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Browns’ Gordon facing possible suspension

By WTOP Staff

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — A day of celebration dissolved into confusion for the Browns.

Hours after quarterback Johnny Manziel’s arrival had Cleveland’s football pulse racing faster than it had in years, a report that star wide receiver Josh Gordon may be facing an indefinite suspension shattered the city’s collective joy.

One star in, one maybe on his way out.

As the second round of the NFL draft was set to open Friday, ESPN reported that Gordon, who led the NFL in yards receiving last season, had failed another drug test for marijuana and could be banned for a year. The ESPN report, based on anonymous sources, described letters the Pro Bowler received about the failed test.

The Browns deferred any comment on Gordon’s situation to the league office. Gordon’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, declined comment.

Browns general manager Ray Farmer refused to address any specifics on Gordon’s situation, which he called “a lot of shocking, supposedly news.”

“We’re not going to talk or comment on our player’s health status of anyone who’s on this roster,” Farmer said, repeating a similar line several times as he was pressed by reporters.

Farmer said he’ll remain silent until he has clarity from the league.

Gordon was suspended without pay for the first two games last season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy for the second time, but still led the league with 1,646 yards receiving in 14 games. He had 87 catches and nine touchdowns.

Gordon, who was taken in the 2012 supplemental draft, entered the league with a history of substance issues. He was excused from Baylor’s team for twice failing drug tests and he also failed a test after transferring to Utah.

The Browns have been pleased with the easygoing Gordon’s maturity and his off-the-field progress. The team had the 23-year-old involved in many of their offseason activities this winter, including him in meetings with free agents and keeping him apprised of their plans.

At last week’s voluntary mini-camp, first-year Browns coach Mike Pettine praised Gordon for his game-breaking abilities and his willingness to accept his role with the team. Gordon spoke to a small group of reporters away from the TV cameras and said he was pleased to be so entwined in the team’s offseason regimen.

“It was actually big. I was surprised by it,” Gordon said. “It was good to have that camaraderie, we never really had that before. Nobody really tried to instill that in this group, but hopefully that brings us all together.”

Gordon was expected to be the top playmaker for either Manziel or incumbent starter Brian Hoyer.

Farmer would not comment on if the Browns were aware of Gordon’s possible ban before Thursday’s opening round, when they traded out of the No. 4, sending that pick to Buffalo for the No. 9 pick and a first- and fourth-rounder in 2015. Buffalo used the fourth selection on Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins.

If Gordon is suspended, the Browns are in big trouble at wide receiver. Greg Little and Nate Burleson would be the most experienced players at the position with newly signed Andrew Hawkins at the slot position.

Burleson underwent surgery last week to fix a plate in the left arm he broke in a car accident last year when he was with Detroit.

“I’m just fine,” he said in a text message to the AP. “I had a minor surgery to fix the plate in my arm so I’ll be ready well before training camp. If today were the playoffs, I would be playing.”

Farmer said he’s not concerned about his team’s depth at wide receiver.

“We play games in September, right now there’s plenty of opportunity for us to acquire players and make things happen whether it’s in trades or draft picks or players who get cut,” he said.

The Browns were expected to address their depth at receiver before the report on Gordon surfaced. But Cleveland went in a different direction in the second round, taking Nevada offensive tackle Joel Bitonio with the No. 35 overall pick.

At 6-foot-4, 302 pounds, Bitonio can also play guard and has been described as “nasty.”

“I like to play hard,” he said. “Football is played to the whistle and you have to play as hard as you can every snap. If you can play that hard every play, then there’s a good chance that if you’re equally talented and use your technique well, you’ll be able to beat the guy you’re going against. I want to play as hard as I possibly can. I know the AFC North is a tough, hard-nosed division, and I hope I can a little bit of that to the team.”

The Browns passed over wide receivers — seven were drafted in the second round — again in the third, when they selected Iowa linebacker Christian Kirksey. The 6-foot-1, 233-pounder played outside linebacker last season for the Hawkeyes, but Cleveland’s coaching staff envisions him playing inside.

Later, the Browns moved back into the third round and picked Towson State running back Terrance West. Cleveland sent a fourth-rounder (No. 106) and sixth-rounder (No. 180) to San Francisco for the No. 94 pick to take West, who rushed for 2,509 yards and 41 touchdowns last season.

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AP Sports Writer Larry Lage in Detroit contributed to this report.

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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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