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Jets secondary far from ‘Revis Island’ days

By WTOP Staff

RACHEL COHEN
AP Sports Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Rex Ryan said seeing Darrelle Revis in a Patriots uniform makes him “a little sick to my stomach.”

The New York Jets’ coach was back in a joking mood two days after his team lost its fifth straight. The defensive backfield that Revis used to lead, though, might have him feeling a bit queasy.

“I think a lot of people talk bad about our secondary,” said cornerback Darrin Walls, one of the players who will have to make up for the absence of starter Dee Milliner against Tom Brady and New England on Thursday night.

Milliner went on season-ending injured reserve Monday after tearing his right Achilles tendon the day before.

Milliner, Dimitri Patterson and Dexter McDougle were supposed to be the Jets’ top three cornerbacks at the start of training camp. Patterson was released after leaving the team without permission and missing a preseason game. McDougle was also lost to a season-ending injury.

The Jets have one interception in six games.

It’s a far cry from the days of “Revis Island.” The Jets will pay their former All-Pro cornerback a visit Thursday when they travel to New England for their AFC East opener.

Ryan didn’t want to draw the ire of the Seattle Seahawks’ Richard Sherman by suggesting that Revis is still the best cornerback in the league, but he’s noticed that Revis seems to be matching up one-on-one with the opponent’s top receiver more and more — just as he did in New York.

“The guy doesn’t have his own nickname for no reason,” backup quarterback Michael Vick said Tuesday.

Ryan and Revis’ former teammates have already gone through the experience of playing against him. His first game with the Buccaneers last season after the trade to Tampa Bay was against the Jets. Revis then signed with the Patriots in the offseason as a free agent.

“I thought it was really weird last year when you saw him opening day, but I don’t know how I will react when I see him over there,” Ryan said.

The Jets’ secondary must face Brady and Peyton Manning in a five-day span. On Sunday, they played without Milliner for most of the game and managed to keep New York in it, holding Manning to 237 yards passing, well below his average. Manning still had three touchdowns, and the Broncos won 31-17, the last Denver TD scored by its defense.

The news is better for the Jets for the group of receivers that will go against Revis.

Eric Decker, hobbled by a hamstring injury most of the season, said he felt fine after Sunday’s game and was confident he would be OK with the short turnaround. He leads the Jets with 258 yards receiving and three touchdowns despite missing a game.

David Nelson, who was held out Sunday because of an ankle injury, practiced fully Tuesday. So did rookie tight end Jace Amaro, who leads the Jets with 24 catches and was limited Monday by a knee problem.

But Greg Salas, who started at receiver Sunday, didn’t practice Tuesday because of wrist and ankle injuries and had a cast on the wrist. Ryan said it “doesn’t look real good” that Salas will play Thursday.

Ryan said the Jets did some game-planning for the Patriots during training camp knowing that the short week awaited. They never could have predicted the season would already feel as though it was slipping away in Week 7.

“Very desperate,” defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson said of his mindset. “Hoping everybody feels like me.”

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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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