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Packers keep 3 quarterbacks on roster cutdown day

By WTOP Staff

TODD MCMAHON
Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — For the first time since 2008, Aaron Rodgers’ first year as an NFL starter, the Green Bay Packers plan to go into the season with three quarterbacks on the roster.

Holdovers Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien survived the big roster cutdown to 53 players Saturday after both players had a competitive preseason competition as the backups to Rodgers.

Coach Mike McCarthy suggested after the Packers’ final preseason game Thursday night that Flynn and Tolzien were worthy of staying with the team.

“I think Matt and Scott have both championed the case to be on our football team,” McCarthy said. “I feel very good about their progress from last year through the spring all the way through training camp.”

The Packers went through four starting quarterbacks during a stretch of eight games late in the season in 2013. Tolzien and Flynn, a 2008 Green Bay draft pick who returned to the team in November, were among those who filled in while Rodgers missed seven games because of a collarbone injury.

With a healthy Rodgers on a limited playing schedule this preseason, Flynn and Tolzien had ample opportunities to contend for roster spots. Each of the backups matched Rodgers with three touchdown passes in the preseason.

The Packers pared their preseason roster by 22 players Saturday.

Teams had until 4 p.m. EDT Saturday to set their initial 53-man roster for the start of the season. Green Bay plays the league’s first game Thursday night at the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

The Packers released 18 players and placed four on injured reserve.

Notable cuts included safety Chris Banjo and wide receivers Myles White and Kevin Dorsey.

Banjo played every game and made one start last season for the Packers as an undrafted rookie. White also saw game action as an undrafted rookie with the team in 2013. Dorsey, a seventh-round draft pick by Green Bay, missed his entire rookie season last year with a toe injury.

Speedy rookie Jeff Janis, a seventh-round pick who missed the first part of the preseason with shingles, is one of five receivers the Packers kept.

Tight end Jake Stoneburner was among the players to go on the injured-reserve list. He appeared in nine games with Green Bay as an undrafted rookie last season.

Green Bay also released running backs Michael Hill and LaDarius Perkins, receiver Alex Gillett, tight end Justin Perillo, center Garth Gerhart, offensive tackles John Fullington and Jeremy Vujnovich, offensive guard Jordan McCray, defensive end Luther Robinson, defensive tackle Carlos Gray, linebackers Jake Doughty and Adrian Hubbard, safety Tanner Miller, and cornerbacks Jumal Rolle and Ryan White.

Going on injured reserve with Stoneburner were defensive tackle Khyri Thornton, linebacker Nate Palmer and offensive tackle Aaron Adams.

Thornton, a third-round draft pick this year, suffered a hamstring injury in Thursday’s game. Adams and Palmer, a sixth-round pick last year who played eight games, sustained knee injuries in the same game.

Two undrafted free agents — linebacker Jayrone Elliott and defensive tackle Mike Pennel –made Green Bay’s roster. Elliott had a league-high five sacks in the preseason.

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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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