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Victims of Broncos’ 2013 injury epidemic return

By WTOP Staff

ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos didn’t exactly hit their bye week in full stride. There are issues all around. But some promising signs have emerged, too, like the play of all those starters who missed the Super Bowl.

The Broncos made their run last year without left tackle Ryan Clady, whose foot injury sidelined him in Week 2 and kicked off an injury epidemic that would dog them all year.

“Getting Ryan back is kind of like signing a free agent or having a top pick in the draft,” Peyton Manning said when Ryan returned to action over the summer. “It is certainly nice to have him back.”

Same goes for the other starters who had to watch the Super Bowl from the sideline: linebacker Von Miller, cornerback Chris Harris Jr., safeties Rahim Moore and Quinton Carter and defensive end Derek Wolfe.

“This is the NFL. It’s a tough game, so we need all the help we can get,” linebacker Brandon Marshall said. “And those are all key players. So, to have those guys back is a tremendous help.”

All have returned to their previous roles as starters or key contributors.

“It just goes to show you what kind of people they are,” coach John Fox said. “We missed them last year. Like all injuries, especially season-ending injuries, it’s a long process. And it was a really long process for them.

“I think people on the outside lose track. They don’t see all the pain and suffering that goes into one of those surgeries and those rehabs and the physical therapy and all the stuff that goes with it. It’s pretty grueling. So, it doesn’t surprise me that those guys (are doing) a great job.”

Miller is rounding into shape after ACL surgery in January. He has a pair of sacks and a combined 14 tackles over the last two weeks after a rusty one-tackle opener.

Harris has four pass breakups and it was his key interception that sparked Denver’s fourth quarter rally at Seattle, where the difference Sunday was an overtime coin flip and not a 35-point deficit.

Carter has seven tackles and a forced fumble after missing two years with leg problems.

Moore has made a remarkable recovery from a rare muscle condition that led surgeons to slice open his left calf last November in an effort to save his career. He made a triumphant return by picking off a pair of Andrew Luck’s passes in the opener and batting away two others.

He has played superbly as the anchor of Denver’s retooled secondary.

“I’m really surprising myself, to be honest with you,” Moore said. “I’m just here and there so fast. I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. Every week I’m around the ball, almost every play. And a lot of that is from our D-line doing a great job getting pressure and our linebackers playing fast.”

Although it’s still September, some of these Broncos who spent the offseason rehabbing at the team’s headquarters welcomed the early bye week.

“I know I need it,” said Wolfe, who dealt with a spinal cord injury last year but has regained 30 pounds and his old form. “I know a lot of different other guys on this team need it. We’ve been grinding hard.”

The only significant injury the Broncos have sustained this season is that of weakside linebacker Danny Trevathan, who broke his left leg last month. He returned to practice last week and is expected to make his 2014 debut against Arizona.

Notes: Fox said he has no tee time during the bye week. It was during the bye last season that he collapsed on a golf course and needed heart surgery. … The Broncos held All-Pro RG Louis Vasquez out of practice Tuesday. He limped off during the Seahawks game but returned to action. … Fox said deactivating rookie WR Cody Latimer the last two weeks has nothing to do with any regression but that he’s simply been the odd man out, especially with the return of Wes Welker from suspension.

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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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