Skip to main content

Jets’ DBs have chance to ‘shut people up’

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets’ secondary is depleted, beleaguered and, most of all, motivated.

Sure, the Jets’ top two cornerbacks — Dee Milliner and Dimitri Patterson — have been banged up for most of training camp.

And, yes, one of their potential key backups — Dexter McDougle — is out for the season. Oh, and there’s also that eyebrow-raising experiment with safety Antonio Allen moving to cornerback for the first time in his professional life.

Want to call the secondary is a sore spot on this team? Go ahead. The defensive backs beg to differ.

“It’s OK,” Patterson said Tuesday. “At the end of the day, and it’s the good thing about professional sports, you’ve got the opportunity to go out and shut people up.”

But, the question remains: can they?

Well, first Milliner and Patterson need to get back on the field together. Milliner, entering his second year and considered the Jets’ top cornerback, is sidelined indefinitely with a high ankle sprain.

Coach Rex Ryan said the injury is “healing nicely,” but there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready to play in the season opener.

Meanwhile, Patterson had been sidelined with calf, ankle and quadriceps ailments since he pushed through them and played — and struggled — in the Jets’ preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts. He returned to practice on a limited basis Monday and has been encouraged by his progress.

“Yeah, it’s frustrating because you want to be out there and you want to play,” he said. “You want to be out there getting into a rhythm, but it’s a long season and you want to make sure that when live bullets start flying and the regular season comes, you’re at full strength.”

Patterson called his injuries “minor,” but isn’t sure if he’ll be able to play in the team’s next preseason game on Friday night against the Giants. He is, however, optimistic about being ready for Oakland in Week 1.

“Oh, yeah,” he said. “No doubt.”

McDougle, a promising rookie, was lost for the season on Aug. 10 — the same day Milliner was injured — after tearing a ligament in his left knee. The third-round draft pick wrote on Twitter that he was having surgery on Wednesday.

Fellow cornerbacks Ras-I Dowling (groin), Jeremy Reeves (hamstring) and Johnny Patrick (hamstring) have also missed time during camp with injuries. That has put Ryan and defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman in a bit of predicament, with the two turning to Allen and Ellis Lankster, normally a special teams standout, as starters.

Allen struggled against Cincinnati’s A.J. Green, who had three catches for 69 yards last Saturday night.

“I’d love to say we can’t worry about who’s not here,” linebacker Calvin Pace said. “We’re worried about them because we care about them, and they’ll be fine. With that being said, the guys who are here, we see them in practice, and they play here for a reason. The thing about them is they just need to get a little confidence.”

Pace said the preseason is the time for players to gain experience and earn the trust of their teammates. He also acknowledged that the Jets’ front seven needs to take some of the pressure off the secondary by getting to the quarterback.

“Let the chips fall where they may,” Pace said. “They’re good players. They’ve just got to get seasoned a little bit.”

General manager John Idzik has been criticized by some fans and media for not signing a big-name cornerback in free agency such as Darrelle Revis, Vontae Davis or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The Jets also cut Antonio Cromartie, allowing him to become a free agent.

So, with each injury and blown coverage, the secondary becomes an even greater concern.

“People are going to say whatever they want to say outside the locker room,” Patterson said. “Whatever their opinion is, they have the right to exercise their First Amendment (rights). That’s fine. Opinions are part of professional sports. Football is a sport where you go out there and prove it.”

Patterson also believes the criticisms of his teammates at this point in the preseason might be a bit premature and overblown.

“When the regular season comes, you know, seven, eight or nine weeks in, then you have a pretty good idea of what we are as a secondary,” Patterson said. “I think it’s unrealistic and unfair to give opinions at this point, this early. It’s football.

“At the end of the day, guys have to come in and come through the season and show what they can do. That’s what the season’s for. Let the season take its course.”

NOTES: Ryan said the starters will likely play one series into the second half against the Giants. He was uncertain when Michael Vick would enter the game. … Ryan wouldn’t disclose details, but acknowledged that the “medical event” that caused rookie WR Jalen Saunders to get into a car accident last Friday was not a preexisting condition that the team knew about. Saunders, back with the team but not practicing, is expected to address the media Wednesday.

___

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote