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Chiefs QB Smith focusing on football, not contract

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — The moment when Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith will no longer discuss his contract situation is rapidly approaching, even though he makes it seem as if the deadline has already passed.

Sure, Smith politely answers every question about his uncertain future, but he also makes it clear that he would rather not.

The Chiefs have been talking to his representatives for months about a contract extension, but the sides remain far apart in their negotiations.

“You’re getting to the point where either way, you want it to stop being a distraction,” Smith said after practice Wednesday. “You guys know how I feel about this and it’s the truth, yeah, you get to the point — and I’m there — where you finally cross the line and it’s just football from here on out. I’m done talking about it, behind the scenes as well.”

Asked whether he has a specific deadline for breaking off talks, Smith replied: “No hard line, yeah, but at some point mentally it’ll come to me. ‘It’s over. Let’s just focus on the season.'”

Smith is due to make $7.5 million this season, the final year of the contract he signed with San Francisco.

And most suspect he’ll land an extension similar to what Colin Kaepernick received from the 49ers — six years, $126 million with $61 million guaranteed — after helping the Chiefs to bounce back from two wins before his arrival to an 11-5 record and the playoffs.

“There’s communication going on,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said simply. “Alex is a good football player and he’s great for this football team. We’re lucky to have him here.”

Beyond that, there wasn’t a whole lot Reid was willing to divulge. He’s no longer involved in most of the contract talks, as he was in Philadelphia, deferring instead to Chiefs general manager John Dorsey — who has likewise danced around the subject of Smith’s contract.

“They’re working through it and we’ll see,” Reid said. “These things take time. You know how the game goes. Alex isn’t worried about it and I’m not worried about it. We just go play.”

Turns out that’s something Smith did marvelously last season.

After losing his job to Kaepernick in San Francisco, and getting shipped to Kansas City for a pair of draft picks, he proved to everyone he still has plenty of ability.

Smith threw for a career-best 3,313 yards and 23 touchdowns with only seven interceptions, even while skipping the regular-season finale with nothing on the line.

While all those numbers are impressive, even more impressive is his won-loss record. Smith is 30-9-1 as a starter the past three seasons, trailing only Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees in victories among quarterbacks with at least 30 starts. Smith has also thrown just 17 picks over that span, and his quarterback rating of 92.5 is far above the league average.

“He’s definitely peaking and rising,” Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe said. “Definitely leading this offense and making tremendous strides on delivering the ball and putting it where it needs to go, and that’s all you can ask as a receiver from the quarterback.”

That’s why the Chiefs are so eager to have him around for a while.

In the span of 18 months, Smith has gone from the quarterback that the 49ers considered an after-thought to the one Kansas City is building around. Heady times for the former No. 1 overall draft pick, even though he would never allow himself to acknowledge it.

“I’ve got a year left and I’m planning on playing it. It doesn’t change anything either way for me,” he said of his contract situation. “I’ve got some football ahead of me. I’m focused on that and I’m trying to get ready for the Titans (in the season opener). That’s just the way I feel about things and the way it needs to be done. There’s no more time to be bothered by distractions.”

Notes: Oft-injured S Sanders Commings was carted off the practice field after getting juked to the ground by RB Jamaal Charles. A team spokesman said Commings hurt his right ankle. … RT Donald Stephenson (left ankle) returned to practice after missing Monday’s workout. “I got back faster than I thought and I’m proud of it,” he said. … DL Mike Catapano (illness) missed practice.

___

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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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