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Cutler thinks Santonio Holmes can be good fit

By WTOP Staff

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears have sorted through numerous candidates to find a suitable replacement for injured third wide receiver Marquess Wilson the past three weeks.

So quarterback Jay Cutler sees nothing wrong with giving a chance to a player with a so-so past.

When the Bears signed former Jets and Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes Saturday to vie for an opening caused by Wilson’s broken collarbone, it took only a short time before Cutler and Holmes were working together on the offense.

“You know, Santonio was here, probably had signed his contract and 60 minutes later he was on the field with Jay, and throwing routes,” Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer said.

Cutler has gotten a good look the past two days in practice at Holmes and anticipates Holmes making an impact in a competition with former veteran Josh Morgan.

“It looks good,” Cutler said. “He’s explosive. He’d probably to be honest — he’s a little bit rusty. He’s been out of football.

“But getting in and out of cuts, catches the ball well, extremely explosive, fast. He’s exciting. We’ve just got to get him caught up with everything right now. It’s hard coming in where we are offensively and just kind of throwing him into the mix.”

It’s possible Holmes will play Friday at Seattle in the third preseason game. But the first chance at the spot Friday will go to Morgan, a former Washington Redskin and San Francisco 49er.

“He’s had two good weeks of practice, two good games, productive games,” coach Marc Trestman said of Morgan. “He’s made plays out there.

“I think he deserves a chance to step up now and get the first opportunity to do that.”

The 30-year-old Holmes had 23 catches last year, the second-lowest total of his career, while battling a hamstring injury. The Jets cut him to save $8.25 million against the salary cap. He had suffered a career-threatening foot injury in 2012, but says he is over the injuries.

Questions still linger about a dispute he had with former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, and an argument he got into with tackle Wayne Hunter that led to his benching in a 2011 Jets game.

“That’s in the past,” Holmes said. “It’s neither here nor there right now. I think being in this new organization is a new move for me and a great opportunity for me to take advantage of and be part of a great organization.”

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall is the Bears receiver leader, and in the past a controversial figure himself.

“We came in together,” Holmes said about Marshall. “He’s a great guy, first and foremost. He’s a Pro Bowler and he leads by example.”

Trestman thinks Holmes is a good fit regardless of his past.

“I mean, people change, they get into new venues, new environments,” Trestman said. “You’re out for a while, you get a hard look at where you are. Not only in your work life as well as in other aspects of your life.

“We feel he’s coming here in a good place, he’s coming into a great locker room. Guys have reached out to him and are willing to help him and give him an opportunity to help our football team, but it will be a process and it will be day to day. But it’s off to a good start and we’ll see where it takes us.”

A first-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2006, Holmes was the Super Bowl MVP in the 2008 season. He had 79 catches for 1,248 yards and five touchdowns but was traded to the Jets for a fifth-round draft pick.

In Wilson, the Bears have a second-year receiver who was expected to take over the third spot after Earl Bennett was allowed to leave in free agency. However, the injury could keep him out well into the regular season.

So Cutler thinks general manager Phil Emery made the right call bringing in Holmes.

“I think it is a good sign that we’ll take some chances on some guys and we’ll bring some guys in because we know we’ve got a strong veteran group here and some guys that will help young guys or veteran guys along,” Cutler said.

“I know that, just knowing Phil, I am sure he did his background on Santonio and talked to him numerous times and talked to his agent and was very sure when he brought him in here of what kind of player and person he was getting.”

NOTES: Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker said safety Chris Conte is likely to get his first preseason playing time Friday after missing all offseason work and the first few weeks of training camp due to shoulder surgery. … Wide receiver Chris Williams, who suffered a pulled hamstring on a 73-yard touchdown catch in the preseason opener, has returned to practice after a week away. … Starting right tackle Jordan Mills remains day to day with a foot injury. … Return specialist Darius Reynaud was signed Monday to replace Eric Weems, who was cut when Holmes was signed. He has averaged 9.7 yards per punt return and 22.6 yards a kick return in five seasons.

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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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