Skip to main content

Colts open camp with WR Wayne back on field

By WTOP Staff

ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) — Reggie Wayne is back to being his old self.

A little more than nine months after injuring his right knee, the perennial Pro Bowler was finally back on the practice field catching passes from quarterback Andrew Luck and working overtime receiving balls from the JUGS machine.

Yep, things are getting back to normal for the Colts.

“This is what I worked hard for. This is all the two- and three-a-days and rehabbing and stuff like that. This is what it’s about,” Wayne said after hauling in two balls Thursday. “Today felt pretty doggone good.”

Wayne had been the model of consistency until tearing his ACL in the fourth quarter of a victory over Denver and former teammate Peyton Manning last October.

He enters this season with 1,006 receptions, 13,566 yards, and 80 TDs. But the injury ended streaks of catching at least 70 passes and accumulating at least 960 yards, something he did every year from 2004 through 2012, as well as his streak of 189 consecutive games played.

Instead, Wayne was forced into the role of coach and motivator as he and a large group of injured offensive starters worked their way back to health.

Running back Vick Ballard, like Wayne, tore an ACL early last season, running back Ahmad Bradshaw had season-ending neck surgery in October, starting guard Donald Thomas underwent surgery to repair a torn biceps and a torn quad, and tight end Dwayne Allen had season-ending hip surgery in September.

Allen was the only one of the five on the field for offseason workouts.

So when the Colts opened practice Thursday all eyes were focused on the 35-year-old Wayne who kept promising he would be ready for the start of camp. Fans greeted his return with chants of “Reg-gie, Reg-gie” and cheered loudly any time he got near the temporary bleachers at Anderson University.

Wayne had only one complaint: He grudgingly agreed to take some of the practice off.

“That’s the thing, we want to stay the course, even if I don’t agree to it,” Wayne said. “I give Coach (Chuck) Pagano the first round, he won this first round. I wanted to come in and kind of slowly get my way into it.

“I did more than half of practice. I could have, I wanted to do the whole thing, but he pulled me out and said it was enough.”

A year ago, the Colts left camp expecting to build on the success of Luck’s rookie season. But the injury rash struck hard and fast.

Allen went down with a hip injury in Week 1, and Ballard injured his knee in practice a few days later. Thomas was carted off the field in Week 2, and Bradshaw hurt his neck in Week 3, decimating a ground game the Colts hoped would take some of the pressure off of Luck’s right arm.

When Wayne got hurt in Week 7, the once formidable-looking lineup was in big trouble.

Luck and the backups spent the next six weeks searching for answers as they alternated wins and losses. They closed the season with three straight wins to capture the AFC South title.

Indy used its first selection in the May draft on Jack Mewhort, a versatile offensive lineman who lined up Thomas’ old spot, left guard, in May and June.

T.Y. Hilton completed his breakout season with 1,083 yards and five touchdowns, Da’Rick Rogers emerged as a potential threat, and the Colts signed former Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks.

The Colts now have three running backs vying for the starting job: Trent Richardson, the first non-quarterback selected in the 2012 draft; Bradshaw, who won two Super Bowl rings with the Giants; and Ballard, who led the Colts with 811 yards rushing as a rookie in 2012.

“I’ve been in this environment before, with Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward in New York,” Bradshaw said, noting he is eager to test his body. “I’m a running back, so I’m going to try to not get hit, but like you said, I’m a physical back and I can’t wait to get that first hit.”

He will have to wait a few more days because NFL rules prohibit the Colts from working out in full pads until Saturday.

By then, Ballard could have a better idea of how he will fare on his next test.

“I just want to get out there and play fast,” he said. “When I’m playing fast, I’ll feel like I’m back.”

Luck said he thinks things are already getting in sync, and Wayne concurs.

“Not one thing bothered me today. Not one time I went out there and worried about my knee,” Wayne said. “I’m still trying to get in the flow of everything else. I’m more worrying about if I’m going the right way and running the right route.

“It felt normal, no problem, felt great and we’re just going to build off that.”

___

Online:

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