Skip to main content

Colts sticking to long-term plan while trying to win now

By The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Colts general manager Ryan Grigson finds himself in a delicate situation.

Indianapolis fans, coach Chuck Pagano and Colts players all want to hoist the Lombardi Trophy this season. Owner Jim Irsay wants even more: a Super Bowl crown now and a contender well into the future. Doing both won’t be easy in the NFL’s unfriendly salary-cap world, and Grigson knows it.

“A lot of Hail Mary’s, I guess,” Grigson joked when asked how he handles the predicament. “We have in our mind, every day, to still have a goal for sustained success. It’s a tricky balance. We’ve never really rebuilt here, I don’t think. We’ve built on the fly.”

The 43-year-old Grigson has done better than most of the league’s more experienced head honchos. Of course, taking Andrew Luck with the No. 1 pick in 2012 certainly helped.

In less than 12 months, Grigson’s penchant for wheeling-and-dealing turned a floundering 2-14 team that was pegged as the league’s worst into a playoff team. Since then, the Colts have won back-to-back division titles and gone one step deeper in the playoffs each year. In the way of every AFC team, of course, is Super Bowl champion New England, which has beaten Luck four straight times, including in January’s conference title game.

Grigson was tasked with finding the missing pieces this season and dove head first into free agency. He spent millions of dollars on four free agents in their 30s and re-signed 34-year-old safety Mike Adams after he made his first Pro Bowl appearance.

Why gamble on aging stars such as Frank Gore and Andre Johnson?

“A lot of times it’s more of the big picture dynamic even with what a guy brings to the table intangibly, what he’s going to bring to a room full of young guys,” Grigson said. “I like some of these guys strategically, putting them in positions where they’re going to help lead a group. They’re going to help show some of those young draft picks that we bring in how it’s done.”

The next step comes next week when Grigson tries to find younger, cheaper help with nine picks in the NFL draft. Injuries could play a role in what the Colts decide to do.

Right tackle Gosder Cherilus, now 30, finished last season on injured reserve with several injuries and has a history of knee problems. Donald Thomas, the 29-year-old left guard, missed all but two games over the past two seasons with quad injuries. Running back Vick Ballard missed 31 of the last 32 games with injuries and has not yet participated during the first week of Indy’s offseason workouts.

If all three are healthy, the Colts could certainly fill in some of the holes. But Grigson may not get some or all of those answers until almost June.

So as Grigson waits to find out more about his own players, he can’t afford to sit idle on draft weekend, not after repeatedly making it clear he’s all in on a Super Bowl run now.

“It’s not an easy job but Chuck and I are always trying to improve this thing,” Grigson said. “In free agency, there were guys there that we thought could help us in the short-term and in the long-term we felt because they are those type of guys that are kind of age-defying specimens and we like those older guys that are like that.”

___

Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote