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Chiefs’ Charles sets sights on Hall of Fame

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — At some point this season, likely within the first couple of games, Jamaal Charles will slide past Larry Johnson and breeze past Priest Holmes to become the Chiefs’ career rushing leader.

It’s a goal, sure. But it’s only a rest-stop on the way to loftier expectations.

After arguably the best season of his career and now armed with a new contract extension, Charles has his sights set on the Hall of Fame. The two-time All-Pro running back wants his name to be mentioned in the same breath as Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders, players he grew up idolizing in Port Arthur, Texas, and who will forever be considered some of the best to play the game.

“It’s all about staying consistent,” Charles said. “I want to be in the Hall of Fame when I retire. I want to win a championship. That’s what it’s all about.”

The Chiefs certainly want him to accomplish all of that with them.

When he was putting up Madden-like numbers last season, including a dazzling five-touchdown performance against Oakland, the franchise was quietly reaching out to his agents about a contract extension. They knew there was no way Charles would play for the relatively paltry sum that he was making, so they were proactive in working out a way to fairly compensate him.

The negotiations finally became public as training camp approached, and the deal was consummated the day before Charles was to step on the field for the first full-squad workout.

The new deal adds about $18.1 million to Charles’ contract, but more importantly to him, keeps him in Kansas City through the 2017 season. And if he matches his production of last season, which included more than 1,200 yards rushing, four more years would mean eclipsing 10,000 for his career — more than Hall of Famers such as Earl Campbell, another product of Texas.

“Jamaal is our best player,” said linebacker Derrick Johnson, who works out with Charles in the offseason. “He’s a guy that we look up to. We put a lot of pressure on him to be our horse.”

More than just a horse in Andy Reid’s offense, though.

In the ever-evolving world of the NFL running back, where versatility is in high demand, Charles has become one of the game’s most dynamic players. The Vikings’ Adrian Peterson may remain the best pure runner in the league, but Charles proved last season that he can do much more than that, catching a career-best 70 passes for 693 yards and seven touchdowns.

Despite his slight stature, he’s also proven to be a rare every-down player in an era of running backs-by-committee. Charles touched the ball 329 times last season, finished second to the Eagles’ LeSean McCoy in yards from scrimmage, and has proven himself as a pass blocker.

“When it’s in the heat of the battle, and it’s kind of crunch time, you want your guys on the field, and that’s the bottom line,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson said. “Jamaal’s a part of that and he’s going to be on the football field regardless of how many touches he’s had early in the game, or how many plays he has leading up to that point.”

Besides, how else is he to continue his rapid climb in the record books?

Charles needs 248 yards rushing and 333 carries to become the Chiefs’ career leader in each of the categories. He needs to merely maintain his average of 5.6 yards per carry to shatter the NFL’s career mark of 5.22, held since 1965 by Hall of Famer Jim Brown.

They are important milestones for Charles, ones that will help to define his legacy.

“I let other people decide who the best is. I go out there and play football,” Charles said. “At the end of my career, I want to be in the Hall of Fame. I don’t judge ‘who’s the best, who’s this and that.’ Everybody has different talents.”

Charles would turn 32 in December of the final year of his contract, a relatively advanced age for his position. But asked whether he’ll be able to play out his deal, Charles had no doubts.

“I’m still fresh, I’m still feeling good,” he said. “If I continue to work hard, I can go far. My philosophy is that hard work pays off. If I continue to work hard, things can still come to me.”

Notes: DL Mike DeVito left Monday’s workout with a left hand injury. … Reid said each QB will play one quarter in Thursday’s preseason game against Cincinnati. He had not decided on the workload for anybody else.

___

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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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