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Colts safety seeing specialists about neck injury

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Colts safety Delano Howell could soon be facing the biggest decision of his football career.

On Tuesday, general manager Ryan Grigson told reporters that the 24-year-old Stanford alum is seeking more medical opinions about a neck injury that has kept him out of practice for almost two weeks and could threaten his season or even his career.

Howell also missed the final 10 games last season with a neck injury, and, not surprisingly, the Colts want to be cautious about putting Howell back on the field.

“That’s why he’s getting multiple opinions because you want to make sure that everybody has their opinion going in the same direction because it’s not like you’re dealing with a fingernail here,” Grigson said. “You’re dealing with your neck, and that’s something that has to be really looked at with a fine tooth comb.”

Howell entered training camp as the front runner to win the starting job opposite LaRon Landry in the Colts’ secondary.

Coach Chuck Pagano and Grigson were so confident Howell could plug the void left by longtime starter Antoine Bethea, they defied conventional wisdom and didn’t draft a safety in May.

Instead, Indy (0-2) signed NFL veterans Mike Adams and Colt Anderson to compete with Howell and Sergio Brown for the job.

Indy has become all-too-familiar with neck injuries recently.

Peyton Manning missed the entire 2011 season after having multiple surgeries to repair a damaged nerve and was eventually released to make room for Andrew Luck.

In addition to Howell’s injury last season, running back Ahmad Bradshaw underwent season-ending neck surgery last October — an injury that prompted him to consider retiring before re-signing with the Colts.

“I just told him it’s a serious situation and to take his time with the decisions he makes and that other guys make for him,” Bradshaw said. “My heart goes out to him and hopefully, like I said, nothing’s there.”

If Howell can’t come back, the Colts do have some experienced players to fill in.

Adams has 73 starts in 11 NFL seasons and played on Denver’s AFC championship team last season. Anderson is a five-year veteran who spent the past three seasons in Philadelphia.

Brown, like Howell, has played the past three seasons in Indy where he has excelled on special teams.

This is not the way Adams wanted to win the job, though.

“I was here to compete anyway. I wasn’t given the job. I was here to compete for a job,” Adams said. “As far as I know, Colt’s still playing well, Sergio’s still playing well and I’m playing well. We’re just trying to make it hard for the coaches.”

But Howell may be facing the toughest choice of all.

“At first you’ve got to think about family, the rest of your life and what you’re doing. You know, if you’ve got kids or not. You start thinking about it,” Bradshaw said. “It’s a whole long process. Dealing with this game, the neck is very serious. It’s just the start for him right now and hopefully it comes out to the best.”

___

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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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