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Denver fans finally get to see the AFC champions

By WTOP Staff

ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Their plans for a tickertape parade through downtown Denver scuttled by a miserable performance in the Super Bowl, the Denver Broncos hadn’t heard the roar from supportive fans in more than six months.

That ended Sunday when Peyton Manning walked out 10 minutes before practice at Sports Authority Field and began signing autographs and then continued with his touchdown throws to Julius Thomas.

The Broncos closed their Dove Valley training facilities to the public during training camp this year because of a $35 million construction project. They’re working out in relative solitude except for three workouts at their downtown stadium, where Sunday’s practice drew 21,933 fans.

“It makes it easier,” defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson said. “Training camp goes by a little smoother with the fans being involved. So, it’s always a pleasure to have them around cheering us on.”

This was the Broncos’ first appearance at Sports Authority Field since Jan. 19, when they beat New England 26-16 in the AFC title game.

Former Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib, one of the Broncos’ free agent acquisitions this offseason, was injured that day when he collided with Wes Welker.

“We don’t even talk about it. It’s a football play, man,” Talib said. “We don’t talk about nothing that happened last year.”

That would be a good advice for the rest of the Broncos, whose record-shattering season ended with a dud of a Super Bowl when they were blown out 43-8 by Seattle.

Afterward, general manager John Elway made wholesale changes to his defense, signing Talib, T.J. Ward and DeMarcus Ware, who missed the last half of Sunday’s practice with what coach John Fox termed a minor “lower leg bruise.”

Only three defensive players who started in the Super Bowl — Danny Trevathan, Terrance Knighton and Nate Irving — were in the lineup when the Broncos’ starters squared off Sunday.

“Once again, I got a little teary eyed,” said cornerback Rahim Moore, who made his first appearance at Denver’s downtown stadium since Nov. 17, the night before he underwent emergency surgery on his left calf. “I missed the stadium. It feels like my first time out here.”

Same with star pass-rusher Von Miller, who hadn’t suited up here since blowing out his right knee in December.

“I got an opportunity to go out on the field and play the game I love, and that’s what’s most important to me,” said Miller. “The crowd, it always pumps the juices. It’s always motivated me, and getting out there in front of the fans is great. They cheer for every play that you make, everything that you do. It’s definitely an encourager.”

Safety Quinton Carter, who spent the last two years on injured reserve because of a balky knee, had waited the longest of anybody on the roster to get back on the field. He hadn’t played at the stadium since Sept. 17, 2012.

“It’s a long time, almost two years,” Carter said. “It feels great to get back out there with the guys and feel the energy from the crowd.”

This was also the first chance for fans to see Denver’s draft class led by cornerback Bradley Roby and wide receiver Cody Latimer, who has capitalized on star Demaryius Thomas’ absence so far with several head-turning catches.

“When you’re at practice regularly, everybody gets golf claps, but now it’s like you’re in a game,” Latimer said. “It’s an amazing feeling to be out here.”

It was an undrafted rookie — Fresno State speedster Isaiah Burse — who capped the afternoon workout with a 50-yard touchdown catch from Zac Dysert.

“Obviously this is my first time being in the stadium. I’d only seen it on TV,” Burse said. “Walking out and seeing all the fans and all the love, it’s just a crazy feeling.”

Notes: Thomas is expected back Monday after missing the first four days of training camp following the death of his grandmother who helped raise him in Georgia. … S Josh Boyett (back), DE Greg Latta (knee) and TE Jameson Konz (unspecified) all sat out Sunday.

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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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