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Broncos already facing adversity

By WTOP Staff

ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

DENVER (AP) — General manager John Elway wanted more of an edge on defense after Denver’s shellacking in the Super Bowl, so he went out and signed free agents DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib and T.J. Ward.

This trio of thumpers brought a new energy to the Broncos, who also got a big boost with the return of several starters who sat out that nightmare at the Meadowlands, notably Von Miller and Chris Harris Jr.

The fervor wasn’t limited to Denver’s revamped defense, however, as the offense also showed off a new impetuosity.

A reconfigured offensive line features the return of left tackle Ryan Clady and the feisty Orlando Franklin sliding over from right tackle to left guard.

The Broncos’ interior has nearly 1,000 pounds of muscle to open lanes for bruising running back Montee Ball and provide a better pocket of protection for Peyton Manning.

Speaking of the five-time MVP, he’s brawnier in Year 3 in Denver. Forget all that talk about Manning losing it on deep throws, too. He’s as strong at age 38 as he was before those neck problems sidelined him in 2011.

And he proved more irascible than ever by getting into the faces of teammates and opponents alike.

First, he called out his offense after a clumsy performance in the first of three skirmish-filled joint practices with the Houston Texans. Then, he went after safety D.J. Swearinger in the preseason game for a hard hit that left Wes Welker with his third concussion in 10 months.

“I loved it,” nose tackle Marvin Austin said. “It’s a beautiful thing. Peyton’s not really a trash-talking guy.”

So, when Manning has something to say, everybody’s all ears.

The Broncos are hoping this across-the-board pugnacity helps them become the first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to win the Super Bowl the year after losing it.

They’ll have to navigate some potholes to get there:

BOWLEN’S ABSENCE: Even as dementia began to rob him of some of his fondest memories over the past few years, team owner Pat Bowlen reported to work every day to oversee multimillion-dollar upgrades to the team’s training facilities and roster. Alzheimer’s is preventing the 70-year-old former triathlete from running the team anymore.

Elway and team president Joe Ellis, both teary-eyed when camp began minus the beloved Bowlen, pledged to continue running the team as he did. Elway said the highlight of his career was when Bowlen held high the Lombardi Trophy in 1997 and declared, “This one’s for John!”

“I want nothing more than to return that favor,” Elway said.

PRATER PROBLEM: The Broncos will be without the NFL’s top kicker for their first four games after Matt Prater was suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy by drinking alcohol.

“Why did I risk it?” Prater said. “I made a mistake. I don’t have an excuse for it. I screwed up and now I’m paying the price for it.”

The suspension will cost Prater $705,882 in base salary and forces the Broncos to go with unproven first-year pro Brandon McManus.

REPLACING HOLLIDAY: What was shaping up as one of the NFL’s best comeback stories ended when wide receiver Jordan Norwood tore his left ACL in camp after emerging as Trindon Holliday’s replacement on punt returns.

Cut five times by four teams and out of football last year, Norwood had also added depth to Denver’s receiving group.

“I’m very disappointed for him and at this point for us, selfishly,” coach John Fox said.

TREVATHAN’S TREVAILS: Weakside linebacker Danny Trevathan broke his left leg at practice, robbing the Broncos of their leading tackler for the first month of this season. Taking his place is Brandon Marshall, a 24-year-old every-down linebacker known mostly as the man who gets mistaken for the OTHER Brandon Marshall, the Chicago Bears’ star receiver.

This Marshall has but one career tackle. Yet, he promises there will be no drop-off in Denver’s defense even though Trevathan led the team with 124 tackles last season and 24 more in the playoffs.

“I will get it done,” declared Marshall, whom the Broncos trust enough to relay Jack Del Rio’s play calls.

BAD CONNECTION: After throwing for more yards and touchdowns than anyone in NFL history, Manning had to say goodbye to wide receiver Eric Decker, who signed with the Jets.

He was replaced by Emmanuel Sanders, who has better separation and speed than Decker. However, a nagging thigh injury kept him from developing a good chemistry with Manning, who finally texted him one night and told him he’d better get back on the field.

Finding that rhythm is “going to have to be in-season” now, offensive coordinator Adam Gase said. “We’re going to have some growing pains there.”

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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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