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Michael Floyd emerging as big threat for Cardinals

By WTOP Staff

BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — There’s a big, talented receiver for the Arizona Cardinals whose name is not Larry Fitzgerald.

Michael Floyd, entering his third season, has emerged as a major target for quarterback Carson Palmer.

Fitzgerald caught more passes last year, 82 to Floyd’s 65. But Floyd’s catches covered 1,041 yards to Fitzgerald’s 954.

Floyd was the ninth Cardinal to reach 1,000 yards receiving. Fitzgerald has done it six times.

Some have even suggested Floyd is supplanting Fitzgerald as the team’s No. 1 receiver. Fitzgerald, who had always played wideout, was shifted into the slot by new coach Bruce Arians, with Floyd split wide.

But there certainly is no animosity.

The two, who grew up some 10 miles apart in Minnesota, are good friends. Floyd is a regular at Fitzgerald’s summer training camp.

And Floyd said no one is considered the No. 1 receiver.

“There’s not no 1, there’s not no 2 in our group,” he said. “There are some plays that are recommended for a certain individual, and without that second guy, that guy won’t be open. So we all work together for the same common goal, and that’s to win ballgames.”

Whatever the ranking, the 6-foot-3 Fitzgerald and 6-foot-2 Floyd make a formidable pair.

That’s what the Cardinals envisioned when they made Floyd the 13th player selected in 2012. There hadn’t been a Notre Dame wide receiver drafted in the first round since Tim Brown was chosen sixth in 1988.

His first year, with Arizona going through severe quarterback woes, was disappointing until Floyd caught eight passes for 166 yards and a touchdown in the season finale against San Francisco.

It was a preview of things to come.

Last season against Jacksonville, he broke free for a 91-yard touchdown catch. He finished with 193 yards, ranking seventh in franchise history and the most since Anquan Boldin had 217 yards against Detroit in 2003.

In Arizona’s late-season 17-10 win at Seattle, he made a spectacular 31-yard catch for the game-winning touchdown.

And Floyd is only 24.

“Mike’s a young guy,” Carson Palmer said. “It doesn’t seem like it because of his maturity. … He can do just about everything because he’s quick enough. He’s a big, physical guy but he plays quick, he plays small as far as releases and getting off the ball.”

Floyd slimmed down since his rookie season to 220 pounds, and it’s mostly muscle. When the Cardinals went deep with the offense, it was usually to Floyd last season.

Arians said Floyd “just matured a little bit” from his rookie year to his second.

“Sometimes as a rookie, you don’t know how to be a pro,” Arians said, “and you learn from a guy like Larry how to be a pro. Then you’re ability takes over, and that’s pretty much where he’s at. He’s just going to climb.”

A 1,000-yard receiving season did wonders for Floyd’s confidence.

“It builds it tremendously,” he said. “I’m glad my quarterback has a lot of confidence in me, knowing that I can make plays on the ball and make plays for him, even though he might be in a jam sometimes. I feel good, we all feel good and we’re ready to get this thing rolling.”

___

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

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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