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Browns make cuts, Grossman kept as third QB

By WTOP Staff

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) — Nate Burleson’s experience and leadership skills made him attractive to the Browns. The wide receiver’s inability to stay on the field made him expendable.

Burleson, an 11-year veteran, was among the most notable players released Saturday as Cleveland got down to the NFL’s 53-player roster limit. Burleson was slowed by a hamstring injury throughout much of training camp and missed three exhibition games. The time away allowed the team to take a closer look at some young receivers and Burleson was let go.

“Nate is a true professional and it was a difficult decision for us,” first-year Browns coach Mike Pettine said. “Ultimately, his availability was a concern with all the time he missed and we liked what we saw in the other players at that position.”

The Browns are thin at wide receiver after Pro Bowler Josh Gordon was suspended for the entire 2014 season for another violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy. The team decided to keep undrafted free agent Taylor Gabriel and Charles Johnson, who missed last season while recovering from knee surgery, over Burleson, who was signed in April.

“Gabriel’s an explosive athlete, he’s very strong for his size (5-foot-8, 172 pounds),” Pettine said. “He has the ability to get off the line against press (coverage), which a lot of times you don’t find with smaller guys. A lot of times, you have to put them off the ball or have him on the move.”

Cleveland’s wide receiving corps is not only thin but small, and general manager Ray Farmer may be looking to add through a trade. In Gabriel, the 5-foot-7, 180-pound Andrew Hawkins and 5-10, 175-pound Travis Benjamin, the Browns have some deep flyers but few weapons to throw to over the middle.

In addition to Burleson, the Browns released running backs Dion Lewis and Chris Ogbonnaya along with cornerback Leon McFadden and guard Garrett Gilkey, a pair of 2013 draft picks.

The Browns waived rookie quarterback Connor Shaw, leaving Rex Grossman to begin the season as Cleveland’s third QB behind starter Brian Hoyer and backup Johnny Manziel. Grossman recently signed with the Browns, who are hoping he can help Hoyer and Manziel with the team’s new offensive system. Grossman spent time in Washington with Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

Grossman made his debut Thursday night against Chicago, completing 4 of 8 passes.

“Rex is a veteran, he’s played in this system, he’s good for the guys in the (quarterback) room, and he also showed that he can still throw it,” Pettine said. “And that’s the most important thing. He can still play.”

The release of Lewis and the versatile Ogbonnaya gave undrafted free agent Isaiah Crowell a roster spot. He rushed for 102 yards against the Bears, ripping off a 48-yard touchdown run. Crowell beat out Lewis, who missed last season after breaking his leg.

Pettine said the Browns were impressed with Crowell’s body of work since camp opened.

“It wasn’t something where he was on the outside looking in and, all of a sudden, he had that big night,” Pettine said. “He had flashed at practice and he was a guy that we knew had that type of ability. But you still have to show it in games, and we had kind of earmarked (the Bears’) game as one where we were going to feature him a little bit more. And, to his credit, he went out and performed.”

The Browns also put cornerback Isaiah Trufant on injured reserve with a knee injury and said wide receiver Marlon Moore is on the suspended list.

The club made 21 moves to get down to the league’s mandatory level, but the Browns may not be done tweaking their roster.

“I think the 53 is always going to be fluid, especially at the start of the season.” Pettine said. “Ray and his staff have done an outstanding job of keeping tabs on the league and I’m confident they will continue to make any moves that are necessary to give us the best possible 53.”

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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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