Skip to main content

Packers sign GM Ted Thompson to extension

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — With four NFC North titles and a Super Bowl victory in the past decade, Ted Thompson has had quite a run as Packers general manager.

Thompson sees no reason to stop now, even as retirement age nears. The team announced after practice Wednesday the signing of Thompson to a multiyear contract extension.

“The more you think about it, the more you think how nuts are you that you’d walk away from something like this,” Thompson said. “To get a chance to continue to do that after you put all the chips on the table, there’s very little choice there. I want to be here.”

Terms of the deal were not announced. Thompson didn’t comment on the specifics, either.

“No. I’m not a very specific guy,” he said when asked if could be more specific about his contract, drawing laughs from reporters.

Extending coach Mike McCarthy’s contract appears to be the next decision.

Both the general manager and coach last signed extensions in 2011, within about a month after the Packers won the Super Bowl.

“Big priority. It’s been the plan the whole time,” Thompson said about an extension for McCarthy. “The way the organization is set up … it’s the way it’s always been done here. The general manager kind of gets put away and then you do the head coach.”

Thompson, 61, took over in 2005; McCarthy was hired in January 2006.

“We anticipate each other’s thoughts often, which might drive both of us crazy sometimes, but I think it’s working well and has worked well,” Thompson said.

Thompson missed the NFL meetings in March for a personal matter. He appeared energized last week in addressing the annual Packers shareholders meeting.

He might make a few more short trips home to go see family in his home state of Texas, though Thompson had no plans to delegate authority. He professed a continued love for scouting.

Thompson doesn’t have a timeline for how much longer he wants to work.

“His outstanding work has been the key factor in the success that we’ve enjoyed in recent years,” team president Mark Murphy.

Thompson’s deal is the second high-profile extension announced by the club in the opening week of camp, following the deal signed by top receiver Jordy Nelson on Saturday.

They are among the highlights of what has been a smooth start to camp so far — though both McCarthy and Thompson bristled slightly when asked about the lack of distractions.

“That’s me knocking on wood because you said something like that, jinxing it,” said Thompson after knocking on the podium. “You never talk about your good fortunes.”

Also:

IN AND OUT: Starting safety Morgan Burnett sat out some of practice Wednesday with what McCarthy called a “tweaked” ankle, though the injury didn’t appear serious. Burnett remained on the sideline while Micah Hyde and first-round draft pick Ha Ha Clinton-Dix got a few looks with the first team as the safety duo in red zone drills.

Linebacker-defensive end Mike Neal practiced for the first time after watching the first few days with an abdominal injury. Inside linebacker Jamari Lattimore also returned after sitting out a few days because of illness. Guard T.J. Lang (shoulder) took part in position drills.

IN THE HOUSE: McCarthy singled out fourth-year cornerback Davon House’s start to camp. He is part of what is looking like a deep position group in the secondary, especially with Casey Hayward at full speed from a hamstring injury that limited him last season. Sam Shields and Tramon Williams are the starting corners.

RED ZONE: Nelson caught a couple of touchdowns during two-minute drill practice, including one from a scrambling Aaron Rodgers around the right edge that had the pass rushing Julius Peppers yell out in frustration. “The biggest thing when you get out there in two minutes is that you’re a little ahead of the game because we’ve been going no-huddle since Day 1, so a lot the mechanics” carry over, McCarthy said.

___

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

___

Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

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