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K Brandon McManus making a case to stay in Denver

By WTOP Staff

ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — First-year kicker Brandon McManus is making the most of his NFL tryout while Pro Bowler Matt Prater serves out his four-game suspension kicking field goals at a nearby high school.

McManus has made both of his field goal attempts and had touchbacks on 11 of 12 kickoffs in the Denver Broncos’ 2-0 start. If he makes a pressure kick Sunday at Seattle or against Arizona after the bye week, he might just earn himself a longer stay in Denver.

“That’s what I want to do, is put doubt in their mind about what they should do” when Prater’s punishment is over, McManus said. “I don’t want to come out here and think, ‘Well, I’m only kicking for four games.’ My mental preparation wouldn’t be good. That’s not the way I’m looking at it.”

The Broncos traded a conditional 2015 seventh-round pick to the New York Giants for McManus last month after Prater was suspended for drinking. Prater has been in the NFL’s drug program, which includes alcohol, since a DUI arrest in 2011.

Prater led the league last year by making 25 of 26 field goals, including a record-setting 64-yarder against Tennessee. He also led the NFL with 81 kickoff touchbacks.

His suspension put the Broncos in a tough spot as they open the season against four teams that averaged 11.25 wins last year.

Although the Bronco’s 26 wins in Peyton Manning’s first two years in Denver came by an average of 16.8 points, both of the their wins this year have been by seven. And the defending AFC champs are bracing for plenty more slugfests, some of which might come down to a clutch field goal.

A four-year starter at Temple, McManus spent the 2013 preseason in Indianapolis and the regular season preparing for another shot.

“It’s tough because that’s the first season that I hadn’t played football since middle school,” McManus said. “So, I just kept working to stay ready. I knew I was on a bunch of teams’ short lists. And I was just waiting. So, I started my kicking business just to make some money.”

He offered private lessons in the Philadelphia and New Jersey area through “Kickin’ It With McManus,” which also kept him in shape for another shot at the NFL.

He had two tryouts during the 2013 season, one with the Giants and the other with the Saints, who replaced longtime kicker Garrett Hartley with veteran Shayne Graham heading into the playoffs.

This summer, he pushed Giants incumbent Josh Brown just as he had Adam Vinatieri in Indy.

“He’s one of those guys that’s going to be a lifer,” Brown said of McManus. “He’s going to be a 10-year guy, easily. He’s got that kind of talent and he’s got that kind of head on his shoulders.”

And a booming right leg.

“He’s got a tremendously strong leg and he’s got a lot of upside,” Broncos GM John Elway said after trading for him.

Elway had several proven veterans to choose from but he went with the 6-foot-3, 201-pound novice with smooth mechanics and a bright future.

“The biggest knock on me it’s hard to get regular-season experience for a young kicker,” McManus said. “A lot of teams don’t want to put their head on a line to get a rookie kicker out there. So, definitely the four games I knew would help me. I wanted to come in and perform well for those four games whether they keep me here or not when Matt comes back.”

Last month, coach John Fox suggested Prater hadn’t worn out his welcome in Denver, saying, “He’s part of our family.”

Then, a contrite Prater apologized and pledged to stay out of clubs to avoid the temptation to drink again, which could result in a yearlong ban.

His suspension is costing Prater $750,000 of his $3 million base salary.

There’s the rub.

The Broncos are paying big bucks for their specialists — Prater will count $3.812 million against this year’s cap and punter/holder Britton Colquitt another $3.25 million.

McManus signed a deal that would pay him $420,000 this year and $510,000 in 2015, when Prater’s base salary jumps to $3.25 million.

That’s no small consideration for a team that has several stars coming up for big long-term contracts, including Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas and Chris Harris Jr.

McManus wants to stay here with them. He sees Denver not as a stopover but as his destination.

“I think that’s the only way you can look at it,” he said.

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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 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
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