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Bucs conclude steamy minicamp with frozen treats

By WTOP Staff

FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Offensive tackle Anthony Collins sprinted toward the shaved ice truck parked next to the practice field, arriving just ahead of running back Doug Martin and a bunch of other Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The team finished a three-day mandatory minicamp in the hot Florida sun on Thursday, with interested players snacking on frozen treats courtesy of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.

Next up is a six-week break before the start of their first training camp under coach Lovie Smith, who declared an offseason of reshaping the roster and installing new offensive and defensive systems a resounding success.

“We like the team. We like the way they’ve come to work every day for voluntary work. We like the way they came to work this week for the mandatory work,” Smith said. “Everybody’s here. We left on a high note. And how often do you get to finish with a sno-cone?”

Smith wasn’t the only person smiling.

The Bucs signed two more draft picks, with first-rounder Mike Evans agreeing to a four-year deal worth more than $14 million, with a club option for a fifth season. Third-round selection Charles Sims also reached terms, leaving second-round pick Austin Seferian-Jenkins as the club’s only unsigned rookie.

“It’s just a blessing, man,” Evans said. “I’ve never seen that many zeroes. It’s pretty tight … a dream come true.”

The 6-foot-5, 231-pound receiver from Texas A&M was the seventh overall pick in the draft and is being counted on to become an immediate starter for a unit that ranked last in the NFL in total offense last season.

Evans was Johnny Manziel favorite target in college, finishing with 151 receptions for 2,499 yards and 17 touchdowns in 26 games. He notched the two highest single-game receiving performances in Texas A&M history with a 287-yard outing against Auburn and 279-yard day against Alabama.

After making quite an offseason during rookie minicamp and some early OTA sessions, Evans was held out of drills this week because of a hamstring strain that he expects to heal before the start of training camp on July 25.

“I was just getting a lot of mental reps, doing walk-throughs and stuff like that,” Evans said, adding that getting contract negotiations out of the way was a “big relief.”

“I’m already a part of the team,” he said. “It feels good to have it on paper.”

Smith encouraged players to get away from football and enjoy themselves “because we have a long haul coming up, beginning with donning pads for the first time in training camp.

“We’re where we need to be, I think, right now. I think we’re going to be a good football team,” the coach said. “But the next part of the evaluation, seeing the players in pads, is pretty important.”

McCoy was happy to give his teammates a head-start of enjoying their time off.

“These are my brothers, this is my family. We’ve been working hard since April, we’re all about to go on break,” McCoy said. “I figure it’s hot out here, I’ll do something nice for my family.”

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

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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