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Miller reshapes physique and image in 2014

By WTOP Staff

ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Von Miller wants to forget about last season, not just the way it began with a drug suspension and ended with a torn ACL but also how he experimented with packing on too much muscle.

He’s dropped at least 25 pounds, saying, “a Ferrari isn’t built to carry luggage to and from the airport.”

“You just want to be light, streamlined and that’s just what I’m trying to get to,” said Miller, who’s back in the 240s like he was when he collected 30 sacks in his first two NFL seasons before slipping to five in nine games last year.

“I figured out when I was 280 pounds, 275 pounds, (offensive linemen) are still going to hold you,” Miller said. “So, I might as well be at a weight where I’m comfortable.”

Miller spent his offseason rehabbing both his surgically repaired right knee and his reputation.

He calls his new physique and image byproducts of his desire to put last season in the rearview and regain his status as one of the league’s best players.

“I think it just made me a better person,” Miller said of his rough 2013 season. “Adversity reveals character and I think all the stuff that happened, I handled it well and I’m in a blessed situation to be where I’m at today.”

Miller handed out eyeglasses to underprivileged kids through his Von’s Vision foundation this offseason and spent endless hours at the team’s Dove Valley complex, where those pounds he packed on a year ago melted away.

Although the added muscle in his upper body benefited his bull rush, it also appeared to bog him down, stealing that athletic dip that made him so special coming out of Texas A&M as the second overall draft pick in 2011.

That extra weight might even have played a role when his right knee buckled in a game at Houston in December, relegating him to the sideline at the Super Bowl.

Miller said the weight loss will help him play as he did in 2012, when he set a franchise record with 18½ sacks.

“I feel good where I’m at,” he said.

And even better about who’s with him: former Cowboys star pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware, whom Miller patterned his game after while growing up in Dallas.

“Those two guys if they’re healthy, there’s two beasts coming off the edge that are tough to deal with,” general manager John Elway said.

One thing that made Ware so attractive to the Broncos was the notion he could be the kind of positive influence on Miller that Elvis Dumervil was before bolting to Baltimore last year.

“He’s definitely a mentor and I definitely appreciate having him,” Miller said.

Miller won’t be lining up with Ware in team drills for a few weeks because he’s limited right now to individual workouts and 7-on-7s.

Still, Miller consistently beats the rest of the linebackers in post-practice conditioning runs.

Working hard and staying out of the news this offseason has endeared him to his coaches.

“I don’t have any question that Von will be ready to roll and be at his best this year,” defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said. “I think he’s worked extremely hard with (strength and conditioning coach) Luke Richesson and the staff and ‘Greek,’ (head trainer Steve Antonopulos) and the trainers. He’s been a real good teammate, working hard with the guys. I have no doubt he’s going to have a special year.”

Neither does Miller, who said, “I want to be the best and that’s my mission.”

Miller, who turned 25 this spring, suggested fans needn’t worry about him slipping up, either.

“I’m definitely different, more mature,” he said. “I’m one of the oldest guys in the linebacker room now. I was talking to Wesley (Woodyard, now with the Tennessee Titans) the other day, and I was like ‘Bro, I’m one of the oldest guys in here right now,’ and we started laughing. That’s just part of it. You’ve got to grow up.”

NOTES: On the first day of padded practices, SS T.J. Ward had two big hits, on RB Ronnie Hillman and WR Emmanuel Sanders. … DE Derek Wolfe and S John Boyett both left practice with lower back tightness and DE Greg Latta hurt a knee.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton

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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