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Giants K Brown has competition from McManus

By WTOP Staff

JIM HAGUE
Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Despite coming off one of the best years of his 12-year NFL career, Giants kicker Josh Brown is facing stiff competition from free agent Brandon McManus.

“I’m not fully surprised by it,” Brown said. “It’s part of the business. I’m just a hired entity trying to keep up with the pace. I know I had a great year, one of the best years I’ve ever had. But that doesn’t mean anything now. I know what I can do. They (the Giants) have to do what they have to do.”

Brown connected on 23-of-26 field-goal tries (88 percent) and nailed all 31 of his PATs for 100 points last season.

He’s confident his resume speaks for itself. He’s connected on 254 field goals in a career that includes stops in Seattle, St. Louis and Cincinnati before joining the Giants. He’s made 81 percent of his field goal tries over that span.

“I’ve missed one game-winner in 12 years,” Brown said. “I’ll take that. At the end of the day, I know I have a piece of mind that I can get the job accomplished.

“I feel fantastic right now. Physically and mentally, I’m at the top of my game. I think mentally is what separates me from everyone. I know I’m the guy. There’s only one sharpshooter on each team and I’m the one.”

McManus would like his shot. He is Temple’s career leader in field goals and punting. He had a brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts in training camp last season.

“I think I have the leg strength to compete here,” McManus said. “Hopefully I’ll get more chances here and we’ll see where it goes.”

Last season, McManus went against veteran Pro Bowl kicker Adam Vinatieri , but didn’t get many opportunities to prove himself.

“I only got to kick during the second half of preseason games last year and it was tough for the Colts to move the ball, so I didn’t get much work,” McManus said.

McManus did get one try. He nailed a 50-yarder against the Giants, which probably caught the attention of the Giants’ brain trust.

“I just want to open some eyes and get more people to talk about me,” McManus said. “That has to help. I’m excited to be here and I’m getting a good opportunity to work with Josh. No matter what happens, there’s always auditions for the 31 other jobs in the league. Whatever happens has to help me for the future. You never know what’s going to happen.”

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin likes having the competition between kickers.

“It’s good to have two strong legs competing against each other,” Coughlin said. “They give each other good work.”

Brown likes having McManus around.

“I encourage the challenge,” Brown said. “I think it’s healthy. I think it’s good for both of us. I can’t be worried about challenging him. I have to accomplish what the coaches want. I have to be efficient with my job. I don’t think they need to see my resume. I would think what I did last year gives me an advantage.”

Despite his prowess as a punter in college, McManus is not competing with Giants’ incumbent punter Steve Weatherford, so the challenge lies solely within the uprights.

“I feel comfortable from 52, 53 yards and I can make 57 if I have to,” Brown said. “At the end of the day, that has to mean something.”

NOTES: Coughlin is befuddled about the progress of first round draft pick Odell Beckham, Jr., who was unable to fully practice again due to a nagging hamstring. “It’s more than disappointing,” Coughlin said of the wide receiver from LSU. “We saw too much of that in the spring. I’m just hoping that it’s a real short amount of time that he’s out. The trainers are not going to let him go if he’s in danger of hurting himself. When they feel he’s ready to go, he’ll go.” Beckham did field some punts during practice and moved gingerly, but didn’t run . While Coughlin was not happy with the progress of his running game, rookie Andre Williams, the fourth round pick out of Boston College, did manage to break off a few long gainers to the outside . RB David Wilson, still bouncing back from off-season neck surgery, took a solid hit from rookie LB Devon Kennard, but didn’t flinch one iota and returned to the huddle. … The Giants continue training camp Monday and Tuesday before an off-day Wednesday. They travel to Canton, Ohio, Friday to begin the preseason with the Hall of Fame Game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night.

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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