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Colts get Mathis back, lose Landry to suspension

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Colts’ defense took another hit Monday when the NFL announced starting safety LaRon Landry would miss the next four games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy.

Landry will not be eligible to return until after the Colts visit Pittsburgh on Oct. 26.

Colts spokesman Avis Roper wrote in an email there would be no additional comment from the team.

Landry was not available for comment in the locker room, and the announcement wasn’t made until after coach Chuck Pagano had spoken with reporters.

Landry initially defended himself on a Twitter post that read “Sometimes things aren’t what they appear to be” before quickly deleting the comment.

The 6-foot, 226-pound former Pro Bowler spent most of the offseason working out on his own and missed the start of training camp with a groin injury.

But he started each of Indy’s first four games and went into Sunday ranked third on the team in tackles (15). Landry was credited with three more tackles in a 41-17 victory over the Titans.

Now the Colts are looking for another replacement before hosting Baltimore (3-1) this weekend.

Indy lost longtime starter Antoine Bethea to San Francisco in free agency and Bethea’s projected replacement, Delano Howell, with a neck injury in training camp. Howell is already on season-ending injured reserve.

That leaves the Colts with only four safeties on the active roster — Mike Adams, who has been starting opposite Landry; Sergio Brown, who was in the mix for the starting job in training camp; former Eagles safety Colt Anderson, who was inactive Sunday with a groin injury; and rookie Dewey McDonald, who was promoted from the practice squad Monday after backup receiver Da’Rick Rogers was released for what Pagano called “conduct detrimental” to the team.

Rogers joined the Colts’ practice squad last September.

The once promising college receiver went undrafted in 2013 after admitting he failed multiple drug tests at the University of Tennessee before transferring to Tennessee Tech. The Colts signed Rogers after he was cut by Buffalo in August 2013.

“I think the way things are set up here, it’s a pretty good culture, pretty good environment, pretty good place to thrive and grow,” Pagano said. “If you can’t make it here, you’re going to find it tough to make it anywhere.”

But the Colts have endured more than their share of off-the-field problems this year.

Team owner Jim Irsay is serving a league-imposed six-game suspension after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving while intoxicated.

Receiver LaVon Brazill was cut this summer after failing another drug test, which resulted in a one-year suspension that was later reduced to 10 games. Robert Mathis, the 2013 NFL sacks champ, also was suspended for the first four games for violating the performance-enhancing substance policy.

And now there’s Landry’s suspension and Rogers’ release, which couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Indianapolis (2-2) looked as if it had just turned the corner with back-to-back blowout wins, outscoring Jacksonville and Tennessee by a combined 85-34.

Andrew Luck and the offense have been humming and the short-handed defense appeared to be progressing despite being without three starters — Mathis, defensive lineman Arthur Jones (ankle), inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman (hamstring).

Plus, the Colts finally got Mathis, one of the team’s most popular veterans, back in the team complex Monday.

He was prohibited by league rules from entering the facility during the suspension. Mathis was quickly put on the reserve/non-football injury list Monday, a formality after he sustained a season-ending torn Achilles’ tendon during a private workout in Atlanta while he was away from the team.

But Pagano has big plans for his star pass rusher.

“He’s got to earn his check somehow,” Pagano said, drawing laughter. “Just like Reggie (Wayne), he got enough time to mend up and get back out here and then be an assistant coach. That’s (Mathis’) title now. He’s got all kinds of assignments.

“It was great walking into the team meeting today and he sat in the same seat he’s sat in forever. It was awesome to have him back in the building. His presence alone brings a ton of energy to everyone.”

___

Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://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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