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LaFell getting accustomed to new home with Pats

By WTOP Staff

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Brandon LaFell had played with a successful quarterback when he decided to leave the Carolina Panthers in free agency.

Now his quarterback is Tom Brady.

“I’m blessed, man. I’m real blessed,” LaFell said yesterday, as the Patriots continued preparing for Friday’s preseason game against his old team from Carolina.

“Go from Cam (Newton), who’s doing his thing, he’s up and coming, real good quarterback, established quarterback, and then I come over here with Brady.

“It’s great, man. I’ve been blessed.”

LaFell said it’s “going to be a little weird” seeing his old friends on Friday in Foxborough.

After setting career highs in receptions (49) touchdowns (five) and yards receiving (627), and then catching four passes for 34 yards in the Panthers’ playoff game, LaFell signed a three-year contract for a reported $9 million with the Patriots.

A 6-foot-2, 210-pound receiver who can block, he’s had his problems holding on to the ball, but he gives Brady a needed big target.

Brady didn’t throw to LaFell in last week’s game against Philadelphia, the first game they played together last week.

“We’ve been getting better and better, each and every day, each and every week,” said LaFell, who has four catches for 45 yards and a touchdown in the two games. “The more and more reps I get with this guy … it’s only getting our timing better and he’s trying to find me more.”

Meaning he’s getting more comfortable.

“From OTAs, if I had to put it on a scale from zero to 10, like an eight now,” he said. “OTAs I was shell-shocked. I didn’t know what to expect. Everything was all new to me.

“I was in Carolina for the last four years so got used to that routine, got used to that playbook, everything’s new here. And since the beginning of camp I’m feeling way more comfortable.

“Just being in the huddle with Brady, hearing him call the plays and stuff like that, I’m way more comfortable.”

He knows what Brady wants.

“He expects you to be exactly where he wants to be on every route, not a yard off, not a yard too deep, not a yard too short. He expects you to be exactly where he wants you to be and he’s going to put the ball placement exactly right.”

“They’ve been able to work together on a daily basis and I think it continues to improve,” coach Bill Belichick said. “I think we have a long way to go, but they’re definitely making progress.”

Belichick likes what he’s seen from LaFell.

“He’s a tough kid. He’s played for us in the kicking game; he’s given us some plays there … He’s been very competitive, obviously he’s a big target. He’s got a skill set, a little different than some of our other guys, but, good, and he’s tough.”

LaFell was asked about the differences between Newton and Brady.

“Everybody always says a football play is 8 seconds — but with Cam, he’s a big body. He can move. He can get up there and stiff-arm a defensive end and that 8 seconds will turn to 12 seconds — because he broke the pocket and you’re turning back the play. Or you’re running deep because he’s rolling out.

“He always extends plays. With Brady, he’s not the fastest guy out there, but he’s got a little elusiveness in him also to make plays extend.”

LaFell, who had 167 catches for 2,385 yards and 13 touchdowns in four years with Carolina, saw the growth in Newton.

“Man, it’s night and day, man,” he said. “That guy, when he first came in he did everything off talent. Once he got with Coach (offensive coordinator Mike) Shula, he really worked on his game, worked on his fundamentals, the guy started to blow up, man. Now, he’s one of the best in the game.

“I tell everybody the same story, man. He has everything you wish for in a football player. He’s got size, he’s got speed, he’s got his ability, toughness. He can do it all.”

NOTES: Linebacker Jerod Mayo, who had his 2013 season ended with a torn pectoral muscle, wouldn’t say what caused him to miss last week’s game and practices against the Eagles. Asked why he was out after practicing the week before, Mayo said, “Ask Coach Belichick, everything’s good … I feel good. I went out there yesterday and ran around a little bit, so I feel good.” … Cornerback Darrelle Revis is ready for the regular season. “The butterflies are coming back,” he said. “You get anxious and you get real excited just to start the season back up. This is a great game we play. We’ve just got to continue to keep on pushing and get to that point.”

___

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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