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Panthers hope WR Cotchery eases the loss of Smith

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Jerricho Cotchery doesn’t mind being “the old guy” on the Panthers wide receiver corps — just as long as he’s the productive old guy.

The 32-year-old Cotchery realizes the team’s younger wide receivers are looking to him for experience and occasional words of wisdom given his 10 seasons in the NFL. Cotchery is good with all of that, but said his primary concern right now is proving to his new team he can play at an elite level.

“I want to be known as a guy who can help individuals — not just on the field, but off the field as well,” Cotchery said. “That’s fine with me. But that doesn’t get you anywhere in the NFL. Teams don’t bring you in to be counselors or anything of that nature. They want you to come in and contribute and make plays and help the team win.”

Cotchery was brought in as an unrestricted free agent to replace Steve Smith, Carolina’s all-time leading receiver and a fan favorite.

Smith caught 836 passes for 12,197 yards and 67 touchdowns during his 13 seasons with the Panthers. But the fiery Smith wore out his welcome in Carolina and the Panthers released him this offseason in a move that surprised many observers considering he was still a productive receiver, even at 35.

“We needed to (sign Cotchery) because we lost Steve,” coach Ron Rivera said. “You lose a veteran player and you have to replace with a veteran player. It’s going to be hard to replace (Smith) but I think we can do it with some of the guys we brought in.”

Cotchery has never been a dominant No. 1 receiver in the league during his time with the Jets and Steelers, but the Panthers aren’t necessarily looking for that type of player.

Cotchery proved last season he can still be productive, catching a career-high 10 TD passes working with Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh while seeing plenty of action in three-receiver sets.

He’s been running with the first team in Carolina alongside first-round draft pick Kelvin Benjamin so far in training camp at Spartanburg’s Wofford College.

“He’s not as dynamically vertical as Steve was but again he’s still a good route runner and a good pass catcher,” Rivera said of Cotchery.

When Cotchery isn’t trying to impress coaches with his route running he’s normally on the sideline talking with the team’s young receivers, describing how to run a certain route or where to be on a given play.

“Young guys do seem to latch on to him,” Rivera said.

When asked about his experience, Cotchery laughed and said “I feel comfortable being the old guy. It’s crazy how it’s worked out for me. Even in my third year I was considered the old guy. So I feel comfortable with it and helping the guys in any way I can to get better.”

Carolina’s wide receivers have taken widespread criticism this offseason after general manager Dave Gettleman cut Smith and allowed Brandon LaFell, Ted Ginn Jr. and Domenik Hixon to leave via free agency.

Along with Cotchery, the Panthers brought in Jason Avant and Tiquan Underwood and drafted Benjamin, who helped Florida State to a national championship. Cotchery said he understands why Carolina’s receivers aren’t getting the respect, but doesn’t seem overly concerned.

“I like this group,” he said.

Cotchery’s primary goal at training camp is getting on the same page with quarterback Cam Newton.

He said Newton was one of the reasons he signed with the Panthers on a five-year, $8 million contract that included a $2.25 million signing bonus. He likened him to Roethlisberger at the time, saying Newton has the potential to be a great NFL quarterback that people will remember for a long time.

“There’s a confidence he brings to the huddle, that he brings to the team that you know you’re going to be OK,” Cotchery said. “That’s what I’ve seen in the great ones.”

___

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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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