Skip to main content

Jeremy Maclin ready to help Eagles

By WTOP Staff

ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A torn ACL hasn’t slowed down Jeremy Maclin.

Less than a year since Maclin had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right knee, the Philadelphia wide receiver is ready to go and eager to play in Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense.

“In some ways, I feel faster,” Maclin said. “It’s a feeling and you can tell looking at tape.”

The Eagles are counting on Maclin to play the way he did before he got hurt. The team released three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson after he had the best year of his career.

Though they drafted two wideouts in early rounds, Maclin is expected to be the go-to target for Nick Foles.

“He looks great,” Foles said. “I can’t tell the difference at all. He’s coming in and out of breaks, getting down field, looking great. He’s working every day to get better. It’s the same Jeremy and that guy wants to get better every day no matter what.”

Maclin hasn’t missed any practices since offseason workouts began on April 21. The Eagles will finish up their mandatory minicamp Thursday before returning to the field for training camp next month.

“As far as all the routes, I’m doing them all,” Maclin said. “We’ve had plays where I’ve had to stretch out, run out and dig a little bit, and I’ve made those plays. I’ve had to jump for balls. I think the next step is just getting tackled.”

A first-round pick in 2009, Maclin was the Eagles’ top receiver in 2012. He led the team with 69 receptions for 857 yards and seven touchdowns that year. Maclin averaged 64 catches, 863 yards and six TDs in his first four seasons, and is one of eight receivers in NFL history to have at least 55 catches and 750 yards in each of his first four years in the league.

Kelly had high hopes for Maclin last year before he went down in practice on July 27. Maclin knew right away because he suffered the same injury at Missouri four years earlier.

“I was really excited about how he would fit into what we do because of what he can do,” Kelly said. “And then to lose him that early in camp was disappointing. You got a taste of him. But having him out there full speed running out there right now, he’s doing a really good job.”

Maclin’s injury allowed Riley Cooper to emerge as the No. 2 receiver. Cooper had a breakout year, setting career highs in receptions (47), yards receiving (835) and touchdowns (eight). He was rewarded with a five-year contract worth $25 million with about $10 million guaranteed.

Maclin also bypassed free agency and signed a one-year deal with the Eagles, passing up a long-term contract to have a chance to prove he deserves bigger bucks.

His knee hasn’t been an issue so far.

“I’ve been getting better each and every day, and I’m really happy with my progress,” Maclin said.

Even without Maclin, the Eagles had an outstanding offense. They set team records for points (442), total net yards (6,676), touchdowns (53), and gross yards passing (4,406) en route to a 10-6 finish and the NFC East title.

Maclin essentially replaces Jackson, but rookies Jordan Matthews (second-round pick) and Josh Huff (third-round pick) will provide more depth at the position.

“I think (Huff) and Jordan have hit it off and really play off each other right now so it’s two good young guys to go together,” Kelly said.

Huff played for Kelly at Oregon so he has more familiarity with the offense.

“It’s still a learning curve for him,” Kelly said. “The one thing that he has that I don’t have the benefit of with Jordan is I understand where Josh came from. So I know the language that he spoke the last couple of years. So I can help him. There’s some similarities but I understand where the terminology gap is going to be for him.”

___

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

___

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote