Skip to main content

Michael Sam has sack in Rams’ 21-7 loss to Packers

By WTOP Staff

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Michael Sam waited a while longer to get back on the field in his second preseason game.

When he did, he made a bigger impact in a bid to bolster his case for a spot on the St. Louis Rams’ roster.

Sam, the NFL’s first openly gay player drafted in the NFL, raced around tackle Derek Sherrod to flatten Green Bay quarterback Matt Flynn in the fourth quarter of the Rams’ 21-7 loss to the Packers on Saturday for his first sack.

For Sam, the Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year with 11½ sacks for Missouri, it seemed like a long time coming.

“Finally. I finally got that under my belt, so it feels good,” Sam said.

The marquee attraction heading into the game for St. Louis was the return of another Sam — quarterback Sam Bradford, who was sidelined for much of last season after knee surgery.

Bradford played the first two series, throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Lance Kendricks and popping right back up after taking the first hit of his return from behind by Julius Peppers.

“I knew I was going to take a hit or two today,” said Bradford, who threw for 101 yards on 9 of 12 passing. “That’s just part of the game. But it’s always nice to get that first one under your belt, knowing that everything’s going to be OK.”

Counterpart Aaron Rodgers, also making his preseason debut, was 11 for 13 for 128 yards and a 3-yard score to Randall Cobb. He also had another TD pass called back by a penalty and the Packers, who never trailed, settled for a Mason Crosby field goal instead.

Bradford was long gone before Sam finally got in the game. After entering with about 5 minutes left in his preseason debut and playing about half the game, he didn’t get in until the second half against the Packers.

Instead of playing purely at left defensive end, Sam also saw time on the right end of the line.

After his first sack, coming on third down and resulting in a 10-yard loss, Sam got up and celebrated — much as he did after all his sacks at Missouri.

Now, he’s fighting for a job on a stacked defensive line. And coach Jeff Fisher says his best way of earning a roster spot is showing what he can do at defensive end, not through versatility on special teams.

“When you make big plays, you easily can make the team,” Sam said.

Sam nearly got a second sack on the next drive, but instead got some playful ribbing from linebacker Phillip Steward, who got there first.

“I thought Michael was really going to make it, but he missed and my eyes just got big and I made it,” Steward said, adding that he thanked Sam for setting him up.

Sam also had another tackle and two quarterback hits, after he’d had one tackle and one hit on the quarterback in nearly 40 snaps in his debut.

“I got the first game under my belt. I felt more comfortable, more relaxed,” Sam said. “I know the speed of the game, I know how it is and it just felt right.”

Sam, a seventh-round pick, is likely competing with undrafted Ethan Westbrooks for a backup spot. Westbrooks was the second-team left defensive end behind Chris Long and had a sack with four total tackles.

“I did OK today. There was some good stuff clearly and there was some stuff I need to work on,” Sam said. “I just want to get better every week so I can compete to make this team.”

Notes: Rams backup RB Isaiah Pead’s left knee buckled at the end of a 33-yard kickoff return in the first quarter. He was helped off the field and then carted away for tests. Fisher said it’s likely he tore his ACL and will be out for the season. … Rams OL Greg Robinson, the second overall pick, started at left tackle and also got work at guard as in the preseason opener.

___

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote