Skip to main content

Lions cut kicker Henery after loss to Bills

By WTOP Staff

DAN KILBRIDGE
Associated Press

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions are looking for kicking help once again.

The Lions released kicker Alex Henery on Monday, a day after Henery missed three field-goal attempts during Detroit’s 17-14 home loss to the Buffalo Bills.

One of the misses was a 50-yard try in the final minute that would have given the Lions the lead.

Henery also missed from 44 and 47 yards and went 1 for 5 during his two-week stint.

“That’s this business,” wide receiver Golden Tate said. “Either you handle your business or they’ll find someone who will. It’s tough we’ve had to experience that the last few weeks and it’s tough that that’s held us back a little bit, but at the end of the day I don’t think you can ever blame the game on any one (person).”

Detroit (3-2) also released rookie kicker Nate Freese after Week 3. Freese made just 3 of 7 attempts and was 0 of 4 from 40 yards or longer.

The Lions will reportedly hold tryouts Tuesday as they look for yet another kicker to fill the void entering Sunday’s game at Minnesota (2-3).

“We’ve got to find a performer,” coach Jim Caldwell said. “We’ve got to get a guy who’s consistent under pressure and able to put points on the board.

“In this league there are going to be close games. Guys in that position are going to decide a number of games and we’ve got to make certain we get the right guy for us.”

Kicking has been a concern for the Lions since Jason Hanson retired following the 2012 season, ending a 21-year career in Detroit. Veteran David Akers made 19 of 24 attempts in 2013 and was released at the end of the season.

Asked why the team has struggled to find a successful kicker, Caldwell said it’s hard to determine how kickers will perform based on a tryout.

“You can’t put them in a game situation and find out everything you need to know about them,” Caldwell said. “You have to certainly make your best guess and go with it and if it’s not, you get it corrected, and don’t be ashamed to get it corrected.”

Kicking woes aside, the Lions offense has been underwhelming in recent weeks. Detroit scored one offensive touchdown against the Bills and converted just 1 of 9 third down attempts.

“I think it’s a matter of getting into a rhythm,” running back Reggie Bush said. “We’ve got to do a better job of getting everyone on the same page and making sure we’re doing the fundamental things right, because we have great players in this offense.”

Injuries have also piled up on offense — star wide receiver Calvin Johnson suffered a right ankle injury against Buffalo, and his status for the Minnesota game is uncertain.

Bush suffered an ankle injury in the second half against Buffalo. While the Lions were also without running back Joique Bell, who missed the game after suffering a concussion during a Week 4 win at the New York Jets. Both running backs were optimistic about their status against the Vikings.

“I feel good,” Bush said Monday. “I’m gonna prepare like I can play Sunday. It’s day to day and I’m gonna do everything I can to be out there on the field.”

Bell said the side effects from his concussion weren’t severe and he’s ready to get back on the field.

Tate has emerged as a go-to option in Johnson’s absence, getting seven catches for a career-high 134 yards against Buffalo. He’s hoping to stay consistent as Detroit travels to Minnesota in a first-place tie with Green Bay (3-2) in the NFC North.

“I think it’s gonna be a big week for this receiver group,” Tate said. “We don’t know what’s gonna happen with (Johnson). Hopefully he’s out there, but we don’t know what’s gonna happen. We’ve gotta show up big this week again.”

___

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