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Jokes aside, Brees grateful for NFL longevity

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Drew Brees has been joking about retirement lately on national television.

For now, it’s just part of a fictional advertising campaign for an open-air, three-wheel vehicle which Brees’ football contract forbids him from riding.

The truth is, even as Brees enters his 14th NFL season at the age of 35, he plans to play well beyond the three seasons left on his current deal with New Orleans.

“I joke about retirement, but I’m not naive,” Brees said this week while doing promotional work for the Can-Am Spyder. “I’ve played 13 years and it’s gone by so fast. Each and every year, it’s just like, ‘Wow, I made it through another year.’

Coming off three straight seasons with 5,000-plus yards passing, there’s no sign of decline yet.

“Do I hope I can play into my 40s? Yes, I do. As long as I’m healthy and playing at a high level, then why not?” Brees added. “I certainly don’t take it for granted and know that obviously you’ve got to prove yourself every year.”

This season, he’ll have to prove himself without two players who helped him set a slew of franchise and NFL passing records during the past few seasons: running back Darren Sproles, who was traded to Philadelphia, and receiver Lance Moore, who was released and since signed by Pittsburgh.

Brees is eager to see how New Orleans’ offense evolves and figures first-round draft pick Brandin Cooks will play a significant part in that process.

“There’s no doubt he’s a guy who has the ability to be a big contributor for us on offense this year,” Brees said.

It would be a mistake to view Cooks as a replacement for Sproles, Brees said, because they play different positions. Still, Brees sees similarities.

“They’re both kind of smaller guys but extremely quick, versatile, matchup problems,” Brees said.

“Then you lose a guy like Lance Moore who could play outside and inside,” Brees continued. “Cooks is a guy who can play outside and inside, so maybe there’s a correlation there. Again, you lose a versatile guy and you get a versatile guy.”

Cooks took part in Saints rookie camp last weekend but then returned to Oregon State to finish out the school year. Brees won’t get to work with him for another month or so.

“Now it’s just a matter of us spending time together, just like I had with Lance and Sproles, to develop that rapport and kind of see how he works himself into the offense,” Brees said.

One aspect of the offense Brees does not expect to change is the production of Jimmy Graham, regardless of the tight end’s current hold out for a contract extension. Brees went through a similar episode in 2012, when he, like Graham now, was designated as the Saints’ franchise player, blocking him from free agency while saddling him with an unsatisfactory one-year deal.

Brees ultimately signed a five-year, $100 million deal shortly before a mid-July deadline to reach an extension. Brees accepted that protracted period of limbo as part of the business of the NFL and has little doubt Graham does as well.

“I really haven’t thought twice about it. I know this is part of the deal,” Brees said of Graham’s holdout. “This is the process sometimes. We text pretty often, actually, and a lot of times just as friends, really nothing to do with football.”

Graham’s current franchise tag would pay him $7 million, but the NFL Players Association has filed a grievance on Graham’s behalf which states he should receive a wide receiver tag worth $12.3 million because he most often lined up split out from the offensive line last season. An arbitration hearing is scheduled to start on June 17, unless a long-term extension is reached before then.

“I know he wants to be (at offseason workouts and practices) with us, just like me two years ago,” Brees said. “The big thing is, don’t take it personal and this will happen in due time — hopefully sooner than later so we can get some time together before the season.”

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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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