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Bucs Jackson would sacrifice stats for more wins

By WTOP Staff

FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Vincent Jackson thinks the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be better on offense this season, even if he catches fewer passes and gets into the end zone less often.

That how much the three-time Pro Bowl receiver believes in quarterback Josh McCown and some of the other changes the team has made after ranking 30th in scoring and last in passing and total yardage in 2013.

Jackson has had two stellar seasons since signing a five-year, $55.55 contract in free agency, but says he would gladly sacrifice gaudy statistics for more wins.

The Bucs haven’t made the playoffs since 2007, however Jackson is confident that trend will not continue under new coach Lovie Smith.

“I start every season the same way. It’s got to be about wins. Team first. Every time I come out here, I need to be part of this offense, contribute to this offense,” the 10th-year pro said.

“That just means doing my job. It doesn’t mean going out there and catching a certain amount of balls or scoring a certain amount of touchdowns,” Jackson added. “Sometimes I can create openings for other guys, and the run game can get it there and mix it up. To me, that’s winning football. That’s what Lovie’s about. That’s what I’ve always been about.”

Jackson, 31, posted personal bests with 72 catches for 1,384 yards while averaging a NFL-leading 19.2 yards per reception and scoring eight touchdowns in 2012.

He followed up with a career-high 78 receptions for 1,224 yards and seven TDs a year ago, when Tampa Bay began the season with eight consecutive losses and finished 4-12.

When Smith replaced former coach Greg Schiano in January one of his first orders of business was hiring Jack Tedford as his offensive coordinator. The former Cal coach installed an up tempo style of offense that Jackson says will provide plenty opportunities for him, running back Doug Martin and others to contribute.

“I’m excited. … Training camp is obviously a time for us to clean up, sharpen everything we’ve worked on this offseason,” said Jackson, who spent the first seven years of his career with the San Diego Chargers.

“Now it’s time to really crank it up, start defining different positions, getting guys in locations where we have (matchup) advantages and getting in a good rhythm,” he added. “I’m excited where we’re at right now. I think we’re ahead of the curve for being a new offense with a lot of new guys together.”

Besides signing McCown, a career backup coming off his best year, the Bucs used their entire draft on offensive reinforcements, beginning with the top three picks — receiver Mike Evans, tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins and running back Charles Sims.

McCown threw for 13 TDs and just one interception while filling in for an injured Jay Cutler in Chicago last year.

“Josh is a big, strong physical guy. He can make every throw,” said Jackson, whose big contract was done in all fives in honor of former Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman.

Freeman lost Tampa Bay’s starting job and subsequently was released early last year. Jackson’s production didn’t suffer much with Mike Glennon running the offense the final 13 games, and it hasn’t taken the five-time 1,000-yard receiver long to build a nice rapport with McCown.

“I think a lot of it just has to do with his savviness on the field. He’s a very smart guy. He understands space and location and separation on routes and the way the dimensions of a defense work,” Jackson said.

“We spend a lot of time off the field away from this facility, going to high schools and just spending time talking through some things, running some basic routes and getting a feel for each other,” he added. “I think that relationship is only going to continue to grow.”

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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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