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Manning about to join Favre in 500 TD club

By WTOP Staff

ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning’s next touchdown throw will be his 500th, and he’s spreading the credit around just like he does the football.

The five-time MVP doesn’t like to talk about individual accomplishments.

As he approaches another milestone in a career filled with so many big moments, however, Manning took time Wednesday to reflect on all the help he’s received on his 499 TD passes.

He acknowledged that yes, he looks at his TD throws and interceptions every year because if the former is high and the latter low, “that means you’re getting your team in the end zone and that means you’re protecting the ball. I think that particular statistic usually leads to winning football games.”

“As far as the other thing, obviously, you’re just trying to win this football game,” Manning said. “But when asked about it, I have reflected on how many great teammates and coaches that I’ve been with along the way that have been a part of that. You don’t throw that many touchdowns without a lot of help.”

It’s not just the 44 players who have caught one of Manning’s TD throws, but the rest of his teammates and coaches.

“As my old center Jeff Saturday said, the only reason I’ve thrown that many is because I had great protection for so many years. Typical lineman speaking, especially one in the media now,” Manning said. “But to tell you the truth, he’s right. There are so many people that have helped me along the way.”

He’ll face men who made big early impressions on him Sunday when the Denver Broncos (2-1) host Arizona (3-0).

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians was Manning’s first quarterback coach when Manning arrived in the NFL in 1998. And Arizona’s assistant head coach Tom Moore was his offensive coordinator during his 13 seasons in Indianapolis.

The Cardinals would love to delay Manning’s milestone another week, but they know as well as anyone that it’s probably just wishful thinking.

“That’s tough because Peyton always finds a way to get the ball in the end zone,” Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson said.

The last time Manning didn’t throw a TD pass was Nov. 14, 2010, against Cincinnati.

So, chances are No. 500 will come sometime Sunday.

“He’ll probably brush it off like it’s just another touchdown,” Denver nose tackle Terrance Knighton said. “But I know it means a lot to him.”

And chances are Manning’s touchstone touchdown won’t come down in the arms of a receiver, either.

Tight ends Julius Thomas (five) and Jacob Tamme (two) have accounted for all but one of Manning’s eight TD tosses this season.

Newcomer Emmanuel Sanders went into the Broncos’ bye last week as the league leader in catches (25) and yards (334), yet he still waiting to spike a TD toss from him — unlike Denver defensive tackle Mitch Unrein.

“It’s still kind of a shock to me that I have a touchdown from Peyton,” Unrein said.

Sanders can’t wait to join the list.

With 14 catches so far, Thomas jokingly asked Sanders on Wednesday if he could spare a reception.

“All right,” Sanders retorted. “I’ll trade you for a touchdown.”

Thomas said Sanders can have No. 500 if he wants it.

“I’ve already got a couple milestones,” said Thomas, who caught Manning’s 51st TD throw that broke Tom Brady’s single-season record last year. It was one of his dozen TD receptions that surpassed Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe’s team record for tight ends.

“I hope they throw it to me,” said Knighton, noting that a jelly-belly lineman a few lockers down caught one.

Unrein lined up at fullback on Dec. 2, 2012, slipped into the left flat unencumbered on first-and-goal from the 1 and hauled in Manning’s floater to help the Broncos beat Tampa Bay 31-23.

Manning has thrown 100 TD passes in the regular season since his arrival in Denver.

His first in a Broncos uniform was the 400th of his career and it came on a 71-yard screen pass to Demaryius Thomas.

Manning figures to surpass Favre’s record of 508 TD throws later this month.

Behind them are Dan Marino (420), Drew Brees (370), Brady (363), Fran Tarkenton (342) and John Elway (300).

Told he has nearly 200 more TD passes than his boss, Manning said: “He probably has a few more rushing touchdowns that I do.”

Elway has 33 of those, Manning, 18.

Notes: LB Lerentee McCray (knee) practiced for the first time since getting hurt against Kansas City on Sept. 14. That left S David Bruton (ankle) as the only player who didn’t practice. RG Louis Vasquez (ribcage) was limited. … Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw and point guard Ty Lawson attended Wednesday’s 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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