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Titans let kickers compete into preseason finale

By WTOP Staff

TERESA M. WALKER
AP Pro Football Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans still are looking for their new kicker with a competition so wide open and yet so close that both Maikon Bonani and Travis Coons will play against the Minnesota Vikings.

Then the Titans will sit down and try to pick a winner.

Or go looking through the waiver wire for someone else.

“At some point, you’ve got to base it off what you’ve seen them do,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said Monday. “And if you don’t feel like they can do it, you have to look for other avenues to address it.”

The Titans decided to go young at kicker in March when they cut veteran Rob Bironas, the fourth-most accurate kicker all-time in the NFL. They already had Bonani on the roster after having the former South Florida kicker in training camp last year, and they added undrafted rookie Coons out of Washington after the draft in May.

Every kick has been charted, and both got to kick two field goals apiece in last week’s 24-17 win at Atlanta. They will rotate again Thursday night in the preseason finale. Whisenhunt said they have a pretty good feel for what both kickers are doing.

“It’s pretty close,” Whisenhunt said.

Bonani has hit two field goal attempts with a long of 51 yards, though he missed a 33-yard extra point in a pouring rain in the opener. He is considered to have a stronger leg, consistently knocking kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. Coons is 2 of 3, missing only a 63-yarder at the end of the first half in Atlanta.

A penalty in a loss at New Orleans gave Coons a chance at a 50-yard field goal, the longest made field goal of his career. That helped a kicker who made 15 of 16 field goals as a senior at Washington. The 63-yarder fell just short of the crossbar, landing in the end zone.

Bonani said he’s looking forward to Thursday night.

“That’s the closest you actually get to the regular season game because it’s the last one, and it could be the one that decides who’s the kicker,” Bonani said.

Coons is focusing on what he can control, knowing coaches will make the final decision.

“We’re both out there competing against each other, competing against ourselves and other kickers around the league that might get waived or whatever happens to them,” Coons said.

Kickers already are being released. Veteran Jay Feely was cut Monday in Arizona, and he’s someone Whisenhunt is familiar with having coached the Cardinals through the 2012 season.

This is where Bonani and Coons can draw on the kicker’s need to concentrate on the next kick.

“Just got to focus,” Bonani said. “In special teams, not only as a kicker but as a punter, as a cover guy, a snapper, it’s one and done. You make a mistake, there could be another chance for you, but it’s not right after. The spotlight is on you, and that’s something that we welcome. That’s part of our job.”

For the winner anyway.

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Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

___

Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

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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