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Giants-Eagles matchup sparks bitterness, animosity

By WTOP Staff

ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer

Antrel Rolle says Philadelphia won a weak division last year.

The Eagles say that’s more of a knock on the Giants and other teams in the NFC East.

The trash-talking will be settled on the field Sunday night when the Eagles (4-1) host the rival Giants (3-2) at Lincoln Financial Field.

“Obviously they were the best team in our division last year,” Rolle said. “They finished 10-6. That’s an awesome record for any team in the NFL. I said what I said. Division was weak, in my opinion. That doesn’t discredit Philly under any means. If they want to take it that way, then so be it.”

LeSean McCoy, who used to engage in verbal jousting with former Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, didn’t want to this week.

The All-Pro running back is too busy trying to figure out how he went from NFL rushing champion to averaging 2.9 yards per carry.

“I didn’t hear too much about what they’ve been saying,” McCoy said. “Antrel has talked a lot over the years, but he’s a good player. I’m confident with my group. We’re 4-1. We’re doing something right. We’ll see Sunday night.”

Playing this game in the prime-time spotlight only magnifies the rivalry between the teams.

“Definitely no love lost,” Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka. “It is what you live to play for when you are a little kid. These are the games that you want to be involved in because you know they are going to be remembered. Not just for a year or two, but remember them for years to come.”

Here are other things to watch for Sunday:

GOING DEEP: Nick Foles has struggled to complete passes of more than 20 yards, going 6 for 31 for 195 yards, four TDs and four interceptions.

Last year, Foles was 19 for 43 for 692 yards, 10 TDs and only one pick on similar throws. Foles has been working behind a makeshift offensive line that’s missing two starters after one returned last week. But the biggest difference is the absence of three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who was released in the offseason.

“I’m going to continue to give our guys an opportunity,” Foles said. “We can’t be afraid to throw the deep ball. I’m not afraid of throwing the deep ball. I’ve always liked throwing the deep ball. I’ve always liked letting loose. You can’t let the start of a season not being good at it, scare you away from it.”

BIG BLUE DEFENSE: While Eli Manning and the offense are clicking, New York’s defense has been solid during its three-game winning streak. The Giants have forced 10 turnovers in the past three games and allowed an average of 17 points. They held the league’s top-ranked offense to just 15 percent conversions on third down last week in a 30-20 win over Atlanta.

“We’re playing more together, we’re playing fast, guys are hustling to the ball a lot more,” Rolle said. “Even when there are mistakes, guys are going 100 percent, so it’s not as noticeable.”

CORNER SWITCH: Eagles defensive coordinator Billy Davis insists starting cornerbacks Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher aren’t to blame for the team having the 29th ranked pass defense a year after allowing the fifth-most yards passing in league history. Davis has no plans to move nickel cornerback Brandon Boykin outside or bench either starter for Nolan Carroll.

“I can break down every play that they had and tell you multiple other people that had a breakdown on that play,” Davis said. “So over and over again, you look at a series of events on a play that hurt us that led to it, but not one individual player. I have complete confidence in our corners, I really do. And I watch every play of every snap of practice, obviously, and I know everybody wants to pin it on them, but I’m telling you, that’s not where the issue is all the time.”

RUNNING BACK SHUFFLE: Rookie fourth-round draft choice Andre Williams replaces the injured Rashad Jennings for the Giants. Jennings was fourth in the NFL with 396 yards rushing before hurting his knee. Williams ran for 65 yards against the Falcons, including a 3-yard TD that sparked a comeback.

“I’m very excited,” Williams said. “It’s going to be my first start. I don’t think I have to do anything differently. I think it’s going to be a good chance to get lathered up early in the game, rather than later.”

ROOKIE RECEIVERS: Odell Beckham Jr., the Giants’ first-round pick, returned from a hamstring injury to make his NFL debut last week and caught the go-ahead TD vs. the Falcons. Jordan Matthews, a second-round pick, has fit nicely into Philadelphia’s offense as the starting slot receiver. He has 19 catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns.

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

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi

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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