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Competition for both safety spots is wide open

By WTOP Staff

GENE CHAMBERLAIN
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears have a wide-open competition at safety so far in training camp.

Through the first eight days of practices, the Bears have used several veterans at filling both safety spots.

And it’s possible some players who are not even dressed at this point will be part of the mix before camp concludes.

The Bears’ defense dropped to 30th in the league last season and the safety play lacked consistency both in pass coverage and stopping the run.

Former New York Giant Ryan Mundy, rookie Brock Vereen, former Dallas Cowboy Danny McCray and 34-year-old former Arizona Cardinal Adrian Wilson have all been tried at the starting safety spots in camp.

“The rationale is it’s an open competition, we’re going to move people around, and you’re going to see that throughout training camp and the exhibition season,” coach Marc Trestman said.

Vereen and Mundy played the spots with the starters through most of organized team activities and in the first five days of camp.

Then Trestman put Vereen with the reserves and put McCray alongside Mundy. McCray was largely a special teams player in four years with Dallas and had 10 starts, all in 2012.

“It’s a big opportunity,” McCray said. “I think that’s what we’re all here for — open competition. They’re just rolling people around to see who can make plays.

“Everybody has an equal chance. They’ve shown that throughout OTAs and minicamp.”

It’s not surprising to Mundy that McCray would get consideration even if he was regarded chiefly a special teams acquisition.

“He brings a high level of energy to the game,” Mundy said. “He’s very active around the ball. He knows how to get the ball out and that’s something that we value here in our defense — getting the ball out.”

Vereen said he can’t be too concerned about being moved to the second team after so much time spent with the starters.

“In my mind, I’m still a rookie who has to prove he belongs on the 53-man roster,” the fourth-round pick from Minnesota said. “I’m far too young to even worry about starting, not starting, whatever. In my mind I still need to prove I’m worthy of being on this team.”

Looking at all the veterans, Vereen acknowledged he’d like to be a starter from Day 1.

“But these guys have been here three, four, shoot, 10 years,” he said. “I’m in catch-up mode. That’s the mindset I want to have.”

Each player has had strong practices followed by struggles against a Bears offense that has operated more efficiently from the outset of camp in Trestman’s second year.

Wilson was a late arrival, signing June 23 and missing all of the offseason workouts. He needed the time as he’s been recovering from heel surgery. Wilson made five Pro Bowls and had 27 interceptions with the Arizona Cardinals.

“I think what Adrian has done, he’s kind of worked himself back into playing football, and we’ve kind of just stood back and allowed him to acclimate himself on not only what’s going on in the classroom, but let him get his feet underneath him on the field,” Trestman said.

Wilson said he’s playing with a bit of a chip on his shoulder after seeing reports and hearing many regarding him as washed up. Bears general manager Phil Emery saw possible value in him.

“I think Mr. Emery gave me a chance,” Wilson said. “I think it’s a low risk for them, high reward. So I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”

Former Green Bay Packer M.D. Jennings has been playing largely with the third team, and two other Bears have yet to join practices.

Last year’s free safety starter, Chris Conte, is on the physically unable to perform list because of shoulder surgery, and backup/special teams player Craig Steltz is also on PUP due to groin surgery. Conte is in the final year of his contract after starting 40 games in three seasons.

Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker is looking for more consistency from Vereen, but it’s something all the safeties have to show after the secondary allowed more completions of 20 yards or more (59) than all but six teams.

“As we stack more and more practices on and we add more defenses and schemes and things like that and now the question becomes can you do it day in and day out at a high level, with the young guys,” Tucker said. “And those guys have to prove that.

“And not only the young guys, but when you look at veteran guys, you want to see if guys can still do it. That’s a big part of it. Can you still do it on a consistent basis at a winning level? We’re all out here to prove that. And that’s the challenge.”

___

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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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