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Denver Broncos get leading tackler back

By WTOP Staff

ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos locker room was filled with more banter and bellows than usual Monday. Their early bye is over and Danny Trevathan is back.

The team’s leading tackler last season, Trevathan missed the first three games after fracturing his left leg just below his knee during an Aug. 12 practice at training camp.

He’s expected to make his 2014 debut Sunday when the Broncos (2-1) host the Arizona Cardinals (3-0).

“Man, we’re so happy to have him back,” linebacker Nate Irving said, raising his voice and enunciating each word so that Trevathan could hear his high praise two lockers away. “He’s the heartbeat of the defense, baby!”

Trevathan glanced at Irving and shook his head.

“But it feels good to see him out here running around,” Irving continued. “It’s pretty good to know that he’s healthy and everything. Getting that extra guy back out there is pretty good for us. It. Boosts. The. Team. Morale.”

When Trevathan spun around, he was surrounded by a phalanx of cameras and teasing teammates.

“Give me a shout-out, Danny!” implored defensive lineman Malik Jackson from behind the scrum.

Trevathan had other ideas.

He slithered past the hoard, saying he had somewhere else to be.

Fierce between the sidelines but shy in public, he’ll make his statements on the football field, just like he did in 2013.

The third-year pro out of Kentucky is coming off a breakout season in which he led the Broncos with 124 tackles and intercepted three passes before collecting a team-best two dozen tackles in the playoffs.

If all continues to go well this week, Trevathan will return to his starting spot on the weak side next to Irving and opposite strong side linebacker Von Miller against the undefeated Cardinals.

Brandon Marshall, who collected a team-high 29 tackles in his absence, will return to playing alongside Trevathan in nickel situations or spelling him in the base defense whenever Trevathan needs a breather.

“I thought Brandon Marshall stepped in and did a real good job,” coach John Fox said. “We’ve got some youth at that position, there were errors made, but all in all, just like our record, I think, two of the situations better than the third. We’ll welcome back Danny because he was one of our better players and it’s good to have him back.”

Denver’s defense saved the day with game-clinching last-minute plays against Indianapolis and Kansas City but couldn’t stop Russell Wilson’s 80-yard TD drive in overtime two weekends ago.

With Trevathan’s return to health, the Broncos have the defense that had coordinator Jack Del Rio so excited this summer, one that boosts star power in Miller, Chris Harris Jr., Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware, Rahim Moore and Terrance Knighton.

“It’s a huge deal,” Knighton said. “I told him that today. I’m happy to have him back. He brings a lot more attitude to the defense. It’s not that B-Marsh didn’t, it’s just Danny’s more of a feisty guy. It will be good to have him back. It’s good that Brandon got that experience while Danny was hurt. So, it’ll allow our linebackers to rotate and have guys that they can trust go in and play.”

Marshall said he feels like he not only held things together during Trevathan’s absence but showed the Broncos they can count on him to play a bigger role.

“I thought I surprised a lot of people,” Marshall said. “I surprised coaches, fans, my teammates, I thought. I’m not really sure if I had the full support of everybody, but I think going forward, I will — either as a backup player, or if I come in on nickel packages. So I thought I did well. I think I showed enough to get the support of everybody.”

Notes: LB Lerentee McCray (knee) and S David Bruton (ankle) sat out of practice.

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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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