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Seattle goes with 2 QBs cutting Pryor, Daniels

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks will begin the season with only two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster after letting go of Terrelle Pryor and B.J. Daniels as part of their final roster cuts on Saturday.

Seattle announced its final roster decisions ahead of Thursday’s season opener against Green Bay. Seattle’s two QBs for the opener will be starter Russell Wilson and veteran backup Tarvaris Jackson, but the Seahawks will likely try and add a quarterback to the practice squad.

Seattle also terminated the veteran contracts of tackle Eric Winston, the NFLPA president, and cornerback Phillip Adams. Winston was signed at the start of training camp to compete at right tackle, a job that was won by rookie Justin Britt. Adams was in competition to be the Seahawks fourth cornerback.

Instead, Seattle traded a late-round pick to Indianapolis for cornerback Marcus Burley on Saturday.

Also released were defensive end Benson Mayowa, guard Caylin Hauptmann and wide receiver Bryan Walters, all three were on the roster for last February’s Super Bowl win over Denver. Seattle opted for seven receivers, keeping Phil Bates, Ricardo Lockette and rookies Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood.

The Seahawks cut 22 players total, placed defensive tackle D’Anthony Smith on injured reserve to reach the roster limit. Seattle’s finalized roster will begin practices on Sunday for the opener against the Packers.

The only major surprise came at wide receiver where Seattle kept seven — the largest contingent of coach Pete Carroll’s tenure — but the group did not include Walters. Norwood missed most of training camp after having surgery to remove a bone spur from his foot, but the Seahawks remain high on the fourth-round pick and kept him on the active roster likely knowing he would not make it through waivers.

Walters’ versatility was his ability as a capable returner on special teams. Seattle plans to have Percy Harvin returning kicks and Earl Thomas returning punts, but Walters would have been an option to give both breaks.

Instead it was Bates, a former college quarterback at Ohio, who remained.

Linebacker Bruce Irvin was also on the active roster despite not participating in training camp as he recovered from hip surgery. Carroll said earlier this week he was hopeful Irvin could return to practice ahead of the opener against Green Bay.

Seattle cut former draft pick Korey Toomer, who was unable to overcome a pattern of being sidelined by injuries, including trouble with his hamstring during training camp.

Seattle kept five picks from the May draft: Richardson, Britt, Norwood, defensive end Cassius Marsh and linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis. Picks that were cut included defensive tackle Jimmy Staten and fullback Kiero Small.

Two undrafted rookies made the final roster, continuing Seattle’s trend of giving those overlooked in the draft chances to make the team. Linebacker Brock Coyle’s spot was seemingly assured when veteran Heath Farwell suffered a groin injury in the third preseason game. Offensive tackle Garry Gilliam is a project, but flashed enough promise in camp that he was a preferred option over keeping a veteran such as Winston.

Seattle has been among the most active teams in the past picking up players on the waiver wire. With the short week before the opener against the Packers, the likelihood is any tinkering by general manager John Schneider might not happen until after Week 1.

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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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