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Sure-handed Decker could boost Jets in red zone

By WTOP Staff

CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) — Eric Decker got lost on his first day of training camp.

Yes, he had a map. And, sure, he was only going from his dorm room to the practice field — a few football fields away on the SUNY Cortland campus. Somehow, he ended up downtown taking an inadvertent tour.

“I didn’t know where I was going and I drove into the town,” Decker said with a laugh. “I learned the hard way, but I found my way.”

The New York Jets have no concerns about whether the wide receiver will be able to find the end zone for them this season.

Decker, signed as a free agent after four years with Denver, is tied with New Orleans’ Jimmy Graham for the NFL lead with 18 touchdown catches in the red zone during the past two seasons.

The Jets have a league-low 19 scoring receptions inside the opponents’ 20-yard line — as a team — during that span.

“I think clearly he’s going to be a go-to guy in the fact that we know what we’re getting,” coach Rex Ryan said during the offseason. “This is going to be a guy that you can get him the ball in critical situations.”

While Decker is in a new offense and no longer has Peyton Manning throwing him passes, he should serve as a big-time weapon in Marty Mornhinweg’s system after the Jets signed him to a five-year deal in March worth more than $36 million.

New York was in desperate need of a No. 1-type wide receiver this offseason and honed in on the 27-year-old Decker, who set career highs with 87 catches and 1,288 yards receiving to go along with 11 touchdowns last season. He also had 85 receptions for 1,064 yards and a career-best 13 scores in 2012. All but six of those trips into the end zone happened with the Broncos inside the 20.

“Decker runs great routes,” quarterback Michael Vick said. “I mean, the top of his routes are unbelievable. He knows how to create space. You can just tell that him working with Peyton over the last couple of years has helped him blossom as a receiver.”

Through two training camp practices, Decker has been impressive, catching nearly everything thrown his way. He even returned a few punts Friday, drawing cheers from the fans watching.

“I’m very happy,” Decker said. “You get a little anxious, nervous because you don’t know what to expect. Once you get out here, ball is ball. It might be a different jersey, it might be a different team, but you figure it out. … I’m looking forward to building those relationships and hopefully be a factor or a piece in this organization.”

Decker comes to New York already a bit of a celebrity off the football field. He’s married to country artist Jessie James, and they starred in the E! Network reality series, “Eric & Jessie: Game On” for two seasons.

They also welcomed their first child, daughter Vivianne, in March — six days after Decker signed with the Jets.

Oh, and there was also the whole family recently moving to the New York-New Jersey area. So, it has been a busy few months for the Deckers, and they can’t wait to explore their new city.

“I think it’s just the overall experience, what New York brings to the table,” Decker said. “It’s a lot of culture, and it’s a lot of passion. I understand that the fans are very excited about this season. We have a job to do to perform on the field and give them our best.”

And, Decker will surely be a big part of the Jets’ plans for this season and beyond.

“I’m glad he’s on this team,” Vick said. “He’s going to help Geno a lot. He’s going to help this offense get better week in and week out and do some good things on this football team.”

NOTES: GM John Idzik said that Geno Smith getting about 75 percent of the first-team snaps isn’t necessarily an indication that the second-year QB is the front-runner for the starting job ahead of Vick. “I don’t think it’s tilted at all,” Idzik said. He added that the snaps could change at some point during camp. “Reps can ebb and flow,” he said. “You may switch up the workload from early in the week to late in the week. Let’s let this thing transpire. Let’s see what happens.” … Idzik revealed that the players created a “veterans steering committee,” which includes at least representative from each position group and players-only meetings. … TE Jeff Cumberland practiced for the first time after missing the first day following a death in his family. … Rookie WR Quincy Enunwa (hip) sat out, while LB Tim Fugger (ankle) and DE Zach Thompson (shoulder) didn’t finish practice after being injured.

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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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