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Another camp, another QB competition for Vikings

By WTOP Staff

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — The first day of Minnesota Vikings training camp started early, with a 1:30 a.m. fire alarm that turned out to be false but sent everyone sleepily streaming out of their dorm rooms.

Players joked about believing new coach Mike Zimmer had plotted some kind of sadistic test of their mental toughness. Perhaps it was an ominous sign of an uneven season ahead.

Or maybe this was merely another reminder of the urgency this team has in needing to settle on a quarterback, after a decade of chaos at the sport’s most important position.

“It’s not a secret. The quarterback position really hasn’t played well, but that’s why you bring guys in,” running back Adrian Peterson said.

Like Teddy Bridgewater, the first-round draft pick from Louisville who became the latest attempt by one of the NFL’s most star-crossed franchises to establish that elusive stability at quarterback.

The carousel has spun often during Peterson’s career, and his age, 29, makes consistent production at the position that much more critical this year.

First, Zimmer must make his first big decision: whether Bridgewater or incumbent Matt Cassel will be behind center for the season opener.

Cassel was re-signed to be the bridge to Bridgewater and started the first full practice Friday with the first team.

But that’s now. Later could be different.

“I don’t have a starter in mind yet. They’re going to determine who the starter is on the practice field, how they go about their business, how they perform in the preseason games,” Zimmer said.

Cassel watched Christian Ponder and Josh Freeman start in front of him several times last year despite outperforming them until finally taking over for good down the stretch of a lost season, so he’s well aware of the fleeting nature of a starting spot.

“I still have to earn this thing. There is no easy road about it,” he said.

Bridgewater has quickly learned the art of noncontroversial, selfless expression in interviews since he was drafted, sounding a lot like the 10th-year veteran that Cassel is. Bridgewater said he’s not focused on the competition for the job, but rather grateful for the acceptance Cassel and Ponder have shown him.

“I have to compete with myself first. That will make me a better player. Then I can compete with the guys in the room. That will make the team better,” Bridgewater said.

Such modesty aside, the Vikings have raved about his demeanor and progress since the draft.

“We had high expectations for him coming in, and he’s either met or exceeded those,” quarterbacks coach Scott Turner said.

Cassel spoke of Bridgewater’s quiet nature and good-naturedly commended the rookie for fetching him a sports drink on Friday. Left tackle Matt Kalil joked that Bridgewater looked like “a little 14-year-old kid” upon meeting him for the first time a few months ago.

“Great guy. Works hard out there. Really smart. I’m excited to see what he does,” Kalil said.

As is everyone else.

Since Daunte Culpepper’s stellar 2004 season, the Vikings have had all kinds of chaos at quarterback. Culpepper wrecked his knee the next year, and since then only Brett Favre in 2009 and Ponder in 2012 have started all 16 games.

Ponder was up and down enough that he never seemed to have a firm hold on the job. Favre refused to even commit to playing until training camp was over in both of his two seasons with the team.

Whenever Bridgewater starts his first game, whether this year or next, he’ll be the 13th quarterback to do so for the Vikings since 2005. That’s the context behind Zimmer’s pledge that he’s unafraid to send a rookie in right away. That’s also why, in this never-rule-anything-out league, Zimmer has made sure to include Ponder in his public evaluation of the position.

“The better you compete, the better you get. People don’t get complacent. They study harder. They work harder on the practice field. So I want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to play,” Zimmer said.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and on Twitter: 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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