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Marvin Austin: latest veteran bargain for Broncos

By WTOP Staff

ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — John Elway’s free agency bonanza included $109.5 million worth of contracts for a trio of defensive stars in Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward and DeMarcus Ware.

So it was easy to overlook the one-year, no-bonus $570,000 deal that nose tackle Marvin Austin signed with the Denver Broncos this spring.

Not anymore.

The former second round pick of the New York Giants whose career has been bogged down by injuries made the Broncos’ 53-man roster after a strong training camp six months after back surgery.

Austin’s re-emergence led Elway to release nine-year veteran Kevin Vickerson, who carried a $2.266 million cap figure.

He’ll team with Terrance Knighton, Sylvester Williams and Mitch Unrein to give Denver a formidable run-stuffing presence to go along with the pass-rushing prowess of Von Miller and, Ware as the Broncos try to get back to the Super Bowl.

“Well, he’s healthy and I think that’s the key thing,” Elway said. “He had the back surgery this offseason. He’s a guy that we were high on when he was coming out of college and then the Giants ended up taking him in the second round and then he hasn’t been healthy. We think he’s going to just continue to get better. So he’s been a pleasant surprise coming back the way he has.”

What isn’t a surprise is how Elway and his pro personnel department found another gem in the NFL’s bargain bin.

They’ve made a habit of getting quality return on one-year deals for veterans to fill roster gaps since Elway’s arrival in the front office in 2011.

Austin thought his career was over when he was told he needed back surgery last year, when he was cut by the Giants, Dolphins and Cowboys in a three-month span. Instead, it gave him a chance to revitalize his career.

“Oh, my spine works now,” Austin said. “It feels great. I’ve been humbled throughout my career, so I know what type of opportunity I have. So, I’m just grateful to be here. I’m grateful to be able to say that I can still play football and especially at the NFL level.”

Austin (6-foot-2 and 319 pounds) said this is as good as he’s ever felt, and the Broncos believe he looks better than ever, too.

“He was a good acquisition,” coach John Fox said. “I think John and his staff did a good job in that evaluation process. He has come off of a fairly significant injury and he looks like he’s got that explosiveness and quickness he had when he came out of Chapel Hill.”

Funny that Fox should say that because Austin said, “I feel like college again.”

He was a second-round draft choice of the Giants in 2011, but he missed his rookie season with a torn chest muscle. He played in eight games in 2012 while dealing with a bad back that resulted in a weak right leg. And he played in a total of three games last season for Miami and Dallas. The Cowboys released him after just one game and one tackle when his bad back acted up in practice.

Then came back surgery.

“I feel 10 million times better now,” he said.

Last year, the Broncos got plenty out of veteran players who came to Denver on the cheap with something to prove.

Pass-rusher Shaun Phillips led the team in sacks with 10 and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie started 13 games and tied for the team lead with three interceptions. Rodgers-Cromartie signed a two-year deal but it was essentially a one-year contract because the second year voided five days after the Super Bowl.

The Broncos really relied upon one-year players in 2012: defensive tackle Justin Bannon, linebacker Keith Brooking, center Dan Koppen, safety Jim Leonhard and slot receiver Brandon Stokley all played significant roles in Denver’s 13-3 regular season.

Of that group, only Leonhard received a bonus, and it was a relatively paltry $65,000.

Elway was determined to add an edge to his defense and Austin worked his way into being a big part of that culture change.

Notes: The Broncos brought back nine players they cut Saturday to join their practice squad: QB Zac Dysert, R Kapri Bibbs, LB Shaquil Barrett, S John Boyett, WR Bennie Fowler, G Vinston Painter, WR Nathan Palmer, C Matt Paradis and TE Gerell Robinson. Also, Washington claimed S Duke Ihenacho off waivers. He started all but two games for Denver last season and made nine tackles in the Super Bowl.

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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 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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