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Bucs backup RB Rainey making name for himself

By WTOP Staff

FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — It hasn’t taken long for Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith to develop an appreciation for Bobby Rainey, the diminutive running back who’s making a name for himself as Doug Martin’s backup.

The play of the third-year pro has been one of the few encouraging aspects of the disappointing 0-2 record the Bucs will take into Thursday night game at Atlanta.

Filling in for the injured Martin, the 5-foot-8, 212-pound Rainey rushed for 144 yards on 22 carries — the second-most in the NFL this season, during last week’s 19-17 loss to St. Louis. He also had three pass receptions for 30 yards, giving him 174 total yards from scrimmage, the third-highest single-game total in the league so far.

Martin, a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie two years ago, hurt his left knee while being limited to nine yards on nine carries during a season-opening loss to Carolina. The Bucs held him out of the Rams game, and his status this week remains uncertain after being limited in practice on Tuesday.

Smith has preached since the start of training camp that the team needs at least two productive runners to have the type of rushing attack he feels is required to be successful.

“Talking about my glass being half full … the job Bobby Rainey did, stepping up,” the coach said. “And the offensive line put him a position to do those things. Those are the things that we will build on.”

Undrafted following a standout college career at Western Kentucky, Rainey opened his rookie year on Baltimore’s practice squad in 2012.

He began last season with Cleveland, appearing in six games before being waived by the Browns and signing with Tampa Bay after the Bucs lost Martin to a season-ending shoulder injury in October.

The rest of the NFL has been taking notice of him ever since.

Last season’s 80-yard touchdown burst against Buffalo is the longest run in Bucs history and came less than a month after a 30-carry, career-best 163-yard rushing performance in a victory over Atlanta.

Rainey had two touchdowns rushing and one receiving against the Falcons.

“That was kind of his coming out party,” Atlanta coach Mike Smith recalled Tuesday. “He’s small in stature, but he’s a very strong runner. He’s got very good vision, and there’s not a whole lot of area to hit. You’ve got shoulder pads and knees, and that’s about it.”

The Falcons (1-1) are 26th in the league in rushing defense, allowing an average of 154.5 yards per game.

Not that that means anything to Rainey, a native of Griffin, Georgia, near Atlanta.

“It’s not just me on the field. We’ve got a lot of weapons,” the running back said.

If Martin, who rushed for 1,454 yards in 2012, remains sidelined Thursday, Rainey will make his eighth career start and share the workload with second-year pro Mike James.

The 26-year-old relishes any chance he gets to prove he can get the job done.

“That’s the hardest thing for a player, knowing that you belong and you’re capable of doing the things that you see other guys do,” Rainey said.

“It’s a matter of being patient,” he added, “and waiting for the right opportunity, and the right team, with the right fit for you.”

___

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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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