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Bergstrom adding center to his resume

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL WAGAMAN
Associated Press

NAPA, Calif. (AP) — Tony Bergstrom already has a place in Oakland Raiders history as the first draft pick of the post-Al Davis era.

What the 315-pound offensive lineman would prefer is a starting job on the offensive line — a considerable task considering the beef that’s ahead of him.

Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie made upgrading the line a priority in the offseason and signed veterans Donald Penn, Austin Howard and Kevin Boothe to fill in the gaps.

Bergstrom, a third-round pick in 2012, was viewed as a valued backup capable of playing tackle and guard. Through the first week of training camp, however, he’s spent considerable time at center with Oakland’s second-team offense.

“Anytime you change position, even if you’re just moving over to the other side, it’s really awkward for a while but then it starts feeling natural,” Bergstrom said. “It doesn’t take too long. It’s feeling good now.”

It’s a definite change to how Bergstrom felt earlier in his career.

The 27-year-old started one game as a rookie, the season-finale against San Diego, then spent all of 2013 on injured reserve after injuring his foot in the final preseason game.

He was approached by the coaching staff in early spring about potentially moving to center and spent a little time working on the center exchange during minicamps and OTAs.

It wasn’t until camp started that the former Utah standout took reps with the rest of the team.

The reviews have been mixed.

There were a few botches snaps on Monday, but Bergstrom has settled in since then.

“They’re just testing the waters,” Bergstrom said. “That’s what camp is for, is to kind of move guys around and see what people can do. It’s not terribly different from guard from a mental standpoint. The most awkward thing about it is everything looks different. It takes a second longer to identify the front and that comes with reps.”

The Raiders don’t have much depth behind starting center Stefen Wisniewski.

Andre Gurode, who filled the backup role last year, wasn’t re-signed and is still a free agent. Boothe, a sixth-round draft pick by Oakland in 2006 who signed with the Raiders in March after seven seasons with the New York Giants, has nearly a dozen starts at center under his belt, including seven in 2013.

With little to pick from, the Raiders opted to give Bergstrom a look.

“It’s something that we want to begin to take a look at a little bit and see how he develops,” Oakland coach Dennis Allen said. “When you’re a backup player, your versatility in being able to play multiple positions gives you more value on the football team. I think that’s something we want to continue to look at. We’re going to see how this thing develops.”

A tackle in college, Bergstrom hadn’t played center since his junior year in high school.

He hasn’t had a bad snap since his miscues early in camp but is far from a polished product.

“It’s just a matter of getting your reps in,” Bergstrom said. “It’s a challenge, and that’s the fun part.”

Moving positions isn’t the only change Bergstrom has had to get accustomed to. His wife, Jessica, took up MMA fighting and recently won her first fight. At times her excitement from training has carried over into her home life.

“She jumps on my back and tries to choke me out,” Bergstrom said. “She forgets I’m 200 pounds heavier than her.”

Notes: Safety Charles Woodson intercepted his third pass in two days, all three coming off quarterback Matt Schaub. … DE Justin Tuck was given the day off.

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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