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Montee Ball to undergo appendectomy

By WTOP Staff

ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos starting running back Montee Ball is sidelined with appendicitis and isn’t expected back until the AFC champs’ opener against Indianapolis on Sept. 7.

Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson shared snaps with the first-string offense at practice Monday and are expected to get the bulk of the work in Ball’s absence this month.

“I appreciate the get well wishes everyone! I will be ok and come back stronger than ever!!” Ball tweeted Monday shortly before he was scheduled for his appendectomy at a Denver hospital.

Ball, who set an NCAA record with 83 touchdowns at Wisconsin, assumed the No. 1 running back job this offseason. He was Knowshon Moreno’s backup last year and ran for 559 yards and four touchdowns in 2013.

“Luckily it’s early in camp and it’ll give him a chance to come back,” Hillman said.

Ball’s strong second half helped the Broncos decide to let Moreno leave in free agency. Moreno signed with Miami.

Coach John Fox said Ball started feeling sick Sunday during the Broncos’ day off “and of course came in today, again, not feeling very good.” Fox said the good news was that the organ didn’t burst “so it was really a blessing that we caught it now.”

The Broncos have little doubt that Ball will be able to resume his role as the Broncos’ lead back upon his return.

“I’m not into predicting the future, but he’s really grown a lot as far as his understanding of the offense and execution of all parts of his job,” Fox said. “Knowing what kind of guy he is, he’ll work at it and mentally he’ll stay on top of his game and then when he comes back physically, we’ll wait until he’s ready.”

Ball’s absence means Hillman, Anderson and a host of undrafted free agents, led by Duke’s Juwan Thompson, will get more carries in their quest for a roster spot.

“You hate to see anything happen to a player, whether it’s an illness or an injury on the field, but sometimes when a door shuts, another door opens,” Fox said. “So, it’ll give us a chance to get those young backs in there and hopefully they can grow and progress.”

None of the Broncos’ running backs have ever started an NFL game, although Hillman has the most experience with 25 career appearances despite getting benched over the last half of last season.

Although many see him as more of a change-of-pace back than a workhorse like Ball or even Anderson, Hillman’s renewed focus on football during the offseason has made an impression.

“I’ve seen great growth,” Fox said. “I think he’s been a different guy in those meeting rooms. I think with a full offseason this year and him attacking it the way he did you’re starting to see the benefits of that here on the field.”

Running backs coach Eric Studesville was equally effusive in his praise for Hillman.

“I love what Ronnie has done,” Studesville said last week. “From when we started this spring in April forward, he has been unbelievable. He’s a completely different guy in the best possible way and I’m just excited about what he’s doing, how he’s approaching it, how he’s making plays on the field. It’s been great. It’s been there the whole time, but we’re finally seeing the maximum side of it.”

Hillman said it’s basically just an attitude adjustment, and “we’re about to see how well it’s paying off.”

Anderson also has turned heads during camp after trimming down following a sluggish minicamp and OTAs. Asked what was different about him from a year ago, he said, “I know the playbook now and that makes me play faster.”

At 5-foot-8 and 224 pounds, Anderson is squatter and thicker than Hillman (5-10, 195) and shows great leverage on blitz pickup like he did in Saturday’s scrimmage when his block of linebacker Nate Irving allowed backup quarterback Brock Osweiler to escape.

This ability could get him significant preseason snaps with Peyton Manning.

“No matter if it’s me or Ronnie in the game, with 18 we don’t miss a beat,” Anderson said. “So, we’re going to keep this thing going.”

Notes: WR Emmanuel Sanders (strained right thigh) and CB Tony Carter (groin pull) were among the new names on the Broncos post-practice injury update.

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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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