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Cassel, Fusco finished for season with Vikings

By WTOP Staff

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel will miss the season with broken bones in his left foot, and right guard Brandon Fusco will also be out for the rest of the year because of a pectoral muscle injury.

The Vikings placed Cassel and Fusco on injured reserve Wednesday. Both players were hurt Sunday at New Orleans.

“You work so hard in the offseason to give yourself an opportunity to go out there and play, and then to have it happen this early in the season, especially with the belief that I have in this team, the thoughts of going on and having a lot of success this year, and for it to happen this early is super devastating to me,” Cassel said.

“At the same time, now all your focus goes into your rehab and getting better and trying to get back on the field.”

Teams have the option of placing one player on injured reserve with the intent to bring him back to practice after six weeks and to play in games after eight, but they saved that designation for now.

Cassel was replaced by rookie Teddy Bridgewater, and Christian Ponder will be the backup moving forward. Vladimir Ducasse filled in for Fusco.

Coach Mike Zimmer said the team considered using that designation for tight end Kyle Rudolph, who had surgery to repair a sports hernia on Tuesday.

But the initial prognosis after surgery is a little more promising and Zimmer said the team believes Rudolph could be ready to go sooner than the eight weeks he would be required if he was on injured reserve.

“We’re anticipating that it’s not going to be that long,” Zimmer said.

Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson and tight end Ryan Otten were signed to the practice squad. Tight end Chase Ford and offensive lineman Austin Wentworth were elevated from the practice squad to the active roster.

Linebacker Chad Greenway also played in New Orleans with a broken left hand and aggravated a rib injury during the game. His status for this Sunday against Atlanta is uncertain, meaning the Vikings could be without five starters from their lineup in the season opener.

Running back Adrian Peterson remains on paid leave while a child abuse charge against him in Texas is pending.

Cassel was re-signed to start in front of Bridgewater, and now the first-round draft pick from Louisville has had his development accelerated. The 32-year-old Cassel completed 41 of 71 passes for three touchdowns and four interceptions and 425 yards in three games.

“I think Teddy will do a tremendous job for us and hopefully I can help him in a mentoring position and be able to help guide him and bring him along,” Cassel said.

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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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