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Saints wait anxiously to learn roster moves

By WTOP Staff

GARY ESTWICK
Associated Press

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Saints rookie linebacker Ronald Powell said he felt as if he was waiting for a call-back after a job interview.

Powell is one of several first-year players and veterans that will learn by Saturday afternoon if they’ve earned a spot on the Saints’ 53-man regular-season roster.

The roster was at 75 when the Saints played their final preseason game on Thursday night, losing 22-13 to Baltimore.

Coach Sean Payton and his staff have to trim 22 players, and make a number of difficult choices in the process.

For a player such as third-year receiver Nick Toon, all there is to do, for the first time in months, is wait.

There are no more routes to run, defensive backs to block, or passes to catch before final cuts are made.

“At this point, all of us have put our resumes out there,” said Toon, a former fourth-round pick who competed for snaps at training camp and in the preseason against Joseph Morgan and veteran Robert Meachem for one of the last receiver spots.

“It’s in the mail. You can’t get it back.”

Beyond deciding which players to let go, there were some starting roles that had to be decided before preparations begin for the Sept. 7 opener at Atlanta.

Veteran Jonathan Goodwin and second-year pro Tim Lelito were the top two candidates to take over as starting center.

Fifth-year pro Patrick Robinson and 12-time Pro Bowl player Champ Bailey, who both struggled with injuries last season, were competing for the starting cornerback job.

The Saints must also decide between kickers Shayne Graham (4 for 4 field goals, long of 39; 4 of 5 PAT) and Derek Dimke (4 for 4 field goals, long of 49; 5 of 5 PAT) and a host of backups that also contribute on special teams. Among those are undrafted free agent safety Pierre Warren. His preseason highlights on defense include an interception against Baltimore.

“I feel like I’ve done a lot, made a few plays,” Warren said. “But I’ve still got more work to do.”

Earlier this month, the NFL announced practice squads will increase from eight to 10.

“I’m sure it’s difficult; it’s just wanting to know,” Payton said. “There’s a lot invested by every one of those guys. A lot of work. A lot has gone into putting themselves in position to make a team and stick.”

On other NFL teams, Powell might be more confident. He was a fifth-round selection in the draft. Yet the Saints have created a culture which grades players on their efforts, not past accolades or where they were drafted.

In 2007, undrafted rookie running back Pierre Thomas made the roster ahead of fourth-round draft pick Antonio Pittman of Ohio State.

“Especially here, we’re all the same,” Powell said. “I feel like we’re all on the same scale.”

Last season, six rookie free agents made the roster out of the preseason. Later in the season, a seventh — quarterback Ryan Griffin — moved from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

“Everybody is definitely anxious, especially if you’re a first, second-year guy, guys on the bubble,” said Griffin, who spent preseason competing with veteran Luke McCown to be star QB Drew Brees’ backup. “I was in that position last year, but I don’t think you ever get used to it. It’s a weird feeling.”

Enough to make players and interested observers alike search for clues.

For example, starters typically sit out the final Saints preseason game. Goodwin watched that game from the sideline. Also, Goodwin recently changed his jersey number from 51 to 59.

Is that a clue?

“I hope so,” he said, smiling.

___

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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