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Brees puts favorable spin on paltry preseason play

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Drew Brees knows how to put a spin on more than just those accurate spirals he’s delivered for record-setting yardage.

The Saints’ quarterback also has a way of looking at less-than-ideal circumstances through the most favorable lens possible. He refers to it as his “optimism bias,” and he’s been doing it this week while discussing his relative lack of preparation for the 2014 regular season.

Because of strained left oblique muscle, Brees missed two weeks of training camp and enters Sunday’s regular season opener at Atlanta having played in only three offensive series during the entire preseason. He believes that amounts to the fewest preseason snaps of his career.

“I did what I needed to do to get it healthy. I feel strong; I feel 100 percent,” Brees said this week. “I certainly tried to make the most of the time I was out. It’s the optimism bias. I can’t change my circumstances, but I can change my perception of the circumstances.

“I felt like there were some things that I was able to sit back and kind of see from a 10,000-foot view that made me a better player,” Brees added.

Coach Sean Payton has been on the sideline for most of Brees’ record-setting performances, not to mention 12 of Brees’ 13 victories over the Falcons since both coach and quarterback arrived in New Orleans in 2006.

He’s been monitoring Brees closely and doesn’t seem concerned about the quarterback’s form, his timing or even his chemistry with some younger receivers — including rookie Brandin Cooks and third-year pro Nick Toon — who are expected to contribute to the Saints’ passing game this season.

“It would be more concerning if he wasn’t receiving the practice snaps that he’s had,” Payton said of Brees’ limited preseason game action. “But he has gotten a ton of work. He likes to take almost every (repetition), so I think it would be more significant if he wasn’t getting those practice snaps.”

Brees, who has passed for more than 5,000 yards in each of the past three seasons, added that he’s focused during practice on executing plays with the same intensity as a game.

“If you approach practice as if it’s game-like, so that your mind is there and the speed and intensity at which you are playing is there, then it’s as if you did take” more exhibition game snaps, Brees explained, grinning as if even he is mildly amused by the psychology he practices on himself. “I think I’ve tricked my mind into thinking I did get” the preseason snaps.

Brees has faced bigger challenges before, namely in 2006, when his rehabilitation from extensive throwing shoulder surgery prevented him from passing at full strength during the entire offseason. Even during training camp, he wasn’t quite at full strength, yet helped a team that had gone 3-13 in 2005 to the NFC title game the very next season.

The Saints aren’t about to complain about the results of the three series in which Brees did play this preseason at Indianapolis during New Orleans’ third exhibition game. He led a pair of touchdown drives against the Colts’ largely first-team defense. He completed 9 of 15 passes for 128 yards and two TDs without an interception.

Brees’ teammates have little doubt the quarterback will be in similar form against the Falcons despite sitting out last week’s preseason finale.

“His resume speaks for itself, what he’s done here,” said Saints safety Jairus Byrd, who has worked against Brees in practice. “I’m not curious to see what he does.”

Right tackle Zach Strief estimated that Brees has taken more than 9,000 snaps in the Saints’ offense during the previous eight seasons.

“I think Drew’s fine. I think he’s the last guy you worry about,” Strief said. “Drew would have played in the last (preseason) game if he felt he didn’t have enough yet. He’s been practicing really well, been the same guy, obviously was in the game that he played, so we’re real confident in him.”

Notes: WR Kenny Stills (quad) did not participate in Thursday’s practice after being limited Wednesday. Safety Marcus Ball (hamstring) and fullback Erik Lorig (ankle) have not practiced this week. … The Saints have placed reserve QB Ryan Griffin on their 10-man practice squad. To make room for the second-year pro, the Saints released LB Todd Davis.

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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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