Saying goodbye to an old friend
February 18, 2010
Hey friends, I just wanted to drop a line about something that’s bittersweet for me: the retirement of my friend and mentor, Craig Hentrich.
Craig was starting punter for the Titans for 12 seasons, but suffered an injury in September and hasn’t punted since. At 38, he was a definite leader on the team, the “old guy” who knew how to handle every situation. He’s one of my best friends, and got me and my teammates through many games.
I knew he was thinking about retiring, but deep down I was hoping he’d squeeze in another year. I remember when, a few years back, Craig was playing golf and his appendix burst on the 12th hole. He finished out the remaining six holes! That’s the Craig we know and love, the kind of guy who always finishes the game. Still, I’m certainly happy for him that he’ll get more time on the golf course — and more importantly, with his family. Craig’s a dedicated father to his three children, and a great husband for his wife, Lisa, a successful songwriter (Craig, of course, is her biggest fan!).
Our most recent starting punter, Brett Kern, has shown promise, and I’m confident he’ll come in strong next season. I hope he has a great career with the Titans, and I’m looking forward to working with him more. But today, I’m focused on honoring the stellar career of a two-time Pro Bowler and a true friend.
Craig, you’ll be sorely missed. Have fun, buddy…
—RB2
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Watching, resting and ready
February 5, 2010
It’s that time of the year again... Another NFL season has come to an end, and only two teams are left in the hunt for the Lombardi Trophy. On Sunday, I'll be watching along with all of you to see who will be the new World Champions — and I’ll be almost as interested in the commercial advertisements during each TV break. It’s a game I hope to one day play in (and win!); unfortunately, we didn't give ourselves a fighting chance with the slow start this year. On the other hand, we did have a strong finish and made something to build on for next year. As a team, we knew that many of our losses were the result of a few mistakes and big plays given up in each game. The critics were harsh at times and pointing fingers in the locker room, but after finding some of the answers we were looking for, victories began to follow. We stuck together and played with pride, overcoming the adversity and shortcomings from early on. I don't really know what the problem was, but like the other guys in Titan blue, I was glad to finally see things turn around and get the ball bouncing back our way!
So we got an early start to the offseason after missing the playoffs, and the staff is focused on making us better for the 2010 season. After finishing on a strong note, I'm excited to start over in a few months as we get to the draft, then free agency, to build another team and prepare for a long season... hopefully ending with a victory in February 2011! First, though, I'm going to continue to rest and relax as my body heals from our past season. I plan to get away from Nashville before our workouts begin, mostly to somewhere warm and sunny!
With the end of our season, I have also had time to focus more on the Rob Bironas Fund. I have become more involved with an event we plan to put on in June... Stay tuned, because it’s going to be one you won’t want to miss! I'll deliver more details as they become available.
I have also been able to attend a couple of events hosted by the Nashville Symphony after being named to the Board of Directors. One was a farewell party for Susan Plageman, who has been named the new Vice President of Development for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. She has been a great advocate for the Nashville organization, and will be missed. The other was a meet-and-greet with the Nashville Symphony's Maestro Giancarlo Guerrero, hosted at the Hermitage Hotel. Attending both events provided a great opportunity for me to meet many great individuals who help make our Symphony so great.
Talk to you later,
Rob B.
Happy Holidays from RB2!
Hey friends and fans, Rob here! It’s almost Christmas, and all of you probably know what I’m wishing for: a Christmas night win over the San Diego Chargers! They’re a tough team with a powerful offense, but they’re coming to our house — and Santa wouldn’t let us down on Christmas, would he?
Sunday’s game against Miami was close — almost too close! But if I’m going to kick a couple field goals, I don’t mind one of them being the game-winner in overtime! It was a great game, and the fans at L.P. Field got to see a truly exciting finish.
Of course, for us to get into the playoffs, we’ll need even more Christmas miracles: so many teams are tied up at 7-7 in the AFC that you need a flow chart to decipher the playoff situation right now. But stranger things have happened in the Music City, so keep your fingers crossed and get those letters out to Santa!
In what spare time I have, I’ve been shopping and wrapping gifts, and also continuing to work with worthy charities across Nashville. It’s truly a blessing to be involved with such a wide range of wonderful people, and I’d encourage any of you to stretch your generosity this holiday season — because giving really is better than receiving.
Thanks ahead of time to those of you spending your Christmas evening at L.P. Field, rooting for me and my teammates — and if not, try to get yourself in front of a TV with the NFL Network on Friday! But no matter what your holiday plans are, know that I’m wishing all of you a merry Christmas and a truly happy New Year!
--Rob
Staying Positive Pays Off!
Friday, November 6, 2009
First off, did you see the Titans game last Sunday? A heavy weight was lifted as we put a mark in the win column, and it felt great to finally put 60 minutes of play together for a victory. I thought this season was going to be much different than it has been – and I know many players and fans felt the same. After some should’ve-been wins, some close losses, many injuries, an unimaginable snow game and every other reason in the book, we were able to piece together a game on all sides of the ball. I’m not sure what the answer was, but I know it was a much better feeling as November rolled into town. September and October were tough months of football in Tennessee – the kind I hope we don't ever see again – but through all the adversity, we knew we were a better team than our record showed. We went out and played the Jaguars with everything we had.
On offense, Vince stepped in and managed the game well. It was a big game for him, and he did what he had to, regardless of any added pressure. The offensive line opened gaps and blocked well for Chris Johnson, who set a new franchise rushing record, and the receivers caught everything thrown their way. On defense, Cortland Finnegan and Vincent Fuller got back into action after sitting the past few games out from injury. Rod Hood also used his past experience as he started at cornerback opposite Cortland. The D-line brought constant pressure and collected sacks and quarterback hurries. It was a great game to watch, as the we played this one all the way through. (Of course, we'd have liked to tackle No. 32 two more times before he scored the Jacksonville’s only points on two long runs, but we'll make those corrections and move on to this week’s game in San Francisco.)
For me, it was much the same, yet different again. I did my thing, kicking off and making field goals like usual, but I had a new holder for the night. We picked up Brett Kern off waivers after Denver released him, and he stepped in and did well – after all, we made all three field goal tries and three extra points. Brett is my third holder this year, and I hope it's the last change we have in that position. After just a few days of practicing together, we found a pretty good rhythm. Working with Craig Hentrich for the past 5 years, I was spoiled by possibly the best holder in the NFL, but everything is coming together and the ball is still sailing through the uprights. Plus, Brett stepped in and punted the heck out of the ball! I think he downed three balls inside the 20, and his average was nothing short of impressive. I hope he can string together a lot more games like that and make a name for himself this year.
Each year, we have Titans Tuesdays, where different positions spend time with patients at the hospital. I was joined by a few other players as we took a few hours out of our day off to go around Baptist Hospital and add a little extra to the doctor's orders. We visited with many patients – taking pictures, signing autographs and just talking about whatever was on their minds. It’s always nice to be able to give back to the community and to bring smiles to those people we meet. This is something I've done each of my five years with the Titans and will continue to take part in while playing in Tennessee. Before leaving the hospital, I also try to stop by the prenatal department and visit with the proud new parents and their newborns.
A couple of weeks ago, I spent another Tuesday morning visiting with students at Genesis Academy here in Nashville, a nonprofit school for children in the Nashville metro area, and this day came together under different circumstances than any of my other visits in the community. Genesis founder Terry Adams was sitting in the north endzone during our game against the Houston Texans, and he caught the football I kicked after we scored our first touchdown. It’s not very often that a football I kick makes it way to the stands, but in this case the net was tangled and didn't get raised correctly, allowing the football to fly right into his hands.
After the game, Terry reached out to me and asked if I could sign the ball as a motivational piece for his students to see in a display. I was more than happy to stop by and sign the ball for him, then spend my morning meeting and speaking to many of his students. They made cards and posters for me, and most of them had a question or two before we took a few pictures and got autographs for each of them. It was a meaningful trip for me, because I always like to give back – and there's no better way to do that than to give back to the kids of our community. I hope each of them enjoyed the day as much as I did! It meant a lot to me to see the kids’ reactions and excitement as they walked into the classroom to hang out with me for a little while. I hope I was able to touch their lives and teach them what hard work and determination can do when applied in the right direction.
~RB2
There's No Time Like The Present...
Friday, October 9, 2009
A Storm Is Brewin' For The Home Opener
Friday, September 18, 2009
"It's finally here… the season opener!”
“I can't wait to get under the lights in my Titans uniform and get our season started!”
“I hope I get the first kickoff of the game, so I can start the victory train as we charge through Steel Town!"
These were the thoughts running through my mind right up to the moment we ran onto the field in Pittsburgh to face the Steelers last Thursday.
I knew it was going to be a good game, and we were going to snatch victory away from Pittsburgh on their home turf. I was certain our record would be 1-0 because we had defeated the Steelers! “What a great start to this season!” I thought. Sadly, this isn’t how the game played out.
It would have been so cool to beat the reigning Super Bowl Champs in the opening game of the season! Week 1 was disappointing, though, because we lost in overtime. We didn’t play our best game, and neither did the Steelers. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to overcome our mistakes and walk away with the victory. I wasn’t satisfied with my performance and I hate missing field goals more than anyone else on that field… player, coach or fan. It takes eleven guys doing their jobs to make a field goal, but when one kick is missed, it’s my foot that misses it. It’s me that has to get things right to ensure I make the next one. I don’t miss a field goal often, and rarely miss two in a single game. Much less… two shorter ones.
After missing my previous two attempts, I was nervous to take the field again and go for the extra point. I had confidence our field goal unit had worked out any glitches, and we would run the play like clockwork. A huge part of my job as kicker is having a short-term memory. I must forget the last miss and make the next one. It’s a part of being a “professional” that’s hard for some of the rookies to cope with. I tell myself, “get the miss out of your head and just kick it in like normal.”
I was glad to get one through the uprights. I knew it would still be a close game, and we may need another kick or two before the clock runs out. There is nothing I can do about a missed kick and nothing our team can do about a missed opportunity. However, we can prepare ourselves to make sure we take advantage of every opportunity coming up next!
There were some positive moments from the game, including forcing the Steelers into overtime! We are a good team, and we understand the mistakes we need to fix to bring our game to the next level. As a team, we’re proud of the powerful plays we made, and anxious to give things another go when we square off with Houston this weekend.
This Steelers match-up was a great way for us to analyze all of our strengths and weaknesses. It's a long season and every game counts. We have to start filling up the win column now! We’re overcoming this loss and concentrating on the next game. Now, our focus is on securing a victory Sunday night against the Texans here at LP. We've practiced hard this week to prepare for Houston, and the game Sunday will show us if it was enough to lock-in our first win this season.
Weather forecasts say it’ll probably be wet at game time. Well, that’s fine. We’re bringing the Titan thunder to the house and storming away with a victory!
~RB2
Bring on the Iron City!
September 10, 2009
It’s time to wrap up the preseason and charge into the 2009 regular season as we pound into steel town to battle the reigning Super Bowl Champions!
Dallas
Before we start up the regular season, I wanted to talk a bit about preseason. It was pretty cool to be the first team to play at the Dallas Cowboys’ new stadium. Everything was shiny and new, expensive, and Texas-style BIG. Dallas’ new, huge jumbotron seemed to garner more attention than the football game we were playing! Before the game, Craig Hentrich, AJ Trapasso and I talked about the jumbotron being a distraction and an obstacle on the playing field during punts. Sure enough, both Craig and AJ hit it numerous times during warm-ups, and AJ made SportsCenter headlines after he hit it again during the game. Hitting the jumbotron, of course, caused a replay. It’s going to be a problem throughout the season for both the punters and the return team because it has the potential to block the returning team’s line of sight as the ball descends.
We lost this game, but as you know, it’s preseason, and we are not planning our game strategy for competition yet. Granted, we did have the lead while our starters were playing the Cowboys' starters. Most people that watched it, however, will forget this game, but I'll remember one thing in particular when I see the stadium. I was the first player to officially touch a football during the first game in Dallas’ new stadium as I hit the kickoff to get the game underway! I also got a chance to kick a 46-yard field goal in the first quarter. Both kicks were thrilling, and the first, will be a career highlight for me!
Cleveland
Our next preseason game was on the road, in Cleveland, to play the Browns. Luckily, this is a much shorter bus ride than the trip to Canton a few weeks earlier. Cleveland weather, though, is just as challenging as the Cleveland Browns. Winds were pushing 12-15 mph, and the rain showed up for a little bit. During the game, I hit a 32-yard field goal and had a moment where I was thankful it was preseason because another kick was blocked and that was not how I would have liked that to turn out. But, we did make an ex-Titan look good as it was Robaire Smith's hand that got between my foot and the uprights. We lost this game 23-17. As far as preseason goes, as a team we need to learn from our mistakes, correct them and prepare for the next opponent.
Green Bay
This brings us to our victory over Green Bay for the fifth and final game of the 2009 preseason. After a short week of preparation, we ended with an impressive win of 27-13 over the Packers. There was limited play for the starters, just one series, but that was enough time for us to teach the Packers a thing or two. Our backups played well and made their best case to make the roster after final cuts. I made it out with two successful field goals from 49 and 31 yards.
Preseason Wrap-up
Overall, our team made it through the preseason games and did what we needed to do in training camp to best prepare ourselves for a winning season. I was happy with my performance, splitting the uprights 6 of 7 times on field goals with my only miss getting blocked. We've made the corrections needed to ensure we don’t have anymore blocked field goals. We also made modifications on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball throughout training camp. It’s going to be a good season for us! There’s only one way to find out how victorious we will be, though. TONIGHT we will see exactly where we stand as we challenge the reigning Super Bowl Champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers on their home turf.
This week (leading up to the first regular season game) has been a tough one as teams throughout the league are making final cuts to get their rosters from 75 players down to 53. We cut many good players, friends and teammates. Those of us, who have been around and secured our starting roles, expect some of the cuts that are being made, but then there are some that come as a surprise. It’s not up to us. The coaches and management staff get paid to fill our roster spots with the players they feel will best fill our needs.
It’s always tough, though, to walk in the locker room and know some of your good friends and teammates won't be there anymore. It happens every year, and it’s always just as tough as the year before. Many guys will get picked up by other teams and continue to play football in the NFL, but others may have come to the final turn of their professional football career. Rookies who have achieved their dreams of playing in the NFL just 4 months ago learn the cutthroat ways of the NFL for the first, and in many cases, the last time. It's hard to get into this league and much harder to stay in it. I guess that's why I was living in a hotel my rookie year. I didn't know what was going to happen with me from one week to the next.
Fortunately, I succeeded and am still here doing my thing with the Tennessee Titans. I hope to continue my same level of success into 2009 and for the rest of my career right here in Tennessee! Only time will tell, but for right now, all I’m thinking about is what it takes to beat the Steelers!!!
TONIGHT- Pittsburgh!
Back to the gridiron! The 2009 NFL season is here. We are kicking it off against the Super Bowl Champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers, a game with which we should have ended the 2008 season.
~RB2
P.S. Don't forget to friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter!
PRESEASON GAME 3 V. DALLAS, AND RECAP OF GAME 2 V. TAMPA BAY
Friday, August 21, 2009
With preseason game three approaching tonight in Dallas, things are looking pretty good on the gridiron! Two preseason games played, two victories we’ve walked away with. As long as we keep putting up more points than our opponents, then we’re going to keep walking away with checkmarks in the “win” column. From what I’ve seen in our previous performances, I think we have a great shot at continuing our win streak. It’s great to see things getting started out on the right foot.
Everybody is taking care of business, Tennessee Titans-style! The starters have been coming out to play in a few series and really have been getting the momentum going. When things are in full swing, Coach Fisher sends in our back-ups and the rookies to tie up any of the game’s loose ends. Its great to see the free agents and rookie draft class get in the game. They are getting the chance to show us why they’re here… to make some clutch plays and build our team even stronger.
During Saturday night’s victory over the Bucs, I got the chance to put a pair of smooth field goals through the uprights. It felt good to knock the dust off a bit and add 6 points to the scoreboard for the hometown crowd. It was also exciting to kick a touchback and take a little more time off the clock as the preseason rolls on.
I can’t wait for us to put the Cowboys to the test tonight in their house. Let’s see if I can’t get another field goal or two and help the Titans walk away with another win!
2009 Pre-Season Game 1
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Well, things have kicked off again! The 2009 season is just around the corner as we opened the pre-season with a victory against the Buffalo Bills in Canton, OH. It was a good start for what is shaping up to be a good team. Picking up where we left off back in January and filling the whole of players lost in free agency. In some people's eyes, it may have been just another game that didn't matter, but for us, it is a pre-season game we'll remember.
Playing in Canton in the Hall of Fame game, celebrating the 50 years of the AFL (American Football League) and wearing the Houston Oiler throw back jerseys was a game that only happens once. For me it was a simple game, 3 extra points and a kickoff. I always enjoy games when I'm adding a point to the touchdown score, it makes my job easy and means we are getting in the endzone. We will make corrections and work hard this week to get better as a team.
One thing we need to do more of is concentrate while on the field and get our penaltlies down. The first couple series were played by the starters and ended with a couple of touch downs. Not a bad start for the guys as they develop the needed chemistry between them. One touchdown was even scored by the punter, AJ Trapasso, on a great fake punt that all the Bills bit on. This week we'll be game planning for the Tampa Bay Bucs as they come to LP Field for Saturday's game. I hope it turns out similar, ending with another victory.
One of the best parts of the weekend was getting to tour the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. While it was closed to the public, our buses pulled up outside and the Titans and a few others got to walk through and see all the greats of our game up on the walls. It really gave us a sense of what it means to line up each Sunday and put it all out on the line!
For me, I was excited to get a chance to see my shoe and football on display from the 2007 season, when I kicked an NFL record 8 field goals in the victory against the Houston Texans. It was a moment I'll always remember as I walked into the room and found what I was looking for. I was filled with great pride and achievement, knowing what it meant to be recognized for years of hard work and one tremendous game! After taking a good look at it and taking a few pictures next to the display with Craig Hentrich, Ken Amato and Coach Alan Lowry, it was time to get back on the bus and start getting my mind ready to play the game!
Until next time...
~RB2
Traveling Man
June 23, 2009
First off, I've got to apologize for being away from my keyboard for so long. I've been keeping myself busy this off-season and summer. I've spent a lot
of time both in and out of Nashville... and of course, plenty of time at the practice facility.
Some of my friends are asking, "Hey, what's Rob up to?" Now that I've finally slowed down a bit, I found some free time to share what's been going on in my life for the past few months.
I've done a bit of traveling this summer. I spent some time away on vacation in a number of places this year... several of which I never wanted to leave! It's nice to be able to get away from the everyday rush of a kicker's schedule and be able to relax and recharge.
Let's see... I headed south of the border and stayed on an island in Mexico for a few days. I spent plenty of time soaking up sun rays and chillin' out on the sandy beaches, and man was that awesome! No matter how long I stay in a place like that, it seems like its never long enough!
Next, it was time for a little Caribbean action! I was able to get down to the Bahamas for a few days with some very good friends. Our long weekend seemed way too short after doing a bit of island hopping and deep sea fishing. There's something incredible about the open ocean and having a deep sea rod in your hand, too much fun. The Mahi Mahi we caught were an adventure and melted in our mouths when we grilled'em up for dinner. I'm ready to go back and do it all over again!
Can't forget I also made a trip to Destin, Florida, with my family... That was a week of fun with my parents, brothers and their wives, sister and her husband, and all the kids. Its always fun when you can get the entire family together for some quality time that doesn't revolve around me working on a Sunday. Where better to do that than a beach house in Florida?
Being from Louisville and living in Nashville is great because I'm able to jump on I-65 North and spend some summer weekends with the family. I love getting home and catching up with my parents, brothers and friends. We always find time to light up the grill and cookout as the sun is going down.
One Saturday I drove home to Louisville, Kentucky, and took my family to a Kenny Chesney concert at Papa John's Stadium at the University of Louisville. The show was a blast and I plan to see it again at LP Field in July! Besides an incredible performance by Kenny, we also got to hear sets by Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, and Sugarland. What a great concert! *I have to give thanks to my buddy Bo for setting us up with some excellent seats. Thanks again, Bo!*
The weekend after the Louisville show, my brother, Greg, turned 30 and I made the 3 hour drive home again to help him celebrate. I'm glad he's keeping up with me so I don't feel so old! Man do I love that easy ride from NashVegas to the Lou!
Last month I flew out to L.A. for the weekend and took part in something pretty cool. I'm not going to tell you what happened just yet... so you're gonna have to keep checking back until I make the big announcement! All I can say is, I never imagined I would be working on the Universal Studio lot! I thought it was cool to see where so many great movies are created. And not to mention, we were right next door to the Universal Studios amusement park. Let's just say I might have snuck in the back way and rode a few awesome roller coasters... But, more to come later on the big day out in L.A.
We stayed down by the Santa Monica Pier while we were on the west coast. Santa Monica is a great spot with so much going on throughout the entire day. Its a great place where a little sun and surf can go a long way to break-up those scorching Southern summers. My time in Cali was too short once again... and before I knew it, I was back on a plane headed for Nashville for another week of training. Los Angeles was another trip that I would've loved to last longer, but I can't take too much time off when I'm in the middle of training!
Check back again soon... who knows what's gonna be going on next!
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