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Janikowski looks to bounce back from rough 2013

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL WAGAMAN
Associated Press

NAPA, Calif. (AP) — Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski has done a lot of changing during his 15-year NFL career.

He’s gone from being the brash, hard-living, party-chasing kid out of Florida State who made headlines for all the wrong reasons to a much calmer father of two who prefers quiet times with his children over the social scene.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long,” Janikowski said. “It feels like I just got drafted, for real. Fifteen years and still going strong.”

What hasn’t changed is Janikowski’s powerful left leg.

The 36-year-old remains one of the strongest kickers in the league and is closing in on the NFL record for the most made field goals of 50 yards or longer in a career.

To get it, Janikowski will have to bounce back from a rough 2013 and foster a better relationship with second-year holder Marquette King.

The duo struggled to find any sort of rhythm together after Janikowski’s holder the previous 14 seasons, Shane Lechler, signed with Houston as a free agent.

Kickers being creatures of habit, the change in holders was akin to asking Janikowski to kick with his right leg. It was an uncomfortable feeling Janikowski battled all season.

“You stay with the same guy for 14 years, the trust is there,” he said. “You don’t have to think about it going on the field.”

Janikowski converted only 21 of 30 field-goal attempts last season, a 70 percent success rate that was his lowest since 2006 and the third-worst mark of his career.

More telling, Janikowski made just three of his seven attempts from beyond 50 yards — his fewest since 2005 when he went 0 for 3 from that distance.

“Our timing was off,” Janikowski said. “Just timing, the confidence … the trust.”

In an effort to improve their relationship on and off the field, Janikowski flew to California two months before training camp in order to get in extra work with King.

The two, along with long snapper Jon Condo, worked out together privately and have looked much smoother since training camp began.

“For him to go out and have success, he’s gotta be comfortable and feel good that the operation is going to be the same on every single play,” Raiders coach Dennis Allen said of Janikowski. “That operation with Jon and Marquette and Seabass (Janikowski) has improved tremendously, and I do think that Seabass has a lot more confidence in Marquette as a holder.”

Allen also credited special teams assistant coach Chris Boniol, a former kicker who spent six seasons in the NFL.

“Chris has a way of being able to relate to those guys and talk to them on a level where they can understand what he’s trying to get accomplished,” Allen said. “To (Janikowski’s) credit, he’s taken to all of that and done everything that we’ve asked him to do.

Janikowski reported to camp looking leaner, but more stout than in the previous years.

Part of that was so that he could keep up with his two young daughters, both of whom came out to practice Saturday as part of the Raiders’ annual Family Day.

The 17th overall pick in 2000, Janikowski also has his sights set on Jason Hanson’s NFL record of 52 field goals of at least 50 yards. The Oakland kicker has 45.

Breaking that record and getting back to the Super Bowl are high on Janikowski’s agenda. He and the Raiders played in the Super Bowl in the 2002 season, but haven’t returned to the postseason since.

“Super Bowl, that’s the ultimate goal,” Janikowski said.

Janikowski also believes he can break the NFL’s record for longest field goal. Denver’s Matt Prater kicked a 64-yarder last year to establish the mark.

“I know Matt’s got the record for now,” Janikowski said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the 70-yarder from (former Raiders coach Lane) Kiffin. It’s a challenge.”

Notes: Linebacker Sio Moore sat out practice because of a sore rib. … The team held a scripted scrimmage to work on specific down-and-distance situations, something Allen said they’ll continue to do throughout camp. “We got a little sloppy at times,” Allen said. “But overall, I was pleased with what I saw out there.”

___

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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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