Skip to main content

5 ex-Chiefs back at Arrowhead Stadium with Titans

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The first inkling Dexter McCluster had that Ryan Succop was joining him in Tennessee came from a posting on Instagram. McCluster didn’t know anything for certain until he walked into a meeting.

“He stood up and introduced himself,” McCluster said, “and I said, ‘Wow. Great to have you.'”

It was a rather strange reunion for McCluster and Succop, who spent last season helping the Kansas City Chiefs to the playoffs. McCluster signed with the Titans as a free agent, while Succop capped a whirlwind week in which he was waived by Kansas City by signing with Tennessee on Monday.

Why so strange, though? Well, both will be back in Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

“It’s definitely going to be different,” McCluster said. “I spent four years there. The atmosphere at Arrowhead is always rocking. It’s going to be different on the other side. I don’t think I ever saw the other locker room, ever, in my career there.”

Turns out that Succop never did, either.

“I’ve walked by it a number of times but I’ve never actually been in it,” said Succop, the most accurate kicker in Chiefs history. “That’ll be an interesting deal.”

In this modern era of free agency, it’s not uncommon for players to face their former teams. A few members of the Chiefs have a history with Tennessee, including wide receiver Donnie Avery.

But when McCluster and Succop are lumped together with safety Bernard Pollard, defensive end Ropati Pitoitua and running back Jackie Battle, well, that’s a whole lot of familiarity.

“They’re doing good. They’re real good men,” Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “Glad to have them here, and you know, we’re excited about kicking off the season.”

With Succop, quite literally.

“Unless they kick it to us,” Whisenhunt said with a laugh.

If that’s the case, it just might be McCluster getting his hands on the ball first.

He was signed by the Titans to do a number of things, whether that’s running the ball out of the backfield or catching passes. But his biggest value just may be on special teams. He made the Pro Bowl as a punt returner, and his speed and shiftiness make him a dangerous kick returner.

McCluster said the Chiefs wanted to keep him when free agency hit, but they were hamstrung by salary cap woes. When things didn’t work, he insists, there were no hard feelings.

“I have some great relationships with the coaches. They wanted me, most definitely,” he said, “but the business side of it, you have to go out there and show your worth. I love it here in Nashville. I still have love for that city, and I’m thankful, but right now, just a new chapter.”

The same goes for Succop, who spent the last five seasons in Kansas City.

Most expected him to still be the kicker when the regular season rolled around, but Succop never distanced himself from undrafted free agent Cairo Santos. The two of them were neck-and-neck through training camp, and the fact that Succop was due much more money may have worked against him. By keeping Santos, the cash-strapped club saved well over $1 million.

“I had a great experience in Kansas City,” Succop said. “I was very blessed to play there for a long time. Everyone there, from the owner to the coaches to everyone was great.”

But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to stick it to them Sunday.

“Obviously,” Succop said, “I want to win.”

Like McCluster and Succop, Battle got his start in Kansas City, spending the first five years of his career there. Headed into his eighth season, his best year came with the Chiefs when he ran for 597 yards in 2011.

Playing against them will hardly be a new experience, though. He spent the 2012 season with AFC West rival San Diego, facing the Chiefs twice. And he faced them again last season, when the Titans blew a fourth-quarter lead in a 26-17 loss at LP Field.

Pitoitua and Pollard, meanwhile, hardly think about their time in Kansas City. Pitoitua was only there for the Chiefs’ disastrous two-win season in 2012, so it’s easy to forgive him. Pollard hasn’t been with the franchise since the 2008 season.

“It doesn’t matter where we are,” Pollard said simply. “It’s time to play football.”

Notes: Chiefs coach Andy Reid disclosed Thursday that CB Marcus Cooper (ankle) and WR De’Anthony Thomas (hamstring) had sustained injuries. Their severity was not disclosed. Neither was on the field for the 20 minutes of practice that reporters are allowed to view.

___

AP Pro Football Writer Teresa M. Walker in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed to this report.

___

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