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AP source: 49ers’ Dorsey tears left biceps muscle

By WTOP Staff

JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Glenn Dorsey has a torn left biceps muscle and will undergo surgery, a person with knowledge of the injury said Saturday.

It’s unclear how long he might be sidelined. Dorsey left Friday’s practice with the injury. The source said Saturday that Dorsey had torn his biceps and would need an operation, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced anything about Dorsey’s injury or the severity.

More tests and details are expected post-surgery, the source said. Another source, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said it would be premature to speculate that Dorsey will miss the entire 2014 season as more evaluations still must be done.

The Niners had a day off from training camp Saturday.

Losing Dorsey would be a huge blow 11 months after 2013 starting nose tackle Ian Williams went down with a season-ending ankle injury in a Week 2 loss at Seattle. Dorsey quickly emerged as a reliable replacement and stabilizing force for the defensive line.

Williams has undergone multiple surgeries and is currently on the physically unable to perform list. Mike Purcell, an undrafted free agent last year, could be an immediate option to fill the void left by Dorsey as San Francisco gears up for its preseason opener Thursday at Baltimore.

Dorsey was hurt on his 29th birthday. Fellow defensive lineman Ray McDonald played last season with a biceps tear.

In March 2013, Dorsey signed a two-year contract that could pay him up to $7 million with incentives.

Williams earned the starting nose tackle job out of training camp last year with Dorsey a versatile backup, then Williams went down with a season-ending ankle injury on a cut block by Seattle right guard J.R. Sweezy.

His teammates learned in a hurry about Dorsey’s dedication, watching him emerge in a defense defined by its hard hits and work ethic behind the scenes.

That was among the first things defensive line coach Jim Tomsula talked about with Dorsey during his visit to the Bay Area.

Coach Jim Harbaugh was asked about Dorsey’s contributions and growth Friday before the injury occurred during practice.

“It’s been A-plus, plus,” Harbaugh said. “What a great thing having him last year. Fit in so seamlessly with that group of talented defensive lineman. Was a great contributor, a starter for us. Known friend and trusted agent. Just thank him for being good, thank him for being who he is and how he goes about his job. He’s a team guy all the way.”

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

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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