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Ball returns to sideline after appendectomy

By WTOP Staff

ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos are content to wait for running backs Montee Ball and C.J. Anderson to heal.

Coach John Fox said Saturday he doesn’t plan to bring in any free agent running backs in light of Ball’s appendectomy or Anderson’s concussion.

“We are always looking to improve the team. That goes on 24/7, 365, really, but right now there is nothing pressing,” Fox said. “We feel pretty good about the group we have.”

That group includes just one back who’s ever played in an NFL game, Ronnie Hillman, plus three undrafted free agents in Juwan Thompson, Brennan Clay and Kapri Bibbs and first-year pro Jerodis Williams, who played for Minnesota in last year’s preseason.

Anderson, third on the depth chart, is being treated under the conditions of the NFL’s concussion protocol after getting knocked from Denver’s 21-16 win over Seattle on Thursday night.

He was sent home from the Broncos complex Saturday. “He had little headaches, which is very normal at this stage,” Fox said.

Ball returned to the Broncos sideline five days after undergoing his appendectomy and said he was feeling good but didn’t know when he’d be back in full pads.

Ball said he expects to begin running next week, although the Broncos don’t plan on using him until the season opener Sept. 7 against Indianapolis.

“We saw plenty of him a year ago and saw plenty of him in the offseason,” Fox explained.

Ball said he awoke at 2:30 a.m. Monday with a sharp pain in his right side. He was under the knife 12 hours later. He said he’s lost six pounds, dropping to 209, but is starting to regain flexibility in his trunk.

Ball called his operation a “quick, painless procedure,” but said it “restricted a lot of my movement early on. I feel great now. Right now I’m able to move around but I’ll listen to the training staff and my body and I’ll come back stronger.”

Ball said he felt fortunate the appendicitis announced itself now, before it could burst and before the Broncos get into games that count.

“Obviously, it’s great that it happened now than in September. Very unfortunate situation for me but right now I’m looking up and feeling great and I get to do some running next week,” Ball said.

The Broncos are counting on Ball, who ran for 559 yards and four touchdowns last year as Knowshon Moreno’s backup, to help them balance out their pass-heavy offense as the starter in 2014.

Ball said he has no timetable for his return to full pads, saying, “I’m just listening to my body and listening to our great training staff. … No reason to rush.”

He added that he appreciated all the people that visited him in the hospital, including his position coach, Eric Studesville, and Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis.

Asked if Ellis brought him cards and candy, Ball said, “No, just some wise words that I needed to hear. He just said, ‘We’re praying for you, we’re all looking out for you if you need anything.’ That’s what helped me out a lot.”

Notes: WR Emmanuel Sanders (thigh) was held out of the morning practice. Sanders didn’t practice Tuesday but started against Seattle, logging 20 snaps. … DE Malik Jackson was excused for personal reasons. … DE Chase Vaughn (right knee), DE Greg Latta (right hip) and CB Louis Young (groin) were held out again.

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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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