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Browns’ Gordon has suspension reduced to 10 games

By WTOP Staff

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Josh Gordon’s tangled ordeal, full of legal twists and turns, has finally been straightened out.

He can run a route back to the Browns this season.

Cleveland’s star wide receiver was reinstated into the NFL and had his one-year suspension reduced to 10 games Friday after the league announced changes to its drug policy. The decision ends months of personal torment for the Pro Bowler, who had been banned for repeated drug violations.

Gordon will be eligible to play in Cleveland’s final six games after the league and NFL Players Association agreed on revisions to the substance abuse program two days after announcing changes on performance enhancing drugs.

“I’m happy that the NFLPA and NFL worked hard to agree on a new substances of abuse policy,” Gordon said in a statement. “I’m very thankful to my union for fighting for a significant reduction in my suspension. I’m glad I can go to the facility during my suspension. I look forward to going to meetings, working out individually, and learning from my coaches and teammates. I can’t wait until game 11 to get back on the field!”

Because he has already served two games of the suspension, Gordon will be eligible to play Nov. 23 when the Browns visit Atlanta. Gordon’s 10-game suspension will cost him more than $800,000. He’ll be paid over $300,000 if he plays in those last six games.

Gordon’s complicated saga has hung over the Browns for months. He spent training camp with the team and played in some exhibition games as his case remained in limbo while he and the Browns waited for the league to rule. Gordon didn’t speak to reporters for months, and only recently disclosed in an interview that he was depressed.

Now, there’s some closure and it may have saved Gordon’s career.

Along with Gordon, free agent LaVon Brazill also had his suspension lessened to 10 games.

Gordon was suspended by the league earlier this year for one season for another failed marijuana test. Gordon appealed the ban, his lawyers arguing he tested positive for secondhand smoke. The appeal was denied on Aug. 22 by an arbitrator and it appeared Gordon would not be able to play until 2015. And even that wasn’t for certain.

But thanks to the revised policy, Gordon is coming back, assuming he’ll stay clean during the suspension.

Under the new provisions, Gordon will be allowed to work out and attend team meetings at the Browns’ facility. Before the changes, Gordon was only permitted to meet with his clinician at team’s headquarters.

During his suspension, Gordon has been working for a local car dealership. But his locker remained filled with his personal belongings.

On Tuesday, Gordon pleaded guilty to a DWI charge in Raleigh, North Carolina, allowing him to avoid an additional two-game suspension under the new policies.

The NFL’s new policy on substance abuse includes two additional disciplinary stages for marijuana positives. A first violation will result in referral to the substance abuse program, which has always been the case.

Subsequent violations will result in a two-game fine, a four-game fine, a four-game suspension, a 10-game suspension, and one-year banishment.

In addition, the threshold for a positive marijuana test will be raised from 15 nanograms to 35 nanograms, reflecting recent actions taken by other testing organizations.

Once Gordon returns, Browns coach Mike Pettine said he and general manager Ray Farmer plan to meet with the talented 23-year-old.

“We’ll sit down with him and just kind of lay the plan out for him,” Pettine said.

Farmer said the team remains focused on Sunday’s game against AFC North rival Baltimore.

“We are aware of the new NFL policy related to the reduction of Josh Gordon’s suspension to 10 games,” Farmer said in a statement.

“We will continue to support and work with him under the NFL guidelines throughout this process. Our team’s focus right now remains on preparing for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.”

Despite being suspended for two games — he blamed a prescription codeine cough syrup — last season, Gordon led the league with 1,646 yards receiving and scored nine touchdowns. He became the first player in league history to have consecutive 200-yard receiving games.

While the Browns could have him back for the home stretch, his teammates were more excited about having Gordon the person around.

“That’s great for him,” safety Donte Whitner said. “That’s great for anybody that’s suspended and can’t be around their second family, and you can’t go to your second home. He’ll be able to lift here. He’ll be able to eat here. He’ll be able to watch film, so that when he’s ready to step back on the field, he doesn’t miss a step.”

NOTES: Browns backup QB Johnny Manziel was glad to make his regular-season debut last Sunday, even if it was for only three plays. “It was good to shake a little rust off and just get out and run around,” he said. Manziel handed off twice and threw an incompletion against the Saints. Manziel was happy for starter Brian Hoyer, who drove the Browns 85 yards to set up the winning field goal ” I’m … proud of him,” Manziel said. “It was really emotional for us.”

___

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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