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Flowers, Houston absent as Chiefs begin workouts

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The first week of voluntary offseason workouts for the Kansas City Chiefs was more notable for who was missing from the field than anything that happened on it.

Cornerback Brandon Flowers and linebacker Justin Houston were the only two players to skip the first three workouts, which wrapped up Thursday. Coach Andy Reid refused to discuss the reason they were missing, but he indicated business was to blame.

Flowers gradually lost playing time last season, and his bloated contract could mean the team is trying to restructure the deal or trade him. It also could mean the Chiefs are thinking about cutting him in a move that would free up valuable salary cap space.

As for Houston, he becomes a free agent after the upcoming season. The Chiefs have expressed interest in signing him to a long-term deal, but they are strapped for cash.

“I’ve been around this a long time and I understand the business side, and these are voluntary,” Reid said. “I got it. That’s not a distraction. We just focus on the guys, coach the guys that are here, and these guys are working their tails off.”

The Chiefs are also negotiating a long-term deal with quarterback Alex Smith, who is entering the final year of his deal, but there has been little substantive progress.

Flowers is due to make $5.25 million this season, but his salary cap number of $10.5 million makes him difficult to keep at his present price. If the Chiefs unload him by Monday, they would gain about $7 million, and doing it after the deadline would save about $3 million.

Flowers struggled in the Chiefs’ system last season, which tends to favor bigger, stronger cornerbacks. He was eventually moved to the nickel spot in favor of unheralded Marcus Cooper. Kansas City also drafted a cornerback, Phillip Gaines, to provide some depth.

“Everyone has the dates. Everyone knows the rules (of the workouts),” Reid said. “That’s not where I put my focus. I’ve got a lot of guys that are here trying to make this football team.”

If Reid wasn’t touching the issue, neither was anybody else.

“I’m worried about playing quarterback,” Smith said, when asked about the absences. “To be totally honest, I’ve got enough on my plate and I think that’s the same for everybody here.”

Veteran linebacker Derrick Johnson said he’s spoken to Flowers and Houston, but he made it clear “when it comes to the business part, I stay out of that.”

“This is a voluntary minicamp, so it’s one of those things where you worry about the guys that are here. I’m a guy that’s been around this. It’s not a big deal,” Johnson said. “You’re never surprised in this league. You worry about the guys that are here and try to get better.”

Notes: Reid said left tackle Eric Fisher was making progress from offseason surgery on his shoulder. He’s been taking part in portions of practice, but Reid said the second-year pro will probably skip contact work until training camp. … Tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Kyle Williams are recovering from knee injuries, while defensive lineman Risean Broussard missed practice Thursday after hyperextending his knee. … Rookie quarterback Aaron Murray was missing Wednesday and Thursday while taking part in a rookie symposium, and running back DeAnthony Thomas returned to Oregon to wrap up his school year.

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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