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Steelers bringing back DE Brett Keisel

By WTOP Staff

WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Da Beard is on his way back to ‘Da Burgh.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are planning to re-sign defensive end Brett Keisel to bolster a reconfigured line that has struggled to produce much of anything in the first two weeks of the preseason.

Keisel posted on his Twitter feed Tuesday “I am very excited to finish what I started in 2002 with the @steelers. Time to get to work!!”

The Steelers decided not to re-sign Keisel in the offseason after the 35-year-old finished with four sacks in 12 games in 2013. Pittsburgh drafted Stephon Tuitt in the second round and signed Cam Thomas as a free agent as part of a youth movement along an aging defense.

While Tuitt has been solid during preseason, Thomas has yet to make an impact.

Keisel, who turns 36 on Sept. 19, was effective when healthy last season. But with the team up against the salary cap he wasn’t going to command anywhere near the $4.9 million cap number he received last year.

It’s unclear how much of a pay cut Keisel will receive, though the Steelers have a little money to play with after signing kicker Shaun Suisham and right tackle Marcus Gilbert to new contracts during training camp.

The Steelers are trying to restore some of the luster to a defense that finished 13th in total yards in 2013 — the unit’s lowest ranking this millennium.

Though rookie linebacker Ryan Shazier put together a remarkable debut in a win over Buffalo last weekend — racking up 11 total tackles and an interception in barely a half of work — the rest of the defense has been so-so so far.

The Steelers allowed a 73-yard touchdown run to New York Giants running back Rashad Jennings and let the Buffalo starters roll up 212 yards (but no touchdowns) last weekend.

Where Keisel might fit into defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau’s plans remain unclear. He’ll join a crowded, but disjointed situation along the line. Cam Heyward will start at one end in LeBeau’s intricate 3-4 scheme, but no player has distinguished himself at the other end.

That leaves plenty of room for Keisel to get back to the spot where he helped the Steelers to a pair of Super Bowl victories. He became a fan favorite later in his career, growing a thick beard each year then shaving it off when the season was over for charity.

He parlayed the beard into a line of salsa and his “Shear The Beard” event became a highlight on the social calendar in Pittsburgh.

The only thing Keisel is concerned about now, however, is getting a team looking to shake off consecutive 8-8 seasons back to the playoffs.

“There’s no place like home,” Keisel tweeted while announcing his return.

___

AP NFL websites: 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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