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Dolphins talking playoffs as training camp begins

By WTOP Staff

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Loosening up for their first training camp practice, the Miami Dolphins high-stepped sideways up and down the field while House of Pain’s song “Jump Around” blared on the loudspeakers.

Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes took in the scene and allowed himself a long yawn.

With the first game more than six weeks away, the Dolphins tempered their excitement Friday regarding the 2014 season. Even so, every team is undefeated and optimistic in July, and the Dolphins were no different as they opened camp.

“We want to play deep into January and February,” quarterback Ryan Tannehill said. “Our goal is to win the division and play in the playoffs. Anything less than that is not up to our standards.”

Actually, that’s way above the Dolphins’ recent standards. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2008, which is also their most recent winning season. They needed to win only one of their final two games last season but lost both by a combined score of 39-7 to finish 8-8.

Tannehill and coach Joe Philbin are back for their third season with the team, but a woeful offensive line has been overhauled, there’s more depth at receiver and running back, and the defense has the potential to be excellent.

“We want to win. That’s what we’re all here for,” new general manager Dennis Hickey said. “We’re really excited about this team and what they’re going to be able to accomplish.”

Some prognosticators rank the Dolphins among the NFL’s worst teams, but owner Stephen Ross anticipates postseason play.

“I don’t think I start any season without wanting to make the playoffs,” Ross said. “If you don’t have those expectations, you shouldn’t be in the game. You own a team because you want to create a winner.”

On a 90-degree day, Philbin was already on the hot seat, and Ross was asked if the coach must make the playoffs to keep his job.

“I’m not going to say here he has to, because I can understand what the headlines would be,” Ross said. “I like Joe Philbin very much. I’m expecting Joe Philbin to be here a long time. But every year you want to see improvement.”

The Dolphins desperately need a better locker-room culture after a troubled relationship between offensive linemen Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin led to a bullying scandal that sent the franchise reeling. Incognito and Martin are gone, and the Dolphins brought in outside consultants for training sessions with players to foster better leadership.

Center Mike Pouncey, implicated in the scandal, said the culture will be much healthier this season.

“Coach Philbin and Mr. Ross have done a bunch of things to change that,” Pouncey said. “Right now we’re heading in the right direction. Everyone has bought into the way we want it done around here.”

The start of camp came as Pouncey and his brother Maurkice were named in a lawsuit filed by three people who said the twins attacked them at a Miami Beach nightclub July 12. The Pounceys’ attorney has said the brothers were not involved in any altercation.

As anticipated, Pouncey (hip) and running back Knowshon Moreno (knee) began camp on the physically unable to perform list. Both worked on the side Friday, and while Pouncey is expected to miss at least a couple of games, he said he’s ahead of schedule in his recovery.

Moreno, who signed a $3.275 million, one-year contract after a breakout season with Denver last year, is expected to join practice sometime during camp.

Every other player passed his conditioning test. Defensive end Dion Jordan practiced and will be allowed to play in exhibition games, even though he has been suspended for the first four games of the season after testing positive for a stimulant prohibited by the NFL.

Receiver Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson were back on the field after recovering from knee injuries last season. Koa Misi remained at middle linebacker after moving there from the outside as an offseason experiment deemed successful.

The first practice was predictably sloppy. With Pouncey out, quarterback Ryan Tannehill dropped at least three snaps. He misfired deep to Mike Wallace — a frequent occurrence last year — the first time he threw long, but they later connected on a 40-yard throw that brought a cheer from spectators.

While the stands were only half full, season-ticket sales are up, and the first three home games are projected to be sellouts.

“Miami wants to support a winner,” Ross said. “We start winning, we’ll have a lot more support, and there will be a lot more enthusiasm.”

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://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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