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Chiefs working on competition at cornerback

By WTOP Staff

HERBIE TEOPE
Associated Press

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid is serious about what he has said about competition at the cornerback position.

Sean Smith, last year’s starter at right cornerback, moved to the second team for the last four days of organized team activities. His status hasn’t changed three days into training camp.

“We look at Sean as a first-team player,” Reid said. “We need all those guys and we need two-deep at the corner where we feel like that two-deep is equivalent to starting players. That’s where we’re looking.”

The Chiefs are in transition following a 2013 season where the defense ranked 25th against the pass (247.6 yards per game).

Another factor for changes may have been the memory of blowing a 38-10 third-quarter lead en route to a 45-44 playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Gone from last year’s roster are safeties Kendrick Lewis and Quintin Demps, and cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and Dunta Robinson. Kansas City used a third-round pick on Phillip Gaines and entered training camp with 11 cornerbacks.

Second-year pro Marcus Cooper has moved to Smith’s place with the starters on the right side, with fourth-year pro Ron Parker settling in at left cornerback.

Smith took the demotion in stride.

“At the end of the day,” he said. “I control my own destiny. As long as I come out here and compete, work hard and be the same guy I’ve been in the past, I’ll be all right.”

Smith, who enters his sixth season with 71 career starts, takes on a mentorship role.

“One thing about us,” Smith said, “we’re very tight as a unit. We come out here and compete, we push each other. I’m very supportive regardless who it is. Whether I’m first string, second string, it doesn’t matter.”

Parker agreed.

“Nothing has changed with us,” Parker said. “We’re still working and competing every day like nobody has a starting job.”

Cooper’s presence with the first-team defense doesn’t come as a surprise considering he started six games in 2013. However, the 26-year-old Parker is another story.

The Chiefs are Parker’s fourth team since he entered the league in 2011 as an undrafted free agent out of Newberry College with the Seattle Seahawks. He also had stints with the Oakland Raiders and Carolina Panthers, mostly as a practice squad player.

Parker, who joined the Chiefs on Sept. 1, 2013, off waivers from the Seahawks, has appeared in 26 career games with one start, the latter coming last season in Week 17.

Despite the lack of NFL starting experience, Parker has been with the first team for 10 straight practices since the final week of organized activities.

“It’s meant a lot to me,” Parker said of his opportunity. “I’ve been having sleepless nights this offseason, couldn’t wait to get back just to be out here, ready to take on anything.”

Parker offers versatility as a converted college free safety and he played cornerback in high school. He possesses 4.36 40-yard dash speed.

Parker is confident his experience fits what the Chiefs require of cornerbacks in defensive coordinator Bob Sutton’s scheme.

“I feel like I can just be interchangeable with anything they ask me to do,” he said.

The Chiefs face some of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in 2014, including Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick, and Ben Roethlisberger, and two AFC West meetings against Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers.

The Chiefs have time before the start of the regular season to allow the cornerback competition to work itself out.

But knowing what’s in store this season could expedite the Chiefs’ decision to allow the duo to get comfortable.

“It’s real important to come together in the secondary in training camp,” Parker said. “Mainly, we have to get the communication down and everybody get on the same page and play together. Once we get that down pat, that’s what training camp is for.”

Reid likes what he’s seen out of Parker and Cooper with the first-team defense, and Smith with the backups.

“All three I thought did a good job today,” Reid said.

NOTES: Reid confirmed tight end Sean McGrath, 26, informed the Chiefs he is retiring. “I wish him the best,” Reid said. “He’s a good kid and it was a personal decision he made.” … McGrath reported Wednesday with the veterans, but hasn’t practiced the past three days. … Wide receiver Junior Hemingway left Saturday’s practice with a hamstring strain. … Strong safety Eric Berry briefly left the practice field for the medical tent to deal with a dislocated finger, but rejoined the team to observe from the sideline. … Inside linebacker Joe Mays is dealing with a sore knee. … Running back Joe McKnight (knee, PUP list), cornerback David Van Dyke (hamstring), defensive back Sanders Commings (foot) and offensive lineman Rokevious Watkins (back) did not practice. … The Chiefs were in pads for the first time in training camp.

___

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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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