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Matthews, Pack D learn rookie’s name after big day

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Jayrone Elliott doesn’t just go by “No. 91” anymore in the Packers’ locker room. Three sacks in four plays will help get you noticed, even by pass-rushing specialist Clay Matthews.

Elliott’s dream series came in a rather meaningless fourth quarter of a 21-7 preseason win over St. Louis. But maybe, just maybe, the sequence can earn the undrafted rookie more snaps in his long-shot effort to work his way into the crowded outside linebacker rotation.

“It was just crazy, because usually you walk around and they’d be like ‘What up 91?'” Elliott said Monday. “Then they started calling me by name, and calling me ‘Sackmaster.’

“So, it’s just fun to joke around with Clay and (Julius Peppers), because you know Peppers never really talks to anybody,” Elliott added with a smile.

Elliott’s nice day was overshadowed by the stellar preseason debut of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who had the up-tempo offense humming along in midseason form. Elliott, who went to Toledo, is taking the ribbing from his feel-good performance in stride.

“I heard he’s starting this weekend in front of me,” Matthews joked after practice Monday.

Not even close. And forget the other side, too, where Peppers is starting.

“We give him a hard time with the amount of success that he had this past week,” Matthews said. “I’ll be rooting for him.”

If anything, Elliott’s success draws attention to the Packers’ depth at outside linebacker. Start with Matthews, back after missing much of last season with a thumb injury that also limited him in minicamp.

Each week gives Matthews more confidence in using his surgically repaired hand.

“I feel good about it. I think by the time season the rolls around, I’ll be flying out there and making plays and having fun,” Matthews said. “That’s what I’m doing now, but just a little more crisp.”

The Packers signed Peppers as a free agent to punch up the pass rush. Converted ends Mike Neal and Nick Perry both appear to be healthy again in camp. Andy Mulumba and Nate Palmer got valuable experience last year after injuries to Matthews and Perry, and the Packers also drafted Carl Bradford in the fourth round out of Arizona State.

There might be some tough decisions coming when the roster gets cut.

“Not just the outside linebacker position, but a lot of positions we have to continue to try to work a lot of different combinations,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “At the end of the day, special teams will be a huge factor in those decisions.”

All of which makes this weekend’s game against Oakland, the Packers’ third of the preseason, all the more important for Elliott and other young players such as receiver Jeff Janis. After missing the first week of practices with shingles, Janis has had an impressive camp, including a 34-yard touchdown last week against the Rams.

Janis might have a better shot at making the roster than Elliott, who in turn realizes he still has a lot of work to do. He’s not letting all those well-wishing text messages he received after the game make him overconfident.

“It was just a bunch of people telling me, ‘Congratulations, good to finally see you there,'” Elliott recounted. “Just a bunch of family members going crazy thinking I’m freaking Clay Matthews.”

NOTES: TE Brandon Bostick suffered what McCarthy called a lower leg injury Saturday that might keep the tight end out a few weeks. Bostick had a foot injury last year in Week 15 that knocked him out for the year. … An interception off a deflection in practice by rookie safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix turned into an entertaining attempt to lateral the ball around to gain extra yards, finally bouncing out of bounds after about three throws.

___

Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

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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