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49ers’ Kaepernick won’t play much against Broncos

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL WAGAMAN
Associated Press

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick isn’t likely to play more than a series or two when San Francisco plays its first preseason game at newly finished Levi’s Stadium.

Kaepernick completed his only pass and led San Francisco to a field goal in his only series of work in last week’s 23-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Backups Blaine Gabbert and Josh Johnson split the majority of playing time the rest of the way. McLeod Bethel-Thompson mopped up in the fourth quarter.

Coach Jim Harbaugh said the plan will be the same when the 49ers host the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

“It’s going to be the same plan going into this game,” Harbaugh said Friday. “I can’t just say the starters are playing this amount or the starters on defense are playing this amount or certain backups are playing this amount. It’s more individualized to each player, each position.”

Teams generally play their starters longer each week through the first three preseason games then back off in the fourth game.

With his team having practiced with the Ravens in the days leading up to the preseason opener, Harbaugh isn’t as pressed to play his starters as he might have been.

That means Gabbert and Johnson will get extended looks as they continue their competition for the backup job.

The 10th overall pick in 2011, Gabbert is listed ahead of Johnson on the depth chart, but is coming off a rough debut with the 49ers. He completed only 3 of 11 passes for 20 yards. He was also intercepted once, drawing criticism from the media and fans.

Johnson completed 6 of 8 for 63 yards.

Harbaugh, however, insisted he likes the progress being made by Gabbert, who was traded to the 49ers in the offseason after three injury-filled seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“It was a good first step,” Harbaugh said. “He’s continuing to compete well. I feel good with the way he’s coming along.”

Still, Harbaugh stopped short of saying the backup job is Gabbert’s to lose.

“There’s a lot of jobs up for grabs,” he said. “Nothing’s set in stone. I’m very pleased with the job Blaine Gabbert’s doing.”

Johnson, a fifth-round draft pick by Tampa Bay in 2008 played at Stanford when Harbaugh coached the Cardinal.

One player who won’t be playing at all is running back Marcus Lattimore. The 2013 fourth-round draft pick has been “making gains” according to Harbaugh, but remains on the team’s non-football injury list.

Lattimore spent his rookie season on injured reserve after tearing three major ligaments in his left knee in October 2012. He was expected to compete for a backup job behind Frank Gore, but strained a hamstring during offseason workouts.

“He’s doing well,” Harbaugh said. “There’s been gains. That’s where we’re at. Not quite there yet. He’s making gains every day.

Note: Harbaugh took part in an ice-bucket challenge to raise money and awareness for ALS research after being called out by his brother, Ravens coach John Harbaugh. Jim Harbaugh, in turn, issued the challenge to President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush.

___

AP NFL websites: 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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