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Devin Hester happy after bitter parting with Bears

By WTOP Staff

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — Devin Hester danced around the question, knowing that everyone wonders what he thinks — really thinks — about former teammate Jay Cutler.

Hester prefers to keep the focus on who he’s playing with now.

That has worked out just fine.

After eight seasons in Chicago, Hester will be lining up against the Bears on Sunday when they face the Atlanta Falcons in a crucial game for up-and-down teams.

“Sometimes things are meant for a new start,” Hester said. “Kind of like a relationship. Sometimes you might be fortunate when the relationship is not meant (to be) and you just move on. That’s the situation I’m now in. I’m in a relationship where I’m happy now.”

Hester has been just what the Falcons (2-3) were looking for when they signed him as a free agent, providing a boost to the return game and an intriguing option when he lines up at receiver alongside Julio Jones and Roddy White.

The 32-year-old Hester already has 14 catches for 212 yards and a touchdown, a 20-yard scoring run, and one of those plays he’s best known for — a 62-yard punt return that broke the record he shared with Deion Sanders for most career TD returns.

That is quite a contrast from Hester’s final season in Chicago, when he didn’t have any catches at all.

“I’m pretty much the same guy. I would say just more opportunities for me,” Hester said, being as diplomatic as possible. “You know if you get me out in space, I can do damage. It’s a no-brainer.”

He declined to take a shot at Cutler, quarterback of the Bears (2-3), even though it’s clear the two were not on the same page by the end of Hester’s run in the Windy City.

Besides, Hester’s glowing review of Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan was telling enough.

“The chemistry is great,” Hester said. “Being around him, I’m just happy here.”

Cutler wouldn’t talk about his falling-out with Hester, but did give a backhanded compliment when asked what it would mean to see him wearing a different uniform.

“I wouldn’t say I’m excited,” Cutler said. “He’s a heck of a football player. We want to keep the ball out of his hands. I’d rather not see him fielding kicks and see him catching Matt Ryan’s passes.”

Hester has been dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him out of practice this week, but he’ll surely do anything to be on the field Sunday.

“He’s going to be ready,” Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant said. “He’s been a great addition to our team, and I know they miss him over there. We’re glad to have him.”

Here are some other things to keep an eye on when the Bears visit Atlanta:

UNLEASHING ANTONE: It might be time for the Falcons to give third-string running back Antone Smith more playing time. He seems to come up with a dynamic play every time he touches the ball, most recently taking a pass 74 yards for a touchdown against the Giants. He also had a 54-yard touchdown off a short pass and scoring runs of 38 and 48 yards. Only 5-foot-9 and 192 pounds, Smith has an astonishing burst of speed when he gets room to run.

NOT-SO SPECIAL TEAMS: The Bears consistently ranked as one of the league’s best on special teams under former assistant Dave Toub. Not anymore. That phase of the game has been in decline the past two seasons under current special teams coach Joe DeCamillis. Chicago has been unable to find anyone who comes close to replacing Hester, and the Bears have really struggled on kickoff returns, ranking 26th in the league. “It’s frustrating,” DeCamillis said. “We’ve just got to keep working at it.”

MATTY JEKYLL, MATTY HYDE: Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has been virtually unstoppable in two games at the Georgia Dome, completing 52 of 67 passes (77.6 percent) for 734 yards, with six touchdowns and no interceptions. The Bears will be looking to force him into a performance more in line with what he’s done on the road (60 percent completions, six TDs, five interceptions). “Certainly when we get back at home, that’s a good thing for us,” Ryan said. “We want to be tough and defend the Dome every chance we get.”

SECOND-HALF WOES: The Bears have struggled mightily in the second half the past two weeks, getting outscored by a cumulative 34-3 in losses to Green Bay and Carolina. “We’ve been up and down,” Cutler said. “We’ve just got to get a little more consistency. We’ve had some turnovers, and penalties hurt us in the Carolina game.”

FALCONS O-LINE: The guys up front remain a major question mark for Atlanta, which has lost three offensive linemen to season-ending injuries. Left guard Justin Blalock may be able to return after missing last week’s game with a back injury. Harland Gunn came off the practice squad to fill in for Blalock, giving up a sack on a crucial fourth down play deep in Falcons’ territory to set up the Giants’ game-clinching field goal.

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AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

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AP Sports Writer Andrew Seligman in Chicago contributed to this report.

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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