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Saints bring back Meachem, extend Galette

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Pass-rushing outside linebacker Junior Galette has the contract he coveted and veteran receiver Robert Meachem has his job back.

“This is the best day of my life,” the 26-year-old Galette said Wednesday when he confirmed his $41.5 million extension through 2019, stressing what his newfound financial security meant to him as a father of a young son. “He’s going to grow up in a different lifestyle than I grew up in. So that’s all that matters.”

Meachem, entering his eighth season, was cut on Saturday, but the Saints were able to find a roster spot for him Wednesday when they placed rookie linebacker Khairi Fortt on short-term injured reserve. Meachem was at practice on Wednesday as the Saints prepared for Sunday’s regular season opener at Atlanta.

Locking up Galette long-term was an obvious priority for the Saints, who first signed him as an undrafted rookie out of Stillman in 2010 and watching him blossom into one of the more effective edge pass-rushers in the NFL last season. Galette, who was entering the penultimate season of his previous deal, was elevated to a starting role last season in part because of injuries to former Saints outside linebackers Will Smith and Victor Butler. Galette wound up with 12 sacks, second only on the Saints to defensive end Cam Jordan’s 12 ½.

Because of his rise from humble beginnings, Galette also has earned respect in the locker room, and will be a defensive captain for the first time this season.

“It’s crazy,” Galette said. “I’m a captain with Drew Brees, a future Hall of Famer. Obviously I have Hall of Fame dreams as well, but his is already written in stone. It feels great, man. This is the best week of my life.”

Galette described walking from Wednesday’s practice to an upstairs office at Saints headquarters, still covered in sweat, to sign his new deal, which adds four years to his previous deal that was set to expire after the 2015 season.

“I feel like now I won’t have to worry about any negotiations. I told my agent, let’s get this done,” Galette said. “I love being a Saint, love being in New Orleans. I love the city and I feel like people love me back.”

Galette, who describes an early childhood spent in poverty in Haiti, moved to New York later in his youth and initially attended college at Temple, but was kicked out when a relative staying with him was caught with a stolen laptop. He then transferred to Division II Stillman.

His recent emergence could have set him up for a lucrative free-agent contract next offseason, thanks to an opt-out clause in his old deal, but Galette saw wisdom in sticking with a situation he liked, even if his deal winds up looking like a discount, as he hopes it will.

“How much is enough?” Galette said. “If you’re not content with what they gave me, you’ll never be content. … I feel like if I wanted to play here in the future, I’m going to give them a discount.”

Meachem, a 2007 first-round draft choice of the Saints, had 16 catches for 324 yards and two TDs last season, when he returned to New Orleans after one disappointing season in San Diego. While his role in the passing game is diminished from what it was from 2009-11, coach Sean Payton said Meachem retains some qualities that can help the Saints succeed on offense.

“He’s someone that I feel like still runs. I think he’s someone that still can help us in the run game, blocking. I think he’s a big target. He’s pretty consistent and I think the key with him is his ability to go and get down the field — and I think he’s weight where it needs to be,” Payton said. “So for him, there’s a handful of things that he does well and we think he still does those things.”

Meachem was not available to speak with reporters after practice, but quarterback Drew Brees said of the receiver, “I’m glad he’s still with us.”

“We knew that this journey was meant to be with him,” Brees said. “He certainly can help us win.”

Notes: FB Erik Lorig (ankle) and S Marcus Ball (Hamstring) did not practice Wednesday. WR Kenny Stills (quad) was limited.

___

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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