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Von Miller rounding into form for Broncos

By WTOP Staff

ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning barely had a chance to backpedal two steps after taking the snap Friday when Von Miller slapped his shoulder as he flew past him after slicing through the line untouched.

Sack.

Seven months post-surgery, Miller is showing flashes of his old self and looks determined to atone for a trouble-filled 2013 season that began with a six-game drug suspension and ended with a torn right ACL in Week 16.

“I feel like I can play,” Miller said. “I feel good where I’m at. I feel great physically and mentally. There’s always more you can do, and I feel like I’m not all the way there yet. But I feel I can play.”

Displaying his old form in 1-on-1 pass-rushing drills and 11-on-11 team drills, it’s apparent we’re seeing the Von Miller of old, the one who set a franchise record with 18½ sacks in 2012, not the player who was bogged down by extra pounds and the weight of the world last season when he managed just five sacks.

“If you mean the suddenness and the ability to bend and those things we appreciate and love from him, then yes,” Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said. “I think he is working his way back and is doing a good job with the way we have increased his work load and the way he’s been able to handle it.

“I said it earlier in camp that I have no question in my mind that Von Miller will be back to his old self.”

With training camp wrapping up Friday — next week the Houston Texans come in for three days of joint practices leading up to the third preseason game — the Broncos are starting to look like they’ll have the defense GM John Elway envisioned after retooling his roster following that Super Bowl blowout.

His marquee free agent signing was former Dallas Cowboys star DeMarcus Ware, who will team up with Miller to give the Broncos a 1-2 pass-rushing punch they haven’t had since Elvis Dumervil was in Denver.

Miller introduced his mother, Gloria, to Ware after Friday’s practice.

“DeMarcus is her second-favorite player in the league, and she wanted to meet him,” Miller said. “This is the last day of camp, so I brought him over and let him meet my mom. She’s a huge Dallas Cowboys fan, too.”

Actually, it’s not just Miller and Ware.

It’s a three-man wrecking crew with the impressive Quanterus Smith, who missed all of his rookie season last year while recovering from a knee injury in college, that the Broncos will count on as the fulcrum of their defensive rebound in 2014.

Ware, coming off an injury-filled season himself, was coveted by Elway not only for the havoc he can create on the field but for his locker room leadership, which could help keep Miller out of trouble.

It’s been a two-way street, though, with Miller being the mentor at times, too.

“This is my third year in the system. I was coaching him up on plays because I’m familiar,” Miller said.

Miller’s strong showing at practice and Ware’s impressive debut in the preseason — when he had a sack and two stops on the first three plays against Seattle — are two of the top story lines at a camp that was unusually quiet.

Fans were kept away because of construction at the team’s training complex, and the Broncos only lost one starter to a significant injury, linebacker Danny Trevathan (leg), who is expected to miss the first two or three regular-season games.

The biggest difference with camp over is that players won’t have the evening walk-throughs every other day, so they’ll get to leave work at 3 or 4 in the afternoon instead of 11 at night.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” safety T.J. Ward said. “We got to get out of the hotel and it’s not as long of a day, but we’re still preparing in that mindset. I’m just glad I get to go home and sleep in my own bed.”

With Miller and Ware gelling so well, Elway must be sleeping easier himself these days.

Notes: WR Emmanuel Sanders (strained thigh) was held out of practice along with TE Virgil Green (strained calf). DT Marvin Austin (sprained wrist) was held out of the last period. … Manning’s college teammate Todd Helton, whose No. 17 will be retired by the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, paid a visit.

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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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