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Giants have little time to prep for Washington

By WTOP Staff

TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — While the New York Giants appeared to avoid any serious injuries for their mid-week game against the Washington Redskins, that doesn’t mean there won’t be any lineup changes.

Coach Tom Coughlin said Monday that safety Stevie Brown was not hurt when he was replaced by rookie Nat Berhe in the second half of the 30-17 win over the Houston Texans Sunday.

Coughlin did not want to discuss the change. There was no indication who would start on Thursday night when the Giants (1-2) played the Redskins (1-2) in Washington.

Brown was pulled after he was beaten on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Damaris Johnson. He exchanged words with coordinator Perry Fewell after the play.

Berhe was on the field for 19 plays and made two tackles.

“It’s my experience of seeing him play in training camp and in preseason, he is a hitter,” linebacker Jameel McClain said Monday. “I’m a sucker for a hitter. Some people like certain things and I like people who come down and hit. That’s one of the things I like about him. He has a lot good things to his game but what I like the most is that he’ll come in and hit you.”

Ironically, there won’t be a lot of hitting as the Giants prepare for Washington, which is coming off a 37-34 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles (3-0).

Players came in late Monday and had introductory meetings for the game. The only full day of practice will be on Tuesday and Coughlin said nothing will be done at full speed.

“Really the field work is very minimal,” Coughlin said. “We want them to see everything but we don’t want a lot of exertion in terms of.I want them to move around enough to help the soreness, work the soreness out.”

Offensive tackle Justin Pugh, who took an ice bath on Monday, said this is a week where the players have to do some of the preparations away from team facility.

Pugh said he will undergo cryotherapy, a treatment in which very cold temperatures are used to decrease inflammation and increase blood flow. He will also get a massage, have acupuncture and eat the right foods.

“It’s something where it’s part of the NFL, you have to be able to do that and get your body right,” Pugh said.

The good news for the Giants is that they are playing the Redskins, a team they play twice a year. It’s not like facing the Texans, who they meet once every three years.

McClain, who had a team-high 11 tackles moving from strongside linebacker to the middle for the injured Jon Beason, said both teams face short weeks so there is no advantage.

“It’s more of a mental-preparation style week,” McClain said. “You really can’t go into the physical because your body doesn’t recover until Tuesday or Wednesday.”

Coughlin said coming out of the game relatively healthy has other benefits. Players can concentrate on the game plan.

“That is the challenge is to get them back to the point where that’s all behind them,” Coughlin said. “If you do happen to stay away from injuries of any kind, even some of the muscular kind that people play with but doesn’t make them a high percentage of health, you are better off.”

NOTES: Coughlin is not sure whether Beason (foot-ankle) will be able to play on Thursday. …First-round draft pick Odell Beckham Jr. (hamstring) is making progress but Coughlin is not sure when he will make his NFL debut. … “We are trying to be as patient as we can with the idea being that when we get him back, we are going to have him,” Coughlin said. …The Giants are playing their Thursday game on the road for the third consecutive season. They beat Carolina in 2012 and lost in Chicago last season.

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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