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Cowboys’ D leaves camp with even more questions

By WTOP Staff

OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — Morris Claiborne is likely to skip another preseason game, Brandon Carr isn’t close to full speed after missing two weeks of training camp and Orlando Scandrick is out for the first four games of 2014 for a drug suspension.

And cornerback isn’t the only unsettled position for Dallas’ shaky defense.

The Cowboys are coming home from camp in California with even more questions about the league’s most porous defense than when they left Texas three weeks ago.

Claiborne is just the latest issue after missing the preseason opener with knee tendinitis. Now he has a shoulder injury that kept him out of the final camp practice Thursday and was likely to sideline him for the exhibition home opener Saturday night against Baltimore.

“If a guy is not out there, that’s not a good thing for our team, but it does provide opportunity for other guys to get reps,” coach Jason Garrett said.

“We have certainly had a lot of younger players get the opportunity to show us what they can do, and that’s good for your football team.”

Carr had an extended absence to be with his mother in the final days of her battle with breast cancer before she died a week into camp. He doesn’t figure to play against the Ravens, but should be ready when the regular season starts Sept. 7 against San Francisco.

Scandrick won’t play against the 49ers because of a four-game ban for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. The Cowboys are trying to get him as much preparation time as possible before he has to stop practicing at the end of the preseason.

A revamped defensive line is missing the two biggest offseason acquisitions — free agent tackle Henry Melton and rookie defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, a second-round pick.

Melton, who is coming off a knee injury that sidelined him most of last season in Chicago, is dealing with a groin injury but expects to play in the third preseason game at Miami. Lawrence is expected to miss at least half the season with a broken foot.

It’s still not clear who will replace Sean Lee at middle linebacker after Lee was lost for the season when he tore a knee ligament in the first offseason practice in May.

Justin Durant has been getting most of the first-team work, but former top 10 pick Rolando McClain was acquired just before camp and will get a long look as a possible starter. That doesn’t necessarily mean Durant will be a backup. Both could be on the field alongside Bruce Carter, whose job is far from guaranteed.

“It’s amazing how players respond to competition for their job and for playing time,” Garrett said. “There are a lot of ways to do this and we’ve just got to figure out who the best three guys are and who deserves the playing time.”

The defense didn’t look good at times during camp, particularly against the run, and didn’t do much to ease those concerns in a 27-7 loss to the Chargers last week. Most of the defensive starters sat out that game, though.

“One of the issues we’ve had on defense is we’ve had a number of our front-line guys have not been in the lineup on a consistent basis,” Garrett said. “And that’s really on all three levels. On certain days some guys have shown up, some parts of that defense have shown up, other days maybe not quite as good.”

NOTES: CB Korey Lindsey and TE Dallas Walker were waived, while DT Zach Minter and TE Asa Watson were signed. Minter spent time on Chicago’s roster last season after signing as a rookie free agent. Watson signed with New England after the draft, but was waived Sunday.

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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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