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Jets RB Le’Veon Bell reportedly wants a trade, could a reunion in Pittsburgh be an option?

By Ethan Cadeaux

Could a reunion in Pittsburgh be an option for Le'Veon Bell? originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

The Le’Veon Bell experience in New York was a disaster. Now, it’s finally come to an end.

The 28-year-old running back was released on Tuesday after the Jets were unable to trade him and his expensive contract. The move came just 18 games into Bell’s tenure with the Jets after signing a four-year, $52 million deal with New York in 2019.

With Bell no longer in the Big Apple, it begs the question: where will he end up next?

Well, there’s one team that should consider trading for the running back, and it’s a team both Bell and the Baltimore Ravens are familiar with.

That would be the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team Bell spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with.

During his time with the Steelers, Bell ascended from a second-round pick to arguably the NFL’s best running back. Yes, he did run behind an incredible offensive line and play in an offense with multiple other stars that helped ease the load on him. But make no mistake about it, Bell was a star in the Steel City.

It wasn’t all roses in Pittsburgh, however, as the breakup was quite messy. Bell infamously sat out the entire 2018 season to preserve his body before hitting free agency, as the running back and Pittsburgh could not agree on a long-term deal.

Bell ultimately got the money he wanted by signing with the Jets, but questions about his fit with the team immediately came to the forefront. Since then, nothing has happened to alleviate those concerns.

Last year — Bell’s first with the Jets — the running back ran for a career-low 3.2 yards-per-carry. His 52.6 yards-per-game average was by far the lowest of his NFL tenure. His three touchdowns were tied for the worst mark of his career.

Bell’s name was a popular one around the trade deadline last season, but the Jets ultimately didn’t pull the trigger on a deal. However, multiple teams did inquire about Bell’s services, including his old team in Pittsburgh.

Since Bell’s departure, James Conner has been the primary back in Pittsburgh. Conner has been solid for the Steelers, but he’s also yet to play a full season for the team and missed six games last season due to injury. Pittsburgh has gotten some contribution from rushers Benny Snell and Jaylen Samuels, too, but nothing consistent enough to count on a weekly basis.

So, while running back might necessarily be a need for the Black and Gold, the team certainly could benefit from Bell’s services.

Pittsburgh has begun the 2020 season 4-0 and has looked as good as any team thus far. And while he’s played well, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is 38 years old and coming off a major elbow injury. With no QB for the future in place, this year could be one of the last for Pittsburgh to make a Super Bowl run in the near future.

Since arriving in New York, Bell has gone from a top-three running back to a borderline starter. If Bell is still an elite NFL running back — which he surely believes he is — he wasn’t be able to showcase that with the Jets.

A reunion between Bell and Pittsburgh makes too much sense for both sides. And if it happens, Baltimore and the rest of the AFC better watch out.

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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