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QB competition? Vikings not naming starter now

By WTOP Staff

DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Pro Football Writer

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings brought back veteran Matt Cassel back to be the bridge to the quarterback they were bound to draft this year, and they mapped out the future by trading into the end of the first round to pick Teddy Bridgewater.

Retaining Cassel on a two-year contract has allowed the Vikings the opportunity to be patient with their latest project, but coach Mike Zimmer made clear this week, publicly at least, that the starter won’t be determined until training camp. Bridgewater has said he’d be fine being the backup as a rookie. If he took the job right from the beginning of his career, though, that wouldn’t be such a surprise.

“I want to give everybody an opportunity and make sure it’s a legitimate opportunity for all of them,” Zimmer said, including Christian Ponder in that plan.

Cassel has taken most of the turns with the first team offense this spring, but Bridgewater has been in there a lot, too.

“The thing I want to guard against most is rushing into a decision,” Zimmer said, adding: “That’s really in regards to all of the positions, not just the quarterback position.”

Declaring every spot on the team unsettled is one of the purest forms of coach speak, with the motivation of maximum effort always behind such proclamations. When a mid-June minicamp is the setting, though, Zimmer or any other of his peers would be foolish to truly pick a starter prior to the grind of two-a-day practices and preseason games that offer a greater window into ability, fortitude and growth.

“We’ve got time,” Zimmer said.

The Vikings report to training camp July 24.

“That’s all you ever ask for, just a chance to compete,” Bridgewater said Wednesday. “This coaching staff has done a great job of just allowing all the quarterbacks to just compete over these past six weeks.”

The time from the draft to the end of organized offseason practices has been a whirlwind for many a rookie, but Bridgewater hasn’t budged in expression of understated confidence in his grasp of the complex, deep playbook being thrown at him. There have been a lot of NFL quarterbacks who didn’t translate a command of the offense into success on Sundays when the crowd is loud and the blitz is constantly coming at them, but this is an important first step for Bridgewater.

“It’s amazing that I’ve been able to learn so much in the six weeks that I’ve been here. I’ve just been gaining that confidence every day. Just feeling really comfortable right now and knowing that I still have room for improvement and a long way to go to be where I want to be,” Bridgewater said, adding: “It hasn’t been overwhelming at all.”

Footwork has been a primary focus this spring. Recalibrating his anticipation and timing in terms of identifying and targeting open receivers from college to NFL speed has been the biggest challenge, but Bridgewater said he’s taught himself how to breathe in a way that slows the action in front of him to a workable pace.

He has tried to take advantage of all opportunities to enhance his development, even using football video games to use as “virtual reps” to further envision the art of dropping into the pocket, scanning the field and releasing the ball.

“He does a great job of picking up the system,” Cassel said.

Whether he’s bound to be a backup or the starter come September, that’s a decision for another day.

“We have enough going on,” Cassel said, dismissing the notion of worrying about the depth chart at this point in the year.

“That’s where our concentration lies, and if it’s on anything else then it’s foolish.”

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Online:

AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org

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Dave Campbell on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DaveCampbellAP

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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