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Packers move on in trenches, get Guion back at DT

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Yet another starting center to get used to for Aaron Rodgers.

That doesn’t mean the star quarterback needs to play in the Green Bay Packers’ final preseason game.

It appears that extensive snaps in practice with rookie Corey Linsley will suffice after presumed starter J.C. Tretter went down with a knee injury. The Kansas City Chiefs come to Lambeau Field to wrap up the preseason Thursday, and the regular season opens the following week in Seattle against the Super Bowl champion Seahawks.

“We’ve taken snaps before. We’ve simulated noise with him. Obviously, it’s different when you go into a situation like Seattle with the advantage they have,” Rodgers said Monday. “But it would be tough whether it was J.C. or Corey, so we expect to be ready.”

And that would be regardless of whether Rodgers plays against the Chiefs, which appears unlikely.

“I feel like we’ve spent a lot of time in walk-throughs and pre-practice stuff working on things. That is not vitally important,” Rodgers said.

Sitting Rodgers and key starters for the final preseason game appeared to be the plan all along to keep them healthy for the regular season. Green Bay will get a long look at players fighting for roster spots, a typical blueprint for the preseason.

But a training camp that had progressed rather swimmingly hit a hurdle when Tretter got hurt in last week’s win over Oakland. He is out for several weeks.

Defensive lineman B.J. Raji was lost for the season following a right biceps injury in the same game. Raji had been having a good camp after moving back inside to nose tackle.

The Packers got some good news Monday with the return of defensive tackle Letroy Guion. He injured his hamstring a week before training camp and hadn’t practiced since.

Signed from the Minnesota Vikings in the offseason as a free agent, Guion was understandably eager to show what he could do.

“It’s always (urgent) when a man goes down. It makes me have to step up, having to be that guy,” Guion said.

The 6-foot-4 Guion will bring valuable experience up front with 31 career starts. Until now, the Packers had second-year player Josh Boyd and undrafted rookie free agent Mike Pennel behind Raji in the base 3-4 defense.

Guion wasn’t sure he would be ready for the Chiefs game. He did vow to be ready for the Seahawks. For now, Guion’s focus is on getting into “football shape.”

“I ran around today, really wasn’t huffing and puffing. Legs feel good, body feels good. So I feel like I’m there physically,” he said.

As a veteran, he likely won’t need much time to get down the intangibles that come with playing in the trenches in the NFL. That’s not the case with Linsley, a fifth-round pick out of Ohio State who had never taken a snap with the first-string offense until this week.

Linsley can take heart that he has veteran guards Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang playing next to him. Then there is Rodgers, of course, with nearly a decade of experience leading the huddle.

“And you’re playing with two of the smartest guards, most athletic talent guys in the league in Josh and T.J. Those guys are going to help him out with his calls and make sure the tempo is set the right way,” Rodgers said. “I’m going to help out with the protection and he’s going to be ready to play.”

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

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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