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Chiefs’ Johnson, DeVito suffer Achilles injuries

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs will likely be without Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Johnson and starting defensive tackle Mike DeVito for the remainder of the season.

Johnson and DeVito both ruptured an Achilles tendon during Sunday’s 26-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

The injuries, which occurred just one quarter apart, happened at virtually the same spot on the field and with almost nobody around them.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said the pair will be evaluated overnight, but he acknowledged after the lopsided loss that the injuries are almost certain to be season-ending.

“We’ll see what happens,” Reid said. “I expect other players to step up and do the job.”

Meanwhile, the Titans made it through the game virtually injury-free. Linebacker Zach Brown left early in the game with a left shoulder injury, and coach Ken Whisenhunt said he’ll have an MRI on Monday. Otherwise, everybody came out of the game in relatively good shape.

If only that was the case for the Chiefs, who were uncommonly healthy a year ago.

Johnson had four tackles by the time he went down late in the second quarter, giving him 985 for his career.

He needs just 15 more to break Gary Spani’s franchise record, though it appears that his chase will be on hold until the opening week of next season.

Johnson was away from the play when he suddenly fell to the ground. He didn’t appear in much pain while being tended to by a trainer, but he needed help from a cart to reach the locker room.

Then on the first series of the second half, DeVito was hurt while chasing a tackle.

Unlike his teammate, DeVito was in obvious pain while he was checked on by the medical staff, at one point burying his face in the shoulder of trainer Rick Burkholder. He was also loaded into a cart and driven away, and was on crutches in the locker room after the game.

“It’s definitely unfortunate to lose players of that caliber on this team,” Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith said. “They definitely mean a lot to us as people and as players. One thing about us is we have the utmost confidence in everybody on the roster. The next guy has to step up.”

The Chiefs are running out of next guys, though. They’ve already have lost middle linebacker Joe Mays to a broken wrist, and played without wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas (hamstring) and cornerback Marcus Cooper (ankle) during a lackluster season opener.

Earlier in the game, Chiefs right tackle Jeff Allen appeared to hurt his right arm and was replaced by Ryan Harris. Allen was already replacing the suspended Donald Stephenson.

“I can just pray for them and hope that they get better. I’ve been hurt before, so I know that feeling,” Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles said. “You always want to play — you never want to go out hurt. I’m sorry for them guys, but the next guys have to step up.”

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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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