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Panthers LB Davis looks to bounce back from snub

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis said it isn’t enough that he’s coming off the most productive season of his nine-year NFL career after tearing the ACL in his right knee three times.

He wants more.

The 31-year-old Davis is still stinging from being passed over for his first Pro Bowl after posting a career-high 123 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery for the league’s No. 2-ranked defense.

Davis, entering his ninth season, said he’s using the perceived snub as motivation.

“Obviously the league doesn’t know about me yet,” Davis said. “So my goal going into this season is to earn the respect of the league. I know that I have to be better than I was last year because obviously last year wasn’t good enough.”

With Davis anything seems possible.

He’s the first player in NFL history to play in a game after suffering three torn ACLs in the same knee.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera, a former NFL linebacker for the Chicago Bears, has in the past become emotional when talking about Davis’ never-dying determination.

“His story, to me, is amazing,” Rivera said last year.

Davis is no stranger to snubs.

Despite his grueling physical and mental rehab from three surgeries, it was Peyton Manning who won the AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2012 after the future Hall of Fame quarterback had a stellar return to action in Denver following neck surgery.

Davis’ teammates said it was even tougher watching him get passed over for the Pro Bowl last year by outside linebackers John Abraham from Arizona and Ahmad Brooks from San Francisco. Together, Abraham and Brooks had 32 fewer combined tackles than Davis. However, voters apparently went for their sack production — Abraham had 11.5 sacks and Brooks 8.5.

“He had a tremendous season, especially after all of the things he’s been through,” Panthers defensive tackle Dwan Edwards said of Davis. “To come back and put up a tremendous season, but also help us win 12 games, It’s crazy to think that he didn’t make it. But stranger things have happened in the NFL.”

Said Panthers linebacker Chase Blackburn: “In my opinion he was a snubbed.”

Davis’ injury problems began in 2009 when he tore his left ACL in a Week 8 game against the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome, ending his season. The following spring he re-tore the same ACL while back-peddling during practice, ending his 2010 season before it began. He returned in 2011, but tore it again two games into season sending him to injured reserve for the third straight year.

Davis contemplated retirement, but the Panthers restructured his contract rather than cutting him — giving him one last chance to make it back.

Both sides are glad they did.

What he’s done since is nothing short of remarkable.

Davis has not only played in 31 of 32 games the past two seasons, but he’s been a stalwart playing alongside middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, helping the Panthers go 12-4 and win the NFC South last season. Rivera last year boldly declared Davis and Kuechly the top linebacker tandem in the league.

Teammates say Davis seems more motivated than ever this year.

He’s been a vocal presence eat training camp, often calling out his offensive teammates during practice and challenging them.

He’s not afraid to talk off the field either.

The Panthers haven’t been to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons in the franchise’s 20-year history, but Davis boldly predicted guaranteed the team will end that drought this season.

As for his own accolades, Davis said, “I’m not going to say (last year) made me mad, but I was definitely disappointed feeling like I should have been on some of those lists and being selected for some of those honors,” Davis said. “… It will be nice to be recognized for the individual stuff, but if at the end of the day if our team continues to win it will mean more to me than anything you receive individually,”

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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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