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No decisions yet on Titans’ kicker, starting CB

By WTOP Staff

TERESA M. WALKER
AP Pro Football Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans are busy trimming their roster and still have to pick a new kicker along with a starting cornerback.

First-year coach Ken Whisenhunt isn’t ready to share which players have been told they won’t make the roster or any other decisions until the deadline.

Whisenhunt did confirm Friday that receiver and returner Marc Mariani and cornerback Tommie Campbell will be among the players waived. The coach says he wishes Mariani the best in his continued pursuit and that Campbell worked hard.

“We are making decisions based on what we think is best for the team,” Whisenhunt said.

The Titans will not be announcing any moves until after the NFL deadline for rosters to be at 53 on Saturday afternoon. The Tennessean reported the Titans have informed 15 players they will be waived, leaving the team to trim seven more by the league deadline.

Mariani was a Pro Bowl returner as a rookie in 2010 as a seventh-round draft pick out of Montana.

A popular player, Mariani missed the past two seasons with separate injuries but signed a one-year deal to return to Tennessee this offseason. He got lots of work this preseason averaging 25.3 yards on kickoffs and also catching six passes for 53 yards.

But Tennessee also has running back Dexter McCluster, a Pro Bowl punt returner last season, and two-time Pro Bowl returner Leon Washington. Whisenhunt said he enjoyed his time with Mariani and wishes him the best.

“We feel comfortable with both of those guys,” Whisenhunt said. “I think we are looking at all opportunities which is what you should do. It is the smart thing to do, but we certainly feel comfortable with those guys.”

The Titans still have to decide between Coty Sensabaugh and Blidi-Wreh Wilson to start opposite cornerback Jason McCourty. Whisenhunt said they have not told the cornerbacks who will start when they open the season Sept. 7 at Kansas City. The coach said they’ll wait until the last possible minute to announce that starter.

“There is no benefit to not doing it that way,” Whisenhunt said.

Waiving Campbell leaves them short at that position, and they will be checking the waiver wire to add help at that position. Campbell, a seventh-round draft pick in 2011, was flagged for defensive pass interference three times in Thursday night’s 19-3 loss to Minnesota.

Campbell wrote on Twitter his thanks to his teammates for helping him become a better player and man.

Asked if either Maikon Bonani or Travis Coons will wind up as the Titans’ kicker, Whisenhunt said they feel comfortable with both. Neither has kicked in the regular season. Coons went 2 of 3 on field goals, while Bonani was 3 of 4 this preseason. The Titans worked out three veteran kickers Wednesday.

The Titans just finished up the preseason 2-2. Jake Locker looked good completing 70 percent of his passes with no turnovers through three games.

The defense has the biggest questions going into the season, giving up an opening touchdown drive in all four games. The Titans also struggled with missed tackles and forced only one turnover.

“We feel like our guys have worked hard, and they’re prepared,” Whisenhunt said. “Hopefully that will be reflected in the way we play against Kansas City.”

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Online:

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

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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