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Packers lineman Bulaga questionable for Sunday

By WTOP Staff

TODD McMAHON
Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers will have one lineup change for their first game at Lambeau Field this season.

The possibility for another one is in play.

The Packers won’t know until Saturday whether injured right tackle Bryan Bulaga will be available for their home opener the next day. The Packers are listing Bulaga as questionable for the game against the New York Jets.

Bulaga suffered an injury to his surgically repaired left knee in the first half of Green Bay’s season-opening loss at Seattle on Sept. 4 and didn’t play the rest of the game. The team’s medical staff re-evaluated Bulaga on Friday morning after he took part in some practice drills Wednesday and Thursday.

“Bryan Bulaga with his exam (was) sore, which I think you’d expect, so we’ll see how he progresses through today and see what he can do tomorrow,” said coach Mike McCarthy. “Working both days, I think this is what’s to be expected.”

If Bulaga can’t play, McCarthy said Derek Sherrod will jump in as the starter Sunday. It would be the first NFL start for Sherrod, Green Bay’s 2011 first-round draft pick. Sherrod took over for the injured Bulaga in the second quarter of last week’s 20-point loss to the Seahawks.

After some initial promise blocking in front of Aaron Rodgers, Sherrod gave up two critical sacks of the star quarterback on back-to-back plays. The latter resulted in a fumble that Sherrod retrieved back in the end zone for a Seattle safety.

Sherrod said Friday he has prepared all week to make his starting debut Sunday, which he admitted would be a special moment in a pro career marred by injury.

“Obviously, everybody in the NFL wants to start. To get that first one would be a pretty big event,” said Sherrod, who missed the entire 2012 season and the first half of last season because of a broken leg.

Top running back Eddie Lacy is probable for Sunday’s game. Lacy was knocked out of the opener with a concussion but returned to practice Thursday.

Inside linebacker Brad Jones has been ruled out for Sunday with a recurring quadriceps injury. McCarthy said Jamari Lattimore and Sam Barrington are the options to replace Jones in the starting lineup.

Lattimore made four starts in the absence of an injured Jones last season and delivered with 29 tackles and two sacks in those games. He told reporters he played all of last season with an illness that was never diagnosed.

“It was something like a virus, but it was mixed with virus, (being) allergic to things and stuff like that,” Lattimore said.

He said he needed to be treated with medication at one point, but missed only one game and that was for a quad injury. Healthy again, Lattimore is ready to be productive on defense again.

“My number’s being called, so I’ve got to step up and show what I’m about and do the best job I can. Simple as that,” he said.

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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