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Packers’ Lacy back at practice after concussion

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Eddie Lacy is back after another concussion, and he is pondering a couple of changes.

The bruising Green Bay Packers running back returned to practice Thursday as a full participant after getting knocked out of last week’s loss to Seattle in the season opener. He appears ready to assume his normal workload in Sunday’s home opener against the New York Jets.

It was Lacy’s second concussion in nearly a year, enough to get him thinking about adjusting his running style.

“Somehow I’ll have to figure out a way to change the way I run, but still keep the physical part of it,” Lacy said. “It’s not really something I’m trying to change as of now. I guess as I get older I will figure out how it goes.”

The second change appears to be more immediate.

Starting in training camp, Lacy had been wearing a new helmet designed to better safeguard against concussions.

“That’s what we all thought,” Lacy said.

He’s switching to his old helmet on Friday.

“I tried it out, and I think I’ll go back,” Lacy said.

The 2013 Offensive Rookie of the Year said he never had a concussion before suffering one against the Redskins on Sept. 15, 2013.

But the aftereffects from that concussion, which he absorbed while wearing his old helmet, were apparently worse.

“I actually remember nothing when I got hit last year,” Lacy said. “But on this one I know everything that happened on that play and the play after and all the way until today. It was nowhere near as bad as last year.”

The latest concussion occurred after getting hit by safety Kam Chancellor. Lacy said he isn’t sure whether the new helmet may have limited the severity of his latest concussion, because he didn’t suffer a second concussion wearing his old helmet.

Whichever helmet he uses, and whenever he tweaks his running style, Lacy doesn’t seem too worried right now about the long term. He sported his usual, easygoing attitude after practice.

“You cross that bridge when you get there. Some guys it happened to, some guys come out perfectly fine no matter how many concussions they had,” he said. “You don’t know what the future holds, so I’m not worried about it.”

Lacy was held to 34 yards on 12 carries against the tough Seahawks defense in last week’s 36-16 loss. He won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award last season after rushing for 11 touchdowns and more than 1,100 yards.

Green Bay last played on Sept. 4, so Lacy had a few extra days to rest after getting the weekend off. After sitting out Wednesday’s practice, Lacy resumed normal activities on Thursday. He pronounced himself ready if coach Mike McCarthy decides to give him 25 carries.

Running back coach Sam Gash will leave it up to Lacy on whether he wants to tweak his style.

“He’s a physical guy. I don’t get into him changing what he’s doing. He’s been successful in the NFL and he’s going to continue to do what makes him successful,” Gash said. “If that’s him feeling like he needs to change, that’s what we would obviously talk about.”

Starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga, who hurt his left knee against Seattle, also practiced for a second straight day on a limited basis, as did tight end Brandon Bostick, who is coming back from a leg injury.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

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Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

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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