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Safety, LB could be early targets for Packers

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The prospect with that impressive 40-yard dash time might look good in green and gold. He may not be the best fit in a certain round for the Green Bay Packers.

In those instances, general manager Ted Thompson has plenty of voices in the room on draft day to remind him of the team’s philosophy. If that player happens to fill a hole, all the better for Thompson.

“Even in the draft, during the draft itself, sometimes if we need to pat ourselves on the back, we’ll repeat it,” Thompson said before offering the phrase “Let’s just take the best player.”

“I have people remind me and whisper in my ear.”

For the most part, things have worked out nicely in Green Bay under Thompson in spite of pleas from some fans to be more aggressive in free agency.

A victory over Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl in 2011. Three straight division titles, the last one in 2013 coming after overcoming a slew of injuries. Thompson’s first draft pick as general manager — Aaron Rodgers in 2005 — is one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

With Rodgers around and coach Mike McCarthy calling the shots, the offense should always be in good hands. The addition of bruising running back Eddie Lacy last year added balance, though Green Bay could bolster tight end and the offensive line in this draft.

It’s on defense — again — where the Packers need the most help after an 8-7-1 regular season.

“We need more impact players. We need more players making plays on defense,” McCarthy said in January following a 23-20 loss to San Francisco in an NFC wild-card game. “I feel that those guys are here, but do we have more coming in?”

Thompson did add Julius Peppers in free agency for a high-profile complement to Clay Matthews in the pass rush. Matthews is recovering from a thumb injury.

Here are five areas Green Bay could target in this week’s draft:

SAFETY: Of the Packers’ 11 interceptions last season, none came from a safety. That likely weighed on McCarthy in thinking about adding defensive impact players. Morgan Burnett had 93 tackles in 13 games, but didn’t quite live up to the billing that came with his offseason contract extension. Disappointing M.D. Jennings signed with the Bears.

Thompson, as usual, has offered no clues which way he might be leaning with his first-round pick at No. 21. Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Louisville’s Calvin Pryor could be good first-round fits if available.

“It certainly gives you, as a defensive coordinator, more flexibility if you have more versatile-type guys,” Thompson said. “At the end of the day, you just try to take the best player.”

LINEBACKER: The signing of defensive end/linebacker hybrid Peppers and the re-signing of Mike Neal adds certainty on the outside, and the Packers hope Matthews returns at full strength. Inside, A.J Hawk had a team-high 118 tackles and five sacks in perhaps the best season of his eight-year tenure.

But this position, too, could use a playmaker, especially with Hawk in the latter stages of his career. Alabama’s C.J. Mosley and Ohio State’s Ryan Shazier could be first-round picks, or in-state product Chris Borland from Wisconsin would be a crowd-pleasing selection on Day 2.

TIGHT END: A spinal cord injury knocked Jermichael Finley out for the season in October. He’s a free agent, and Finley’s readiness remains a question. The Packers re-signed Andrew Quarless, though Thompson could turn to Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro and Washington’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins early in the draft. It appears that North Carolina’s Eric Ebron won’t be around by the time Green Bay is up in the first round.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Evan Dietrich-Smith’s departure for Tampa Bay means the Packers will have their fourth different starting center in four seasons. McCarthy could slide over guard T.J. Lang or go with 2013 fourth-round pick J.C. Tretter. But with backup tackle Marshall Newhouse also leaving (to Cincinnati), Green Bay could replenish depth to help with the most important task of all in Titletown: keeping Rodgers healthy.

WIDE RECEIVER: Reliable James Jones left as a free agent for Oakland. Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb are still around, and Jarrett Boykin stepped up nicely when Cobb was injured. Still, it never hurts to give Rodgers more weapons, and the Packers may want to replenish receiver depth on the second or third days of the draft. The contracts of Nelson and Cobb are due to expire in 2015.

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

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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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