Skip to main content

Pouncey to begin year on Dolphins’ 53-man roster

By WTOP Staff

TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Center Mike Pouncey has convinced the Miami Dolphins that he will be ready to play sooner than later.

Pouncey will open the season on Miami’s 53-man roster and not on the physically unable to perform list, the Dolphins announced on Saturday — cut-down day around the NFL.

The Pouncey decision was one of the biggest the Dolphins had to make in paring down the squad to 53 players. Miami made 22 moves Saturday, one of the more notable ones being the waiving of Daniel Thomas, who had four of the team’s six rushing touchdowns from running backs last season.

For those who made the team, headshot photos and a team meeting await on Sunday. Some of those waived on Saturday could be back on Miami’s practice squad.

“I thought it’s been the best training camp and preseason that I’ve been a part of,” Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said after Miami’s exhibition finale. “Not just the record. I like the way we’ve won the games.”

Pouncey, a Pro Bowl selection last season, has been working his way back from hip surgery. He was seen at practice last week working out off to the side, and has not yet been involved in any full-fledged workouts.

It’s unclear when he will be able to fully return. But if Pouncey was placed on the PUP list, he would have been ineligible for Miami’s first six games. By putting him on the 53-man roster now, the Dolphins can use him earlier if he’s cleared and deemed ready to play again.

Thomas had a touchdown in Miami’s preseason finale, and hoped he had shown enough to stick around.

“I gave everything I had,” Thomas said.

He found out Saturday, it still wasn’t enough. The Dolphins wound up keeping five undrafted free agents, including running backs Orleans Darkwa and Damien Williams.

Quarterback Seth Lobato was waived, leaving the team with only Ryan Tannehill and Matt Moore for now at that position.

Others who were waived Saturday: defensive linemen Isaako Aaitui, Tevin Mims, D’Aundre Reed and Garrison Smith; offensive linemen David Arkin, Sam Brenner and Evan Finkenburg; wide receivers Kevin Cone, Matt Hazel and Marcus Thigpen; safety Jordan Kovacs; tight ends Kyle Miller and Evan Wilson; linebacker Andrew Wilson and kicker Jake Rogers.

Defensive tackle Kamal Johnson was placed on injured reserve, and guard Tony Hills’ contract was terminated.

Safety Reshad Jones and defensive end Dion Jordan will miss the first four games serving NFL suspensions. Neither will count against the initial 53-man roster.

“I understand the situation I’m in, and I’ve got to deal with the consequences,” Jordan said after the preseason finale.

The Dolphins will have five new offensive line starters for their Sept. 7 opener against New England. Pouncey has appeared in 46 of 48 games since joining the Dolphins in 2011 and, according to STATS, he was one of three Miami offensive linemen to be on the field for at least 900 snaps last season.

All but one of Miami’s 2014 draft picks made the team, though fifth-rounder Arthur Lynch was placed on injured reserve late in the preseason. Hazel was the only draftee from this year waived, and defensive lineman Terrence Fede — the first draft pick ever from tiny Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York — made the club.

Fede was a seventh-round pick this year.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://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