Skip to main content

Norwood closing in on Seahawks debut

By WTOP Staff

CURTIS CRABTREE
Associated Press

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Fourth-round draft pick Kevin Norwood made it through just one practice in training camp with the Seattle Seahawks before the pain became just too much to ignore.

Bone spurs in his foot had proved to be a constant annoyance going back to his time in college at Alabama. However, Norwood had always just kept his head down and played through the pain.

But it was becoming too large an issue to manage any longer for the wide receiver.

It didn’t affect Norwood while he was running pass routes, but if he wasn’t constantly moving and keeping the area loose it become painful.

“When I’m just standing around pretty much not doing anything, that’s when it (started) getting stiff and sore,” Norwood said. “Then when it’s time for me to go back in it’s impossible to move.”

Norwood had surgery in August to remove the bone spurs in his foot and didn’t practice or play for the remainder of the preseason. He returned to practice last week prior to Seattle’s season opener against the Green Bay Packers, but was held out as he wasn’t ready to play.

But coach Pete Carroll saw enough from Norwood over the offseason in OTAs and minicamp to get a good sense for the player he is.

“He’s such a natural football player that we felt like we understood his ability,” Carroll said. “Right away we just had a real sense for him.

“We felt pretty confident about that right off the bat, within the first few days we were out there. He’s got a very versatile package that he’s bringing to us so we’re really happy about that.”

Carroll said Norwood is healthy enough to play now, but will still be a game-time decision as to whether he will be active for their game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

“Kevin is in great shape now,” Carroll said. “He looks very good. He’s really competing to get on the game day roster. He looks really good doing everything. We have no hesitation to put him in there if we can get that done.”

Whenever the chance comes for Norwood to put on an NFL uniform for the first time, he said he’ll make the most of his opportunities.

“It’s tough being out,” Norwood said. “It really is. I’m going to try my best to get back out there and help this team out any way I can.

“My opportunity is coming and when I get on that field I’m going to take full advantage of it.”

Notes: RB Christine Michael (hamstring), LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (hamstring) and CB Tharold Simon (knee) were all ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Chargers. All three were unable to return to practice this week. Coach Pete Carroll said Michael and Pierre-Louis have a chance to get back next week. … TE Cooper Helfet is listed as doubtful with a knee injury despite practicing the past two days. Carroll said he’d be “eligible” to possibly play if needed.

___

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