamlessly taken to the mentor role.

“Every conversation we have, I’m looking up to this guy, I’m learning from this guy,” Smith said. “He’s an 11-year vet in this NFL, and that’s something I can only hope to be, a position I hope to be in one day. A guy like that, you can only learn from. He’s willing to help and it speaks volumes about his character.”

NOTES: DE Jason Babin signed his two-year deal Thursday after agreeing to terms Wednesday, and is expected to join the team for practice Friday. … Ryan declared that the Jets are “a zillion miles” ahead of where they were at this time last year. … Ryan kicked off his news conference by praising Cortland Standard reporter Tom Vartanian, who has lost 120 pounds since last summer. “I know how tough that is,” a smiling Ryan said, “even with surgery.” A slimmed-down Ryan has dropped at least 120 pounds since having a Lap-Band procedure in March 2010.

___

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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