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Harrison returns to new-look linebacker core

By WTOP Staff

WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) — James Harrison walked off the practice field in his familiar No. 92 jersey Wednesday afternoon, a gift of sorts from nose tackle Daniel McCullers.

The rookie graciously gave up the number when the Pittsburgh Steelers re-signed Harrison to give an injury depleted linebacker group a welcome dose of veteran snarl.

“He deserves it,” McCullers said. “He’s a good player.”

One who finds himself on a team that’s undergone a rapid fire makeover in the 18 months since the Steelers released the five-time Pro Bowler in March, 2013 in a salary cap maneuver.

While McCullers swapped to No. 62 out of deference to Harrison, everything else won’t be quite as easy for the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, who came out of a brief 18-day retirement on Tuesday for one last season.

Star wide receiver Antonio Brown took over Harrison’s sprawling locker and has no plans on giving it up. Harrison’s spot in the parking lot was claimed by a massive red pickup truck.

And the starting job Harrison held during his prime now belongs to Arthur Moats, at least until Jarvis Jones recovers from the broken wrist that led the Steelers to call Harrison in the first place.

Sweat pouring off his bald head, Harrison spoke like a man who understands he’s no longer an integral part of the game plan but a role player.

“No aspirations, no goals,” Harrison said. “I’m just trying to make it to tomorrow.”

The 36-year-old put on about 10 pounds since the end of the 2013 season. He felt every single one of them during a spirited practice on Wednesday that reminded him of the contrast between being in shape and being ready to slam into other grown men for a living.

Harrison estimated it may take him 3-4 weeks to be truly ready, but estimated he’s fit enough to see the field for a handful of plays.

That’s likely all he’d see anyway as the new elder statesman in a linebacker group that doesn’t feature a player over the age of 28.

Lawrence Timmons is the only starting linebacker left over from Harrison’s last game in a Steelers uniform in December 2012.

LaMarr Woodley is in Oakland. Larry Foote is in Arizona. Harrison is now back with the team he helped win a pair of Super Bowls, albeit in a far different capacity.

He will start Sunday’s game against winless Tampa Bay (0-3) on the sideline watching Arthur Moats — who considers Harrison a role model — take the strong outside linebacker spot in Pittsburgh’s intricate 3-4 defense.

In a way, perhaps it’s fitting. Like Harrison the 6-foot, 250-pound Moats is undersized. Like Harrison he plays with an intensity that makes his frame immaterial.

“Early in my career, (Harrison) was definitely was a guy that I was watching for that very reason,” Moats said. “So, guys like us can get the job done.”

Moats certainly looked capable after taking over for Jones when the former first-round pick broke his right wrist while forcing Carolina’s Cam Newton to fumble in the third quarter of last Sunday’s 37-19 win over the Panthers.

Moats darted in on Newton for a sack shortly after entering, hauling down one of the NFL’s biggest quarterbacks with a well-placed hand on Newton’s shoulder pads.

It’s a move straight out of Harrison’s playbook.

“I’m a compact guy, so I have good leverage and good burst,” Moats said. “So, I feel like that helps me a lot out on the edge.”

Moats is one of eight defensive players starting on Sunday who were not atop the depth chart the last time Harrison wore black and gold.

The most unlikely name may be Sean Spence, who will cap his remarkable comeback from a left knee injury that nearly derailed his career two years ago. Spence missed the 2012 and 2013 seasons during his painful recovery from two torn ligaments and extensive nerve damage.

Spence was pressed into action last weekend when rookie Ryan Shazier went down with a strained right MCL. Shazier is out indefinitely, giving Spence a chance to run out of the tunnel at Heinz Field as a starter for the first time. The significance is not lost on him.

“I’ll try to hold the tears back,” Spence said. “I’m not sure. I know it will be emotional.”

For Harrison too. He thought he was done for good when he called a retirement news conference on Sept. 5.

Less than three weeks later he was back in a familiar place, even if it’s not quite as familiar as it used to be.

“Different faces, but it’s still the same,” Harrison said. “It’s still a family. We’ve just got different members.”

NOTES: Steelers WR Darrius Heyward-Bey did not practice on Wednesday due to illness. … RB Dri Archer (ankle) and G Ramon Foster (ankle) did practice after missing the Panthers’ game.

___

AP NFL website: 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
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