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Rivera: Newton a game-time decision for Bucs

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Panthers are sounding less and less optimistic that Cam Newton will be ready for the team’s regular season opener Sunday at Tampa Bay.

Coach Ron Rivera said he will make a game-time decision on Newton’s availability after the fourth-year quarterback was limited in practice Thursday while recovering from fractured ribs.

Newton said he’s “on pace” to play and Rivera agreed.

However, neither Newton nor Rivera sounded as optimistic about Newton’s chances of playing as they did earlier in the week.

“We don’t want to put a guy out there who can’t protect himself or take a hit,” Rivera said. “We want to be smart about it.”

Rivera also emphasized the Panthers don’t want to risk further injury to Newton.

“It’s not just about game one,” Rivera said. “Let’s be realistic. (The season) is not a sprint, this is a marathon. You may not start as fast as you want, but at the same time you have to start smart.”

Newton addressed the media during a press conference Thursday after practice and talked up backup quarterback Derek Anderson and his teammates.

He also talked for the first time about the possibility of sitting out.

“I don’t want to ever put this team or myself in jeopardy that I’m just stressing to hurry up and get out there and I’m not able to be what makes me me,” Newton said.

Newton has never missed a game during his football career — at any level — due to injury.

“We’re not going to make a story out of that, because I am human,” Newton said. “We all understand our limits, we all know what we can and can’t do. Like I told coach, and I want to confirm it to everybody, I will not put this team at risk to hurt it by anything.”

Rivera said Newton did what was asked of him at practice on Thursday, but refused to say if the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback actually threw any passes.

Newton fractured his ribs Aug. 22 in a preseason game against New England.

Anderson, who has started 43 games during his NFL career, would start if Newton can’t play.

Newton has also struggled with an ankle injury this offseason, undergoing surgery in March.

He said entering the season injured has been “frustrating” and compared his body to an old car.

“You fix the AC (air conditioning) and now the carburetor is out,” Newton said. “Then you fix the carburetor, you’ve got a flat tire. You fix the tire, now your windshield wipers don’t work.

“It’s frustrating, because you know it’s a good car. This car has got you to this point. Now it’s like everything is happening. The thing is, you keep messing the car up, and you’re not even driving it.”

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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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