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Cassel looks for more time with Vikings offense

By WTOP Staff

JON KRAWCZYNSKI
AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Matt Cassel is itching for preseason playing time as he tries to master the intricacies of new offensive coordinator Norv Turner’s system with the Minnesota Vikings.

Carson Palmer knows just how Cassel feels, and the comfort of being in his second year with Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians means the veteran quarterback likely will watch most of the game Saturday night from the sideline.

Though he hasn’t named a starting quarterback yet, new Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Cassel will play most of the first half against the Cardinals as he looks to be tightening his grip on the job over first-round draft pick Teddy Bridgewater.

Cassel was sharp in his one series in the preseason opener, going 5 for 6 for 62 yards and leading the offense to its only touchdown. The Vikings are running a new offense under Turner, so Cassel is lobbying to get more playing time in the preseason to prepare himself for Week 1 at St. Louis.

“I think the more that I can play in the preseason, the more prepared you are,” Cassel said. “There’s nothing like the competition. These (preseason games) are the best tests for us.

Palmer was equally impressive in the opener against Houston last week, going 5 for 5 for 84 yards and a touchdown. That coupled with his impressive performance during training camp leads Arians to believe he doesn’t have to push it with added playing time in the preseason.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” Palmer said. “There’s good and bad to it. Obviously we want to play but we don’t want to be out there and have anything crazy happen and miss real time in the regular season. You compare this year to last year. Last year we desperately needed those reps, against a different color uniform playing different coverages and different pressures.”

Cassel entered camp in a battle with Bridgewater for the starting job. Bridgewater’s unflappable demeanor and tireless work ethic have impressed coaches and teammates, but he was predictably up-and-down in his NFL debut against the Raiders.

Bridgewater was 6 for 13 for 49 yards and had a fumble on a sack, and he followed that up this week with five interceptions in two days of practice. The Vikings are throwing a lot of exotic looks on defense at Bridgewater, and Zimmer thinks that young guy is just taking some time to adjust.

“I just want him to play,” Zimmer said. “He has got so much going on in his mind right now. I just want him to play. That’s what I told him (Wednesday), and I will tell him again before (Saturday’s) ballgame. Just go play. You have been doing this since you were 5 years old. Go out and play, have some fun. Throw the ball in there; if you make a mistake, then we will fix it and go on.”

Bridgewater, who figures to play much of the second half against Arizona, admitted this week he has been doing too much thinking as he tries to absorb a new offense and adjust to the speed of the NFL game.

“I’ve been overthinking,” Bridgewater said. “A lot has been thrown at me so far. Eventually, things will slow down.”

Zimmer also is looking for a clear-cut starter to emerge at strong safety and middle linebacker, while Arians will take a long look at his kicker.

Veteran Jay Feely will do the kicking for the Cardinals and may be in danger of losing his job after rookie Chandler Cantanzaro hit all three of his field goals and impressed with some booming kickoffs in the opener. Feely will kick again in week 3 and Cantanzaro will kick in the preseason finale so each kicker has a chance to kick indoors and outside.

After going 11 for 12 for 113 yards in his debut last week, Cardinals rookie quarterback Logan Thomas will not play. He’s competing with Ryan Lindley for the third spot on the depth chart and Lindley will get his chance in the second half this week.

“I’m not anxious to see a lot of snaps (for the starters),” Arians said. “I hope we play really well, get out of there and let the young guys continue to make tape and make a case to continue to be here.”

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AP Sports Writer Bob Baum in Phoenix contributed to this report.

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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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