The Post-Crescent FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024 1B SPORTS See NFL, Page 5B The release of the 2024 schedule seems imminent based on recent history. And while we do know all of next matchups including the typically nasty division rivalry pairings currently unclear when land on the calendar. Yet, regardless of where slotted, there are quite a few (temporary, at minimum) grudge-style matches whether be- tween teams with an ax to grind or a player facing a former club that will be unique to this docket. Here are 15 that should be highly antic- ipated and almost cer- tain to wind up in an exclusive broadcast window or, at least, a late-afternoon Sunday placement: 1. Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers, Harbowl II.
been nearly a dozen years since Ravens HC John Harbaugh (barely) defeated hyper-competitive brother Jim in Super Bowl 47 aka the In the interim, Jim Har- baugh left the 49ers to (eventually) forge a controversial (occasionally) but ultimately legendary run at the University of Michigan, capped by last national championship. Meanwhile, John has kept Baltimore among the elite but returned to the Super Bowl since vanquishing his younger bro. Probably premature to suggest the Bolts are ready to contend in 2024 under their new boss, but doubtless carry extra motivation in this game given GM Joe Hortiz, OC Greg Roman, DC Jesse Minter and RBs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins are among the Ravens alumni who have gone west. 2.
Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers. Well, a grudge match for Niners HC Kyle Shana- han anyway? 0-4 against counterpart Andy Chiefs, three of those losses by dou- ble-digit margins, and two most memo- rably occurring in Super Bowls 54 and 58 including last over- time heartbreaker. The last time these clubs tangled at Stadium two years ago, K.C. QB Patrick Ma- homes passed for 423 yards and three TDs in a 44-23 decision that was nip and tuck until getting out of hand in the fourth quarter. NFL Brothers Jim, left, and John Harbaugh will square off for the time since Super Bowl 47 when the Ravens visit the Chargers in 2024.
Below: The Lions will try to avenge their NFC Championship game loss to the 49ers. GETTY IMAGES BLOOD FEUDS 2024 NFL BEST GRUDGE GAMES: WHO HAS BEEF TO SETTLE? Nate Davis USA TODAY GREEN BAY The Green Bay Packers see anything that told them that third-round draft pick MarShawn Lloyd hold onto the ball better than he did in college, where he had eight fumbles in three seasons. But for the rookie tailback to be trusted, going to have to buy into everything running backs coach Ben Sirmans teaches him be- cause Sirmans play someone who fumbles too much. feel like you have methods that you have, training tools you use in drill work that you want to implement that should al- leviate, or will cut those things from Sirmans said. lot of it will just be being conscious of the ball when you have it, and the way we practice, not only just doing ball-security drills but the way we practice with our defense constant- ly going after the football, have to be conscious of it.
something I think that be capable of controlling through Clements have a hard decision to return Late last season, Tom Clements gave no indication whether he was leaning toward returning for anoth- er year as the Packers quarterbacks coach or retiring from a remarkable career. It turned out not to be a call once the began. way we Clements said, really that tough of a process to decide to come back. I think poised to be a good team. Obviously, we have to work at it.
Every year is a new year, you know going to happen, but a lot easier compared to last year because we had a lot of guys with no experience whatsoever. A lot of rookies. Jordan (Love), it was his year as a starter. So he was seeing things for the time, but obviously as the year went along, we started to develop, and we were pretty good by the end of the year. know we can be pretty good.
Now you just have to work to get to that same spot. It is a process. not easy, but I think we have the guys that can do Clements said at the point in his career where his future will be determined to For now, he relishes the idea of continuing to Rookie RB Lloyd must get grip on fumbling Ryan Wood and Tom Silverstein Packers News USA TODAY NETWORK-WISCONSIN See LLOYD, Page 3B APPLETON The nickname have worked until Edan Perez discov- ered a bottle of hair dye. Perez, the lone brunette in the group of starting Lawrence University out- dyed his thick mane a golden hue this spring. Perez, Parker Knoll and Jacob Charon then went out and crushed opposing pitching all season.
To call them Blonde seems an apt moniker. starting has hit a combined .432 with 36 doubles, tri- ples, 42 home runs and 164 runs batted in during 39 games this spring to make them perhaps the most productive out- in all of NCAA Division III baseball. Lawrence just wrapped up the Mid- west Conference regular-season title and the Vikings host the MWC Tourna- ment on Friday and Saturday. The Vik- ings open against Cornell College at 10 a.m. Friday at Whiting Field.
The winner of the four-team, double-elimination tournament receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tourna- ment. seen of it from all three of said Knoll, a junior from Ap- pleton and the center nally all doing it together all the time. special that able to hit as well as we can at the same time. a lot of fun to be part of. I know if I mess up, like four guys behind me that will do as good or better job than I will.
great to have that kind of Charon, an All-American in 2022, leads the team and ranks second in NCAA Division III with a .493 batting av- erage. pounded out 12 doubles, two triples, 14 homers and tied his school record with 61 RBI. really dialed in indoors during the winter. I was struggling during the win- said Charon, the senior right had our games down in St. Louis and that go as well as I wanted to.
We came back and I started taking my reps the machine a little more seriously. Intensity and focus, what I need to keep myself going. That started down in Charon hit .533, homered four times and drove in 12 runs over nine games in Florida. He hit for the cycle and was cho- sen for the D3baseball.com Team of the Week two weeks in a row. He let up since.
know if recognized how well been said Perez, a ju- form for Lawrence Joe Vanden Acker For USA TODAY-Wisconsin Lawrence Edan Perez (11), Jacob Charon (23) and Parker Knoll (17) have formed arguably the most trio in NCAA Division III baseball this season. COURTESY OF PAUL UNIVERSITY See LAWRENCE, Page 2B.
