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Jaguars cut C Brewster, QB Stanzi in roster moves

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars center Mike Brewster went from the starter to the street in a matter of weeks.

The Jaguars waived Brewster, third-string quarterback Ricky Stanzi and others Friday — one day before the NFL’s deadline for reducing rosters to 53 players.

The team also placed receiver Tandon Doss (ankle) and cornerback Rashaad Reynolds (hand) on injured reserve following injuries sustained in Thursday’s preseason finale against Atlanta.

Offensive tackle Cody Booth, receiver Chad Bumphis, defensive lineman DeAndre Coleman, defensive tackle Ricky Havili-Heimuli, fullback Eric Kettani, safety Craig Loston, quarterback Stephen Morris, guard Drew Nowak, kicker Kasey Redfern, defensive end Gerald Rivers, guard Tyler Shatley, tight end D.J. Tialavea and linebacker LB Marcus Whitfield also were waived.

Tight end Brandon Barden (groin) was waived/injured.

“Competition is our central theme and all of these players competed on a daily basis,” Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell said in a statement.

“This is always a tough day because you are letting go of men that played a vital role in what we are building here. We will continue to compete to build the best roster possible as we head into the regular season.”

The Jaguars need to cut three more players before Saturday’s 4 p.m. deadline.

Brewster was the biggest name among the guys waived Friday.

He was expected to replace retired veteran Brad Meester this season, but the Jaguars benched the former Ohio State standout after two preseason games that included two bad snaps. Brewster sealed his fate with another poor snap against the Falcons.

“Whatever happens is going to happen,” Brewster said after the game. “I have to deal with it, and I know I’ll be all right.”

Jacksonville likely will start the season with rookie Luke Bowanko, a sixth-round pick from Virginia, at center. With third-round draft pick Brandon Linder at right guard and second-year player Luke Joeckel at left tackle, the Jaguars will have one of the league’s least experienced offensive lines.

That’s one reason the Jaguars are starting the season with veteran quarterback Chad Henne instead of rookie Blake Bortles.

Stanzi, meanwhile, is likely to end up on the team’s practice squad Sunday.

Caldwell would like to carry three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, but injuries made it difficult to do to open the season.

Starting right tackle Austin Pasztor (hand) and rookie receiver Allen Robinson (hamstring) are locks for the final roster, but Pasztor won’t return for a few more weeks and Robinson’s status for the season opener remains uncertain.

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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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