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Manning, injured Giants take field for OTAs

By WTOP Staff

JIM HAGUE
Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Eli Manning participated with the first-team offense Thursday at the New York Giants’ organized team activity, showing no signs of the ankle surgery he underwent nearly two months ago.

“I feel like I can do almost anything football related,” said Manning, who took most of the snaps during the workout. “I’m not going to take any time off. This is the second day, and I want to see how it’s responding. There is no swelling, no discomfort, no issues. I’m able to go about my business.”

Manning had ankle surgery in early April after enduring the worst season of his 10-year NFL career. He threw 27 interceptions with just 18 TDs and was sacked a career-high 39 times. The Giants finished 7-9.

The ankle bothered Manning for most of the season and knocked him out of the final game against the Washington Redskins, the first time Manning went to the sideline because of an injury in his career.

“My goal was always to be back for the OTAs,” Manning said. “The doctors said that I needed seven weeks after surgery. They didn’t tell me that I wouldn’t be ready, but I had it in my mind that I should be ready. After three weeks, I knew I was feeling pretty good.”

The Giants are installing a new version of the West Coast offense under the guidance of new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo.

“It has been a learning experience for me and for everyone, learning the new offense,” Manning said. “I like it. Everything about it makes sense. We’ve made some good plays over the last two days. It’s still the early stages, but I like where we’re headed.”

Giants coach Tom Coughlin isn’t surprised by Manning’s progress.

“When he first started, we tried to slow him down,” Coughlin said. “But he wants to go. We thought the progress would be slow, but he’s so far ahead. There may be a day where he’s a little sore, but he hasn’t shown it yet. “

Manning believes that he made the right decision having the surgery.

“It feels a lot better than it did,” Manning said. “It’s why we went ahead and had the surgery. There’s no discomfort. I’m running and doing drills. I don’t want to have to worry about the ankle. I thought I might miss some time, but I didn’t want to.

“After a while, I was able to do certain things without pain. After three weeks, I was able to do about 15 to 20 drops and I felt good. I thought I could be here. I wanted to be smart and not rush it if I wasn’t ready. The goal now is not to have any setbacks. I’ll continue to monitor it, rehab it. I still have some work to do.”

He’s not the only Giant player making a comeback from surgery.

Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul spent the offseason rehabbing a shoulder injury after back surgery last June. Having lost 20 pounds down to 275, Pierre-Paul feels fit and ready to return to his All-Pro status.

“I feel great,” said Pierre-Paul, who had only two sacks in 11 games last season. “Nothing is bothering me. It’s all behind me. I know I wasn’t at 100 percent last year. It’s a new season, a team with a lot of new faces. I’m ready to go out there and show everyone what I can do.”

Running back David Wilson had neck surgery after the first-round pick out of West Virginia played five games in 2013, collecting only 146 yards.

Doctors said at the time that his surgery was possibly career-threatening.

“The doctors are worried about me bumping into someone or falling down,” said Wilson, who is still prohibited from enduring any contact until his next MRI on Wednesday. “I feel great, but it’s out of my hands. I just have to rest.”

Wilson participated in some light drills Thursday.

“He’s out there running and he’s looking good,” Coughlin said of Wilson.

Safety Stevie Brown, who had left knee surgery last fall after tearing it in preseason, wore no brace.

“One of the first things I did when I first started rehab was not having to rely on any brace,” said Brown, who was second in the NFL in interceptions with eight in 2012, before missing all of last season. “I did things slowly without a brace.”

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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