Skip to main content

Browns sticking with plans to limit Manziel access

By WTOP Staff

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns are already blocking for Johnny Manziel.

The team is not giving into any pressure and will stick with its plan to ban national media from the popular rookie quarterback’s first appearance on the field this weekend.

Cleveland’s rookie minicamp under first-year coach Mike Pettine will only be open — for one day — to local reporters and photographers. The Browns turned down several requests from national outlets, some of which were not pleased with being denied.

“We wanted to give those in the media who cover us on a daily basis access to the members of the draft class they’ve yet to meet, and also to circle back with our first two picks,” Browns spokesman Zak Gilbert said.

The Browns selected Manziel, Texas A&M’s Heisman Trophy-winning star, with the No. 22 pick in last week’s draft. The team selected Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert with the No. 8 overall pick after trading down from No. 4 to ninth, then moving back up one spot.

While the local media will be allowed inside to see Saturday’s practice, only the first 15 minutes of the workout will be open for viewing. During that window, players usually stretch and do individual drills. The practice on Sunday will be closed.

Originally, the first practice was going to be open for its entirety and Sunday’s session for 15 minutes.

But that was before the Browns took Manziel, who has brought welcomed attention to a proud franchise that has suffered through mostly losing and coaching changes since its expansion return 15 years ago.

Manziel has given the Browns a boost, but the club is hoping to keep his celebrity in check.

Pettine has experience in this area. He was on New York’s coaching staff when quarterback Tim Tebow joined the Jets. Pettine has seen the effects of “Tebowmania” and he doesn’t want Manziel to be a distraction.

Earlier this week, owner Jimmy Haslam said the Browns have already informed Manziel he won’t be given a thing.

“Mike Pettine said it very well: ‘Johnny, right now you’re our backup quarterback and you need to act like such,'” Haslam said during a speech in Canton. “We were very frank with him that that’s the expectation. ‘You’re the backup quarterback. This is a hard-working, blue-collar town. This isn’t Hollywood. We want you to come in here, work hard and work as hard as anybody on the team.’

“He’s not the starter. Brian Hoyer is our starting quarterback. Johnny is the backup.”

But for now, he’s being protected like a star.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote