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Rams have Bradford on baseball-like pitch count

By WTOP Staff

R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Sam Bradford showed improved zip on the ball during the St. Louis Rams’ fan fest scrimmage at the Edward Jones Dome.

“You can see those balls were humming,” coach Jeff Fisher said after Saturday’s practice.

Bradford seems to benefiting from improved upper-body strength.

To keep the arm strong, coaches are monitoring Bradford’s pitch count much as the St. Louis Cardinals would do for star pitcher Adam Wainwright.

Both said there’s no set limit, but that the information would help gauge progress and performance in training camp.

“I think if it gets a little excessive over a couple-day range, we back it down, especially some of the deeper throws,” Bradford said.

That hasn’t happened yet.

“I’m not going into detail, how many,” Fisher said. “You can see how he did today, and those that have been to practice, you can see that he’s not having any difficulty with the ball and the arm.”

Bradford focused on weight training for the upper body while rehabbing from surgery on his left knee that sidelined him the final nine games. Although he’s wearing a brace, he has no concerns about the knee, either.

“Coming into this camp, it’s probably the strongest I’ve been from the waist up, and I think it probably has paid off a little bit,” Bradford said. “I feel like I can make some of those throws that maybe were a little slower last year.”

The Rams began tracking Bradford’s throws when Fisher arrived in 2012. Bradford said that definitely was not the case at Oklahoma.

“In college they don’t really care,” Bradford said. “You throw like 500 balls a day and they’re like ‘You’re good, just put some ice on it.'”

Bradford may not play in the preseason opener next Friday night against the New Orleans Saints, but said it was “totally coach’s call.”

“Obviously, I’m going to be ready to go and if he tells me I’m playing. I’m going to be pumped to get back out on the field,” Bradford added. “If he feels like it’s best to not go out there, I trust him and I’ll be ready to go the following week.”

Wide receiver Stedman Bailey was perhaps the most impressive skill position player. He’s suspended for the first four regular-season games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, but the Rams think so highly of him that he’s getting a lot of snaps with the first unit.

“It’s something that kills me every time I think about it,” Bailey said. “But my job is to keep working hard, keep giving my all to the team. When I come back, just be looking for a show.”

Bradford said it was a “bummer” that Bailey won’t be part of the offense when the season starts.

Attendance was 15,723 for a workout that was the first time more than half of the roster was on the game field.

“This is probably the most exciting day we have in training camp,” Bradford said. “It breaks the routine. We get to leave Rams Park. We get to come to the Dome.”

Among the first-timers was rookie defensive back Maurice Alexander, a fourth-round pick. Alexander worked on the cleaning crew after games at the dome for a season after getting kicked off the team at Utah State.

“It’s the best feeling in the world,” said Alexander, who is from St. Louis. “It’s crazy, it’s amazing.”

Defensive tackle Michael Brockers left the session with what appeared to be a leg injury. Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis had a boot on his left foot from a practice injury two days earlier and guard Rodger Saffold was held out with a stinger.

Players have the day off Sunday before resuming preparations for the preseason opener next Friday against the New Orleans Saints.

___

Online:

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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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