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Preseason was painful for some NFL teams

By WTOP Staff

BARRY WILNER
AP Pro Football Writer

There is one true objective for 32 clubs during the NFL’s preseason: Stay healthy. Quite a few teams fell far too short of that goal.

The Rams lost starting quarterback Sam Bradford for what would have been a make-or-break season. He went down along with four other starters in the third preseason game, although the others are not out for as long.

“It’s every head coach’s and general manager’s and player and assistant coach’s nightmare,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher says. “In the first half, we had five starters come out of the game and then not return. Very, very difficult experience to go through in the preseason.”

The Cowboys went through some bad times even before the games began. Their best defensive player on an already weak unit, linebacker Sean Lee, didn’t even make it to training camp. He tore his left ACL in his first offseason workout.

Not to forget Miami (center Mike Pouncey), Atlanta (linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, left tackle Sam Baker), Denver (linebacker Danny Trevathan), Buffalo (linebacker Kiko Alonso), Green Bay (DT B.J. Raji), and Arizona (DL Darnell Dockett).

Like Lee, Weatherspoon and Alonso were lost for the season before their teams opened camps this summer.

That doesn’t even cover the nicks and pulls that could sideline other key players for a short time. The Giants, for example, barely have had their top draft pick, receiver Odell Beckham Jr., on the field for practice all summer.

Dallas has been hit particularly hard, and these Cowboys hardly are in a position to withstand losing important guys. Their offense could be stout — provided Tony Romo’s back doesn’t act up, or DeMarco Murray can stay out of the infirmary and keep his game-breaking running skills in the lineup. As for their defense, well, even some of the youngsters coach Jason Garrett hoped would step in and develop rapidly have gotten hurt. Most notably absent is end DeMarcus Lawrence, the second-round pick who is on short-term injured reserve with a broken right foot and will miss at least half the season.

“You want them to have experience playing and for a lot of different reasons we haven’t been able to do that,” Garrett says. “Guys have been banged up, a couple of other situations that prevented guys from playing a full complement of snaps over the course of the preseason. But you live in the world that you do.”

It’s a rugged world, pro football. It’s even more precarious when the games don’t count, yet the starters need some work. All kinds of scenarios unique to exhibition games can present themselves and place significant players in jeopardy.

Perhaps an opponent trying to prove himself is going against a veteran simply looking to get in some work. The level of intensity doesn’t match, and injuries sometimes occur.

Inexperienced players often wind up in spots the vets don’t expect, particularly in the trenches. That increases the danger.

Conditions, especially the heat, can also play a role.

The NFL might soon consider reducing preseason games. Because of the risk of injury, coaches are reluctant to put stars on the field. Fans at preseason games have a much better chance of seeing Adrian Peterson in a ball cap rather than a helmet.

The NFL, pushed by the players’ union, has instituted new rules to decrease the number of workouts and contact allowed in the offseason. The champion Seahawks were just punished for breakings those rules.

It’s a slippery slope that leads to this weekend’s opening kickoffs. Coaches like four preseason games and six or more weeks of preparation so they can install offensive and defensive schemes; identify potential contributors; familiarize themselves with newcomers, especially rookies; and develop camaraderie along with competition for positions.

But they also dread the possibilities of leaving the field without a Bradford, a Raji, a Dockett.

“He’s obviously done for the season but I plan on having him on the sidelines with us all year long because of his spirit and leadership,” Arizona coach Bruce Arians says of Dockett, who tore up his right knee in an 11-on-11 drill. “It’s something we need and don’t want to lose.”

At least it’s something, but hardly as impactful has having a Dockett on the field wreaking havoc.

But that’s what happens when the preseason wreaks havoc on a roster.

___

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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