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Pierre-Paul brings energy to Giants

By WTOP Staff

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Up on a podium, Jason Pierre-Paul can’t stand still during an interview session. It’s the same kind of energy he brings to team meetings, the locker room and, most importantly, on to the field.

Pierre-Paul has rapid-fire answers for just about anything he is asked, from the state of the New York Giants’ defensive line to his own health to some missing teammates. Pierre-Paul knows one thing for sure: success for the Giants’ defense will depend a whole lot on his having a bounce-back season.

Not since the 2012 season has Pierre-Paul felt as good as he does now. He sees 2013 as a lost year, even though he played in 11 games. When a sackmaster gets to the quarterback only two times, that’s pretty much a waste of time.

“First, I didn’t have a training camp last year,” said Pierre-Paul, who was plagued by shoulder and back problems. “But I’m feeling great. I feel like my normal self. I’m running around, getting to the quarterback, stopping the run. I’m awesome. I’m at 110 percent really. I’m not really worrying about the back or shoulder, nothing. All is good.”

Uh, Jason, 110 percent? Where did the other 10 percent come from?

“My mind,” he replied, drawing laughs. “I’m 110 percent I’m not worried about anything. My main goal is to start the season off healthy, which I am, get some preseason games in, and play some football. I feel like I’ve been out for a year.”

Heading into his fifth pro season, he can only point to 2011 as notably productive: 16 1-2 sacks. The Giants also won the Super Bowl that season.

But when he’s on his game, Pierre-Paul, 25, is a force. He has speed and strength to threaten quarterbacks, plays the run well, and enlivens his unit with his upbeat attitude.

“That (meeting) room is not quiet much,” defensive line coach Robert Nunn said. “They cut up, but the one thing about that group is that they work hard. They worked hard in the offseason, they worked hard in OTAs. They’ve worked since they’ve left here. I like where we are right now.”

What Pierre-Paul might not like, but won’t harp on, is his expiring contract. He saw two of his mentors on the line, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck, leave the Giants and get big money elsewhere.

Will thoughts of a new deal in New York perhaps inspire him, or maybe distract him?

“I’m not going to lie, seeing Tuck gone is on my mind a little bit,” he said, “but at the end of the day I don’t worry about it. When I’m on that field, family matters or whatever, off-the-field issues, I’m not worried about it. When I’m on the field it’s all about my brothers and what I do best.

“Off the field, when you go home or whatever, that’s when you think about that stuff. Honestly, when I’m on the field I’m just out there playing football and doing my job.

“I always thought that I was going to be here next year, because I know how I play and I know what kind of game I bring when I’m on the field,” he said. “I’m pretty sure everybody here knows it, too.”

Nunn knows that he likes what he’s seen so far from Pierre-Paul, who is a key to New York’s chances in the NFC East. The Giants live off the pass rush and have for decades. They have some solid veterans on the line, including free agent addition Robert Ayers, holdover Mathias Kiwanuka (who also has played outside linebacker) and tackles Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson.

But Pierre-Paul is the man, and everyone on the Giants knows it.

“He looks good,” Nunn said. “I don’t see any limitations. I don’t know about what percentage he’s at, that’s hard for me to calculate. But I see nothing that shows any kind of limitations. He really came in in good shape, good condition, good frame of mind, and is off to a really good start.”

NOTES: Top draft pick WR Odell Beckham Jr. was sidelined again by a sore hamstring. … Three young players from Arsenal, which faces the Red Bulls in New Jersey on Saturday, attended Friday and kicked around a ball — the American football kind — after the Giants’ practice. Chuba Akpom of Nigeria, Kristoffer Olsson of Sweden and Gedion Zelalem, who could soon become eligible for the U.S. national team, were on hand.

___

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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