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Orlovsky, Moore will see time at QB for Lions

By WTOP Staff

JOHN KREGER
Associated Press

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Judging by their easygoing demeanor in the Detroit Lions’ locker room, you wouldn’t know that reserve quarterbacks Dan Orlovsky and Kellen Moore were approaching their final chance to prove to new coach Jim Caldwell that they deserve to back up starter Matthew Stafford this season.

Caldwell confirmed Monday that both Orlovsky and Moore will see a significant increase in playing time in the Lions’ final preseason game Thursday against the Buffalo Bills as the team decides whether it will keep two or three quarterbacks on the final 53-man roster.

“We’ll take a look at (Moore and Orlovsky) and see how they manage the offense. . see how they move the ball,” Caldwell said. “It will be a pretty good opportunity to show what they can do.”

The team’s decision to re-sign Orlovsky during the offseason was met with skepticism, since the four seasons he spent in Detroit from 2005-2008 were largely defined by his seven ineffective starts during the team’s winless 2008 campaign. He was also the brunt of national jokes after mistakenly running out of his own end zone for a safety that year against the Vikings in Minneapolis.

I knew coming here that from (fans) there would be thoughts or concerns or worries,” Orlovsky said. “I’ve never paid attention to it.I have a better understanding (now) of the position of quarterback in general.”

Center Dominic Raiola, who was on the 2008 team with Orlovsky, said any comparison between Orlovsky today and his past performances in Detroit is unfair.

“From his first couple years when I was with him, he’s grown up a lot,” Raiola said. “He’s more mature. He’s grown as a football player.”

Orlovsky appears to have secured a reserve roster spot after running the second-string offense in Detroit’s first three preseason games. The same can’t be said for Moore, who sits third on the Lions’ depth chart. He has been inactive for all 32 games since signing with Detroit as an undrafted free agent in 2012.

History is on Moore’s side as the roster deadline approaches. Caldwell kept three quarterbacks on the roster in two of his three seasons as a head coach in Indianapolis, and Lions General Manager Martin Mayhew – who Caldwell confirmed has the final say on roster decisions – has kept three quarterbacks during his entire tenure in Detroit. Despite the pair’s past tendencies, however, Caldwell said the team hasn’t decided whether it will keep two or three quarterbacks this season.

“Sometimes, you have a player that you consider of more value to you at another spot that you’d like to keep. . or you figure that there’s a quarterback that’s really been doing extremely well and we’d like to have him as our third,” Caldwell said. “You have to make a decision based on that.”

Despite his lack of regular season experience, Moore said he’s enjoyed his time in Detroit. He intends to use Thursday’s game simply as a chance to get better as a player.

“I haven’t thought about who I’m competing with,” he said. “I think you compete with yourself to be the best quarterback you can be and improve.You take advantage of preseasons and let the chips fall.”

NOTES: Detroit released FB Chad Abram, P Drew Butler, QB James Franklin, CB Jonte Green, CB Aaron Hester, and K Giorgio Tavecchio prior to Monday’s practice. The team also placed S DeJon Gomes (neck) on injured reserve. Caldwell confirmed that LB Kyle Van Noy (abdomen) will visit a specialist for further evaluation. Caldwell did not offer a timetable for Van Noy’s return.

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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