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Panthers QB Newton, RBs Williams, Stewart to play

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Help is on the way for the Carolina Panthers’ offense.

Coach Ron Rivera said quarterback Cam Newton and running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart will play in the team’s second preseason game Aug. 17 against Kansas City. All three practiced Sunday after missing Carolina’s preseason opener against Buffalo.

“I’m excited about getting these guys back on the football field,” Rivera said.

That should help an offense that managed just 75 total yards in the first half of Carolina’s 20-18 loss to the Bills.

Rivera said he expects the starters to play more than a typical second preseason game — probably about 40 plays.

Newton has been practicing since the start of training camp, but Sunday marked the first time the team allowed him to run the zone read and carry the football. Newton has run for 2,032 yards and 28 touchdowns in three seasons for the Panthers, more than any QB in the league during that span.

It was an odd day to let Newton starting running considering the steady rain and soggy field conditions.

Rivera said he had some trepidation about turning Newton loose in those conditions, but added “it is part of the elements. We are going to play 14 games outdoors and we don’t practice indoors for the most part.”

Rivera said Newton is on track in his rehabilitation from ankle surgery in March and will be allowed to run against the Chiefs.

“We’re getting to the point where the workload will increase now and we will start to do things differently now,” Rivera said.

Stewart practiced for the first time Sunday after missing the first two weeks with a strained hamstring.

The former first-round draft pick has missed 17 games the past two seasons with foot and ankle injuries. Stewart, 27, has been limited to 516 yards rushing the past two seasons and one touchdown after running for 3,500 yards and 26 TDs during his first four seasons in the NFL.

Stewart said earlier in camp his ankles felt better than they have in a long time.

“I love the fact that I can get up in the morning and walk without that much soreness in my ankles,” Stewart said July 26. “… Going into this year I’m going to be the freshest that I’ve been in two years.”

He looked solid running and cutting on Sunday, taking a swing pass along the right sideline and quickly heading up the field without any hesitation.

Rivera said the 31-year-old Williams is not injured and was held out of preseason opener because he was concerned about his workload last week in practice.

“We didn’t want to give him any more work,” Rivera said.

Carolina’s offense could use a spark.

Derek Anderson led an impressive 10-play, 82-yard touchdown drive that culminated with a 29-yard strike to rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, but Carolina’s other seven drives in the first three quarters netted just four first downs and 30 net yards.

Rivera said despite the offense’s struggles in the first half, the team’s revamped offensive line played pretty well.

The Panthers have moved Byron Bell from right to left tackle, and have three new starters this season in left guard Amini Silatolu, right guard Trai Turner and right tackle Nate Chandler, who played some at guard last season.

“There were a lot of good thing but we didn’t run block as well as I would have liked us to,” Rivera said. “One of things we wanted to do was run the ball effectively and give us a chance to win the game by running it. So that was a little disappointing. But I thought we did a nice job in pass protection.”

NOTE: Offensive tackle Nate Chandler was held out of practice with a sore knee. Rivera says he hasn’t decided if Byron Bell or Chandler will start the season at left tackle. … Defensive end Kony Ealy, the team’s second round pick, had his left foot in a boot after suffering a mild ankle sprain. … Defensive end Charles Johnson remains out with a strained hamstring.

___

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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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