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Revis a success in New England

By WTOP Staff

MATT CARROLL
Associated Press

FOXBOROUGH (AP) — Darrelle Revis didn’t divulge much when asked about his preference for facing a rookie quarterback.

New England’s shutdown cornerback officially is a Patriot.

“I can’t give you all of that,” the five-time Pro Bowler said with a laugh when questioned about potentially baiting Oakland rookie Derek Carr into a mistake or two Sunday when the Patriots (1-1) host the Raiders (0-2).

Chances are, though, Revis will do just that.

The eight-year veteran was acquired during the offseason to bolster a mediocre defense and already is making a major impact through just two weeks.

New England’s defense ranks near the top of the NFL in most major passing categories, leading the league in interceptions (five) and opponent’s completion percentage (54.4), while standing fourth in yards per game (166) and first downs (19) allowed.

Revis hauled in his first interception in a win over Minnesota last week, a pivotal play early in the second quarter that sparked New England to a 30-7 victory.

But it’s not only his on-field play that is providing a positive presence for the Patriots.

“He’s a great player, not just technique and what he knows about the opponent, but the knowledge of the overall game,” said safety and captain Devin McCourty. “I think he’s been able to be a leader for the corners, a guy to watch, and when you’re watching him, they understand he’s doing it the right way.

“Play in, play out, every down, he’s out there and he has great fundamentals, and I think that’s helped the team out a lot just being a role model and a leader for that group.”

Logan Ryan can attest to that. The second-year cornerback may be positioned opposite Revis on the field, but sits alongside him in the locker room. Ryan cited Revis’ desire to win every route as a foundation for his success.

“A five-time Pro Bowler and to still come out on a new team and feel like he has a lot to prove, a lot to learn, I think that carries over to everybody,” Ryan said.

Revis spent most of the season opener shadowing Miami speedster Mike Wallace, who ended up getting the better of Revis: seven catches for 81 yards and the tying touchdown that helped the Dolphins to a stunning win over the Patriots.

Seven days later, Minnesota receiver Greg Jennings was stranded on Revis Island. The nine-year veteran caught just one pass for 4 yards on four targets.

“That’s what they say when you go on the island,” McCourty said with a smile. “That’s what they say — not much happens over on the island.”

Now it’s Carr’s turn to test Revis, who likely will be matched up against James Jones.

In his first season in Oakland after spending seven in Green Bay, Jones broke out in a loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, catching nine passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.

Revis is well aware of Jones’ playmaking ability. It’s Carr he doesn’t know much about.

He doesn’t seem to care, either.

“My main objective is just watching my guy,” Revis said. “Doing my job and watching my guy.”

So far, his job has made everybody’s else’s just a little bit easier.

“The first two weeks, we’ve been covering guys really good,” McCourty said. “I think as a safety, you understand that and you know what you can do. The two guys at corner are locking their guys up and you can play free and just read the quarterback and know you’ll be all right.”

___

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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