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Concerns mount for Panthers as season approaches

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The concerns are mounting for the Carolina Panthers with the regular season opener less than two weeks away.

Quarterback Cam Newton is still walking gingerly after suffering a hairline fracture in his ribs. Middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, last year’s AP defensive player of the year, is likely to will start the season with a cast on his sprained right thumb. And starting defensive ends Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson, who combined for 26 sacks last season, remain sidelined with injuries.

The Panthers are also trying to figure out what went wrong in a 30-7 loss to New England Patriots on Friday night.

But coach Ron Rivera downplayed those issues on Monday.

“That’s the nature of the game,” said Rivera, the NFL Coach of the Year in 2013. “This could happen in the regular season and we have to adapt. It’s basically the next man up.”

Newton won’t play in Carolina’s preseason finale Thursday night against Pittsburgh.

Rivera offered no update Monday on Newton’s status, reiterating that the Pro Bowl quarterback will be reevaluated at the end of the week.

It’s still unclear if Newton will play in Carolina’s Sept. 7 regular season opener against Tampa Bay. Rivera had said Sunday he expected Newton to play.

Newton was not made available to reporters on Monday.

With backup quarterback Derek Anderson’s wife expecting a baby — she was due on Saturday — and fourth-string quarterback Matt Blanchard out with a concussion, it is possible Joe Webb could be the only quarterback available to play Thursday night.

“We’ll play it by ear,” Anderson said of his plans for Thursday night. “I’m not 100 percent sure what’s going to happen. There’s nothing that we can control. … Hopefully I can be there for both.”

Of course, the preseason is the least of Carolina’s concerns.

The Panthers are already looking ahead to Tampa Bay, spending the two last days game planning for their NFC South rivals behind closed door practices.

Anderson has been working with the starters with Newton looking on closely and taking “mental reps,” according to Rivera.

The Panthers could have worse options at quarterback if Newton can’t play.

Anderson has started 43 career games during his nine NFL seasons and even went to a Pro Bowl with the Cleveland Browns in 2007 when he threw for 3,787 yards and 29 touchdowns.

But he might need to shake off some rust first.

Newton has not missed a game in three seasons, and Anderson has only thrown four passes for the Panthers during that span.

Anderson’s last start came in 2010.

“I’m putting in the same preparation I go through every year for the last 10 years,” Anderson said. “I’m preparing to get ready to play and know my opponents and their tendencies. … If I’ve got to (play), I’ve got to play — and try and win a football game.”

Rivera said the Panthers game plan for Week 1 will be the same regardless of who’ll start at quarterback.

As for the other injuries, Rivera said he’s not concerned about the cast affecting Kuechly’s play and said Hardy and Johnson have been working on the side during practice and are rounding into shape. Hardy has been bothered by a shoulder injury and Johnson a strained hamstring.

The Panthers did get some good news this week as two defensive starters — safety Roman Harper and linebacker Chase Blackburn — returned to work. Harper has been out for several weeks with a turf toe injury.

The Panthers are looking to avoid another slow start under Rivera.

Rivera’s first two teams both started 2-8 and failed to make the playoffs.

The Panthers opened 1-3 last season and appeared headed down the same road but turned things around and won 11 of 12 games to capture the NFC South championship and earn a first-round bye in the playoffs.

NOTES: Tight end Greg Olsen spent Monday with his 2-year-old son T.J., who is undergoing his third and final scheduled open heart surgery. T.J. was born with a congenital heart defect. His first surgery came two days after he was born and another last summer.

___

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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