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Chiefs trying to build on big bounce-back year

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The ride Andy Reid took the Kansas City Chiefs on last season was fun while it lasted. After winning just two games prior to his arrival, the downtrodden franchise rattled off nine wins to start the season and made the playoffs.

Now, the Chiefs have to pay for all that success.

The cash-strapped organization had to watch helplessly as three Pro Bowl players and several other key pieces departed in free agency, their big bounce-back seasons resulting in big-money deals elsewhere. And with little money under the salary cap, Reid and general manager John Dorsey were forced to plug holes with a bunch of unproven football vagabonds.

Throw in the fact Kansas City is facing a much tougher schedule and is no longer going to sneak up on anybody, and the goal this season becomes simple: avoid a precipitous backslide.

“What happened in the past, you can’t do anything about it,” Pro Bowl pass rusher Tamba Hali said. “We just have to build on it. Coming out here and working hard, listening to our coaches. They’re putting us in this position to have success again.”

Success or failure could come down to the play of two positions: an offensive line that has been reshuffled, and a defensive backfield that has been retooled.

On the offensive line, Pro Bowl left tackle Branden Albert joined starting guards Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz in chasing free-agent dollars. That trigged a series of changes. Second-year pro Eric Fisher has slid from right tackle to left, and Donald Stephenson moved into the lineup at right tackle. Sixth-round draft pick Zach Fulton has emerged as a new starting guard.

Stephenson is suspended for the first four games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy, though. That’s resulted in yet another shifting of players and positions, and it’s possible nothing will be settled until the regular-season opener Sept. 7 against Tennessee.

“I just care about getting the best five out there,” Reid said of his offensive line.

As for the defensive backfield, Pro Bowl cornerback Brandon Flowers was released in a cost-saving move. Ineffective free safety Kendrick Lewis signed with Houston. That created a pair of openings the Chiefs have struggled to fill.

Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry’s nagging heel injury hasn’t helped matters.

“The competition has been good and I think it’s helped all of them,” defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said of his secondary. “We are going to need all those guys.”

The offensive line and the secondary are unquestionably the groups to watch in Kansas City this season, but here are a few other story lines to keep an eye on:

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY: Quarterback Alex Smith and linebacker Justin Houston are both eyeing new contracts with free agency looming. The Chiefs have been negotiating with their agents, but those discussions will likely be tabled now that the regular season has arrived.

SACK CITY: The Chiefs’ pass rush struggled once Houston went down with a dislocated elbow late last season. That combined with his pending free agency was a big reason the Chiefs used their first-round pick on Dee Ford, a pass-rushing linebacker from Auburn.

The Chiefs have tried using Houston and Ford on the field alongside Hali in obvious passing downs, a blitz package they hope will be able to help bail out their suspect secondary.

BOWE’S NO SHOW: Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe will be suspended for the season opener after his arrest last November. He struggled to adjust to Reid’s offense last season, making the $55 million deal he signed seem like a mistake. The Chiefs need him to bounce back in a big way.

CHARLES IN CHARGE: Jamaal Charles signed an $18.1 million, two-year extension before training camp largely as a reward for last season. He had nearly 2,000 yards from scrimmage and scored 19 touchdowns. He will be counted upon just as heavily this season.

TOUGH ROAD: The Chiefs had a pillow-soft schedule last season. It’s about as stiff as a brick this year. Games against New England, San Francisco and Seattle, along with two against Denver are tough enough, but the Chiefs also play just twice at Arrowhead Stadium in the first seven weeks.

“Where we wanted to be at this time, we’re right there,” Reid said. “They’ve got to pile on through the rest of these practices and get ourselves ready to play in a game.”

___

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

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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