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Lots of big NFL names hoping for big comebacks

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Broken bones. Torn ligaments. Subpar performances.

They all combined to sideline some of the NFL’s biggest stars a year ago, a lost season for several players who spent most of the year in the trainers’ room.

Rob Gronkowski, Percy Harvin, Julio Jones, Robert Griffin III and Sam Bradford know all about that. So do guys such as Arian Foster, Doug Martin, Jeremy Maclin, Reggie Wayne, Brian Cushing and Geno Atkins.

“I was rehabbing every day and it was miserable,” said Gronkowski, the New England tight end who is still working his way back from a vicious two-year stretch in which he has had four forearm surgeries, a back injury and torn knee ligaments.

“Hopefully that never happens again,” Gronkowski added. “And I don’t wish anything on anyone like I had these past few years.”

Harvin got a jumpstart on his comeback in February on the NFL’s biggest stage. After missing most of the regular season and the playoffs with a surgically repaired hip and then a concussion, Harvin returned the opening kickoff of the second half of the Super Bowl for a touchdown in helping Seattle beat Denver.

“I don’t know if any football player can say they’re fully healthy playing football, but this is the best I’ve felt in a long, long time,” Harvin said as the Seahawks opened training camp.

Philadelphia’s Maclin tore a knee ligament in training camp last year and missed the entire season. But after an extensive rehabilitation process, the Eagles are counting on their speedy wide receiver to make big plays again.

“He was out there every day in the offseason program and it’s just a matter of him getting his timing back,” Eagles coach Chip Kelly said.

Wayne was off to a terrific start last year with 38 catches for 503 yards in seven games. A torn ACL kept him out the last half of the season. Even at 35, he says he is ready to rebound.

Jones also was on his way to another Pro Bowl season with 41 catches in five games for the Falcons, but a broken right foot sent him to the sideline. He had a special cleat designed for him by Under Armour, a wider shoe that features a steel shank at the bottom for added support.

“I feel explosive, I still feel fast,” he said. “I still feel like I can beat one-on-one matchups.”

Foster, one of the NFL’s top running backs when healthy, considered retirement after a back injury limited him to eight games for the Texans.

“People die on the football field,” Foster told ESPN. “This is a really brutal sport. Going through an injury like that, being 27 years old, I’m young, still I’m at the prime of my career. Is it worth it to try to come back?”

Martin, one of the league’s rising running backs, ran for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns for Tampa Bay as a rookie in 2012. Last year, he struggled early, injured his shoulder and his sophomore season was done after just six games.

Another of the NFL’s top rookies two years ago wasn’t quite the same last season. After tearing his ACL in Washington’s playoff loss, Griffin struggled a year ago to be the electrifying playmaker he was in his first season. With the Redskins out of the playoff hunt, then-coach Mike Shanahan ended Griffin’s season and plugged in Kirk Cousins for the final three games.

“For me, personally, obviously, not having to come off of a knee surgery is a big boost for me,” Griffin said, “having an opportunity to work on my craft during the offseason.”

Philadelphia’s Mark Sanchez could have a shot, too, after missing all last season with the Jets because of a shoulder injury — but he’s Nick Foles’ backup.

Griffin and St. Louis’ Sam Bradford, who tore an ACL last season, might be front-runners for the AP Comeback Player of the Year award. Since it began in 1998, 11 of the winners have been quarterbacks — including the last six.

The award usually goes to a player who has overcome an injury, but San Diego’s Philip Rivers bucked that trend last year when he won it for bouncing back from a season in which he didn’t play up to par. There are a few quarterbacks other than Griffin who could fit that description this year: Baltimore’s Joe Flacco, the Giants’ Eli Manning, Oakland’s Matt Schaub and the Jets’ Michael Vick — already a previous winner — if he overtakes Geno Smith for the job.

A few defensive players could be in the running, too. Tampa Bay’s Atkins (torn ACL), Houston’s Cushing (broken leg, torn ligament), Cincinnati’s Leon Hall (torn Achilles tendon) and Denver’s Demarcus Ware (career-low six sacks) are all contenders.

Then, there’s also Ware’s new Broncos teammate Von Miller, who was suspended six games for a drug violation and then lost after nine games with a torn ACL that caused him to miss Denver’s Super Bowl run.

“I feel like I’ve been ready mentally back when the Super Bowl was here,” Miller said. “But the competitor in me is definitely ready to go.”

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AP Pro Football Writers Rob Maaddi and Arnie Stapleton, and AP Sports Writers Tim Booth, Charles Odum, Howard Ulman and Joseph White contributed.

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AP NFL websites: 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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