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Giants top pick Odell Beckham Jr. out for Jets

By WTOP Staff

TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New York Giants first-round draft pick Odell Beckham Jr. has nothing to show for the preseason.

Coach Tom Coughlin announced Tuesday that the rookie wide receiver will miss the annual bragging rights game against the Jets (2-0) because of continuing problems with a hamstring injury.

The LSU product pulled a hamstring two days into training camp and he has participated in six practices. After missing the Giants’ first three preseason games, this was supposed to be the week that he played.

However, Beckham was hit in the back of his leg late in practice Monday and he did not practice Tuesday. Coughlin ruled him out for Friday night’s game.

Beckham remains confident he is not dealing with a long-term issue.

“We have progressively built up my workload,” he said. “I was sore this morning, and I didn’t work today because we didn’t want a setback, and I don’t consider this a setback. I see it as another step in getting back to full strength.”

Coughlin said Beckham did not practice on Tuesday because he was sore.

“They don’t feel like it is a re-injury,” Coughlin said. “They are going to be cautious because that’s what it takes. They are saying it’s no setback so that’s where we are on it.”

Coughlin saw Beckham catch a pass and run down the sideline late in practice Monday, but he did not see him being hurt.

Beckham’s injury though is frustrating for the veteran coach because the rookie had a shot at being a contributor in the new offense being installed by coordinator Ben McAdoo.

The rookie has the speed and hands to be the deep threat in a receiving group that has Victor Cruz in the slot position and Rueben Randle as the other outside receiver.

Beckham played in 40 games in three seasons at LSU and had 143 receptions for 2,340 yards, a 16.4-yard average, and 12 touchdowns. He also averaged 24.9 yards on 42 kickoffs returns and 9.0 yards on 62 punt returns, scoring twice.

He had never missed game action due to an injury.

Beckham has not missed any class room time with the Giants (3-0), but he has to get into football shape with the season opener at Detroit less than three weeks away.

With Beckham out and fourth-year receiver Jerrel Jernigan having a so-so training camp, rookie free agent Corey Washington and Marcus Harris, who was on the Giants’ practice squad last season, have stepped up and impressed the coaching staff.

Washington has caught a touchdown pass in each of the preseason games, including two game-winning passes, while Harris has a team-high eight catches for 90 yards.

Harris is happy both players are contributing.

“I made my plays and he made his,” Harris said.

Washington and Harris also have made the most of their opportunities with Beckham sidelined.

“I’ve earned the reps I got and I kept making plays so they kept giving them to me,” he said. “Hopefully I keep it that way.”

NOTES: The kicking competition between veteran Josh Brown and rookie Brandon McManus remains close with two preseason games left. Neither has missed a field-goal attempt. McManus is 2-for-2 and Brown made his only attempt. … The Giants are doing more game planning this week and they worked against some formations the Jets might use on Friday.

___

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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