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Haden happy with contract, Manziel joining Browns

By WTOP Staff

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The moment that rocked Cleveland, when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Johnny Manziel was coming, even wobbled one of the Browns.

Like everyone, Joe Haden caught Johnny Football fever.

“I was hyped,” the Pro Bowl cornerback said Wednesday. “You know me. I’m a little bit on the flashy side, and I like that.”

Haden’s a lot flashier now after signing a five-year contract extension worth $68 million. The deal announced Tuesday includes $45 million in total guarantees and a $14 million signing bonus. Haden is now the NFL’s second-highest paid cornerback behind Seattle’s Richard Sherman.

But even before the big payday, Haden considered himself one of the game’s top corners, a member of an elite class of shutdown artists with Sherman, Patrick Peterson and Darrelle Revis.

“I would put myself up there ever since Day 1,” he said. “When you don’t win as many games, you don’t really get the recognition. Once you have good coaches behind you and your teammates behind you and you have the organization behind you, that’s all that really matters. And then once you get the contract, then everybody else seems to notice what was going on.”

The Browns made signing Haden to a long-term deal one of their top offseason goals. The team completed the agreement with agent Drew Rosenhaus earlier this week, extending a run of positive news for a franchise in desperate need of an infusion of optimism.

Browns first-year coach Mike Pettine now knows he’ll be able to assign Haden to cover the opponents’ top receiver for the foreseeable future.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled and I know our defensive coaches were all fired up when they got the news,” Pettine said. “After we watched the film and got a chance to be around Joe and see his passion for the game, and how much he loves being here in Cleveland, loves being a Brown — and that’s infectious. It was something we put on the to-do list early on and we’re thrilled to be able to get it crossed off.”

Along with drafting Manziel, the Browns got Haden some help by selecting Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert with the first of their two first-round picks.

“He’s a really, really talented player,” Haden said. “When I was out at the combine I got to really watch him go through the drills, and my little brother was a big fan of him. He had me watch his highlight tape, so he was my favorite corner coming out.”

But just because he’s now financially set, Haden, who was drafted by the Browns in the first round in 2010, won’t stop working on his craft.

He’s not satisfied. Not even close.

“This contract only makes me want to feel like now I have to play like the best corner in the league,” he said.

Haden has worked hard at his image. He’s a regular at Cavaliers games, and his enthusiastic attitude about Cleveland has made him one of the city’s most popular athletes. But a four-game suspension in 2010 for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy tarnished Haden’s otherwise pristine reputation.

It was a tough lesson, but one he’s learned from.

“It’s been a little long ride, a little bit of bumps in the road,” said Haden, who credits his marriage for calming him down. “But now, it’s all coming together. I’m super blessed. It’s been a whole lot more about football. A lot of that stuff can get you mixed up when you first come in and you’re making a lot of money and things are going all good. You can lose sight.

“I have my priorities in order.”

Manziel has already brought a buzz to the Browns, and the excitement will only grow in the months ahead. Haden is looking forward to the rookie quarterback’s arrival, and not just because it will raise Cleveland’s profile.

Haden feels Manziel will push Brian Hoyer for the starting job, and that’s good for the team.

“When you get to this level, it doesn’t really matter how much people hype you, how much people talk about you. It’s what you do on the field,” he said. “It’s going to be competition, and I like it. You get more attention here. You get more people watching the Browns, and all we’ve got to do now is just make noise and everybody is going to look good.”

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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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