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Bengals feel good after 3 preseason games

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Andy Dalton has looked sharp. The starting offense has moved the ball. The starting defense has been stingy on the scoring.

The Bengals like what they’ve seen through three preseason games, leaving them in good shape as they finish up and get ready for the ones that count.

Cincinnati (1-2) had no significant injuries to its starters during a 19-13 win in Arizona on Sunday night. Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict left in the first quarter with a pulled right hamstring.

Otherwise, things are looking good for the Bengals as they get set to finish the preseason on Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts (0-3) at Paul Brown Stadium. The starters aren’t expected to play much at all, saving them for the season opener on Sept. 7 at Baltimore.

“We need to keep that up when it gets super serious,” said cornerback Terence Newman, whose interception return provided the Bengals’ touchdown in Arizona. “The offense has been playing well as well.

“Right now, we’re playing pretty well. We have some things to cure up on both sides. I think we’ll be all right.”

One of the most encouraging developments has been the starting offense’s performance. The Bengals have gone to a more up-tempo approach under new coordinator Hue Jackson and have looked smooth in the no-huddle offense.

Dalton has completed 70.6 percent of his passes for 372 yards with one touchdown, no sacks and no interceptions, which equates to a passer rating of 116.3. Against the Cardinals, he was 13 of 21 for 157 yards while playing the first half.

“I’m very confident in what we have,” Dalton said. “The guys that we have on this team, the way that we’ve been playing, I think we’re ready to go for the opener.”

Dalton was 8 for 8 for 144 yards, one touchdown and a perfect passer rating of 158.3 during the second preseason game against the Jets, his first home game since he signed a six-year contract extension.

In Arizona, the Bengals had bad field position — drives starting at their own 9, 7, 38, 17, 7 and 4 yard lines in the first half. They punted the first four times, and then put together a pair of solid field-goal drives covering 73 yards in 13 plays and 88 yards in 10 plays.

Jackson wants the Bengals to run the ball more effectively, so that’s been a point of emphasis in the preseason. Second-round pick Jeremy Hill carried 12 times for 48 yards at Arizona and caught two passes for 10 yards. He dropped one pass and had two others intended for him that went incomplete.

“I had the drop,” Hill said. “It’s just bad on my part. I caught two other ones, but I’m going to focus on the drop. I have to watch it, see what I did wrong and get better from it.”

The Bengals ran 30 times for 122 yards overall, a pleasing 4.1-yard average.

“There were some plays that I remember that were pretty decent, and some that I wish I could take back,” Hill said. “All in all, I think it was an OK performance.”

The Bengals brought back the core of the team that won the AFC North last season and went to the playoffs for the third straight year, only to lose their opening game for the third year in a row. With so many returning starters, they expected to do well right away. The main thing in the preseason was to avoid injuries.

“We’re comfortable,” safety George Iloka said. “Everything’s clicking right now. We’re actually getting better, honestly.”

NOTES: The Bengals terminated the contract of fourth-year cornerback R.J. Stanford, making him a free agent. They also waived first-year defensive tackle Larry Black, rookie safety Isaiah Lewis, first-year kicker Quinn Sharp and fourth-year receiver Ryan Whalen.

___

Online: AP NFL website: 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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