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For Bears, backup QB 1 of few questions on offense

By WTOP Staff

ANDREW SELIGMAN
AP Sports Writer

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (AP) — Almost as soon as he signed with the Chicago Bears, Jimmy Clausen got some tutoring on the offense from Jay Cutler.

If everything goes according to plan, his knowledge of the system won’t be tested in a meaningful way.

The Bears would love nothing more than to see Cutler get through the season without missing time and render the backup quarterback spot a non-issue.

Instead, it’s one of the few areas of concern for an offense that ranked among the league’s best last season and has all its starters back.

For now, coach Marc Trestman has the returning Jordan Palmer in the lead. Then, there’s Clausen trying to win it, with rookie David Fales likely trailing the pack.

“They’re both very hungry,” Cutler said. “They’ve both worked extremely hard this offseason putting in the time mentally, which is probably more important for them right now, just trying to figure out the playbook so they can go to the line of scrimmage and be fluent in what they want to do. We’ll see how it goes.”

There is no shortage of eyes on this competition, given Cutler’s history of injuries and the departure of veteran Josh McCown. He played his way to a starting role in Tampa Bay after making the most of his opportunity when he got the call with the Bears last season.

Now, Palmer and Clausen are competing.

Neither has thrown a pass since 2010, but assuming the Bears don’t bring in someone else, one of them could be called on if Cutler gets hurt.

“The guys are doing a heck of a job in terms of what we’ve seen,” Trestman said Saturday after the Bears completed their second training camp practice. “I think you’ve seen it. I think you’ve seen some pretty sufficient play in the backup role.”

Trestman and general manager Phil Emery expressed confidence in Palmer as the No. 2 quarterback early in the offseason. But that didn’t stop them from giving him some competition.

The Bears signed Clausen, the former Notre Dame star, to a one-year deal in early June following a strong workout. Almost as soon as the ink dried on his contract, he found himself getting a crash course in the system from Cutler.

“He helped me out a lot, especially that first day, going through the formations and just the basic things they do in this offense,” Clausen said. “Obviously you get a whole entire playbook, but a lot of the plays in the playbook aren’t necessarily the ones you run. So he kind of went through pretty much the whole entire playbook and said, ‘Hey, you need to know this, this and this.’ He really helped me a lot.”

The Bears know just how important the backup spot can be given Cutler’s history. He hasn’t played a full 16 games since 2009, his first season in Chicago after being acquired from Denver, and he has missed 13 over the past four years.

He sat out five last season, forcing McCown into action, and the veteran performed about as well as anyone could have expected.

He went 3-2 in five starts and appeared in eight games overall, throwing for 1,829 yards with 13 touchdowns and just one interception. It was quite a turn for someone who was coaching high school football in North Carolina when the Bears signed him late in the 2011 season, with Caleb Hanie struggling after Cutler broke his thumb and the team in a freefall.

Now, the Bears are wondering: Can Palmer or Clausen be this season’s McCown?

They’re looking at one guy (Palmer) who has attempted just 15 passes since he entered the league in 2008 and another (Clausen) who flopped in Carolina. Clausen completed 52.5 percent of his passes and threw for 1,558 yards as a rookie with the Panthers, but he also threw three times as many interceptions (nine) as touchdowns (three).

Carolina then drafted Cam Newton with the No. 1 pick in 2011, and Clausen hasn’t played since then. His four-year rookie contract with the Panthers expired after last season, which he spent on the waived/injured list because of a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

He has dealt with questions about his attitude over the years, just like Cutler, but he’s getting another opportunity with the Bears.

“A lot of people say different things about me or different guys on the team or Jay or whoever it may be,” Clausen said. “But until you get to really know that person, then you can make your own judgment.”

NOTES: CB Tim Jennings (quad) sat out Saturday’s practice while DE Willie Young (quad) left early. Trestman said neither injury is serious.

___

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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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