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Raiders CB DJ Hayden to start season on PUP list

By WTOP Staff

JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Raiders cornerback DJ Hayden will miss at least the first six weeks of the season after being placed on the physically unable to perform list Tuesday with a stress fracture in his right foot.

The move is the latest setback to Hayden since being drafted 12th overall in 2013 with general manager Reggie McKenzie’s first first-round pick in Oakland.

“We didn’t feel like he was going to be ready,” coach Dennis Allen said. “We feel like he’s still a couple of weeks away from actually being ready to be out there practicing and playing football.”

Hayden has struggled to get on the field because of a variety of ailments. He missed the entire offseason and part of training camp his rookie season recovering from abdominal surgery related to a surgery for a near-fatal heart injury in college.

He started two of the eight games he played last season before having season-ending sports hernia surgery. He was overmatched when he did play, allowing 26 catches on 40 throws with him in coverage for 376 yards and three touchdowns, according to Pro Football Focus. He had an interception and allowed a 110 passer rating against.

The Raiders had been hoping for big things from Hayden this season after an offseason when he was able to regain the strength he lost following the heart surgery in college.

He impressed the coaching staff early in workouts before being sidelined with what was originally called a rolled ankle during the first week of organized team activities in late May.

But after it did not heal, an MRI in late June showed the stress fracture, leading to surgery. Hayden was expected to miss one to two months, but now will not be able even to practice until Oct. 14.

“I think he’s disappointed, as any competitor is,” Allen said. “He wants to play. He wants to be out there. He doesn’t want to miss any more time. That’s a decision that we have to make as a football team.”

The Raiders will then have a five-week window to decide when Hayden will be healthy enough to practice again. He can practice for up to three weeks before the team must decide whether to put him back on the active roster or shut him down for the rest of the season.

Allen said he’s optimistic that Hayden will be ready to practice as soon as he’s eligible and hoped it will not take make time to get him ready to play.

Hayden’s absence means free-agent acquisitions Tarell Brown and Carlos Rogers will be slated to start the season opener at cornerback against the New York Jets on Sept. 7. That will mark the third straight season the Raiders will have two newcomers start at cornerback.

With Chimdi Chekwa also slowed by an injured knee, rookie TJ Carrie and former CFL player Neiko Thorpe could be the best options in nickel formations, with Rogers going inside to play the slot.

The Raiders made several other moves to cut down to 75 players on the roster before Tuesday’s deadline. They released fourth-string quarterback Trent Edwards, waived receiver Juron Criner, placed tight end Nick Kasa on injured reserve, waived guard Lucas Nix with a failed physical for a knee injury and waived safety Larry Asante, receiver Greg Jenkins and running back Kory Sheets with injuries.

NOTES: LB Sio Moore was back at practice for the first time since being hospitalized Friday with a strained neck suffered in an exhibition game in Green Bay. … QB Matt Schaub threw on the side, but did not practice for the third straight day with a sore elbow. He will not play Thursday. … RT Menelik Watson was back at practice after hurting his hip last Friday.

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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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