How’s it going, people?  Well, the Oakland Raiders are coming to town this Friday night to play under the lights at LP Field and we are preparing for another result similar to last week: A victory by the Titans! 

Yes, this is the preseason, but it’s a preview of what we are bringing to the table for the ‘08/’09 season.  By the looks of things, after playing the St. Louis Rams, we’re going to be an exciting team to watch this year.  The defense took control of the game early with a three-and-out series, as Keith Bullock ran an interception in for six points.  At times, our offensive line created holes in the Rams defense large enough to drive a car through.  The running backs showed versatility, speed and power as they lead the way with a 340 yard rushing performance.  It was a great team effort all the way around.  Vince Young commanded the reigns nicely in his playing time and our quarterbacks all did a nice job in sealing the win.

Obviously, last Saturday night was a good night for us at LP Field and we were able to run a basic package to get the win.  Many questions were answered and, after watching film, mistakes were corrected.  Now the task is to make fewer mistakes against the Raiders and better prepare our guys for the real thing.  Over the next three games, the starters will play more to gain chemistry as a unit and compete like it is a regular season game.  The roster, as a whole, will also begin to take shape.  Eventually, only the 53 men that will define the 2008 Titans will remain.  Some players will be cut, others will become the soul of the team, and still others will be on the bubble and their effort in each play will be the deciding factor of whether they make the team or get cut.  After the final roster is established, eight players will be added to our practice squad to work against us through the season.  To many players, the preseason games are an audition for all 32 teams in the League.

Last Saturday night was definitely a different experience for me.  Yes, I was at LP and on the field, but it was the first time I’ve had to sit out and not play.  I was in street clothes supporting the guys from the sideline.  Believe it or not, this was the first time I was able to watch a whole game as it was being played.  I didn’t have to worry about where the offense was on the field, warming up, or what down it was to be ready to run out on the field.  No kicking field goals for me as long as I’m sidelined.  John Vaughn took on that task, in my place, and did a good job hitting two field goals and four extra points.  His kickoffs were covered well by the other ten players running down field as they mostly kept the Rams’ starting offensive drives around their own 25 yard line.

At this point, I am going to keep moving forward and avoid any setbacks that might hinder my return to the field.  I can’t wait to lace up my cleats and get back to kicking it between the uprights.  Things are going well and I’m still working hard to maintain my leg strength for when I do return.  I’m hoping to hit some balls soon and I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.  I figure with all the exercises I’ve been doing and the conditioning I’ve started, it won’t take me too long to get back in the swing of things.  That’ll allow me to pick up right where I left off.  As of now though, my status is considered day-to-day, as I patiently await this injury to heal.  But, soon enough, I’ll be back to kicking extra points and field goals when called upon to do so.  Talk to you after the lights go out Friday night!

~RB2

What’s up, friends?  As many of you already know, the St. Louis Rams came to Nashville a few days early before our first preseason game Saturday.  If you read the paper, then you know how our offense ran through their defense in scrimmage Wednesday morning.  Vince looked good and the competition on the field raised his game to another level at Baptist Sports Park.  You probably also read the headlines about fists flying and skirmishes happening on the other field.  I think that’s because the Ram offense was getting sliced through like a warm knife through butter for the most part!  I really wanted to watch this practice and wish I could have been out there to participate, but I was stuck in the training room doing my rehab.  So I just heard the locker room talk and read about it as well.  Not only will it be a relief to get out of the training room but it will be good to join in on the fun and smash some pads!  Just joking!

We lined up across from the Rams for three practices and one special teams practice over the two days.  It was good for everybody to get this change, and line up against an actual opponent, during training camp.  I’m especially glad they came here.  I don’t think any of us would want to move camp like we did a few years ago.  It’s nice to stay right here at our facility, sleep in our own beds at night, and avoid the travel.  Having another team to bang pads with raises the competition to a higher level on the practice field.  We aren’t going to let anyone come in our house and push us around or out work us. 

When we practice against ourselves, the goal is to be at game speed but also to protect each other on offense and defense.  With the Rams on the other side of the pigskin, emotions of the game just get a little more ramped up and each hit is just a little harder.  We practiced well and gained a lot out of them being in town these last few days.

Also, there were a couple of former Titans on the field, Drew Bennett and Jacob Bell.  Drew just looked a little different in the opposing team’s #83 jersey.  I didn’t get a chance to talk to him yet, but I’m sure I’ll see him Saturday night before the game.  Jacob, on the other hand, made his way around the familiar facility wearing #63 to say hello to some old friends and teammates.  It was good to see him and I hope they both have successful careers.

As I said, I’m still in the training room rehabbing the leg.  Things are going well and it’s feeling a little better.  The rehab is just a slow process to get where I need to be: healthy and “full go” on the field kicking footballs.  But I’ll get there before long and I hope to be even stronger and fresher than before suffering this injury.

We have a morning practice and a walk through tomorrow night.  Then it’s game time come Saturday night! Are you ready for some football?

-RB2

Hello friends. One thing that is always true in this game of football is we are creatures of habit.  We work out year round and practice day in and day out during the season.  It’s almost like a clock ticking when I tell you each day and week repeats itself through the season.  Unless coach decides to change something up, which happens rarely, everyday is pretty much the same.  Regardless of when we play, we are preparing our bodies for a game at the end of every week.

It’s the same way here in Training Camp. Thankfully, there is a little change in the schedule on some days to help keep us fresh and allow a little more rest.  Since my injury, I have maintained a very repetitive schedule while at Baptist Sports Park.  Everything I’m doing is focused towards getting me back to 100% and on the field.  Each day the trainers may add, replace or remove a few items on my itinerary, but mostly, it’s working out and getting treatment.

Here’s what a typical day looks like right now:

6:45am – I arrive to grab a quick bite of breakfast and change into my workout clothes before making my way to the training room. 

7am – One of the trainers then checks me out and gets me started on my day’s activities.  I start with either heat or ice therapy.  Then they hook me up to each of the different pieces of equipment that are supposed to promote and stimulate healing (stims). There are 6 to 8 different instruments hooked up to my leg both treatment sessions of the day.

9:30am – After that, I warm up on the bike and stretch before starting my rehab.  The athletic trainers have a list of different exercises I need to complete each day.  The length of each workout depends on how much they want me to do that day.  It could be 10 exercises or 20, just depends what the day has in store.  I always finish with at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular training, a pool workout and time in the weight room to keep the rest of my body in shape.

11:30am – Once I finish that, it’s back to the ice bags and more stim or a 10 to 15 minute dip in the cold tub, which is only 42 degrees (real cold)!  Sometimes I’ll get a little more treatment after I get done with rehab and workouts because the guys are still on the field and when injured, you can’t get too much treatment.  At least, that’s what the trainers tell me, so I’m on it. 

12pm or 12:30pm – Time for a shower before heading to the cafeteria for a bite to eat.  The food is good and does the job of refueling everyone for our return in a few hours to do it all over again.  Once I eat, I usually have about an hour to grab a quick nap or run home if I need to.  Some of the guys just crash in the locker room.  Others go to a room they have at the hotel and some go home to spend their down time.

1:30pm – The process starts over again and I go until I’m finished.  This usually takes me right through practice and I don’t even step outside on the fields, or I haven’t had the time to yet. 

6pm or 6:30pm – After another shower, I grab dinner quickly before heading into a 45 minute Special Teams meeting.  That is usually followed by a team meeting.

8pm or 8:30pm – I’m usually done and headed home.  The rest of the guys go into more meetings with the offense and defense and then into their individual positions as well.  They have much more material and practice film they need to study and review than Craig Hentrich or I.

These days are repeated day after day until I get healthy and back out on the field.  Once that happens, there will still be a lot of repetition throughout the week.  I’ll just be spending much less time in the training room doing rehab!

Well, time to get going. 6:30am is right around the corner and the last thing I want to do is be late tomorrow.  Talk to you soon.

-RB2

Hey gang. As most all you know, football season is almost here!  Titan’s training camp began this past Friday and it was good to be back in the swing of things. We started camp without a second kicker which meant I was taking all the reps in practice. After a few weeks and my injury, a roster spot opened for another kicker to join our team. Honestly, it doesn’t really matter to me either way because I’m trying my best to make every field goal on every kick either way. 

Coach Fisher decided to take good care of us as a team during camp because the roster only has a total of 80 players and our off-season workouts had a very high attendance.  We were stronger and in better condition than past years when June came to an end, so coach lightened our on the field time in helmets and has moved some of our practices around. Throughout the day, we are in meetings learning all the plays we’ll use, walking through mental reps every morning we are not geared up, and lifting weights in between.  I get to the practice facility at 7am and usually leave around 8:30 pm – needless to say, these are long days. My teammates on offense and defense usually add another hour or so to the end of their day because they have more meetings once I get finished. Obviously, they are meeting more throughout the day as well. We all catch some rest around midday, after lunch, and anywhere in between that we can.  It’s important to keep the body and mind well rested and stay off our feet when we get the chance.

I began camp this year in great shape. I ended July kicking about 70 balls a day 4 or 5 times a week and ending with 20 kickoffs at the end of the week.  I was more than happy with my leg strength, accuracy and condition before we got started in camp.  So come Friday, I was kicking well. It was almost like I was in midseason form.

However, on Monday, I learned about another part of the game: When the body decides not to go or to fail you, it will! 

After kicking around 15 kick offs, I got a mild groin strain in my kicking leg. This shut me down for the rest of practice and I haven’t hit a ball since. The good news is we are still in July, which means there is plenty of time to get back to 100% before the season starts. I’m not too worried about it because I know I will be back on the field before long and I won’t miss a step. This is just part of the game!

Since then, my days are filled with meetings, meals and many hours of treatment with ice and rehab. I am working hard off the field to put this completely behind me and get back on the field kicking like I was before the injury. There’s nothing worse in this sport than an injury because the only thing you can do is rest it, rehab it and let it heal. There’s no fast forward or quick way around it. So that is exactly what I’m doing. I’ll be back out there as soon as our athletic trainers and Coach Fisher give me the go ahead to do so. I’ll keep you updated as the days go by in camp. Talk to you later. Got to get back in the training room for more treatment and ice!

-RB2

P.S. – Check the local paper or Titans website for our open practices if you want to come out and see us work out and practice on the fields during training camp. It’s a great time to get a few autographs from the players!
 

It's been a slow week and a good time to get a little rest.  I've had the opportunity to meet some friends here in Nashville for lunch and dinner.  I've enjoyed this time away from everything and have had the chance to get some good training at the practice facility.

I know things are going to pick up a little bit this week as I take part in a few charity events.  Also, I will be attending CMA Music Festival and some of the concerts at LP Field over the weekend. Those that I'll be attending are listed on my calendar page, check them out if you're looking for some good outdoor activities to watch.  I'll also be heading to Benji Olsen's retirement party this weekend and attending my first NASCAR race. I'm told it is going to be a blast and there's a great chance I'll be in the pits and listening to the spotters through a headset.  I'm excited to finally get out to a race!

Like I told you, it's been a nice, slow week.  I'm sure I'll have a few paragraphs for you next week. No doubt the last few weeks have been exhausting with non-stop action. I had a blast taking part in so many events and new things, but slowing things down is just what I need right now.

Hi! I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. I hope none of you were stuck driving in the rain on Monday like I was! I got away to Kentucky to hang with my family for a couple of days for the holiday. My brother invited all of our family to his place for a cookout. There was a great turnout with plenty of good food and conversation. I enjoyed just spending the day outside with everyone. Now that the weather is warming up, I hope to be outside more and more.

Speaking of being outside, we had three OTA practices last week. It went well - I hit almost all of my field goals during practice. It is still early in the off-season for all of us. We are working to be fully prepared for competition starting in August and September. Now is the time to be taking the proper steps to be getting the body ready and as fully prepared as possible for the 2008 season. I will continue to kick three times a week in June, and then I’ll bump it up to four times a week in July. I just want to be sure not to over-kick and burn out the legs... it's a long season! The OTAs went well. Everyone showed up and the weather was nice - warm, but not hot! We also got a first look at most of the rookies. I know some of the vets were glad to have them taking some of the final reps in the drills. We are only in helmets right now, no pads, so we're not hitting and it's difficult to see what each rookie is going to bring to the table. Time will tell.

I was in some HOT weather last weekend, in Las Vegas for the Academy of Country Music Awards. I think the thermostat showed 104 - 105°F and my body confirmed that with beads of sweat every time I stepped outside. There were so many familiar faces there, it was as if much of Nashville was picked up and transplanted to Las Vegas for the Awards Show. I had a great time, spending days poolside, evenings at amazing restaurants, and ending my nights at some of the best nightclubs in the city. And maybe I sat down at a couple of tables to try my luck. Not too much, though, just a few hours during the trip. There was way too much to do outside of the casinos!

On Saturday, May 17th, I played in the fifth annual Academy of Country Music Celebrity Golf Classic hosted by Rascal Flatts. The event benefits the ACM Charitable Fund and was one of many activities that led up to the 43rd annual ACM Awards show that took place in the MGM Grand Garden Arena. I was in a foursome with Gary LeVox (lead singer of Rascal Flatts), Brian O'Connell (one of my buddies from Live Nation in Nashville), and Doug Kane (a friend of Brian's since grade school). We needed a few less strokes to take home one of the trophies, but I don't think we really wanted to pack a trophy in our luggage anyway! As expected, it was a hot day on the Tournament Players Club Course in Las Vegas and I packed the wrong golf shoes. My feet were burning up in black leather all day! It was still a fun day, I just had hot feet! The shots we played off my sticks probably could have been counted on two hands, but I did come away with the long drive of the day on one of our final holes. I got into that one and kept it in the middle of the fairway - better there than off to the left into the canyons like a few of my other balls! It was a good thing we started with 12 balls. And yes, I did have a few left at the end of the day.  

Sunday was a long day. I had lunch by the pool and caught a few rays before changing for the show. I met up with friends and we walked the Orange Carpet to enter the awards. I thought it was going to burst into flames. Again, it was HOT! Dry heat or not, I know my core temperature was elevated while I was outside before entering the MGM Arena. I talked to some of the country music stars and eventually ran into the Rascal Flatts, who invited us to hang out with them backstage during the show. Jay, Gary, and Joe Don are down to earth guys, and they always have the time to say hello. It can be after a Titans' game on Sunday, at a concert, an awards show, or just out in Nashville. They are a great group of guys to hang out with. Many of the other country artists here in Nashville are the same way! Since playing in Nashville, I've really come to appreciate what the artists do and the dedication they put into it! While backstage at the show, I talked to many of the country artists in attendance. After spending some time there, I met up with some other friends upstairs and enjoyed the show. It was long, three hours, but we had a good time and it was a great reason to spend a couple of days in Las Vegas. After the show, I met back up with Rascal Flatts and congratulated them on a great performance and their selection for The Home Depot Humanitarian Award.  

I thought I would head out to a few other events and parties after the awards, but Rascal Flatts had a different idea and I went with it. I joined them for most of the night. First, I went behind the scenes to experience their media interviews, pictures, more interviews, and more pictures. I guess it best relates to the Super Bowl for us on the gridiron - I hope to be there one day!!!  I had a chance to meet and talk to Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, and a few other artists while I was waiting on the guys to wrap things up.

After that, we went to a suite at The Palms where their record label, Lyric Street, was hosting a party. Good food and a lot of new people to meet kept me busy while we were there. I've been running into Phil Stacey more and more lately, and it’s always a pleasure to see him and his wife. It was cool to be in one of the suites I've seen in magazines and read about. The room had an infinity pool outside that extended from the side of the building. The security guard said Michael Jackson actually lived in the suite for 6 months at one point. I really liked the main room, which had water running down a wall into a pool that covered most of the floor space. The water area was roped off after a couple of people got their feet and pants wet because it was as smooth as glass! I fortunately made my way across the room on the granite tiles instead of getting wet!

We left there and went to the hotel where Rascal Flatts was hosting a party themselves. Again, I met many new faces and had a great time. I picked up a pool stick and tried my luck at a game of pool, but it wasn't my night behind the cue ball. I caught up with Brian, my golf partner from a day earlier, and Kellie Pickler stopped by and I had a chance to say hello. One of my arena football teammates from Carolina was with her... as her bodyguard! It was good to see Wes. He's from Nashville, so I also see him around here from time to time. I was invited to another party hosted by John Rich, but I was ready to call it a night. I haven't had the training to hang with these rock stars! All in all, it was an eventful day, a fun-filled night, and a great weekend. I got enough of Vegas for one weekend and was ready to get on my plane back to Nashville. Home sweet home! I couldn't wait to get in my bed and get a good night's sleep!

We have the next three weeks away from OTAs and I'll be using that time to train on my own, kicking three days a week, 50 to 75 balls each day. I'm right on schedule and today was a good day. The ball is coming off my foot solidly and going straight through the uprights. I'll continue increasing my reps and strength, and then just maintain my leg to be as prepared as I can be for training camp, preseason, and most importantly, the 2008 season! Thanks for taking the time to read more of my blog... I'll be back to type again soon!

-RB2

Hello everyone - I'm back again!  I had a lot going on last week and I'm back in the swing of things on the field.  I just got home from workouts and kicked all of my field goals through the uprights for the day.  It's always good to walk away without a single miss... I feel like I haven’t taken a break since the Pro Bowl!  I think 2008 is going to be a great season.  I have a few minutes to write you before some of my family arrives for the Bon Jovi Concert.  I'm sending my brother, his wife, my sister, and my mom.   I won’t be able to go to the concert myself because of prior engagements, but that's okay - I saw him perform a couple of years ago, and it was a great show!

So, back to last Wednesday, April 23rd. I have become a huge supporter of the Nashville Predators.  I’m not sure I know every rule, but I like to get out to the games and support the team on the ice.  My teammate, #48 Casey Cramer, and I signed autographs for an hour and a half before the game.  It was all part of the pre-game festivities on the front concourse.  The line was long and the fans were great!  After signing a bunch of autographs and taking many pictures, the Preds gave me a #2 Bironas jersey to wear at the game.  I thought that was a great honor and I plan to wear it to all of the games in the future.  I have only owned football jerseys in the past!   The game was good and the Predators won, making it2-1 in the series.

The next day, Thursday the 24th, was a full one.  The most notable event was the Nashville Film Festival movie premiere of The Deal, starring William H. Macy and Meg Ryan.  Should I mention that I've had a crush on Meg Ryan since I was a little kid?  The night started with a walk down the red carpet at Regal Green Hills Cinemas.  I attended the event with Wild Bill of Underground Choppers fame, and we signed some autographs, took some pictures, did a few interviews, and met a lot of great people.  The movie was pretty good - it was a little slow at the beginning as the plot was laid out, but was very funny by the time it got going.   I was happy to support our local film industry, as these are some of the people out supporting the Titans on Sundays.  After the show, I got a chance to meet William H. Macy and I spoke with him for a few minutes before he was rushed off to BMI for the after-party.  I spent some time at BMI myself before calling it a night.  It was becoming a long weekend, but the fun wasn't over yet.

I got a chance for a little bit of down time on Friday.  I just met up with some friends and hung out for a bit before catching a good night’s sleep.  Saturday was filled before I knew it.  First, I went to my friend Thaxton Ward's house for his birthday grill out.  The house, front porch and front yard were filled with friends and family.  Good food and cake will always keep me coming back... Happy Birthday Thaxton!!!  

After the party, we were off to a going away party for former Titan Jacob Bell.   Unfortunately, Jacob won't be with us in the 2008 season, as he has signed a multi-year deal with the St. Louis Rams.  He will really be missed in the front trenches of our offensive line next year.  It was another good party with life-sized posters of Bell propped up throughout the house... a little creepy, but pretty cool at the same time!  Congratulations on the new contract, Jacob.  

Next, we went downtown to Wild Horse Saloon to attend the annual Maxim party. It wasn't the same as the Maxim Super Bowl party, but we had a great time.  We walked the red carpet and enjoyed the Country- Western theme of the Wild Horse.  After spending some time there, we headed across the street to John Rich's new club, The Spot, for a bit of late night conversation and to get away from the crowd.  It’s nice to get off the beaten path at times and away from the norm, and The Spot lets you do just that.

Sunday morning arrived quickly.  After grabbing a bite to eat at the Pancake Pantry, I went down to the Sommet Center with a few other Titans players (Vincent Fuller, Cortland Finnegan, Josh Stamer and Craig Hentrich) to sign autographs again before the Predators playoff game.   We were there as fans to cheer them on during the game.  They were down 3-2 in the series and needed the win.  Sean Conover, Ulrich Winkler, Wild Bill, Thaxton Ward, and a few others joined us for the game.  Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the Preds win and move on to game seven of the series.   Sometimes the breaks just don't go your way and that's how this series went for the Predators.  I can't wait for their season to get started back up next year... I'll have my season tickets to support keeping them here in Nashville!!!  

At the Predators game, I also stepped on the ice between the 2nd and 3rd periods.  I thought I was going to be throwing t-shirts to the crowd, but I was surprised to find out that I would be strapped to a bungee cord with a Red Wings fan on the other end!  Once we were on the ice, we were supposed to work in opposite directions to grab balls off the ice and put them in a basket.  The Red Wing guy wasn't very good and I pretty much pulled him around like a rag doll (but then I am a Preds fan and it was our home ice).  There was one moment when he caught me off balance and got me off my feet, but I still showed him who he was messing with and I put all four balls in my basket before he got his first.  It was a lot of work, and I wasn't expecting to sweat so much while on the chilly ice.   It was totally unexpected, but I think the Arena enjoyed the show. And after the game was over, I did get to throw some shirts out to the fans!  I just wish the Preds could have gotten that win!  They'll be back next year stronger than ever, and I’ll see you out there after my season ends!

Sunday didn't end there... after the hockey game and a wardrobe change, a few of us headed out past Franklin to Kix Brooks’ winery, Arrington Vineyards , for another Nashville Film Festival Event.  Cortland Finnegan and Vincent Fuller got there ahead of me because I followed Wild Bill, who cruised in on his bright blue custom chopper.  This was the 3rd year I have attended the Film Festival events and they are always a good time full of great people.  It's great to see some of the faces I've met in the past and always nice to meet new people.  The best part is that nobody wants anything from anyone else - we are all just there to have a good time and enjoy each other's company!  And we did just that for three or four hours over a few glasses of wine.  My favorite was the raspberry wine accompanied by raspberry chocolates.  I've been trying different wines more and more over the past couple of years and have to say Kix is onto something down there at Arrington.  I'm looking forward to tasting the new blends in the upcoming years.

This has been a very eventful off-season, with a lot to pick and choose from every day and night.  It's been fun, but I know it will soon be time to cut it out and focus on nothing but football.  For right now, I'm continuing to work out and kick in the mornings, and then relax and enjoy my afternoons, nights and weekends.  I got back to kicking twice a week two weeks ago and will increase that as we get more into the summer - all in preparation for a great 2008 season.  I can't wait to be back on LP Field in a Titans uniform!!!  

-RB2

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