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AP source: Bills WR Watkins day to day

By WTOP Staff

JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Bills receiver Sammy Watkins is day to day after tests confirmed a diagnosis of bruised ribs. And Cordy Glenn returned to his familiar spot at left tackle during Monday’s team drills after missing the first three weeks of training camp with an undisclosed illness.

It was a pair of positive developments for the Bills, who experienced a scare after Watkins was hurt in a 19-16 preseason loss at Pittsburgh on Saturday.

A person close to the situation told The Associated Press about Watkins’ status and test results on condition of anonymity because the Bills did not provide an update on the first-round pick.

Coach Doug Marrone would only say Watkins would not practice on Monday, when the team returned to its training-camp facility in suburban Rochester.

“He’s not practicing today, and I’ll be ready to practice without him,” Marrone said. “He’s not out there, and when he comes back, I don’t know.”

Watkins’ agent Tory Dandy told the AP his client “will be fine” and described the injury as being “just a bruise.” Dandy added Watkins could have returned to the game after being hurt on the opening drive.

The receiver left the field holding his left side where he was kneed by leaping linebacker Ryan Shazier during a pass play.

Watkins spent part of practice riding a stationary bike on the sideline. Following the workout, Watkins was ushered off the field by a Bills employee and declined to speak to reporters.

It’s too early to determine whether Watkins will be cleared to play on Saturday, when Buffalo (1-2) hosts Tampa Bay (0-2).

The Clemson product was a key offseason addition for the Bills. They traded their 2015 first-round draft pick to Cleveland in order to move up five spots and select Watkins with No. 4 pick.

He’s already shown glimpses of his dynamic potential by making numerous highlight-reel catches during camp.

Glenn returned to practice a little over a week after he passed his physical and was activated off the active/non-football injury list.

“It’s a good sign,” center Eric Wood said. “Cordy’s one of our best players. And getting him back on the field, it’s obviously going to help this football team.”

Glenn’s presence prompted a shuffle across the line.

Rookie Seantrel Henderson, who filled in for Glenn at left tackle, took over at the right tackle in place of Erik Pears. Pears then shifted to right guard in place of Kraig Urbik, who took snaps as the backup center. And Chris Williams regained his spot at left guard after Doug Legursky started in his place at Pittsburgh.

The shift comes with the Bills’ first-string offense yet to score a touchdown in 10 preseason series. Buffalo’s starters have been limited to four field goals despite five drives inside their opponents’ 20.

NOTES: The Bills break camp Thursday. … Mary Wilson, the Bills’ controlling owner and wife of late Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson, attended practice. The Bills are for sale after Ralph Wilson died in March. … DB Jonathan Meeks remains out with a neck injury.

___

AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.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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