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Vikings try to overcome disruption at Saints

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — After enduring the fallout from child abuse allegations against star running back Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings first-year coach Mike Zimmer might benefit from visiting an old friend in the football business.

He’ll do so this Sunday when he sees Saints coach Sean Payton in New Orleans, though the timing is far from ideal.

New Orleans (0-2) has lost late leads in each of its first two games and needs a victory in its home opener Sunday in the Superdome, where the Saints haven’t lost once under Payton’s direction since 2010.

So Payton, who worked with Zimmer when both were assistants under Bill Parcells in Dallas, hasn’t exactly gone out of his way to reach out to his former Cowboys colleague.

“No. Shoot no,” Payton said. “Not that we wouldn’t, but no. I am sure just with everything that is going on with him and with us here, a catch-up call is probably the last thing on the priority list.”

Zimmer at least has support from his son, Adam, a Vikings defensive assistant, who is familiar with how the Saints operate.

Payton gave Adam Zimmer his first NFL coaching job in 2006, the year after Payton left Dallas to take his first head coaching job in New Orleans. The younger Zimmer remained on Payton’s staff through the club’s only Super Bowl title in the 2009 season.

The elder Zimmer can only hope his son’s experience with Drew Brees and Co. will help this week. New Orleans may be winless, but the Saints’ offense has lived up to the highly productive standard it has set during the Payton era.

New Orleans ranks third in the NFL in total offense, averaging 434.5 yards per game, and second in scoring with 29 points per game. Saints all-time leading receiver Marques Colston had five catches for 110 yards in Week 1, and when Cleveland shut him down in Week 2, tight end Jimmy Graham had 10 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

So while Zimmer tries to manage Peterson’s indefinite absence and the intense publicity it has brought upon the Vikings (1-1), he’s also trying not to neglect his responsibilities as one of his club’s lead defensive coaches.

“Sean and Drew, Graham and all these guys have a lot of my attention,” Zimmer said. “When I see them on tape, I see a real good football team.”

Here are some things to know about the Vikings’ visit to New Orleans:

DISTRACTION REACTION: Veteran Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway said he and his teammates noticed more television trucks around team headquarters after Peterson and the Vikings agreed that the running back would leave the team indefinitely while resolving his legal trouble. Beyond that, though, Greenway said the Vikings have succeeded in returning to normalcy at practice as quickly as possible. “For us, it’s about coming in and getting the game plan and taking it and putting it to work and communicating,” Greenway said. “Obviously, with the team we’re playing, there’s so many things they do well that we have a lot on our plate.”

INGRAM’S ABSENCE: The Saints’ running game is off to a strong start, averaging better than 156.5 yards. However, their top rusher, Mark Ingram, won’t play this Sunday after having surgery to repair a fractured bone in his hand. That’ll mean more work for veteran running back Pierre Thomas and second-year pro Khiry Robinson.

CASSEL’S CONFIDENCE: Minnesota quarterback Matt Cassel has been inconsistent. He completed 68 percent of his passes with two TD tosses and no interceptions in a Week 1 win over St. Louis, then threw four interceptions in a lopsided loss to New England last Sunday. “The mistakes that hurt us last week and the turnovers I had, I have to eliminate,” Cassel said. “I have to get back to playing like I did in the first game and the preseason in protecting the football and putting ourselves in a better position to win.”

DOME ADVANTAGE: Including the playoffs, the Saints have won their past 17 home games with Payton on the sideline, going 9-0 in 2011 and 8-0 in 2013. In 2012, Payton was suspended in connection with the NFL’s bounty probe. The home crowd often aids the defense, which in the Saints’ case could use the assist after shaky performances in both losses. New Orleans ranks near the bottom of the NFL in yards (446 per game) and points (31.5) allowed.

BACKUP BACKS: With Peterson out, the Vikings could consider less conventional running plays to involve receiver Cordarrelle Patterson in the ground game. He is Minnesota’s leading rusher, thanks to his 102 yards on three carries, including a 67-yard TD, in Minnesota’s opener. Matt Asiata got the bulk of carries last week, rushing 13 times for 39 yards.

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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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