Skip to main content

Deeper Denver Broncos cut Vickerson, Ihenacho

By WTOP Staff

ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — John Elway hates cut-down day, although probably not as much as the 20 players he called into his office Saturday.

“Today is obviously the toughest part of my job,” the Broncos GM said. “It’s hard breaking dreams.”

Elway added depth to his defense through free agency and the draft in the aftermath of Denver’s Super Bowl debacle, and two veterans who paid the price Saturday were Kevin Vickerson and Duke Ihenacho.

Vickerson, a nine-year veteran defensive tackle and Ihenacho, a third-year safety who had nine tackles against Seattle in the Super Bowl, were among the Broncos’ cuts as they trimmed their roster to 53 active players.

Among them were 14 players who weren’t on the team when they lost to Seattle in the Super Bowl, including six free agents, five draft picks, two college free agents and a trade acquisition.

“This is by far the deepest team since I’ve been here and the toughest decisions we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Elway, the Hall of Fame quarterback who rejoined his beloved Broncos in 2011.

Ihenacho started 17 games last season. But he was the odd man out in a crowded secondary that features free agent acquisition T.J. Ward at strong safety along with Quinton Carter, who’s made a strong comeback after spending the last two years on IR and rehabbing from microfracture knee surgery.

“At the end of the day, always remember business is business. For both sides. On to whatever is next,” Ihenacho tweeted.

Another feel-good story was that of Ben Garland, who made the roster after switching from defensive line to offensive guard following a two-year military commitment and a two-year stint on the practice squad.

“Ben’s a guy that’s got that determination like no other and … he’s very bright,” Elway said. “He’s tough and he just worked his tail off to earn a spot on the team.”

Slow to recover from a dislocated hip that sidelined him down the stretch in 2013, Vickerson was unable to fend off free agent Marvin Austin, a former second-round pick who had a stellar camp after undergoing back surgery late last year, and Mitch Unrein, who’s younger, cheaper, healthier and more versatile.

“We owe Vick a lot,” Elway said. “He played well when he was here.”

Vickerson said he felt fine after playing 39 snaps in the Broncos’ preseason finale, where he had five tackles. He’s played in 71 NFL games with Denver (2010-13), Tennessee (2007-09) and Miami (2005-06) in addition to a season in the old NFL Europe.

“Sad day man,” Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton tweeted. “Hard to build relationships in this business. Blood thicker than water tho.”

Unrein tweeted: “Very thankful to make this team. Sad to see Big Vick go. He taught me so much during my years here in Denver.”

Also let go was third quarterback Zac Dysert, who made the 53-man roster last year.

Others who didn’t make the AFC champions’ roster were: linebackers Shaquil Barrett and L.J. Fort, defensive backs John Boyett, Jerome Murphy, Louis Young and Jordan Sullen, defensive end Brian Sanford, defensive tackle Sione Fua, receivers Bennie Fowler and Nathan Palmer, running back Kapri Bibbs, tight ends Jameson Konz, Gerell Robinson and Cameron Morrah, guard Ryan Miller and tackle Vinston Painter.

The only member of this year’s draft class that didn’t make it was center Matt Paradis.

With Matt Prater suspended for the first four games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, Brandon McManus is the Broncos’ kicker even though he missed two of four field goals in Dallas last week.

Elway said he trusts the strong-legged McManus will do fine after getting more work with snapper Aaron Brewer and holder Britton Colquitt.

Running back Juwan Thompson of Duke and Fresno State returner/receiver Isaiah Burse, who stepped up after Jordan Norwood tore an ACL two weeks ago, made the roster.

That extends Denver’s streak to 11 straight seasons with an undrafted college free agent making the 53-man roster.

Elway said he personally expressed his gratitude to each of the 20 players that were cut.

“They all come and see me and I thank them,” Elway said. “That’s something that I feel like is important.”

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

___

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote