Skip to main content

Chris Kirksey making presence felt to Browns

By WTOP Staff

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — When veteran linebacker Karlos Dansby looks at rookie Chris Kirksey, it’s like staring in the mirror.

And what’s looking back at him has potential — a lot of it.

“He reminds me of me,” Dansby said. “He has potential to be one of the best to ever do it if he applies himself.”

Kirksey is impressing everyone so far in his first NFL training camp, and he’s doing it by leaning on the veterans around him, like Craig Robertson — whom he is battling for playing time at the weakside position — and Dansby.

The 6-2, 235-pound rookie’s attitude and work ethic hasn’t been lost on Dansby, who is entering his 11th year in the league. And to help Kirksey along, Dansby has been trying to lead by example.

” I try to show him more than I can tell him,” Dansby said. “I just try to go out and show him, to work hard every day, getting to the ball, just some of the fundamental things that he’s going to need to be great.”

Kirksey’s presence at camp hasn’t been lost on Browns coach Mike Pettine, either. Pleased with the young linebacker’s performance so far — he had three tackles in the Browns’ preseason opener — Pettine said earlier in the week that Kirksey would get more time with the first-team defense in practice.

“It makes me feel good that I’m showing improvement and I’m showing my talents, what I’m capable of doing,” Kirksey said. “That’s what I’m going to continue to do.”

And there he was on Wednesday, standing alongside Dansby on a number of plays, before breaking into coverage against both tight ends and even a couple of receivers in team drills.

Kirksey is being praised for his pass coverage and ability to play both the inside and outside linebacker positions, a type of versatility the Browns are already counting on.

“Just having that type of experience in college, it definitely helps to translate over to the NFL,” Kirksey said. “I’m kind of in a comfortable role now when it comes to sticking tight ends and sticking running backs.”

He has also been working to improve his run defense.

“I knew once I get to this level, you can’t just be a one-sided player. You got to learn to play both sides and that’s covering and stopping the run,” Kirksey said.

Though overshadowed by the likes of Johnny Manziel, Kirksey is one of a handful of rookies who could be major contributors early in the season. But exceeding expectations early is nothing new for Kirksey. After all, he was a two-time captain at Iowa, starting in his junior year.

“I was honored to be a team captain for two years. It just shows the type of demeanor you have and what your teammates think of you,” Kirksey said. “I always want to just make sure I carry myself well off the field and on the field. It makes you feel good. It makes you feel comfortable around your teammates just because they think highly of you.”

And should he continue on the path he’s been on so far, Kirksey’s new teammates in Cleveland will continue to think that highly of him.

“I just came here with one goal in mind and that’s just to play physical. Just go out there and play hard,” he said.’

NOTES: CB Joe Haden was given a scheduled day off. . WR Josh Gordon was still out with an abdominal injury Wednesday. . The battle for the orange jerseys continued with Brian Hoyer and the offense trying to score from the 15-yard line to end practice. The defense held, holding on to the jerseys for another day. . As far as how long he expects the starters to go Monday night against Washington, Pettine said it would be “in the neighborhood of a half.”

___

Online:

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