Skip to main content

Chiefs release Flowers after voluntary workouts

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs finally have some much-needed salary cap space.

They have an opening at cornerback, too.

Kansas City released Brandon Flowers on Friday after three weeks of voluntary workouts in which the former starter was conspicuously absent. Flowers was due to make $5.25 million this season, and he carried a salary cap number of $10.5 million that made him difficult to keep.

Already bumping up against the salary cap, the Chiefs will save about $7.25 million this season and $7.5 million next season. That money could be used to help the team sign quarterback Alex Smith and linebacker Justin Houston to contract extensions.

Both of them are in the final year of their current contracts.

“We appreciate Brandon’s contributions to the team over the last six seasons,” general manager John Dorsey said in a statement released by the team. “It’s in the best interest of the club and the player to part ways at this time. We wish him nothing but the best as he continues his career.”

Flowers was the Chiefs’ second-round pick in 2008, and he proved to be a dependable starter for them. He started 87 of the 88 games he played over six seasons, making 421 tackles, two sacks and 17 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

His production is a big reason why he was signed to a six-year, $50 million deal in 2011.

But under a new regime last season, one that favors bigger, more physical cornerbacks, the 5-foot-9 Flowers gradually lost time to Marcus Cooper and other defensive backs. He wound up playing against slot receivers at the end of the season, and his future in Kansas City has been a subject of debate the entire offseason — especially as he skipped out on the voluntary workouts.

Shortly after he was released, Flowers tweeted his thanks to the Hunt family, which owns the franchise, along with its fans and his teammates “for some great years.”

Early in the day, Chiefs coach Andy Reid was asked whether Flowers and Houston — who has also been absent from the voluntary workouts — would attend next week’s mandatory minicamp.

“I don’t know that,” Reid said. “The thing that you’re guaranteed of is we’re going to coach whoever is here and do our thing here.”

While the rest of the Chiefs have avoided talking about Flowers and Houston missing the voluntary workouts, several indicated that they were making “business decisions.” But linebacker Derrick Johnson did say that the workouts are valuable in preparing for training camp.

“Mentally, this is the time to get everything down,” he said, “so that when we get to training camp, we can move faster mentally on the field so we can show up pretty quick.”

In other news Friday, Reid said that tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Kyle Williams could do more work next week. Kelce has been out after dealing with a knee injury last season, and Williams has been held out of practice while he recovers from a torn ACL.

Left tackle Eric Fisher remains limited following shoulder surgery, though he appeared to be doing more in Friday’s workout. Wide receiver Junior Hemingway was absent with strep throat — he was asked to stay out of the building — and cornerbacks Chris Owens and David Van Dyke and wide receiver Weston Dressler were all out with hamstring injuries.

Running back Jamaal Charles, left guard Jeff Allen and cornerback Phillip Gaines were absent from Friday’s workout, though Reid indicated that all of them had been excused.

The offensive line continues to play a game of musical chairs, though Reid said guys are starting to nail down positions. Part of that has been out of necessity with Fisher injured, but part of it has been to increase versatility and build across-the-board depth.

“You know you need more than five. You need to make sure you have a good 10 of them ready to go,” Reid said. “You want to find that number and see what you’ve got there, so we’ve been challenging them as much as you can challenge them here.”

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