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‘LeBrowns:’ James and sons watch NFL team practice

By WTOP Staff

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — For the first time at Browns training camp, the spotlight wasn’t on Johnny Manziel.

LeBron James stole it.

The NBA megastar got his football fix Thursday, showing up with his two sons to watch Manziel and the Browns practice. James spent an hour watching a morning workout as the team prepares for Saturday’s exhibition opener in Detroit. It was James’ first public appearance — the practice was open only to media and corporate VIP guests — since re-signing with the Cavaliers last month, and his entrance caused quite a commotion.

Browns players couldn’t wait to meet him after practice, and several had their photos taken with the four-time MVP, who is noticeably thinner after shedding some weight during the offseason. Rookie cornerback Justin Gilbert ran into the locker room to grab his phone before returning to the field to shake hands with James.

“It’s awesome having him out here,” Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas said. “He’s obviously the best player in our generation in the NBA. To have him back in Cleveland is awesome.”

James spoke for several minutes on the sideline with Browns coach Mike Pettine and safety Donte Whitner. He chatted outside the locker room with Manziel, his close friend and business partner.

“He just asked how camp was going,” Pettine said. “You could tell that he’s into it and loves football, a big Browns fan. He said he’ll be at the games when it’s warm, and when it’s cold he’ll be watching in his basement.”

Forced to keep one eye on his sons as they tossed around a football, James later walked off the field holding hands with LeBron Jr. and Bryce. He declined comment, saying “I’ll see you tomorrow” to reporters as cameramen surrounded him. James’ homecoming to Northeast Ohio is being celebrated with an event in Akron on Friday night.

Pettine also got his photo taken with James, who towered over every group.

“I do know I’m going to be father of the year now,” Pettine said. “I got my daughter a picture with LeBron. She could care less about a picture with me.”

Pettine has had quite a week, meeting Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown for the first time at a practice.

“When I got hired, somebody very quickly brought it up to me that I might have both of those opportunities,” he said. “Two things off the bucket list.”

James and his sons were presented with No. 23 Browns jerseys that the boys put on. James took more photos with members of Cleveland’s coaching staff and general manager Ray Farmer.

James’ return has given Cleveland fans hope they may one day celebrate a championship. It’s been 50 years since the Browns captured the NFL title, the last Cleveland team to win it all.

Pettine believes all three teams can feed off each other.

“It’s hard to explain when it happens, but I think it kind of gets fed through the fans with the teams,” he said. “I don’t know how many of them are actual connecting with each other, but I think when the city gets revved up, I think you can have momentum from season to season.”

Whitner grew up here and is well aware of the area’s sports misery.

But Cleveland — at long last — isn’t such a joke and suddenly an epicenter of excitement.

“Stuff like this doesn’t happen. That’s why it’s time for a change,” he said. “We’re from here in Northeast Ohio: LeBron is from Northeast Ohio; we get Johnny here. It’s a lot of excitement, man, and I think we pretty much deserve it. I think that a lot of people kick us around a lot, talk a lot of trash about us, but we deserve it.”

NOTES: Practice ended with defensive and offensive linemen squaring off in an extra-point competition. Defensive end Armond Bryant made the first attempt and Thomas, who punted and kicked in high school, booted one through with a straight-on approach before an out-of-character celebration. “There were some very unique styles,” Pettine said. … Manziel will not play with the starters in Detroit, Pettine said. … Gilbert is “nicked up” and will likely be held out against Detroit. TE Jordan Cameron (shoulder) and DE Billy Winn (hamstring) did not practice.

___

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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