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Bengals DT Still grateful for practice squad move

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Defensive tackle Devon Still understood why the Cincinnati Bengals couldn’t keep him on the roster.

With his injured hamstring and his daughter fighting cancer, the second-round pick had a lot on his mind during training camp.

He hasn’t been at his best. The Bengals have kept him around anyway, and he’s grateful.

Still was waived as part of the final roster reduction a week ago. The Bengals signed him to the practice squad, which allows him to keep his medical insurance and get paid even though he won’t get to play in games.

“They could have just washed their hands completely of it: ‘We don’t care what’s going on in his personal life, we just want people who can care 100 percent on football,'” Still said. “That’s what they pay us to do.

“But they thought about my personal issues and allowed me to come back on the practice squad so I still have insurance. They said if I keep working on (healing) my injury and mentally prepare myself to focus on football, then they can move me back up to the roster so I am not all the way out of the loop.”

His 4-year-old daughter, Leah, was diagnosed with cancer in June. Still missed offseason practice time to be with her. She was on his mind during training camp, making it difficult to focus on football.

Then Still suffered a hamstring injury during the third preseason game, leaving him unable to play in the final game.

“I know a lot of their concern was about my injuries and where I am at mentally with everything that’s going on,” Still said. “I can’t really give 100 percent to helping this football team win.

“So when they explained that to me, I told them I understood where they were coming from. Being on the practice squad does allow me to still maintain my insurance, which was my biggest reason for coming back to football, and also allows me to focus more on my daughter.”

His daughter is on her fourth round of chemotherapy. Being on the practice squad also will give him more time to spend with her since he won’t be playing in games.

Still benefited from the NFL’s changes in practice squad qualifications in August. The league expanded the squad from eight to 10 players for each team. Also, each team is allowed to sign up to two players who have earned no more than two seasons toward free agency.

If the rule hadn’t changed, Still wouldn’t be in Cincinnati. The Bengals also kept center Trevor Robinson.

“We have two good, quality guys who at some point will be on the 53-man roster, almost undoubtedly,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “We’re fortunate enough to have them here right now as reserves for us, and (it’s) an opportunity for them to continue to move forward.”

Still played four years at Penn State and was a second-round pick in 2012. He played in eight games as a rookie and missed six games last season because of an elbow injury and a back injury. The Bengals are hoping that he can get healthy and work his way into their line rotation.

Still could have signed with another team’s practice squad, but took the Bengals up on their offer.

“I’m not about to up and leave them,” Still said. “Loyalty is something I really need right now because I never know what direction this is going to go with my daughter.”

Notes: The Bengals promoted CB Onterio McCalebb from the practice squad to the active roster. McCalebb was signed as a college free agent last year and spent the season on the practice squad. … DT Christo Bilukidi was waived. He appeared in three games last season.

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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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