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With receiver Jones on way back, Bengals improving

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Bengals are in position to get a lot better in the one area where they’re lacking on offense.

Receiver Marvin Jones is close to rejoining the Bengals (3-0) as they get ready to play at New England (2-2) on Sunday night. Jones is one of Cincinnati’s best options close to the goal line, one that they’ve missed a lot.

Even though they’re one of only two unbeaten teams left in the NFL, they’re not without blemishes. They’ve struggled to finish drives during their first three games, sending out Mike Nugent for 11 field goal attempts.

They’ve been missing Jones, who broke his left foot during training camp and had a screw inserted to help the healing. He’s close to rejoining the offense as the Bengals return from their bye week, giving quarterback Andy Dalton a favorite target in the end zone.

Jones was on the field at Paul Brown Stadium on Wednesday in a shirt and shorts, jogging and playing catch on the sideline. He could join practice later in the week, putting him in position to run some plays in Foxborough.

Jones caught 10 touchdown passes last season, nine of them when the Bengals ran plays inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

“He’s a guy that can really stretch the field,” Dalton said. “Just having another playmaker out there that can do really good stuff for us — it will be fun to have him back.”

The Bengals have scored touchdowns on six of their 10 possessions inside the opponents’ 20-yard line, which ties for 14th in the NFL in red zone TD percentage.

The Bengals drafted Jones in the fifth round in 2012 from California, hoping to add some speed to their group of receivers. He’s become very adept at using his 6-foot-2 frame and his leaping ability in crowded end zones.

“He goes up and makes plays and attacks the ball,” Dalton said. “That’s why he caught so many touchdowns last year.”

Jones had 712 yards receiving last year. He had 130 yards in catching during a playoff loss to San Diego, setting a club record. He also set a club record with four touchdown catches during a 49-9 win over the Jets on Oct. 27.

Jones said it’s important to convert on opportunities in the red zone.

“You just get in the mode,” Jones said. “Everything enhances.”

The offense ranks seventh in the league total yards. Dalton is the league’s 12th-ranked passer with a 95.4 rating. He’s thrown only one interception and has yet to be sacked.

The Bengals are the only unbeaten team in the AFC even though there’s still a lot of room to improve on offense, especially when they get close to the goal line.

“It’s definitely encouraging,” Jones said. “It shows there’s still meat on the bone. When we capitalize on those opportunities and we’re able to get points off that, it’s even better. It’s a great problem to have, I guess.”

Notes: Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict didn’t practice on Wednesday. He hasn’t been cleared to return from his second concussion of the season. Burfict sat out a 33-7 win over Tennessee before the bye week. He was on the field in a T-shirt and baseball cap. … Right guard Kevin Zeitler went through drills on the sideline, showing a lot of improvement in his injured right calf. Zeitler was hurt during the second game of the season and sat out the win over Tennessee.

___

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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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