Skip to main content

Texans coach O’Brien plans to keep 3 QBs on roster

By WTOP Staff

CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer

HOUSTON (AP) — Texans coach Bill O’Brien said Friday that he still doesn’t know who will be his team’s backup quarterback.

Case Keenum and rookie Tom Savage got all the snaps in Thursday night’s 40-13 loss to San Francisco and neither separated himself in the competition for the No. 2 job behind Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Both players threw interceptions, failed to mount any touchdown drives and had passer ratings below 40.

“It’s a position that is very, very important and we’re making sure we’re doing a good job of evaluating it,” O’Brien said.

But O’Brien said he’ll go into the season with all three quarterbacks on the roster.

Teams must cut rosters to 53 players by Saturday and since the Texans had the worst record last season, they’ll have the first claim on any player who hits the waiver wire on Sunday.

“It always goes back to doing what’s best for the team,” O’Brien said. “Whatever we think can improve the team, if we think it can improve the team, then we’ll always look to do that.”

O’Brien said releasing one of his quarterbacks and getting one off waivers now would be “very difficult” with the regular season opener against Washington on Sept. 7.

“Is it something that we would do if we felt like it was something that would improve the football team? Certainly we would look at that,” O’Brien said. “At this point in time, these three guys: Fitzy our starter, and Case and Tom have worked hard. They know the system.”

O’Brien said Keshawn Martin will return punts and kicks. Martin, whom O’Brien called one of the most improved players since the spring, ranked fifth in the AFC in kickoff return average (26.3 yards) and seventh in punt return average (8.8 yards) in 2013.

The Texans made it through training camp with no significant injuries, and O’Brien never saw his full complement of players on the field at once.

Andre Johnson played in only one game, J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney played in two and Arian Foster and Johnathan Joseph sat out all four.

O’Brien declined to confirm any cuts made on Friday. Outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus (two tackles for loss) and safety Shiloh Keo (eight tackles) helped themselves with solid games in the preseason finale against the 49ers.

Rookie Andre Hal, a seventh-round pick, had a 77-yard interception return for a touchdown, his second of the preseason to also make a strong case for the 53-man roster.

“I like the way he carries himself in the building,” O’Brien said. “He’s a hard-working kid both in here in the meeting room and out on the field. He’s definitely earned the right to be in the discussion to make the football team.”

O’Brien will be happy to get through the cuts on onto next week’s practices.

“You’re having to release guys to get to 53, but at the same time it’s enjoyable because you walk into that room and there’s your 53 guys,” O’Brien said.

“They are guys that come from different backgrounds, guys that have all different kinds of skill sets. There are some front-line star players on our team, there are role players, there are guys that just love playing the game.”

___

AP NFL website: 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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote