Skip to main content

Gase, Manning get another shot at Sherman

By WTOP Staff

ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos won’t come right out and say whether they’ll test Richard Sherman as the Chargers did or shy away from him as the Packers did.

Here’s a hint, however:

“We respect him,” receiver Bubba Caldwell said. “But we’re going to make him earn his money.”

Green Bay cut off half the field and Aaron Rodgers never threw in the direction of the All-Pro cornerback in the season opener, which Seattle won 36-16.

Philip Rivers threw to his side aplenty in San Diego’s 30-21 win at home over the Seahawks last weekend.

“Yeah, I think we’ll be more like the Chargers,” Caldwell said. “We’re going to make him work. We feel we’ve got some good receivers on our side that can test his skill ability, so I definitely don’t see us shutting down a whole half of the field because of one guy.”

Although Peyton Manning tested him on occasion in the Super Bowl, Sherman’s championship night was quiet before leaving late in the game with an ankle injury and the Lombardi Trophy well in hand.

Sherman expects to get tested often Sunday.

“I think he’ll spread it around pretty good. Peyton always does,” Sherman said. “He’ll complete a lot of passes, he’ll check it down, he spreads the ball out great. I’m sure we’ll be very prepared and everybody will be on it.”

Manning wouldn’t tip his hand as the Broncos (2-0) prepared to face the Seahawks (1-1) in the first next-season matchup of Super Bowl opponents since 1997.

“I can’t really speak to the San Diego game plan or the Green Bay game plan. I can’t speak to our game plan,” Manning said. “He’s an excellent player.”

Smart, savvy, strong.

Yet, Manning said he’s just as concerned about safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas and the rest of that stout secondary that nearly pitched a shutout in the Super Bowl.

“I think the whole secondary is very active,” Manning said. “They play their defense well. They communicate well. They’re on the same page. You see them communicate and talk to each other. That’s one of their strengths and so we’ll have our game plan and hopefully we’ll go out there and execute it.”

Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase might have had a brilliant game plan for the Super Bowl but it quickly crumbled as the Broncos fell behind on the very first snap and never recovered.

The Broncos have two new receivers in place of Eric Decker in prized free agent pickup Emmanuel Sanders and raw but explosive rookie Cody Latimer.

Decker tallied just 6 yards in his last game for the Broncos when he caught just one of six passes Manning threw his way in the Super Bowl.

“I think his quickness off the ball” helps, Gase said of Sanders. “These guys do a great job of getting their hands on the receivers and his ability to create separation on the top routes can always be to our advantage. We’ll just see how they play and see how we match up on Sunday.”

Gase is also expected to have Wes Welker at his disposal after the slot receiver’s four-game suspension was cut in half this week under the NFL’s new drug policy.

Chargers slot receiver Eddie Royal caught seven passes for 69 yards last week and often worked on the left side of Seattle’s defense where Sherman patrols.

Latimer was deactivated last week with the Broncos needing more bodies on the defensive line against Kansas City but the rookie’s size/speed mix could prove a big threat at Seattle, especially in the red zone.

After their game Sunday, several Chargers took shots at Sherman. Keenan Allen called him “just a normal guy” who’s “not really a shutdown corner.” Malcolm Floyd said Allen lit up Sherman.

“I think it’s funny,” Sherman said. “I find humor in it.”

The Broncos thought it was laughable, too.

“I would just say we respect him a lot,” Gase said. “And you have to be careful with that guy. He’s a very smart player and he will take advantage if you’re careless with him.”

Notes: LB Danny Trevathan participated in individual drills at practice for the first time since breaking his left leg Aug. 12. … DT Marvin Austin returned to practice Thursday after returning from North Carolina, where his father was in a serious auto accident last weekend.

___

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

___

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote