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Broncos rookie cornerback comes up big in debut

By WTOP Staff

ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — On back-to-back August afternoons, Denver Broncos rookie cornerback Bradley Roby was torched by Peyton Manning’s long touchdown passes to Demaryius Thomas.

The first time, Roby trudged off the field knowing his technique, leverage and his reaction time could have been better.

“He never had to go against an offense like this or a quarterback like that,” Thomas said.

Or a receiver as talented as Thomas.

The next day, same play, same result.

This time, Roby plodded back to the sideline in frustration.

He knew he’d done all he possibly could have and yet he’d still come up short.

“I don’t know if there’s a lesson there but just keep doing everything you can and even when you do, there might be an occasion when a Hall of Fame quarterback and an outstanding Pro Bowl receiver hook up anyway,” defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said afterward.

“That coverage was as good as it could be and it was just a perfect throw. Every now and then that happens in this league and I think you learn that as a younger player.”

The following week, Roby was a different player entirely.

“I guess he got tired of getting beat,” Thomas said. “Because two days in a row I had caught two deep balls on him and the next week he came out playing way better. You could just see the difference. You could see him not guessing about stuff. He had that swagger.”

That’s what had convinced GM John Elway to draft him in the first round in April.

With Chris Harris Jr. still working his way back from ACL surgery and Kayvon Webster sidelined by a sprained ankle, Roby capitalized on his increased snaps that sped up his learning curve.

“There is no question when you’re being challenged every day in practice like you are with our receiving corps that’s going to help you be better on Sunday,” Del Rio said. “Certainly with Chris being out or limited through a lot of camp, he got a ton of reps.”

In three joint practices and an exhibition game against the Houston Texans, Roby was tested by another big receiver in Andre Johnson.

“Going against a guy like Andre, and holding my own, doing decent on him, gives me more confidence,” Roby said. “Every day I’m trying to get better. It’s a process. You can’t come in and expect to be Darrelle Revis Day 1. It’s a slow climb to the top. I’m willing to put the work in.”

It paid off in the opener when Roby knocked down three passes and sealed Denver’s 31-24 win over Indianapolis by batting down Andrew Luck’s fourth-down throw to Reggie Wayne in the closing minutes.

Del Rio said Denver’s coaches never hesitated to put Roby on Wayne.

“We felt good about the matchup as long as he’s playing smart, playing with his leverage and using good technique,” Del Rio said. “He’s got the talent to cover some of the top guys.”

Cornerback Aqib Talib thought Roby’s debut was outstanding.

“If I could go back and change my first game as a rookie, I’d make mine just like Bradley Roby’s,” said Talib, a two-time All-Pro. “He had a great game.”

In his first NFL game, Talib was burned for an 84-yard touchdown pass from Drew Brees to Devery Henderson in 2008 when his Buccaneers lost to the Saints 24-20.

Roby gave up his share of receptions, but he never got down on himself.

“I’ve definitely seen some growth,” Harris said, “because a couple of weeks ago if somebody caught a ball on him, he was just done. Now, I mean, they caught the ball on him. So, for him to not be down and continue to fight throughout the whole game, that’s huge for a rookie.”

Notes: S David Bruton practiced Thursday for the first time since separating his left shoulder in the opener. … OC Adam Gase declined to say if WR Wes Welker could play against Kansas City on Sunday if the league and players union iron out a new drug policy by this weekend. A new agreement could lead to Welker’s four-game drug suspension getting rescinded. “It’s a hypothetical. I’m not going to worry about it,” Gase said. “If something happens, I’ll deal with it when that time comes.” … LB Von Miller was voted the Broncos’ player rep for the NFLPA.

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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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