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Center Mack’s broken leg a major blow to Browns

By WTOP Staff

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Alex Mack’s left leg is broken. The Browns have to resist cracking.

Cleveland’s Pro Bowl center broke his left leg Sunday and will likely miss the rest of the season, a potentially crushing blow to the improved Browns. Mack’s loss has created a gaping hole in the middle of Cleveland’s offensive line, which has been the main reason for the team’s early success.

“You just don’t replace that guy,” quarterback Brian Hoyer said.

The well-respected Mack broke his fibula while blocking on a running play in the first half of Sunday’s 31-10 rout of Pittsburgh. The tough-to-watch injury ended a streak of 5,289 consecutive snaps for the 28-year-old, who signed a five-year, $42 million contract in April.

Mack will undergo surgery in the next few days, and the Browns are hoping it’s only a fracture and there’s no ligament damage. Either way, he’s out at least eight weeks, but it’s probable Mack’s season is over.

“It’s tough,” coach Mike Pettine said Monday. “It’s not just losing his play, but it’s also an emotional letdown as well. To have a guy that just exemplified everything you’re trying to get done, to lose him, it’s big.”

Mack’s injury was amplified by the loss of defensive end Armonty Bryant, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter. Bryant was starting in place of injured lineman Phil Taylor and had already recorded two tackles in six plays when he tore ligaments.

Bryant will also have surgery, and his loss puts further strain on Cleveland’s defensive line depth.

Pettine has preached to his players, especially the backups, to be ready in case their name is called. That’s life in the NFL, where everyone is one play from getting a promotion or having their season or career ended.

“I told the team in the meeting today, we lost two warriors in Alex and Armonty, but we’ll check the mail and there’s not going to be any sympathy cards from around the league,” Pettine said. “It’s the cliche, but it is truly next man up. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves and I’m confident in the guys that we’ll end up, whether we’re promoting or bringing somebody in, that we’ll put a functional group out there.”

After Mack was carted off Sunday, right guard John Greco slid over to center and Paul McQuistan came off the bench. Despite Greco making his pro debut and McQuistan coming in cold, the Browns (3-2) showed cohesion and were able to temporarily overcome Mack’s loss.

It worked once, but Pettine hasn’t decided if he’ll stick with the same plan.

Because of Greco’s inexperience at center, the Browns may keep him at guard. Pettine said Nick McDonald, claimed off waivers in August from San Diego and recently activated from the reserve/non-football injury list, is another option. McDonald has played in 16 NFL games — starting three.

“The plan right now is to practice him this week, but I don’t foresee him playing this week,” Pettine said. “I could see in the short term that it is going to be John. But we’re a mile away from making that decision.”

No matter where he lines up, Greco said he and Cleveland’s other lineman intend to honor Mack by blocking as hard and moving as fast on every down as he does.

“We’ll be playing for Alex as long as he’s out,” Greco said. “Everything we accomplish this year, he’s right there along with us. He’s been in this thing long enough that we’re including him in everything.”

It was obvious what Mack meant to the Browns after he was injured.

As he waited on a cart to be driven off, each of his teammates came over and offered support with a pat on the back, handshake or encouraging word.

Mack has always been there for the Browns, and their gesture showed they’ll be there for him.

“It was just spontaneous. That shows you what the guys think of Alex and what he means to this team. He was a warrior for them. He sets a great example,” Pettine said. “When your best players are you hardest workers, you’ve got a chance to be something special.”

NOTES: Hoyer, who is in the final year of his contract, was asked whether he would sign with the Browns long-term if rookie Johnny Manziel is also with the team. His response: “I don’t think I need to say any more than I’m from Cleveland and this is where I want to be. But I also am a competitor, so I want to be somewhere where I’m playing.” … Rookie CB K’Waun Williams is following league protocol on concussions after being injured Sunday.

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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