Skip to main content

Giants put Manningham, Holliday on IR

By WTOP Staff

TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham isn’t going to get a second chance with the New York Giants, and neither is backup quarterback Curtis Painter.

The Giants on Saturday placed Manningham on injured reserve along with fellow receiver Trindon Holliday, and released Painter in reducing their roster to the NFL’s 53-man limit.

Three other members of last year’s team — fullback John Conner, running back Michael Cox and receiver Julian Talley — were among the 22 roster moves.

Manningham’s legacy with the Giants will be his spectacular, late fourth-quarter sideline catch to ignite the Giants’ win over the Patriots in the 2012 Super Bowl.

He was re-signed after playing for San Francisco, but he had offseason knee surgery followed by a poor training camp. He injured a calf in the preseason finale against New England on Thursday, sealing his fate.

A former Bronco, Holliday was signed by the Giants in the offseason with the hope that he might star in the return game. He injured a hamstring early in training camp and did not play in a game.

The release of Painter means Ryan Nassib will be Eli Manning’s backup.

“Ryan Nassib made big strides,” coach Tom Coughlin said of the second-year player who threw for 588 yards and five touchdowns as New York went 5-0 in the preseason. “I think that his third and fourth preseason games were outstanding.”

New York, which went 7-9 last year in missing the playoffs for the second straight season, also terminated the contracts of veteran tight end Kellen Davis and defensive end Israel Idonije.

Davis was a member of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks last season. Idonije, an 11-year veteran, played for the Detroit Lions last season.

Also released were defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles, defensive end Jordan Stanton; linebackers Dan Fox and Terrell Manning, cornerbacks Bennett Jackson and Chandler Fenner, safety Thomas Gordon, running back Kendall Gaskins, guard Jamaal Johnson-Webb, offensive tackles Adam Gress and Mark Asper. Offensive tackle Rogers Gaines was waived injured.

The Giants also received roster exemptions for guard Eric Herman and cornerback Jayron Hosley, who are suspended the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy and substance-abuse policy, respectively.

Jackson, a sixth-round pick, was the only selection in the recent draft not to make the team.

“Even on a day like this where I have to let people go, when I see what the game means to certain players and when I see that, then I think there’s hope, to be honest with you. I do,” Coughlin said. “Not just hope here, hope for everybody in this world because we’re not going through the motions. They love it. They love what they’re doing, they love the game.”

The Giants also announced Saturday that middle linebacker Jon Beason passed his physical and is ready to practice. He has been on the physically unable to perform list after breaking a foot in June at minicamp.

“You need that kind of dynamic leadership,” Coughlin said. “The guy loves the game, he loves to play it. He’ll have the biggest smile on his face come Monday when he trots out there.”

Guard Geoff Schwartz, who signed a $16.8 million contract in the offseason, is on the active roster, but he will be sidelined for a while with a dislocated toe.

The final roster included a couple of players who overcame long odds to make the team, at least for now.

The biggest surprises were receivers Corey Washington and Preston Parker.

An undrafted rookie, Washington was released by Arizona in late May and made the final roster after catching four touchdown passes in the preseason. Parker made the team after being out of the NFL for a year.

“Preston’s been around a little bit,” Coughlin said. “Preston also has the punt return/kickoff return ability. Right now that’s very critical for us, because Odell Beckham was going to be the punt returner.”

___

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
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