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Packers’ Bulaga could play against Lions

By WTOP Staff

TODD MCMAHON
Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Bryan Bulaga wasn’t quite ready to say he will be back in uniform and on the field Sunday for the Green Bay Packers.

“I’m not saying I’m definitely playing,” the veteran right tackle said Friday. “We’ve got to still evaluate things that go into tomorrow.”

Bulaga is listed as questionable for Green Bay’s NFC North road matchup against the Detroit Lions.

Bulaga suffered a significant knee injury in the Packers’ season-opening loss at Seattle and didn’t play in their big comeback win over the New York Jets last Sunday.

As he did last week, Bulaga practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday this week. He looked to be moving around better with a protective brace on his injured left knee.

“From last week to this week, it feels a lot better,” Bulaga said. “Mobility wise, strength wise, everything has just progressed really well.”

The Packers didn’t practice Friday, but coach Mike McCarthy seemed to be encouraged about the status of Bulaga, who said the pain in his knee has subsided considerably in the past week.

But McCarthy said Bulaga would have to get through the team’s entire workout Saturday to have a chance to play against the Lions.

“That’s the only hurdle left,” McCarthy said.

Former first-round draft pick Derek Sherrod made his first NFL start as Bulaga’s replacement against the Jets.

“I definitely think he took a huge step from Week 1 to Week 2,” said McCarthy, referring to how Sherrod bounced back from some pass-protection struggles he had in relief of the injured Bulaga against the Seahawks.

“He had a lot work this week, too, because Bryan (had) limited, limited reps,” McCarthy added. “He’s getting better. I feel good about Derek, the direction he’s going.”

But getting Bulaga back in game action this weekend could be a boost for a Packers offensive line that was hit by injuries in the preseason and has been depending on a rookie center at the start of the season.

The Packers have been pleased with the performance of Corey Linsley in the middle of the line after the first two games. Linsley, a fifth-round draft pick from Ohio State, has stepped in for projected starting center JC Tretter, who is out until at least November with a knee injury.

“He’s a bright kid that’s assignment-sure, a guy that works hard,” offensive line coach James Campen said. “From Game 1 to Game 2, he improves.”

Green Bay will need a strong push from Linsley and the others on the line Sunday against a formidable defensive front for the Lions.

Led by talented tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, Detroit held explosive running back Eddie Lacy to 16 rushing yards in its 40-10 rout of the visiting Packers at Ford Field last Thanksgiving. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed the game with a collarbone injury.

So far this season the Packers have struggled to run.

Lacy, the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year last season, rushed for just 34 yards against Seattle before exiting the game in the final quarter with a concussion. He then had 43 rushing yards against the Jets as Green Bay had to rely on the arm of Rodgers to overcome a 21-3 deficit.

“I don’t think we’ve proven anything yet this year in the running game,” right guard T.J. Lang said. “I think we’re not running the ball nearly as well as we hoped we would.”

NOTES: Green Bay’s Micah Hyde is probable to play Sunday. The starting safety suffered a knee injury as he returned a punt in the last game. … McCarthy said Jamari Lattimore will make a second straight start at inside linebacker with Brad Jones (quad) out again. CB Casey Hayward (glute) is questionable. … Placed linebacker Andy Mulumba on injured reserve. Mulumba played in the first two games this season and registered a tackle on special teams.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://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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