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Mathis returns to Colts hopeful of quick recovery

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Colts linebacker Robert Mathis has taken down the “Gone Fishin'” sign from inside his locker and is getting settled into his two new jobs — full-time rehab patient, part-time assistant coach.

The 33-year-old defending NFL sacks champion knows it will be a long, arduous journey back.

Mathis missed the first four games this season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy and now will miss the remaining 12 after tearing his left Achilles’ tendon during a workout in Atlanta while he was away from the team. Team doctors, Mathis said, have told him a full recovery will take six months from the injury.

“I’ll be back faster,” he said in his first public comments since the injury. “I like to think I’m a fast healer.”

Mathis only said he was injured doing a workout routine that he has been doing for years.

He also has a penchant for defying the odds.

When the Colts traded up to get the former Alabama A&M star in the fifth round of the 2003 draft, critics said he was too small to hold up in the league. Instead, he emerged as a perennial Pro Bowl defensive end opposite longtime friend and teammate Dwight Freeney. He proved the critics wrong again when he became just as effective a pass rusher after moving to outside linebacker in 2012.

When Freeney left for San Diego after the 2012 season, many of the doubters figured Mathis’ numbers would drop. But Mathis set a franchise record with a league-leading 19½ sacks to become the first winner of the Deacon Jones Award.

Not much has gone right on the football field since. The Colts were ousted by longtime rival New England in last year’s playoffs. Mathis found out about his suspension in May, and sustained the worst injury of his 12-year career in early September.

Mathis returned from the suspension Monday and has been seen getting around in a protective walking boot, watching practice from the sideline and helping mentor younger teammates.

“There’s some things that he’s told me, that he’s told the young guys, it’s actually very good,” defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said “Not everybody is Robert, but I’m saying from the standpoint of he understands pass rush, he understands how to practice to pass rush, and, number two, during the game he knows how to pass rush.”

But the Colts (2-2) clearly believe their best pass-rusher will return to his usually menacing ways.

On Monday, the team announced it had agreed to a one-year contract extension with the franchise’s career sacks leader, a move that could keep Mathis in town through the 2016 season.

And Mathis intends to live up to his end of the deal.

“They love me. I love them,” Mathis said. “Like I said, they have a respect for what I’ve done here. There’s no secret that I love being here, so it’s just a win-win situation.”

___

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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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