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Smith, Vick can’t find end zone in Jets scrimmage

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) — Geno Smith, Michael Vick and the New York Jets’ offense still have plenty to work to do.

Rex Ryan’s defense kept his offense out of the end zone in the team’s scrimmage Saturday night at the SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex.

“I’m pretty sure that goes down as a win in my book,” defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson said with a smile.

Smith, looking to retain the starting job, finished 7 of 14 for 84 yards — including two drops and two others that were nearly intercepted.

“We didn’t score enough points as an offense,” Smith said. “We got down into the red zone two or three times, had an opportunity to score and only came away with three points. We’ve got to do a better job of capitalizing once we get down into the red zone and taking full advantage of our opportunities.”

As Smith was talking to reporters, a post-scrimmage fireworks show started and he stepped back and looked to the sky.

“Let’s enjoy the fireworks,” he said with a grin. “That’s the best part of this whole night, right now.”

Vick, expected to back up Smith or step in if he falters, was 7 of 13 for 47 yards and also ran for a team-leading 35 yards.

“As an offense, you always want to try to put points on the board, (but) we couldn’t do it,” Vick said. “Our defense is extremely tough. I don’t know if they game planned for us in one day or what, but they did a good job.”

The two quarterbacks each took snaps with the first- and second-team offenses as the Jets prepare for their preseason opener Thursday night at home against Indianapolis.

“Overall, I was really pleased,” Ryan said. “If we’re looking at it from the numbers, saying, ‘Well, hey, we never threw ‘X’ amount of touchdowns’ — all right, no touchdowns — it was much more competitive than that. I tip my hat.”

Ryan highlighted the offensive line’s protection of the quarterbacks, and was impressed by the defense’s tackling. He also wasn’t too concerned that the offense was held to a few field goals by Nick Folk and Andrew Furney.

“We had the 1’s with the 1’s and it wasn’t like we’re softening up,” Ryan said. “We hope we don’t give up a whole lot of points. … I think when we tee it off for real on Thursday night, we’ll probably put up some points.”

Vick, who along with Chris Johnson got perhaps the biggest pre-scrimmage ovations, drew big cheers again when he took off on one play and ran for 20 yards.

“Shoot, my gosh,” Ryan said. “The dude can flat fly.”

Greg Salas, trying to win a roster spot, had five catches for 54 yards. Stephen Hill had a 41-yard reception on a toss from Smith.

Eric Decker, signed in the offseason to give the Jets a No. 1-type wide receiver, had one catch for 7 yards while playing in just a few series. He has a minor hamstring issue, but expects to play in the preseason opener.

“I feel good,” he said. “At this point, I just want to be smart. I don’t want to do anything stupid.”

Johnson, another big free agent signing, ran five times for 14 yards.

“It’s my first time in contact since last year,” said Johnson, who had offseason knee surgery. “You know, those butterflies, and just going out there and wanting to test my knee out against full contact and (being) tackled to the ground. I came up feeling good.”

Ryan’s defense was impressive, particularly on a goal-line stand by the backups. Daryl Richardson was stuffed on three straight runs, and Garrett McIntyre capped the possession with a sack on fourth down.

“It was awesome,” Ryan said. “Love it as a defensive coach.”

Jason Babin, signed just before training camp began, was credited with two sacks.

First-round pick Calvin Pryor spent the scrimmage on the sideline as he continues to recover from a concussion. Cornerback Dexter McDougle, the team’s third-rounder, also sat out with a groin injury. Second-rounder Jace Amaro was held without a catch.

Linebacker Jermaine Cunningham suffered what appeared to be the only significant injury. He needed to be helped off the field and couldn’t put any weight on his right leg. Ryan was uncertain of the severity.

___

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

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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