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In Year 3, Tannehill looks to take step forward

By WTOP Staff

TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Tannehill was barely a teenager when Tom Brady won his first Super Bowl.

The 25-year-old Miami Dolphins’ quarterback had all the predictable idols growing up, names like Dan Marino, Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning on the list.

And of course, Brady was one he wanted to emulate as well.

“I hate admitting that now,” Tannehill said, “just because I am playing against him.”

Their paths collide again Sunday, when Brady and the New England Patriots visit Tannehill and the Dolphins in the regular-season-opener for both teams. It’ll be Brady’s 220th NFL game; it’ll be Tannehill’s 33rd.

It’s never mano-a-mano, of course, since Tannehill and Brady will never be on the field simultaneously unless something goes horribly wrong with the respective game plans. But it’s not a stretch to say that being the other quarterback in a game featuring Brady isn’t easy for anyone, whether it’s a seasoned veteran or someone entering just his fourth season of being a full-time starter at the college and pro levels.

“I still feel like I’m a young player trying to earn it,” Brady said. “I think that’s most important. No one really cares what you’ve done in the past. Certainly my teammates expect me to go out there and be the best I can be. That’s what I’m going to try to be for this team and that’s what I owe to them.”

The last time Tannehill was matched up against Brady, the maturation of the Dolphins’ QB was obvious.

Brady did what Brady does, guiding the New England Patriots on a 73-yard touchdown drive to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. But instead of shrinking in that moment, Tannehill answered with a 60-yard drive of his own and threw a winning touchdown pass with 1:15 left to give Miami a 24-20 victory.

It may have been overall the best game of Tannehill’s career: 25 of 37 passing for 312 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, all capped by a two-minute drive worth savoring.

“He’s excellent in those situations and that’s probably really what beat us last year down there was their ability to execute at the end of the game,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “But they’ve been a good two-minute team. He’s done a good job in that situation throughout his career. I think he throws the ball well.”

Tannehill might have the tools to take a big step forward again this year.

The Dolphins have a new offense, brought in by coordinator Bill Lazor — who was with the Philadelphia Eagles last season when they became one of the league’s elite groups at moving the football.

Lazor speaks highly of Tannehill’s growth. So do Tannehill’s teammates.

“He carries himself like an NFL quarterback now,” center Mike Pouncey said.

There is an air of confidence around Tannehill, who hasn’t missed a game even though he’s been sacked more than any other quarterback in the last two seasons. The Dolphins figure to be faster-paced this year, which means he shouldn’t have the ball as long and in theory then may get hit less.

“You’re talking about a guy that has the desire to be great and the desire to work at it, which is really important,” Lazor said. “We ask him every single day to be the most prepared player when he walks out on the practice field. So the first thing it’s going to be for the quarterback is work, off the field and in the classroom. I think he’s done a great job with that.”

There’s plenty of trends that tie all those quarterbacks that Tannehill looked up to as a kid: They all won a lot of games, and they all were (or in the cases of Brees, Manning and Brady, remain) the unquestioned leader of their team.

Tannehill figures it’s time to take that leap.

“You have to be able to make a play, find a way and that’s football,” Tannehill said. “You are going to have those tough situations where someone is going to have to step up and make a play. I want that to be me. I want that to be the guys with me on offense and if we do that we will win a lot of games.”

___

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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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