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Before Chip, it was almost Gus for Eagles

By WTOP Staff

ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Gus Bradley probably would be coaching the Philadelphia Eagles if Chip Kelly didn’t change his mind about leaving Oregon.

The two second-year coaches go head to head Sunday when Bradley and the Jacksonville Jaguars visit Kelly’s Eagles in the season opener at Lincoln Financial Field.

Bradley interviewed twice with the Eagles in January 2013. Owner Jeffrey Lurie flew him in from Seattle for the second one, but the Eagles were waiting on Kelly to make a decision, and Bradley left Philadelphia to interview with the Jaguars.

Kelly ended up coming to the NFL and Bradley took over in Jacksonville.

“I really enjoyed the whole interview process up there,” Bradley said. “Jeffrey Lurie was great, to meet them and go through the process. I really enjoyed it.”

Kelly made a quick impact in Philadelphia, taking the Eagles from worst to first in the NFC East. Bradley went 4-12 in his first season with the Jags.

“I believe that the NFL is a precision league,” Bradley said. “I think whatever you decide to do, you have to be precise. You have to be on your job.”

Kelly and Bradley have only met briefly at the league meetings in March.

“Gus is a really, really nice guy,” Kelly said.

Here are things to watch for in the season opener between Bradley’s Jags and Kelly’s Eagles:

SHADY & SPROLES: Kelly has been elusive about how he plans to use the versatile Darren Sproles in the backfield with All-Pro RB LeSean McCoy. But McCoy offered a hint of those plans when asked if he expects to have 366 touches again this year.

“I don’t think 300-plus carries is really needed,” he said. “I’m sure if the game is tight and you need to ride me, I’m the guy for it, but (we can) mix up with Sproles doing different things. Sometimes a 6-yard carry is the same as a 6-yard route for Sproles. I’m going to be the key guy they’re watching. With Sproles in there mixing it up with screens and passes, I don’t think it’s necessary for me to have that many carries.”

JOECKEL RETURNS: Jaguars left tackle Luke Joeckel, the second overall pick in 2013, is back after missing the last 11 games because of a broken right ankle. He’s being counted on to anchor one of the most inexperienced lines in the league. Rookie Brandon Linder will start at right guard and journeyman Jacques McClendon will make his first career start at center, replacing 12-year starter Brad Meester.

“I’m feeling great,” Joeckel said. “None of the injuries are lingering. I’m moving well and getting better every week.”

ROOKIE RECEIVERS: Both teams are counting on a pair of second-round picks taken three sports apart. The Jaguars took USC’s Marqise Lee at No. 39 and the Eagles chose Vanderbilt’s Jordan Matthews at No. 42. Lee might’ve been an Eagle if he was still on the board when they picked.

“We were really, really high on him,” Kelly said. “He has a great knack for the deep ball, does a great job of adjusting to it, and he’s an unbelievable competitor. He’s everything you want.”

The Jaguars have two other rookies at wide receiver, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. The veteran in the group is Cecil Shorts III, who is only 26. Ace Sanders, a rookie fourth-round pick last year, will miss the first four games to serve a suspension. He caught 51 passes for 484 yards and a touchdown as a rookie.

“It’s a damn good group,” said Shorts, who missed practice on Thursday with hamstring tightness. “We’re all going to push each other to be the best group we can be.”

NO LANE: After starting the same five guys on the offensive line for every game last season, the Eagles have a new right tackle because Lane Johnson is suspended for the first four games. Allen Barbre takes Johnson’s spot, joining two All-Pros in Jason Peters and Evan Mathis, and Jason Kelce and Todd Herremans. Barbre will make his eighth career start and first since 2009 with Green Bay.

CLIPBOARD WATCH: Rookie Blake Bortles, the third overall pick in the draft, will start his career as Chad Henne’s backup in Jacksonville. Bortles had a strong preseason, but Bradley stuck with his veteran QB for now. The Eagles have a new backup with an impressive resume. Mark Sanchez, who led the Jets to the AFC championship game his first two seasons in the league, replaces Michael Vick as the guy behind Nick Foles.

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AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi

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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