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Jaguars’ WR woes offer Lee, Robinson more chances

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Justin Blackmon is probably gone for good. Ace Sanders is suspended the first four games of the season. And Cecil Shorts III is hurt once again.

Good thing the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted fellow receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson, two second-round picks who could be opening-day starters.

Lee and Robinson have stood out during the first few days of Jacksonville’s training camp — and not just because they’re running with the first-team offense. Lee’s speed and athleticism have provided several highlights, and Robinson’s size and sure hands have been equally impressive.

“Both of them are coming along and making big plays out there,” quarterback Chad Henne said.

The Jaguars drafted the duo to play behind Shorts and Sanders and eventually step into starting roles. But Sanders’ suspension last week for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy provided more work for the rookies. And Shorts’ latest injury meant even more chances.

“You have to try to take advantage of your opportunities,” Lee said. “It’s not just learning the plays. There are certain ways you’re supposed to run them, certain ways the coaches want you to do things. So being on the field more gives you a better understanding. Running with the ones helps, too.

“They give you a lot of different looks, which makes you change up the way you do things and gives you a better understanding as far as how things are going to be in the game. Not saying the twos don’t give you that look, but the ones are already experienced and have been going through it for a long period of time.”

The Jaguars have spent several early round draft picks and millions in free agency trying to find a legitimate No. 1 receiver since Jimmy Smith’s heyday.

First-rounders R. Jay Soward (2000), Reggie Williams (2004), Matt Jones (2005) and Blackmon (2012) spent more time in the NFL’s substance-abuse policy than the end zone. Throw in free-agent flops Jerry Porter, Laurent Robinson and Mohamed Massaquoi, and the Jaguars have deal with their share of failure at the position.

So last week’s news was nothing out of the ordinary for the small-market franchise.

Sanders was suspended two days before the start of training camp for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Sanders said “personal issues” caused his misstep. He said he has “been dealing with a lot of stuff, just with life and family and a lot of issues going on.” Although the second-year pro from South Carolina is eligible to participate in training camp and preseason games, he has taken a leave of absence to seek counseling.

Blackmon was arrested Wednesday in Oklahoma on a marijuana possession complaint, the latest transgression for the troubled former Oklahoma State star. Blackmon was suspended indefinitely in November for repeated violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy, and the Jaguars aren’t counting on him playing in 2014 — if ever again.

Shorts’ injury was a much more minor setback. He strained his right hamstring in the opening practice of camp. He’s expected to miss at least two weeks, but it’s another setback for a fourth-year pro who hasn’t made it through a full season since college. He has missed 11 games in three years because of injuries.

“You learn to deal with it,” said Shorts, who sat out most of organized team activities with a strained calf. “It’s always tough when back-to-back injuries happen to you. I’m not going to lie to you: It’s difficult. But I’m going to stay positive about it. Being frustrated is not going to do anything for me so I’m going to stay positive and attack this rehab and get this thing right.”

In the meantime, Lee and Robinson will get most of their repetitions with the starters.

Normally, that might come with growing pains. But since both played in pro-style systems in college — Lee at USC; Robinson at Penn State — they seem to be ahead of the rookie curve.

“At the end of the day, some of things we did in college we’re doing here,” Lee said. “It’s just different terminology. That’s the positive side of it.”

___

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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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