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Next up for Packers extension: Maybe Cobb?

By WTOP Staff

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Randall Cobb doesn’t know if he’s next on the Green Bay Packers re-signing to-do list. His teammates are assuming that’s the case.

One day after fellow wide receiver Jordy Nelson signed a reported four-year, $39 million contract extension, Cobb stood at his locker Sunday following the team’s second training-camp practice and faced question after question about when he might get a new deal.

But it wasn’t just reporters talking about it.

Not long after news of Nelson’s deal broke, other players were talking to him about Cobb, who’s entering the final year of his rookie deal, being next to get a new deal.

Among the Packers’ other unrestricted free agents-to-be are right tackle Bryan Bulaga, cornerback Tramon Williams and defensive tackle B.J. Raji.

While Cobb said he’s gotten the feeling from the Packers that he is indeed next in line, he is consciously doing all he can to avoid thinking about his financial situation, especially coming off a 2013 season in which he missed 10 games with a leg injury.

“At the end of the day, it’s a business,” Cobb said. “My heart’s in Green Bay, I love Green Bay, the three years I’ve been here have been unbelievable. But I understand the business side of it.”

After leading the team in receptions (80) and receiving yards (954) in 2012, Cobb suffered a fracture at the top of the tibia in his right leg on a low hit by Baltimore safety Matt Elam in an Oct. 13 victory over the Ravens and was placed on injured reserve.

He returned to catch a game-winning, last-minute 48-yard touchdown pass to beat Chicago in the regular-season finale and send the Packers to the playoffs. He finished the regular season with 31 receptions for 433 yards and four touchdowns.

Asked if he’s done enough to merit a new deal, the 23-year-old Cobb replied, “I don’t believe I’ve done enough, and I think that’s on me. Last year, I missed 10 weeks, I got injured in a way that there was nothing I could do about it. I think my job is just to come out here every day, do what I’m supposed to, continue to work hard and hopefully my time will come.

“I feel I have a lot to prove. I know the player I’m capable of being. And it’s just going out and showing that on a day-to-day basis.”

While that may be Cobb’s mentality, that’s not how his teammates are viewing it. Aaron Rodgers wasted no time on Saturday in making Cobb’s importance clear.

“I’d love for Randall to be next,” Rodgers said following Saturday’s practice. “He’s a guy, again, who’s done it the right way. He’s been a great leader for us; he’s had some injury issues last year that hurt him that was out of his control. But he’s a consistent performer for us and a great guy in the locker room as well.”

Cobb is entering the final year of the four-year, $3.209 million deal he signed as a second-round pick in 2011, and his base salary for 2014 is $812,648. Nelson, who signed a three-year extension in October 2011 while in the last year of his rookie deal, said he believes Cobb is and should be the top priority now, too.

“Obviously that’s the biggest thing,” Nelson said Sunday. “Randall means a lot to this team, the things he can do. You want to see him get that extension.

“I think he’s going to be in a situation somewhat similar to what I was (in 2011), especially with the unfortunate part of him getting hurt last year. . Like I’ve told a lot of guys in here – whatever your decision is, you’ve got to be happy with it, no matter what the outcome. If you become underpaid (after signing an extension) or if you get hurt, either way, you have to be happy with your decision and know that you’ll have to live with it one way or another.

“I think he’s in a good situation. He’s a smart kid. But you don’t ever know when it’s going to happen. We’ll see.”

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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