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Chiefs’ Charles sidelined by freak slip down hill

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jamaal Charles made it through every hit from Derrick Johnson, every shot from Eric Berry and every tackle from the rest of the Chiefs’ defense during three weeks at Missouri Western.

It wasn’t until he was leaving their training camp home that he got hurt.

Charles was in the process of moving out of the dorms last Thursday, when the team was getting ready to shift the rest of camp to their own practice facility, when he came to a grassy slope. He wound up slipping just a bit and turned his foot just enough to set alarm bells ringing.

X-rays and MRI exams ensued, and Charles did not make the trip to Carolina for Sunday night’s preseason game against the Panthers. And while all the tests came back negative, coach Andy Reid said Monday that he’s unsure just how long the explosive running back will be out.

“He’s feeling better today. We’re optimistic about it,” Reid said. “Initially there was a little concern, but he had all stuff done to it and everything is clear.”

Reid did not say whether Charles will practice this week, or whether he’ll be available when the Chiefs host the Minnesota Vikings for their third preseason game Saturday night.

“I don’t know if there is any other guy in the league like him. You can’t replace him,” Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith said, “but that’s the NFL. It’s every team. If a guy goes down, the next guy has to step up and we got to go. We all have to take up the slack as a group.”

The health of Charles is hardly the only cause for concern in Kansas City these days.

The Chiefs’ offense has failed to score a touchdown on eight series spanning two preseason games, netting only a pair of field goals against the Panthers. That production was clearly hurt by the loss of Charles, who is arguably the most valuable player on the entire roster.

The defense has continued to give up big plays, particularly in the downfield passing game against a secondary that is still missing Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry to his own injury. Carolina put up two touchdowns apiece in the second and third quarters on Sunday night.

Fundamentals remain problematic — things such as blocking, tackling and route running. And the yellow laundry that littered the field did little to make Reid feel good about discipline — Kansas City was flagged 13 times for 131 yards compared to four times for 32 yards for the Panthers.

“Really, penalties were a significant issue,” Reid said. “We’ve got to a better job.”

Delving deeper into the issues facing Kansas City:

— The performance of the offensive line has been mediocre at best. Left tackle Eric Fisher, the first overall pick in 2013 draft, was soundly beaten several times by the Panthers’ pass rush, and the rest of the front five fared little better.

— The defensive backfield is still struggling to adapt to the loss of Pro Bowl cornerback Brandon Flowers and starting safety Kendrick Lewis. Ron Parker, Marcus Cooper and Sean Smith are all trying to earn a cornerback job, and all three were penalized during the game.

— The wide receiver race is still begging for someone to step up, particularly with Dwayne Bowe suspended for the season opener. Bowe had five catches for 62 yards against Carolina, but the rest of the wide receivers combined for just seven catches for 91 yards.

“It felt like we were able to move the ball but just couldn’t finish,” Smith said.

Of course, not everything is doom and gloom with two preseason games remaining.

The pass rush was effective in getting after Carolina quarterback Cam Newton, and it already appears that first-round pick Dee Ford will fit seamlessly with fellow outside linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. And kicker Ryan Succop, being pushed by Cairo Santos, may have solidified his job by kicking a 54-yard field goal against the Panthers.

Then there’s Travis Kelce, who missed all of his rookie season with a knee injury. The tight end caught a long touchdown pass against Cincinnati in the Chiefs’ preseason opener, and caught a 43-yard scoring strike from rookie Aaron Murray on Sunday night.

“I do like what he is doing. He just has to keep coming with it,” Reid said. “There’s more than just the route running. You have to be able to run block and detail all of your work there. You sure have to give him credit for the effort that he has given.”

___

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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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