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Reggie Wayne nearing significant career milestones

By WTOP Staff

COREY ELLIOT
Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Reggie Wayne is closer to the end of his NFL career than the beginning.

Though it’s difficult to tell by watching the 35-year old veteran on Sundays.

Wayne is the same, hardworking wide receiver that he’s always been — even after an ACL injury ended his 2013 season.

Wayne is one of the best receivers to have played for the Indianapolis Colts.

And now the 14-year veteran is on the verge of hitting some significant career milestones.

On Sunday, Wayne will play in his 200th career game — only quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Johnny Unitas have played in more games with the Colts.

And with three catches, he will pass Isaac Bruce for No. 7 on the NFL’s reception list.

And if he gets three catches, Wayne will continue his streak of games with at least three catches at 75.

Wayne also is 11th all-time with 13,754 yards. If he gets 24 yards Sunday, he will pass Henry Ellard for 10th.

“That just means you’ve been around a while,” Wayne said with a grin. “(The records) mean a lot, man. At the end of the day, to accomplish any of those kinds of records, or accolades, you’ve got to be around and available. Records are made to be broken, the longer I play I’m going to catch somebody else and at some point in time somebody is going to catch mine.”

Wayne is 145 yards behind Cris Carter for ninth and 250 yards behind James Lofton for eighth. From there, the next man up is former Colts teammate Marvin Harrison at seventh. Barring injury, Wayne could likely pass all three this season.

Wayne came into the league in 2001 and started learning from Harrison.

Now in a similar role, Wayne is making lasting impressions on the younger guys, in particular, Colts third-year wide receiver T.Y. Hilton.

“We got to get him his three catches and make sure he passes Isaac Bruce. His stats speak for themselves, he’s Mr. Reliable … he’s done it all. Watching him work his craft day-in and day-out, I’m just following his lead,” Hilton said.

“Anytime I get a chance to pick his brain, I do that. Our bond is so strong, on and off the field, we are always communicating with one another. Everything he does, I make sure I’m watching.

Wayne played for coach Chuck Pagano at the University of Miami while Pagano was an assistant coach. So, Pagano isn’t surprised when it comes to Wayne’s abilities and accomplishments on the field.

“You guys tell me about the milestones, am I shocked, no,” Pagano said. “You can’t have enough guys like Reggie in your locker room. He’s a consummate pro. It’s his love and passion for the game that he’s going to be one of those guys that is never going to feel like he’s ready to walk away from football. He’s great, he’s unbelievable.”

Wayne’s comments reflect his coaches praises.

“I want to (play) 200 more,” Wayne said laughing. “You want to do the best you can and play as much as you can. But at the end of the day, getting the respect from my teammates, that means a lot to me. That’s bigger than catches, touchdowns and yards.”

___

AP NFL websites: 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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