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After another comeback win, Cardinals get time off

By WTOP Staff

BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Three times already this season, the Arizona Cardinals have fallen behind only to rally to victory in the second half.

The latest comeback came in Sunday’s 23-14 win over San Francisco, a team Arizona had beaten once in its last 10 tries.

Heading into a bye week, coach Bruce Arians said that show of resiliency stands out above everything else.

“The biggest thing is they respect the process,” he said Monday. “They come to work every day. They focus on that day and we get better each day and we don’t look to the future. We have to guard against that as we get better and people start patting you on the back.”

The Cardinals have outscored their opponents 30-0 in the fourth quarter.

Arizona really isn’t sneaking up on anybody. Dating to last season, the Cardinals have won 10 of their last 12, tied with Carolina and Philadelphia for the NFL’s best record in that span. They are the only team in the past two seasons to win at Seattle.

But a series of misfortunes seemed to make a fast start this year unlikely.

First, they lost defensive tackle Darnell Dockett to a season-ending knee injury in training camp, then outside linebacker John Abraham showed up late for camp after attending alcohol rehab. Abraham went down with a concussion in the season opener, one so severe that he is out for the season.

Backup running back Jonathan Dwyer was arrested on domestic violence charges and is on a non-football illness list, meaning he’s out for the season.

And quarterback Carson Palmer damaged a nerve in his throwing shoulder in the opener and has not been able to throw a pass since. Enter Drew Stanton, Palmer’s backup who had not taken a snap in a regular-season game since 2010 or, as he put it, “a well-documented 1,100 days.”

All Stanton did was direct Arizona to a road win over the New York Giants, then throw a pair of third-quarter touchdown passes to rookie John Brown on Sunday against San Francisco. In that third quarter, he was 5-for-7 for 102 yards. Stanton has yet to be intercepted.

“He does more than manage the game,” Arians said. “He gave us a chance to win the game, especially with those throws in the red zone.”

Just how much longer Stanton will be the No. 1 quarterback is an open question.

Palmer hasn’t been able to throw for two weeks despite extensive treatment. He is hopeful that the bye week will allow what has been called a “dead nerve” to come to life.

If not, Stanton will be back at the controls when the Cardinals venture to Denver to face the Broncos on Oct. 5.

Whoever is the quarterback has an array of targets. Veteran Larry Fitzgerald, who didn’t catch a pass until the fourth quarter but still extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 152, is no longer the only option, often not even the second or third one.

Michael Floyd has taken Fitzgerald’s spot as the most dangerous wide receiver. He caught five for 114 yards on Sunday, his second 100-yard receiving game this year. Tight end John Carlson had a big catch in a first-and-long situation. And then there’s Brown, the diminutive speedster from little Pittsburg State who has been a sensation since the day he stepped on the training camp field.

“He’s very mature, very mature,” Arians said. “And he came in with a quick understanding of what we’re trying to get done. Very few rookies can adapt that fast, not only to the speed of the game but to the volume of information getting thrown at you.”

The defense, despite significant personnel changes, has shown its trademark ability to stop the run and make halftime adjustments under coordinator Todd Bowles.

And Stanton impressed Cardinals fans and players with his toughness after taking a series of fierce hits.

One came on the game-winning TD drive, when Stanton slid to the ground and was hit in the head by linebacker Dan Skuta. Skuta called it a bad call. The very next play, Stanton drew a roughing-the-passer penalty against Patrick Willis.

“The first one, I thought, was a cheap shot,” Arians said. “There’s no doubt he was sliding and that could have ended his career, that hit, but he’s extremely tough.”

___

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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