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Colts try to stay course in Irsay’s absence

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Carlie Irsay-Gordon spent the early part of Colts practice chatting with general manager Ryan Grigson, taking notes and re-acclimating herself to a task she now knows well: Filling in for her father.

The Colts went back to work Wednesday and team owner Jim Irsay started his six-week suspension, just four days before the season opener against Peyton Manning and the Broncos. For Irsay-Gordon, this is starting to get routine. She spent two months helping run the team after her father sought treatment following a March traffic stop in which police found various prescription drugs and more than $29,000 in cash.

Irsay pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving while intoxicated Tuesday and within hours was punished by Commissioner Roger Goodell. Besides the suspension, he was fined $500,000 and barred from being anywhere near his beloved team until after Indy’s game against Houston on Oct. 9.

The Colts, of course, insist it will be business as usual. But there will be no sign of their neatly dressed owner on the sideline, no inspiring comments on Twitter and no postgame speeches. And nobody understands better than coach Chuck Pagano how difficult it will be for Irsay to stay away from his team.

“Do I have a sense? Twelve weeks’ worth. So I got a real good sense,” Pagano said, referring to the time he missed in 2012 as he battled leukemia. “You pull anybody away from this game that has the passion and drive and love for this sport that we’re so privileged to play and coach, you feel helpless. Believe me, you feel helpless.”

Though Irsay was not seen on the field during the portion of practice open to reporters, Pagano relayed a message from the team owner, a close personal friend, to his players: It’s time to focus on football, starting with Sunday night’s game at Denver.

Goodell’s suspension bars Irsay from visiting the team complex, attending practices or games, representing the Colts at league or committee meetings and conducting interviews or using social media to address football-related issues. Carlie Irsay-Gordon represented the team at the owners’ meetings in March.

What is unclear is whether Irsay might still influence team decisions.

The NFL’s release announcing the punishment does not specifically address conversations Irsay has with family members, and even if it did, it would seem almost impossible to police. League spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an email Wednesday that the league had already specified terms of the suspension and would not comment any further on the matter.

Grigson was not available to reporters but said Tuesday on a local radio show he expected no significant changes in team operations.

“Business as usual,” Pagano said when asked Wednesday.

Irsay has been grooming his three daughters — Carlie, Kalen and Casey Foyt — to run the team when he gives up the day-to-day operations. But earlier this summer in an interview with The Associated Press, Irsay said he had no plans to give up control any time soon even after a challenging offseason.

In addition to Irsay’s legal troubles, receiver Lavon Brazill was waived after the league announced he would be suspended one season for another violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy. The Colts are also missing outside linebacker Robert Mathis, the defending NFL sacks champ who was suspended for four games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy.

Players around the league had been anxious to see how Goodell would punish Irsay based on how he’d handled player suspensions. Aiello pointed out that a player with a first-offense misdemeanor driving under the influence would not be suspended at all and could be fined a maximum of $50,000. Irsay was fined $500,000.

Irsay acknowledged in 2002, before Goodell expanded the conduct policy to include owners and team executives, that he had become dependent on painkillers after several years of orthopedic operations but said he had overcome the problem.

But inside the Colts locker room, fairness wasn’t the issue. They were more concerned with showing they support the man who signs their paychecks.

“We’re a family, so it got personal for me as soon as it happened,” punter Pat McAfee said. “I owe everything I have to Jim Irsay. I think outside the Indianapolis Colts, that might have been the way (players) looked at it. I think in here, we knew a punishment was coming and we were hoping for the best. We’ll miss him, but we’ll get through it.”

___

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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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