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Jaguars sticking with Henne over Bortles at QB

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars coach Gus Bradley selected Chad Henne as his starting quarterback in March.

He hasn’t wavered since.

Not after the team selected Blake Bortles with the third overall pick in the NFL draft. Not after the rookie showed significant progress during organized team activities and training camp. And not after Bortles played so well in the preseason, turning heads in the locker room, in the stands and around the league.

Bradley has made it clear that Henne will start the season opener, and there’s no reason to believe the second-year head coach will change his stance before the Sept. 7 game at Philadelphia.

“We have a lot of faith in Chad,” Bradley said. “Chad is doing really well. The efficiency, the command of the offense, the different looks that he’s seeing and the adjustment that he makes. It’s the whole package.”

It’s not uncommon for NFL teams to botch quarterback decisions, whether they get muddled inside the building or in the court of public opinion. The Jaguars have done it numerous times in recent years, most notably in 2011 when David Garrard was cut hours after being introduced as the starter at a kickoff luncheon days before the opener.

Bradley doesn’t want to make a similar misstep.

“Gus has done a great job, especially with you guys in the media in just staying true to his word,” Henne said. “Whatever he’s telling you, he’s telling us. There are no different stories.

“That’s what’s great about him. He’s upfront and honest and that’s why we trust in him and we believe in him and we fight for him out on the field.”

Jacksonville eventually will turn things over to Bortles, but there’s no timetable for the switch.

Bradley and general manager Dave Caldwell have tried to foster a pressure-free environment for Bortles as he makes the transition from a college spread offense to a pro-style system. They insist Bortles will take over “when he’s ready.”

“We want to see fast progress by him, where things are coming faster to him,” Bradley said. “We believe that’s happening. He’s not there yet, but we think we can continue it.”

In the meantime, the veteran Henne will be under center.

“Gus and I have sat down many times and he said I’m the guy,” Henne said. “Until they tell me otherwise, I just go out there and prepare like I’m the starter and play well.

“I understand my spot. If we play well and win games, then (I) stay in. If I don’t, then things will happen. All I can control is game by game and how I go out there and play.”

Aside from Jacksonville’s quarterback situation, here are five things to know about the team heading into the 2014 season:

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CENTER OF ATTENTION: Jacksonville had few, if any, questions about center the past dozen years. Brad Meester held the position since 2002, anchoring the line, making protection calls and ensuring the ball gets to his quarterback on every play. There’s little doubt he will be missed, especially with Mike Brewster failing to nail down the starting spot in camp. The Jaguars have journeyman Jacques McClendon and rookie Luke Bowanko vying for the job. Either way, it could take some time for Jacksonville’s revamped line to gel in 2014.

WR WATCH: Cecil Shorts III can’t seem to stay healthy. Ace Sanders is suspended the first four games of the season. And rookie Allen Robinson has played sparingly all year. Jacksonville’s receivers have been a constant topic during training camp — and not for positive reasons. Fellow rookies Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns have been bright spots, though.

SAD SACKS AGAIN? No NFL team has fewer sacks than Jacksonville over the past five seasons. The Jags have totaled a league-low 151 sacks while changing players, coaches and schemes. They’re counting on former Seattle starters Chris Clemons and Red Bryant, as well as youngsters Andre Branch, Ryan Davis and Chris Smith to turn things around in 2014.

EARLY SCHEDULE: For the second consecutive season, the Jaguars play four of their first six games on the road. General manager Dave Caldwell complained to the league about the starting slate, especially since the team feels it has a home-field advantage early in the season because of Florida’s sweltering heat and humidity. “I just said, ‘You didn’t do us any favors two years in a row,'” Caldwell said. “It is what it is. We’ve got to rise to the occasion.”

PARTY CENTRAL: The Jaguars and the city spent $63 million in stadium upgrades, hoping to create a buzz and sell more tickets. So far, it’s worked. The world’s largest scoreboards (60 feet tall, 362 feet wide with 35.5 million LED bulbs) and a two-story party deck that includes two pools and dozens of cabanas have boosted projected revenue for 2014. Winning would help, too.

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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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