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Falcons’ Peters relieved to be back in practice

By WTOP Staff

CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Corey Peters battled doubts about his future in the NFL after he tore his Achilles tendon late last season.

Eight months later, the Falcons’ defensive tackle is back on the practice fields and the doubts are gone.

Peters said Tuesday he’s expecting to play when Atlanta opens its regular season on Sept. 7 against New Orleans.

Peters said the devastating injury on Dec. 23 at San Francisco made him wonder if a comeback would be possible.

“I think that always creeps in,” Peters said of the doubts. “I was just battling a little bit of depression, a little bit of everything. It was just a bad thing, an accumulation. The season went bad as a team. The way I ended it was not how I wanted to go out.”

Peters was placed on the physically unable to perform list as he missed offseason workouts, the team’s minicamp and most of training camp.

He made his return to practice on Monday, when he was removed from the PUP list. He was back in full pads on Tuesday.

Coach Mike Smith said Peters is “way ahead of schedule” in his rehabilitation. Peters agreed.

“It’s been a long process and to see the progress I’ve made, I think that’s an accurate statement, considering where I was in March and April,” Peters said. “It’s been a long and slow process, a lot of hard work, but I’m just happy to be back out here and to be a part of the team, really.”

The Falcons have two preseason games remaining, including Saturday night’s home game against Tennessee. Peters said that’s enough time to have him ready for the season.

“Hopefully starting when I did will put me right at three weeks of practice before the opener, and I’m comfortable with that,” he said.

Peters said the team’s medical staff prevented him from rushing his return.

“I think they’ve done a good job of kind of taking it out of my hands and not allowing me to make all of the decisions because if it was up to me I would have tried to get out there three or four weeks ago,” he said. “I think it’s been a good process. Thinking about it now, I’m happy I waited because I feel a lot stronger. I think it’s going to be good in the long run.”

Smith said Peters and wide receiver Julio Jones, who is returning from a broken foot, would see more consistent practice time in the next two weeks.

Peters, a third-round pick from Kentucky in 2010, has started in 53 of his 56 career games. He set a career high last season with five sacks, ranking second on the team.

As Peters focused on his comeback, the Falcons worked in the offseason to boost the defensive front. Veterans Paul Soliai and Tyson Jackson were signed as free agents. Jonathan Babineaux was re-signed and the team drafted Ra’Shede Hageman in the second round.

“Paul is a very smart guy,” Peters said. “Already, just by talking to him, I’ve learned so much about things to look for on film. Just little things, little nuances. He can predict a lot of things before they happen. Tyson just brings a great physical presence. … I think the unit is going to be much improved.”

NOTES: Smith said TE Mickey Shuler is in the NFL’s concussion protocol. … WR Courtney Roby was in Indianapolis with his wife, who is expecting their child. … OT Pat McQuistan, who was signed following Sam Baker’s season-ending knee injury, participated in his first practice.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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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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