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DL big priority for Cowboys, but not only need

By WTOP Staff

SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys didn’t draft a defensive lineman last year even though they were switching to a scheme that required one more.

Executive vice president Stephen Jones kept calling it a “position of strength,” a claim the son of owner and general manager Jerry Jones can’t make now that the Dallas has released franchise sacks leader DeMarcus Ware. And even though the Cowboys added several free agents to their front four, the search is on for their next elite pass rusher.

Dallas has plenty of other needs after a third straight 8-8 season and a fourth consecutive year without the playoffs. The Cowboys have the 16th pick Thursday night.

“I think where you get in trouble is, if you’re drafting 16 … and your 24th-ranked player is a defensive lineman, and you pass over eight players to get to that defensive lineman, I think you make a mistake,” NFL.com draft analyst and former Dallas player personnel director Gil Brandt said in an interview for the team’s website. “I just think you have to take the best player available and build your team from that.”

The biggest problem with the Cowboys saying they thought they were set up front a year ago was them knowing nose tackle Jay Ratliff was injured and disgruntled, refusing to use the team’s medical staff in his rehabilitation.

Now Ratliff is in Chicago after his midseason release without playing for Dallas last year, Ware is in Denver as a cost-saving move, and 2013 sacks leader Jason Hatcher has moved on to Washington.

The Cowboys did re-sign Anthony Spencer on a scaled-back one-year deal after keeping him under the franchise tag for two straight seasons. He only played one game last year because of a left knee injury.

Dallas also added defensive tackle Henry Melton, a starter in Chicago before injuring a knee last year, and journeymen Jeremy Mincey and Terrell McClain.

Five things to know about the Cowboys going into the draft:

MOVING UP OR DOWN: Dallas has done each the past two years. The Cowboys moved up eight spots to grab cornerback Morris Claiborne at No. 6 in 2012, a pick getting dangerously close to becoming a bust if the former LSU player doesn’t have a productive season this year. They went down 13 spots last year to get center Travis Frederick with the 31st pick. While Dallas was criticized for not getting more from San Francisco in the trade of picks, Frederick was a starter from the first day of rookie camp and by all accounts had a solid debut.

ROMO’S REPLACEMENT: This question will get more prominent every year, particularly with 34-year-old Tony Romo coming off two back surgeries. Barring setbacks or major injuries, Romo is the starter at least for two more years. His contract basically dictates that. But the Cowboys are closer to life after Romo, and there’s a persistent theory that former Texas A&M star Johnny Manziel’s stock is falling enough that he might be around when Dallas picks.

Brandt’s been here before with the Cowboys, who drafted Craig Morton with the fifth pick in 1965 despite Don Meredith being the incumbent. “We just thought that Morton had a chance to be our Manziel, and be the future of this team,” Brandt said.

WHAT ABOUT SEAN LEE: Linebacker isn’t a dire need for Dallas as long as Sean Lee stays healthy. But if they consider the fact that he’s missed nearly half the games the past two seasons with injuries, the Cowboys will have to make sure reinforcements are in place. They took DeVonte Holloman in the sixth round last year, and he showed some promise.

SAFETY NET: Barry Church is entrenched at strong safety, and he was good enough last year that they actually played him in a linebacker role when injuries decimated that unit. The Cowboys think they have a starting free safety in J.J. Wilcox, a third-round pick last year, but they might be hedging their bets — and possibly in the first round.

BUNDLE OF PICKS: The Cowboys have six picks in the seventh round because of compensation for free-agent losses from last year. With the loss of their sixth-round pick in a trade that brought defensive end Edgar Jones last year, Dallas goes into the draft with 11 selections.

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

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Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler

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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