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Bills’ Kyle Orton focused solely on beating Lions

By WTOP Staff

JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — It didn’t take quarterback Kyle Orton long to make a distinct impression in his first practice as the Buffalo Bills’ starter on Wednesday.

“It’s not so much different, because he’s doing the same thing, it’s just the ball’s coming out a little bit quicker,” second-year receiver Robert Woods said.

“He demands what he wants out of us,” added receiver Sammy Watkins, the rookie first-round draft pick. “The way he talks, the way he handles business, the way he looks at plays and breaks down defenses is kind of different than EJ.”

Watkins was referring to EJ Manuel, the second-year starter who was benched on Monday.

It’s on Orton to provide a spark to what’s been a sluggish offense on Sunday, when the Bills (2-2) travel to play the Detroit Lions (3-1).

“I’m happy to be here,” Orton said. “I’m excited for the opportunity that I have, and can’t wait to play on Sunday.”

Orton has enjoyed a quick ascendance in Buffalo since agreeing a two-year, $7.9 million contract on Aug. 29.

Before that, he was spending time at home in Texas focusing on being a family man after getting cut by the Dallas Cowboys in mid-July.

“It was so long ago,” Orton said, declining to say whether he had been contemplating retirement.

And forget asking the 10-year journeyman — now playing for his fourth team in four years — whether the game at Detroit represents yet another chance to re-establish himself.

“That’s a bad way to look at it if you’re looking into the future,” Orton said. “We’ve got one game to win, and we’re going to do all that we can to win that one game.”

For now, Orton represents the short-term future for the Bills, who have reached an early season crossroad. They’re coming off two straight losses, and switching course for the third time in five seasons at a quarterback position that’s been mostly unsettled since Hall of Famer Jim Kelly retired after the 1996 season.

The latest change was prompted after Manuel was hesitant and erratic in a 23-17 loss at Houston on Sunday.

The turning point came on the Bills’ first possession of the second half. Facing third-and-3 at the Texans 12, Manuel’s short pass was intercepted by J.J. Watt and returned 80 yards for a touchdown that put Houston ahead 14-10.

Manuel finished 21 of 44 for 225 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

“We took a step back with EJ,” coach Doug Marrone said, Wednesday. “At the end of the day, my responsibility is to make sure we put this team in a position to win. So I did what I thought … in my heart and my mind was the best thing.”

Marrone placed his faith in Orton because of the quarterback’s experience and how he’s looked in practice. Marrone doesn’t expect rust to be a factor for a quarterback who was cut by the Cowboys after he failed to attend any of the team’s offseason workouts.

Orton’s last start was Dec. 29, in a 24-22 loss to Philadelphia that ended the Cowboys’ chances of making the playoffs. Dallas was moving into field-goal position with 1:49 remaining, when Orton threw a game-deciding interception.

Selected in the fourth round by Chicago in 2005, Orton has a 35-35 record, but has won just eight of his past 31 starts. Orton has also spent time in Denver, and appeared in four games with Kansas City before spending the past two years serving as Tony Romo’s backup in Dallas.

Orton said he’s comfortable with the Bills offense, and doesn’t believe the playbook needs to be limited.

He is also spending time building a rapport with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. The Bills stretching period wasn’t yet over, when Orton got up and had a brief discussion with Hackett. The two talked again several times in between plays.

“He’s trying to get a feel for me a little bit, and obviously, as a quarterback, you’d love to have a great feel for your coordinator,” Orton said. “Really, the last 48 hours we’ve been working hard together.”

He also spoke highly of Manuel.

“I’ve been there, and EJ’s going to be a great quarterback,” Orton said. “He’s got a long time to grow.”

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://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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