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Haden looks to rebound after slow start

By WTOP Staff

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — For the first time in his career, Browns Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden is facing questions about his play on the field.

“I’m one of my biggest critics and I know that I haven’t been playing up to my ability,” Haden said. “I’m down, I feel like I could play better. I know I could play better.”

The latest example: In Cleveland’s 23-21 loss on Sunday to the Ravens, Haden allowed a 32-yard catch by veteran wide receiver Steve Smith late in the fourth quarter, setting up Baltimore’s game-winning field goal.

“It was unfortunate that it happened because we’re in a bottom-line business,” Browns coach Mike Pettine said. “Joe, for the most part throughout the game, played very well.”

“That’s life in the NFL.”

And cornerback is one of the most bottom-line positions in the sport.

Either you make the right play or you make a wide receiver look great.

“Being in man-to-man press, you’ve got to be ready for the ball to come at you at all times,” Haden said. “You can play linebacker and miss a gap a little bit. You can play D-tackle and get moved out of your gap. You’re at corner, every single play matters.”

And when you’re considered one of the best corners in the league, any mistakes you make are amplified.

But Haden has already faced some of the top receivers this season.

In addition to Smith’s 101-yard day last week, the Steelers’ Antonio Brown had 116 yards and a score against the Browns in Week 1. And Saints tight end Jimmy Graham scored on Haden in Week 2.

If Haden, in his fifth season, is going to remain one of the best corners in the league, he’ll have to play his best in the key moments of games.

“He’s played well at times, but as you can see, at some inopportune times he’s not played well,” Pettine said. “I think he’ll admit that as well. That’s what we talk about. The great ones are going to make big plays when it’s needed, and I think that’s one area where Joe will look to improve.”

Haden echoes his coach’s sentiment, and trusts things will turn around.

“I want to be great,” he said. “I just need to keep working hard and those plays are going to come. It’s nothing mysterious that I need to do differently.”

But with Haden, there is a greater degree of accountability that takes place.

“We hold him accountable, but to say he’s not playing like everybody thinks he should, I don’t want to say that just yet,” secondary coach Jeff Hafley said. “I think he’s doing some really, really good things, but we’ve got to hold him accountable.”

“He’s in for 69 snaps. For 64 plays, he’s taking away the best receiver on the other team. What everybody’s seeing is three balls caught here and there. Unfortunately, they haven’t been in very good times.”

Still, the Browns are just three games into the season, and they’ve also had to contend with three Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks right off the bat.

Despite the slow start, Haden isn’t about to let it change who he is as a player.

“I’m not panicking. I know my ability and I trust in my ability.”

NOTES: QB Connor Shaw (illness) wasn’t at practice Wednesday. … Craig Robertson missed practice for the birth of his child. … Pettine said there are no immediate plans to move on from long snapper Christian Yount, though the situation is still being evaluated. … Wide receivers coach Mike McDaniel spoke with reporters after practice, saying he talks to suspended WR Josh Gordon often. “He does want to be great. He truly does,” McDaniel said. “I’m just supportive of the stuff that he’s going through and the stuff he’s learning because he’s just learning on the fly how to be an adult and an NFL player within the confines of our league.”

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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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