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Panthers QB Newton practices, not 100 percent yet

By WTOP Staff

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton said that while his surgically repaired ankle is getting better, it’s not completely healed.

The Pro Bowl player participated in his first full practice Friday night at Fan Fest since undergoing surgery in March.

Newton looked sharp throwing passes but struggled with his footwork and timing on handoffs. He didn’t appear to run with a limp until after practice when he jogged over to sign autographs for some of the 36,315 fans in attendance at the team’s downtown stadium. The event signaled the official start of training camp for the NFC South champions.

“I can’t stress enough that I’m not 100 percent yet,” Newton said.

At one point Carolina’s trainer Ryan Vermillion came over to check on the fourth-year quarterback during practice, but Newton said it was just precautionary.

“It’s just going to take treatment and time,” Newton said, adding that his rehab is right on schedule.

Coach Ron Rivera said the Panthers will take it slow with Newton, making sure to avoid any potential setbacks.

He said Newton will continue to undergo treatment on a daily basis, but was thrilled to see the team’s leader back on the field.

Rivera said he hopes to have Newton available for all four preseason games.

“It was good to see Cam out there,” Rivera said. “He’s a little rusty in terms of his quarterback to running back exchange. But he’s working himself back in and he has to work those techniques. But it was nice to see him make some nice throws.”

Rivera said Newton’s footwork still needs to improve.

“A big thing is developing that footwork and getting that flexibility back in that ankle,” Rivera said. “As he practices and goes through day by day we have to be smart with it. I think he will work back into shape pretty soon.”

Newton had surgery in March after experiencing soreness in his left ankle following Carolina’s 23-10 NFC divisional playoff loss at home to the San Francisco 49ers. Newton gave the ankle about two months to improve after the season, but when it was clear it wasn’t getting better the decision was made to have surgery.

Newton is coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he threw for 3,379 yards and a career-high 24 touchdowns while leading the Panthers to a 12-4 record and the NFC title.

Newton, in typical fashion, played up to the large crowd that came out to see the two-hour practice on a rare cool Charlotte summer night.

In between drills Newton got the crowd roaring when he started “the wave” in the lower bowl of the stadium. A few minutes later, Newton slowed down the speed of the wave with his arms before getting the crowd to shift the direction of the wave.

Newton later drew cheers when he completed a 40-yard pass to rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, the team’s first-round draft pick, near the left sideline.

“This is great,” Newton said of the turnout, the largest in Fan Fest history. “We are expecting this turnout every time. They hold us accountable and we have to put a great product out there.”

Defensive end Greg Hardy, who was convicted on July 16 on two domestic violence charges, was also back on the field and was playing up to the crowd, waving his arms up and down in his usual fashion.

Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said the team is following the NFL’s lead and allowing the legal process to play out before handing out any punishment to Hardy. Hardy has appealed the conviction and will have a jury trial.

No date has been set, but more than likely it will not happen until next year.

The Panthers will move training camp practice on Saturday to Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on Saturday.

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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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