Skip to main content

LB Brandon Graham make his mark in Philadelphia

By WTOP Staff

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Brandon Graham heard the same rumors everyone else did all offseason.

“That I was going to be traded, yeah I heard those, too,” Graham said after Friday’s practice.

Graham wasn’t traded before or during the May draft, as expected. It probably didn’t soothe his feelings any when the Eagles spent their first-round pick on a pass-rushing linebacker in Louisville’s Marcus Smith.

“I understand the business part of it,” Graham said. “If something had happened I would have gone with it. But as a person, as a player, I’m glad it didn’t. I want to be here. I like it here. I like what coach (Chip) Kelly is doing here. And I want to be a part of it.”

The trade the Eagles didn’t make might have been one of their better offseason moves. With Smith still finding his way, Graham is the top backup at both outside linebacker spots behind Trent Cole and Connor Barwin.

In last Sunday’s opening win over Jacksonville, Graham had four tackles, two for a loss, coming free to throw running back Toby Gerhart for a 3-yard loss — twice.

“I was happy with my game, but there are still some things I can do better,” Graham said. “It’s getting there.”

This is Graham’s second year in transition from a 4-3 end to a 3-4 outside linebacker. It’s a move he wasn’t afraid to make because coming out of Michigan in the 2010 draft there were several teams who felt he was more suited to play as a stand-up pass rusher.

“I would say it was about half and half,” Graham said. “Some 3-4 teams worked me out as a linebacker, so yeah, I was ready for the transition.”

What Graham wasn’t quite prepared to handle was the expectation that comes with being a first-round pick. He understands it better now and has even mentored Smith, who is going through the same tribulations.

“People have high expectations, for sure,” Graham said of being a team’s No. 1 pick. “You’re a No. 1 pick, they want you to go out and be a star immediately.”

Graham started six games as a rookie and had three sacks before missing the end of the season with a knee injury that also forced him to sit out most of his second year.

He came back in 2012 to start six games again and shared the team lead in sacks with 5 1-2. Last year, his first in coordinator Bill Davis’ 3-4 scheme, he came off the bench in all 16 regular-season games and the wild-card game against New Orleans. He had four sacks, including one of Drew Brees in that playoff game.

This year, after a strong preseason, Graham is becoming a key for the Eagles in different defensive looks. He expects to be on the field often Monday night against Andrew Luck and the Colts.

“He’s a good option,” Davis said. “It’s having three solid players there. You just want to make sure now that any of the three that are in there can play and roll and they are going to produce. But we are very pleased with Brandon. He had a solid game, he really did.”

NOTES: Rookie WR Josh Huff (shoulder) and backup tackle Matt Tobin (ankle) remained the only Eagles out of practice Friday. … Kelly said he was hoping RB Chris Polk, who missed last week’s game as well as the entire preseason with a hamstring injury, could be ready Monday night. Polk practiced all week. …Last week the Eagles dressed seven offensive linemen and had to use all seven when starters Alan Barbre and Evan Mathis went down with injuries. Kelly said that doesn’t mean he will dress eight linemen this week.

___

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote