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Miller producing in Pittsburgh’s uptempo attack

By WTOP Staff

DALE GRDNIC
Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Heath Miller is back.

Not that the Pittsburgh Steelers 10th-year tight end went anywhere, but Miller appears to finally fully recovered from the serious knee injury that cut his 2012 season short by one game. Miller has taken everything in stride since right knee surgery in late December 2012, to repair the ACL and MCL.

He certainly looks healthy. Miller hauled in a career-high 10 catches in last week’s loss to Tampa Bay, catching his first touchdown pass of the season. He has 21 receptions for 197 yards for Pittsburgh (2-2) heading into Sunday’s game at winless Jacksonville (0-4).

So much for the Steelers’ uptempo offense leaving him behind. Not that Miller was focused on the most productive day of a career that spans a decade.

“I really didn’t realize it, but it kind of doesn’t matter if you don’t win,” he said. “If you come up short as a team, it’s always disappointing. And that will never change. So, I’d rather not do anything statistics-wise and have us win the game.”

If Miller continues to put up numbers like he did Sunday and reaches 70 catches for the third time in his career, he would surpass Hall-of-Famer John Stallworth for the No. 2 spot on the club’s all-time receptions list behind Hines Ward. Miller has 487 catches for 5,470 yards and 41 touchdowns since Pittsburgh selected him in the first round of the 2005 draft. All three marks are club records by a Pittsburgh tight end.

“Maybe one day, it’ll be more significant than it is right now, but you don’t really have time during the season to think about those types of things,” Miller said. “My focus each week is to do what I’m asked to do to help the team win, and that’s the main goal.”

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has consistently relied on Miller in difficult spots. When a short scoring pass to Miller in the third quarter on Sunday was called back due to a penalty, Roethlisberger went right back to Miller a few plays later.

“He can make the tough catches, and he can create openings,” Roethlisberger said. “He can take the big shot, and if you get him the ball in space he’s going to create yards.”

Miller is a security blanket but can still run at age 31. He hauled in a 19-yard reception against the Buccaneers and had a 30-yarder at Carolina. But he also had a drop against Tampa Bay, which Roethlisberger said just proved Miller was human after all.

“Heath is asked to do a lot,” tight end Matt Spaeth said. “He stays in a lot to block, and he usually is a big part of the passing game. When you consider that he had reconstructive knee surgery, I think he’s definitely back from that injury, and it shows.”

Notes: WR Martavis Bryant (illness), ILB Ryan Shazier (knee) and CB Ike Taylor (right forearm) did not practice Thursday. . Shazier and Taylor already have been ruled out, while Bryant missed a second straight day. … OG Ramon Foster, OT Marcus Gilbert (ankle) and OLB James Harrison (illness) were full participants, along with DE Brett Keisel, TE Heath Miller, FS Mike Mitchell and SS Troy Polamalu, who were all back after a maintenance day off Wednesday.

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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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