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Browns LB Mingo hoping bigger is better in Year 2

By WTOP Staff

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Browns linebacker Barkevious Mingo is banking on bigger being better after a rookie year that started fast and then sort of fizzled.

He’s been bulking up this offseason, ready to fit in with the faster and stronger of the NFL.

As the sixth overall pick in the 2013 draft, Mingo made an instant impact for the Browns, flying all over the field and registering a sack in each of his first three games. But just as quickly, he disappeared from the stat sheet, recording only two more sacks the rest of the season.

Mingo now weighs in the upper 230s.

“Last year, I learned a lot of lessons – stuff that you can’t draw on the board,” Mingo said Sunday. “I feel like I’m using that this year to help me be a better player.”

It’s not just overcoming the stigma of being undersized. With a new coaching staff in place, Mingo is also adapting to new responsibilities in a revamped defense.

“He’s out in space, much more involved in coverage,” coach Mike Pettine said. “We’ll still take advantage of his pass rush ability. As far as a true radical position change, it’s right up there with him.”

That’s just fine with Mingo, who had an interception and tipped pass in the first day of practice Saturday. And despite packing on the weight, he still impressed everybody with how fast he ran through the team’s conditioning tests on Friday.

“I guess I’ll be asked to do a little more in coverage,” Mingo said. “I feel comfortable doing that.”

That attitude, and the willingness to help the team however he can, has made a good first impression on the coaching staff, but the work Mingo’s put in hasn’t been lost on his teammates, either.

“He doesn’t have that first-round chip on his shoulder where he thinks everything should be given to him,” said safety Donte Whitner, who is entering his ninth year in the league. “He’s a very coachable guy and the coaches are excited about the things that he can do. We’ve just got to get him to Taco Bell after training camp practice to get a couple of pounds on him.”

A lot has certainly been asked of Mingo this offseason, but as far as Pettine is concerned, he’s been up to the task for everything.

“I just think his preparation, his willingness, talking to him about getting his weight up a little bit – it’s not an easy transition for him,” Pettine said.

It might not be the easiest of transitions, but it helps that Mingo has been given a clean slate with new defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil.

“All our coaches that are there are top-notch guys, top-notch coaches,” Mingo said. “They’re younger guys. They related better. They make everything easy for us.”

And after an offseason to think about his disappointing rookie campaign, waiting to prove that he was better than five sacks, Mingo is out to prove he’s every bit the player the Browns see in him.

“I’m just ready to play,” Mingo said.

NOTES: GM Ray Farmer spoke to the media after practice Sunday, covering a variety of topics. “The thing that we’re focused on now is driving competition,” he said. . Pettine said that OL Jason Pinkston is unavailable to practice but, due to the circumstances, he could not specify as to why. Pinkston tweeted, “I can assure you I’m in no legal trouble and retiring hasn’t came up. As far as my situation I’ll leave it to them to explain.” Pettine said it was possible that Pinkston would return at some point. . As a veteran player, LT Joe Thomas was given a scheduled day off. . Rookie RB Isaiah Crowell switched his jersey number from 30 to 34. . The Browns will be in pads starting Monday. “I want to be able to hear the practice,” Pettine said.

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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