ExtremeRavens Posted December 11 Posted December 11 The Ravens are back on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” for the first time since the venerable series’ 2001 premiere season, this time sharing each hour with their AFC North neighbors. The second episode of this in-season look at the division debuted Tuesday night, featuring precious little Ravens material as players left town to enjoy their bye week. The Browns and Steelers took center stage, preparing for their divisional matchup in Pittsburgh. From now until the end of the season, we’ll recap each episode, highlighting striking moments, memorable characters and tasty Ravens-related nuggets. Key Ravens scene Well, there was only one. Coach John Harbaugh addressed his players in the auditorium at the team’s training facility in Owings Mills, the Monday after they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. Harbaugh noted the Ravens’ tough schedule and described the bye week as a chance to “get your heart right for what we’re doing.” “We are a team that’s fighting to win the championship,” he said, pointing his players toward what they hope will be an eight-game run — four to finish out the regular season and four in the playoffs. And with that, they filed out to their cars, many of them bound for the airport in anticipation of a brief respite. “Hard Knocks” hasn’t offered much for Ravens fans to chew on through two weeks, and it will be interesting to see if that changes with this week’s relatively heatless matchup against the woeful New York Giants. We might have to wait for the build to the Dec. 21 Ravens-Steelers rematch for a genuine showcase. Best non-Ravens scene With the Steelers on their way to a two-game lead in the division, the Bengals not playing in Dallas until Monday night and the Ravens off, last week wasn’t rich in AFC North happenings. So the “Hard Knocks” creatives had to make what they could of Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland. As the episode pumped up the Browns-Steelers “turnpike” rivalry, we glimpsed Pittsburgh cornerback Joey Porter Jr. at home, interacting with his dad, noted Steelers pass rusher (and Ravens antagonist) Joey Sr. “It’s way more intense than anybody can speak on it,” the elder Porter said of the AFC North’s rivalries. He won’t even eat in Cincinnati, Cleveland or Baltimore. “They talk about the good crab in Baltimore,” Porter Sr. said. “I ain’t never had it.” His wife recalled him telling her before a road game against the Browns, “Christy, don’t go to Cleveland with my jersey on.” She did anyway and felt the wrath of the Dawg Pound. Porter Jr. chuckled quietly as Sr. narrated his famous 2004 fight with Browns running back William Green. The Porters provided the tastiest material, but the episode effectively set up both sides of the enduring feud between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin centered his message on the Browns’ “game wrecker,” defensive end Myles Garrett. “I’m not doing my job if I don’t paint a picture for you,” he said. “He needs no endorsement from me. Wikipedia him.” The Browns’ hopes of returning to the playoffs vanished weeks ago, so they had to find other reasons to get up for Pittsburgh. “You’ve got to find a why for these last five games to mean something to you,” Garrett said in a defensive line meeting. Veteran defensive tackle Shelby Harris was even more candid, telling his younger teammates that the next few weeks amount to an audition for their football futures, in Cleveland or elsewhere. “Are you part of the solution or are you part of the problem?” he said. Browns quarterback Jameis Winston was the most captivating character in the second episode of “Hard Knocks.” (David Richard/AP) Episode MVP The episode opened with highlights (and lowlights) from Cleveland quarterback Jameis Winston’s 497-yard, four-touchdown, three-interception carnival ride against the Denver Broncos. “I messed it up for us,” he told reporters afterward. “I’m just praying for the Lord to deliver me from pick-sixes.” Winston’s quest for redemption in Pittsburgh would become a narrative through line. We went home with him as he hung out with his wife, Breion, and their boys. “There’s nothing like unconditional love,” Winston said. Back at the Browns’ facility, he said he hopes his continued passion for football, nine years after he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft, rubs off on teammates: “I want them to feel the love, want them to feel the authentic side of me.” Interceptions haunted Winston again as the Browns fell to the Steelers, but that didn’t stop Garrett from noting affectionately that the 30-year-old quarterback “runs like he already an unc at the cookout.” Winston didn’t get to be a hero on the field, but he pulled this edition of “Hard Knocks” together. Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article Quote
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