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Johnson returns to bolster Eagles’ O-line

By WTOP Staff

ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Lane Johnson watched the Philadelphia Eagles lose one offensive lineman after another, worked out hard in Texas and waited for a chance to return to help his teammates.

Welcome back.

Johnson lined up at right tackle on Tuesday in his first practice since rejoining the team following a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He gives a beleaguered line a much-needed boost going into Sunday’s game against St. Louis (1-2).

“It wasn’t fun feeling helpless,” Johnson said about not being around the team. “I’m just a bystander. It’s definitely on your mind, and what’s worse is seeing your guys, teammates getting injured.”

Johnson wasn’t allowed to communicate with coaches during his suspension, but stayed in contact with teammates. He stayed in shape by working out at Athletes Performance Institute in Frisco, Texas.

The Eagles (3-1) lost All-Pro left guard Evan Mathis for two months in the season opener. Allen Barbre, who replaced Johnson, suffered a season-ending ankle injury in that game. Center Jason Kelce is out indefinitely after sports hernia surgery last week.

With a makeshift line, the Eagles haven’t had much success running the ball. LeSean McCoy, an All-Pro last year, is averaging just 2.7 yards per carry. Coach Chip Kelly’s lack of confidence in the line was evident when he had Nick Foles throw twice from the 1 with the game on the line in a 26-21 loss at San Francisco.

Johnson’s return allows Todd Herremans to return to right guard, giving the Eagles three starters at their regular positions. Matt Tobin remains in Mathis’ spot and David Molk is filling for Kelce.

“Obviously we had a few different plays, different schemes thrown in, but I learned that in the meetings, came out and felt good,” Johnson said after practice. “Tomorrow will be full pads and we’ll get back to real football. Just getting back out here and getting a few plays under your belt, and kind of getting back into the rhythm of it. Basically that’s all it is, a rhythm. Once you get in practice every day, day in and day out, it gets to a second nature.”

There was no hesitation about putting Johnson right back into the lineup despite his absence the past month. Johnson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2013 draft, started 17 games last year, including the playoffs. He helped pave the way for McCoy to set a franchise record in yards rushing.

“He’s in great shape,” offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. “He kind of informed us what he was doing. He did what he could to stay in shape and kind of watched things from afar. We’ll put him in there and get him going.”

While Johnson practiced, three key players were on the sideline. Linebacker Mychal Kendricks hasn’t been out since injuring his calf in Week 2. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was a surprise non-participant and cornerback Brandon Boykin hurt his hamstring against the 49ers. Maclin said he’s fine and it’s likely he’ll be rested occasionally as he continues his return following ACL surgery last year.

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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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