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Pats welcome back former greats at camp

By WTOP Staff

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Bill Belichick looked at the defensive backfield talent standing on the sideline at Gillette Stadium on Friday night and wished it were 10 years ago.

On a day when former All-Pro cornerback Ty Law entered the Patriot Hall of Fame, many of his former teammates and big names from the Patriots’ three Super Bowl wins in the four-year run from 2002-2005 showed up to honor him, including Rodney Harrison, Lawyer Milloy, Otis Smith, Troy Brown, and Tedy Bruschi. The defensive backfield was particularly well-represented in the mini-reunion.

“It was a good group here tonight. It really was,” Belichick said after the team’s open practice before a crowd of 22,866. “It was awesome to see those guys. That’s a pretty good secondary standing over there, with Ty and Otis at the corner, Rodney and Lawyer at safety, and then we got Troy Brown who could be our nickel back. That’s an awesome group of guys.”

Belichick found moments to relive old times with many of the former Patriots.

The assembled talent, including Law, who wore No. 24 for the Pats, impressed the Pats’ present No. 24, All-Pro Darrelle Revis.

“I don’t even have words for it. I respect those guys so much,” he said. “Going and watching them, watching Ty, learning from Ty, seeing Rodney play as well, you got Troy Brown, he played in the nickel as well. It’s great, man.”

The Patriots’ last home practice until after their game against the Washington Redskins on Aug. 7 was the closest thing that an NFL training camp practice comes to a party.

Quarterback Tom Brady chatted with former teammates while backups Ryan Mallett and Jimmy Garoppolo took almost all of the snaps. Garoppolo, a second-round draft pick from Eastern Illinois, continued his struggles, at one point completing a long pass to Law, standing well out of bounds.

A few hours earlier, Patriot fans celebrated the career of Law, who became the 20th player and 22nd person to be inducted into the Patriot Hall of Fame. Law, who played 10 years for the Pats, paid tribute to a huge crowd of fans who turned out for the occasion.

“The only reason I’m standing here today is because of Patriot Nation . you fans,” he said.

Law, an ultra-physical corner who played 15 years in the NFL and had 59 career interceptions, said he was impressed with the way Pats’ fans stayed in his corner even after he left to join the Pats’ hated rival, the New York Jets.

“When I was sleeping with the enemy, you still had those jerseys on,” he said.

Law and Patriots owner Robert Kraft even donned specially-made Nike Air Force 1s to re-enact the dance they did on Feb. 5, 2002, in the celebration at Boston’s City Hall Plaza after the Patriots won their first Super Bowl.

Law will also be honored during a halftime ceremony at the Patriots Thursday night game on Oct. 16 against the New York Jets.

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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