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Falcons’ OL loses Hawley, Holmes for season

By WTOP Staff

CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are facing a dramatic overhaul on their offensive line after announcing Tuesday that injuries have ended the seasons for center Joe Hawley and right tackle Lamar Holmes.

Atlanta’s defense also took a big hit as safety William Moore will miss at least eight weeks with a shoulder injury.

Hawley (right knee) and Holmes (foot) were placed on injured reserve. Moore was placed on injured return-designated to return. He can begin practicing in six weeks and will be eligible to return on Nov. 30 against the Cardinals.

The three starters were hurt in Sunday’s 41-28 loss at Minnesota. The moves left Atlanta with serious holes to fill before this week’s game at the New York Giants.

“This is a no-blink mentality,” said coach Mike Smith. “You just move on and keep working.”

Atlanta now has lost three starting offensive linemen this year. Left tackle Sam Baker and backup lineman Mike Johnson had season-ending injuries before the season.

Left guard Justin Blalock left Sunday’s game with a back injury. He returned to the sideline after being taken to the locker room. The Falcons provided no update Blalock’s status on Tuesday.

The injuries to three linemen forced tight end Levine Toilolo to finish the game at right tackle.

“You usually only dress seven in a game and to lose three, that’s the first time in my career we’ve had to finish with a tight end playing tackle,” said offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. “You definitely have some adjustments to be made.”

Koetter said Peter Konz will move up as the starting center and Gabe Carimi will take over at right tackle. If Blalock can’t play this week, Carimi could move to left guard and Ryan Schraeder would be the fill-in starter at right tackle.

“We feel like we had good depth in our offensive line,” Koetter said. “Now we’ve lost three or four guys who were experienced players for us. It will definitely be a challenge but we feel like these guys are up to the challenge.”

Moore, a 2012 Pro Bowl selection, is a leader in the secondary who had a key forced fumble in overtime of the Falcons’ opening win over New Orleans.

Kemal Ishmael, who had an interception return for a touchdown against Tampa Bay, is the likely replacement for Moore.

Moore’s injury takes another leader away from the defense. Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon tore his Achilles tendon in a routine offseason workout and will miss the season.

Atlanta signed safety Sean Baker, tackle Cameron Bradfield and guard Harland Gunn to the active roster. The team signed safety Kimario McFadden and guard Adam Replogle to the practice squad.

Baker (6-0, 209) spent part of the 2013 season on the Falcons’ practice squad before being added to the active roster for the final game. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent out of Ball State in 2012.

Bradfield (6-4, 308) was cut by Jacksonville on Sept. 16. He started 11 games at left tackle for Jacksonville last season. He also has played at guard.

Gunn (6-2, 310) was signed by the Falcons in 2012 and played in three games at guard last season.

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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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