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Patriots Revis likely to face Bills rookie Watkins

By WTOP Staff

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Another week. Another tough matchup for Darrelle Revis.

The New England cornerback, who has been lining up against the opposition’s top receiver in five games with his new team, wouldn’t commit to doing it again Sunday against Buffalo rookie Sammy Watkins.

“I can’t tell you the game plan, buddy,” said a laughing Revis on Friday before traveling to Buffalo. “I’m looking forward to the game on Sunday. I’m looking for us to go up there and win –that’s the main goal.

“Whatever my assignment is, it is. I just gotta go out there and play and compete.”

The Patriots and Bills come into this game tied for first place in the AFC East at 3-2.

Watkins, who has caught 24 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns in his first season out of Clemson, said this week he’s expecting to see No. 24 in his face on Sunday.

“We actually found he’s going to be following me around the field, so I’m going to have to be prepared for his jams,” Watkins said. “He’s very smart. I have to be very competitive and smart off the ball.”

Asked about the comment, Revis said Friday, “I don’t know what he heard or what he’s been told — it don’t matter to me.”

In his matchup with Cincinnati’s A.J. Green last Sunday, Revis had five passes, one for a touchdown, caught against him for 81 yards. But he also jarred the ball loose from Green after one of the catches, leading to one of the Patriots’ three fumble recoveries in the game.

He said Green and Watkins are “two different players,” but the goal remains the same, and turnovers are part of that goal. The Patriots have 11 takeaways in five games; the opposition has five.

“The coach has been emphasizing to us to make turnovers,” said Revis, who has one interception this season. “I think that’s been the goal since the offseason, since Day 1 when we came here. Guys have been really focusing on disruption drills and just been focusing more on attacking the ball more on defense.

“We’ve believe in turnovers and we believe we have the players to make big plays and make turnovers.”

Revis went after the ball against Green.

“He catches the ball in front of you and he has his back turned, so at that point in time right there the ball carrier doesn’t know somebody’s probably behind him, and that’s when you can kind of do something and try to turn over the ball,” he said.

As for Watkins, Revis calls him “very talented. Actually I’m a big fan of watching him when he was at Clemson. He’s a very explosive receiver. He can run all the routes. He can make all the tough catches. It’s going to be fun.”

The Patriots are 1-2 on the road, surrendering 74 points in the two road losses, 41 in an embarrassment at Kansas City Sept. 29.

They are 3-7 in their last 10 road games, counting last season’s playoff loss at Denver.

Quarterback Tom Brady is 22-2 lifetime against the Bills, but the two losses, in 2003 and ’11, came in Buffalo, where the Patriots have won the last two years.

“Through the years, having experienced away games, they’re always tough,” Revis said. “One thing you want to do is jump on a team fast . make plays and take the momentum away. The home team always has the advantage of having the momentum and you gotta go in there and take that away as quickly as possible.”

NOTES: Cornerback Brandon Browner, activated this week after serving a four-game league drug suspension and missing last week’s game, is bothered by an ankle problem and difficulty picking up the Patriots’ defensive schemes. He was one of four players not at practice on Friday. … Wide receiver Brian Tyms, also coming back from NFL suspension, is listed on this week’s depth chart. … The Patriots next three games are at home, starting Thursday against the New York Jets.

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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