Just A Few Random Thoughts

Week 6...

Hey everyone…sorry I missed you last week.  During the bye week I was to able get away and recharge with a trip down to L.A. for a couple days.  Right off the plane…my wife Shae and I headed to Anaheim High’s homecoming game where my buddy Jason coaches.  Because the demands of my schedule during the season I don’t usually have an opportunity to go to games other than my own. This is only the 2nd high school football game I have been able to attend since becoming a pro player.  That being said…I was excited to be a fan.  The next day we made our way to the Sprint VIP Silver and Black BBQ at the Home Depot Complex.  I was joined by fellow teammates RB Justin Fargas, LB Sam Williams, and LB Kirk Morrison.  The four of us mingled with fans, signed autographs and even took on challengers in Madden 07. After the event Shae and I spent the rest of the weekend catching up with a few friends in the area before returning to Oakland.

This past Sunday we lost a tough and physical game to the Chargers where we were out played in all aspects of the game.  It is hard to lose…especially when it’s to a divisional opponent.  It leaves a bad taste in your mouth.  One of the toughest things to do is let it go but that’s what you have to do or else you won’t be focused on your next opponent, which happens to be KC.  They are a good team and in 1st place in the AFC West.  We need to be at our best when the Chiefs arrive.

I am often asked how I take care of myself so I can perform at my best each week.  It takes a lot of extra work to keep the body tuned up…especially after 9 years in the league. One of the things I do is meet with Don Chu, a physical therapist who is on the cutting edge of sports performance and recovery.  We usually meet 2-3 times a week after work and he puts me through the ringer.  Most of the time our work is very painful but the results are worth it. My routine also includes at least one visit a week with my massage therapist Monte Spicer and chiropractor JJ Heavilin. My body almost feels like it did when I was a rookie.

Thanks for checking out my site. Go Raiders!!!

Week 4...

What’s up Raider Nation? We took a big step forward when we traveled to Miami over the weekend and had our most dominating performance in a long time. We proved to everyone what I have known for a long time, we have an extremely talented team. That’s if we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot with mistakes and penalties. After the disappointment of failing to get a win on the road in over two years, I was so happy to finally get a W especially in such a tough environment.  Miami is one of the hardest places to play because of the extreme heat and humidity.  When you’re battling in those kinds of conditions you really have to push your body to the limits.  That is why I am so thankful to have the kind of weather we have here in California.

Speaking of weather, since this is the beginning of the bye week I wanted to take advantage of my day off so I hopped in a car along with P Shane Lechler, K Sebastian Janikowski and LS John Condo and drove to Pebble Beach to play golf at the legendary Spyglass Hill Golf Club.  As many of you know I am an avid golfer but due to the constraints of time and the abuse my body takes during the season, I don’t get out on the course much. However, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to play Spyglass. The trip was well worth it as we played overlooking the Pacific Ocean. I always say there is no time too early and no distance too great to play golf, and Monday was proof of that.

I’m going to go enjoy the bye week so I can be rested and recharged when we hit the road to play San Diego.

Thanks for your support. Don’t forget to give up some of those tailgate recipes. I’m starving.

Week 3...

Week three has been a very busy one.  We finally put a win on the board against the Browns after tough losses in weeks 1 & 2.  The finish was a little closer than I would have like but Tommy Kelly and the rest of the D-line came up with a huge blocked kick on the last play of the game to send our record to 1-2.  We are continuing to grow as a team and I believe this win is the first of many to come. I am looking forward to week 4 at Miami.

On Wednesday night I attended McCovey’s 4th Anniversary Celebration benefiting Special Olympics Northern California. This was an outstanding event to raise money for the athletes representing TEAM USA at the 2007 Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, China in October. It was fun spending the evening and talking football with so many people that share a love for Special Olympics.  In attendance were Raider Legends Steve Wisniewski, Jeff Barnes, Art Thoms, and Robert Jenkins.

On Saturday, I was invited along with Warren Sapp, Shane Lechler, Lamont Jordan, and Stewart Schweigert to the 2007 Youth Leaders Scholarship Award Dinner presented by the California Police Youth Charities and the Oakland Raiders. Scholarships were awarded to one high school senior from every county in the state of California with 58 in all.  Although my time at the dinner was brief it was still an honor to be a part of such a great cause.

Thanks for your Support Raider Nation.

Week 1...

This week was special for me as I began my ninth regular season as an Oakland Raider. I take a great deal of pride in having spent my entire career with the same team. For the first time I have been voted to be a Team Captain by my teammates. Being a captain means a lot to me and I thank my teammates for this honor.

The home opener didn’t go as planned. We were down early rallied back and failed to close the Lions out.  In the end we made too many mistakes. It is always tough to lose but there were some great things to take away from the game as we begin to prepare for next weeks game in Denver. I am excited to hit the road and see if we can bring back our first win.

On my day off I wanted to enjoy some of this beautiful California weather so I had a small barbeque with some close friends to kick off the new season. On the menu were some of my famous baby back ribs (always a favorite). I am looking for some new recipes for the next cookout. I can smell all of the great food as I enter the stadium on game day and my mouth just waters. So send me some recipes of your favorite tailgate dishes. Bsmooth65@comcast.net

Thank you,

Go Raiders!!!

End of Training Camp Journal

Hello Raider Nation,

Well pre-season is finally over and the regular season is here. Next Sunday we get to crack helmets in a game that counts. The Detroit Lions are coming to town for a game that we’ve been looking forward to since the schedule came out this summer. The Lions are a team that can put points on the board and play solid defense so we’ll be ready. I know that the Black Hole will welcome them to the coliseum as only the Raider Nation can.

The bad part about the end of pre-season is the final cuts that are made to get down to the 53-man roster. It is always tough when your long time teammates and friends are released. Zach Crockett is one of those guys; we both came to the Raiders nine years ago and have been through a lot together. I will miss seeing him around everyday. I wish Zach and the rest of the guys all the best in the future. It’s hard to believe, I am now officially the longest tenured Raider on the team.

Thanks for your time and I’ll see you on the field Sunday.
GO RAIDERS!

Journal - Training Camp 1

Hey! What’s up Raider Nation?

Sorry that it has been a while since my last article. Now that football will soon be taking center stage in the sports world, I will definitely keep the updates coming more frequently.

Well, training camp is in full swing with two-a-day practices and evening meetings. We are making good progress and we're meshing well as a team. For the most part we have avoided serious injuries. As for me, I suffered a painful strained gluteus. That is a nice way of saying that I pulled my butt muscle. But not to worry I am back to full strength and ready to help the O-line return to dominance.

Our first pre-season game was a success. We beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23. For the most part we did some good things on both sides of the ball, but as expected there were numerous mistakes that we must correct. You can rest assured the coaching staff will have us work on eliminating these mistakes as we prepare for the 49ers this final week of training camp.

Our second pre-season game against the cross bay rival 49ers didn’t turn how we planned with San Francisco winning 28-21. However, the improvement from game one to game two was evident in every area except the score. Winning in the pre-season is nice but
pre-season records don't mean a damn thing in the regular season. That is what this team is focused on, winning games when they count. The team is going to do everything we can to prevent another losing season. It's not acceptable to us and we sure know that it is not acceptable to the Raider Nation. So don't loose faith and keep up the great support.

Thanks for the time; I'll talk to you again in a couple of weeks.

GO RAIDERS!

Journal-5-1-07

If you're a Raiders fan, you got your money's worth this past weekend.
We drafted the best player in college football in JaMarcus Russell, we traded for Josh McNown and Mike Williams, and we traded away Randy
Moss. Rest assured, you're going to see a completely new offense next year.

I'm very excited about the new offense that Coach Kiffin is putting in. Last year, I felt like the system was a little too rigid for us. It forced the personnel to adapt to the system, regardless of what their skills were. This year, the offense is very flexible. It's taking into account what the strengths of the roster are. It's modern. It's similar to the offenses that we ran when coach Gruden was here. And I think we're going to have some success with it.

It's also nice to have most of the rumors behind us now. No more talk about who's getting traded. No more talk about who's getting drafted.
We've got our guys and it's time to head to mini-camp. Most teams have one mini-camp. But when you have a new coach, the rules say you can have as many as three mini-camps. It gives coaches a chance to put in their offense and defense. With five coaches in nine years, I have had more mini-camps than I can even count. So I'm your mini-camp expert. If you have any questions about mini-camp, come see me.

Check back in a few days and I'll give you a report on our new personnel.

Take care,
Barry

Journal-1-15-07

Happy New Year!!! The 2006 regular season has finally ended. Even though the playoffs are just getting exciting, it is time for those teams and players whose season is over to begin preparing for the off-season. The Raiders are no exception with the firing of our coach; the search is on to find the right person to lead us back to the playoffs. While that search is going on the playoffs are here. I always love this time of year and find myself wishing the weekend games would hurry up and get here so I can watch some good ball.

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the BCS Title game featuring the #1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes against the #2 Florida Gators with my good friend Aaron. This was the first time I have attended a major college bowl game and the experience was truly memorable. When I was growing up I loved the Gators, so it made it that much better to be at the game and cheer them on.

Later in the week the wildcard games didn’t disappoint. In the AFC The Colts beat the Chiefs and the Patriots beat the Jets. In the NFC the Eagles beat the Giants and the Seahawks took care of the Cowboys. This was a good beginning to the post-season with no real surprises in the outcomes. Seattle really dodged a bullet late in their game when Dallas failed kick the game winning field goal.

Saturday, the divisional playoffs began when the Colts traveled to Baltimore and were able to come away with a huge road victory. The Eagles headed to New Orleans and failed to come away with a win in a very exciting game. Sunday, Seattle’s luck ran out as the Bears defeated them in overtime. And finally the game I was most interested in The Patriots heading out west to take on the Chargers. Early in the week I liked the San Diego and felt like they had the best chance to move on, but as the game approached I found it hard to pull for a division rival, so I rooted for the Pats who had the upset of the playoffs thus far.

The Championship games are set for this weekend. The Saints travel to Chicago for the NFC Championship. I like New Orleans in this game and expect them to be too much to handle for the Bears. In the AFC, The Patriots take their playoff experience to Indy to battle the Colts. I am pulling for the Colts in this one. I would like to see Peyton make it past the AFC Championship game and play for a Super Bowl title.

It will be interesting to see how the games will turn out, as you know anything can happen.

Thanks to everyone who has sent me his or her thoughts and well wishes for 2007. The support from all the fans makes it worth it.

Go Raiders!!!

Journal-12-12-06

This week Shae and I went to Barry Zito’s Holiday Celebrity Bash at the Pyramid Brewing Co. I spent the evening as a celebrity bartender with Tony La Russa, CC Sabathia, Nick Swisher, and my former teammate Jerry Rice. It was a lot of fun hanging with so many great athletes for such a worthy cause. All of the proceeds raised during the event goes to Barry Zito’s Strikeouts for Troops, which benefits wounded soldiers and their families.

This weekend we will be hosting the St. Louis Rams. With only three games left this season we need to finish it off strong with some wins. St. Louis is coming off a crushing loss to the Bears on Monday night and will have to travel to the Black Hole on a short week. It has been a really frustrating season, but the support of the Raider Nation has been much appreciated both at home and when we go on the road. No matter how bad it’s been when we arrive at our hotel there are always fans there to great us. That is something to be thankful for this holiday season.

Happy Holidays…Go Raiders!!!

Journal-11-27-06

After a tough loss against San Diego, we are back home to take on the Texans. It is always nice to play at home, especially after a tough stretch of road games. This week our TE coach John Shoop was promoted to Offensive Coordinator for the remainder of the season. This is the first time I have had a coaching change happen during the season. I’m confident that we will make the best of this and finish the season strong.

This week I will be celebrating my 32nd birthday. I know when you grow up your supposed to downplay the fact that your getting older, but I can’t do that. I look forward my birthday every year and hope to eat lots of cake. Check back next week to hear about our homecoming against Houston.

Go Raiders!!!

Journal-11-14-06

These last two weeks have been tough on many levels. I have been rehabbing an abdominal strain that has kept me out of the last two games. The back-to-back losses to the Seahawks and the Broncos have been a setback in our progress this season. Watching my team from the sideline is very difficult for me. I have been fortunate throughout my career to remain fairly healthy, so now it is difficult to adjust to being off the field. I want so much to be out there fighting alongside my teammates. One thing that is interesting is when I am playing I rarely get nervous before games, but when I am in street clothes I am a lot more nervous for kickoff. I am hopeful that my injury will heal quickly and I will soon be healthy enough to rejoin the team on the field.

This week we travel to Kansas City to play our first game of two against the Chiefs. This is another big division rivalry that goes back to the days of the AFL. It is always exciting playing in Arrowhead stadium, and I know we will be ready for this challenge.

Last week Shae and I attended the 7th annual Biletnikoff Charity Crab Fest. This is a great event that raises money for the Tracy Biletnikoff Foundation. There was a large gathering of current and former players and coaches that attended the event. I especially enjoyed grubbing on all the crab and hearing stories from Raider legends.

Thanks to the Raider Nation for all your support.

Go Raiders!!!

Journal-11-01-06

Yes… Two wins in a row. The Steelers game was a big win for us. It was a defensive struggle all day long with our D showing up the World Champs. Offensively we had some struggles that we need to overcome but things are beginning to click for us as a team and it’s just in time to make a serious move to catch up to the rest of the division. This week we will be traveling to Seattle to take on the NFC Champions on Monday night. It is going to be another tough test for our team, which we will be ready for. The Seahawks are coming off a tough loss against Kansas City and will be looking to get back to form against us on Monday night. Our preparation for this game will need to be great, but I have confidence that we will do what is required to make it three in a row.

On Monday, I got together with teammates at Robert Gallery’s place to celebrate Halloween. Every Sunday, we get to see all the fans of the Raider Nation dress up in their costumes for the game, so when October 31 rolls around its our turn. This year I had absolutely no idea what to be. I tell myself every year to plan something out during the off-season, and every year I fail to pull myself off the golf course to get it done. This year was no exception. I waited until the last minute and finally decided to team up with my wife and go as a Priest and a pregnant Nun. We had a great time at the party; it was nice to be able to spend some downtime with my teammates and their wives.

Thanks again to the Fans of the Silver and Black…

Go Raiders!!!

Journal-10-24-06

Finally… we have broken into the win column. It is nice to put together a team effort and see all of our hard work begin to show results. That’s what it was Sunday against the Cardinals, a total team effort. The game was far from perfect, but the offense, defense, and special teams all made plays when we needed them on our way to victory. This week, we have the World Champions making the trip to the Black Hole. They have struggled at times this season, but are still a dangerous team to contend with. The Steelers defense is stingy and their offense has the weapons to make big plays. It will be important for us to stay focused and continue working hard this week so we can continue to have success.

I spent Friday night waiting tables along with Brad Badger, Langston Walker, Jarrod Cooper, and Paul McQuistan at the 26th Annual Boosters Charity Gala held at the Blackhawk Auto Museum. Proceeds from the event go towards youth programs for the YMCA. It was fun working with the guys to make this event a success.

I would like to congratulate my high school team, the Park City Miners, who finished up the regular season with a record of 10-0 and ranked # 1 in the State of Utah. They are heading into the playoffs as favorites for the State Championship. I would like to wish the team good luck and continued success as they head to the playoffs. GO MINERS!!!

Once again, thanks to the Raider Nation for your support.

Journal-10-12-06

I am disappointed that we lost the 49er game, and let another opportunity for a win slip away. We have been working very hard to improve and that work is beginning to show. Our running game is starting to take shape, and we have been better against the blitz. This week we will be tested as we take on the Broncos. Denver has been playing well, and is coming off a hard fought win on Monday night against Baltimore. I am ready to get back to winning, for this to happen we have to play up to our abilities and eliminate dumb mistakes. It is going to be a physical game in a hostile environment but I look forward to the challenge.

On a personal note, I would like to send a shout out to my Grandpa.

Happy 80th Birthday!!

He has always been very supportive of me. I wish I could be there and celebrate with the family but I’ll have to wait until after the season. Happy Birthday Grandpa, have a piece of cake for me.

Thanks to the Raider Nation for all your support. Keep checking back… GO RAIDERS!!!

Journal-10-02-06

Yesterday, we battled Cleveland and lost a tough game at home. After jumping out to an 18-point lead in the first half, we failed to finish the game and come away with our first victory of the season. Even though there was some improvement in our play, we need to finish better. That way we wont let another lead slip away.

After the game, I was able to hang out with my friends Dave, Jamal, Brad, and Skids who were in attendance at the game. We have been friends since our days back in Utah. I am always thankful for the support I receive from my family and friends.

This week we play the 49ers in the “Battle of the Bay”. They too are coming off a big loss, and are looking to get their season back on track. It will be a tough game for Bay Area bragging rights for the next year to come. When we play on Sunday, I will be starting my 100th regular season game. This is a goal I set for myself when my career first began. I will also be starting my 65th consecutive game, which dates back to 2002. I am proud to reach this milestone in my career, but it will be much sweeter if it comes with a Victory on Sunday… GO RAIDERS!!!

Journal-9-19-06

The trip to Baltimore didn’t go as planned. Offensively we didn’t get the job done and the Ravens took advantage. That was a tough loss to take after last week. During the game I strained a muscle in my hip, which is a weird injury to have. Thankfully, we are entering the bye week so I will have a chance to get back to 100%.

The search for crab cakes ended with a trip to Famous Daves Ribs with Brad Badger, Andrew Walter, and Marques Tuiasosopo. Needless to say we didn’t get crab cakes, but we grubbed on some ribs. After the game I was able to see my sister Aleshia and her fiancé Chris who live in D.C. Since they live across the country, we don’t get to see each other very often. It’s always nice to see family and friends when I’m on the road.

The bye week is shaping up nicely. We are practicing early in the week so we can have a three-day weekend. The weather looks to be a perfect 85-90 degrees all week. Also this weekend is the LPGA Longs Drugs Challenge being played about two miles from my house. Since golf is such a passion of mine the timing couldn’t be better. I have never been to a women’s event before so it should be a great experience. Check back to see how the bye week went… GO RAIDERS!!!

Journal-9-5-06

Finally, the regular season is here. It seems like an eternity has passed since we began mini-camps and the off-season training. After finishing the pre-season with 4 wins and 1 loss, its time to turn our focus on the San Diego Chargers. Having a bitter division rival coming to town on Monday night, the season gets serious very early. This is a great opportunity for the Raiders to start the year making a statement. What more could you ask for? A Monday night game, in front of the Raider Nation. Playing against an opponent that has no respect for the silver and black. With the whole country watching, a win will set the tone for what is expected to be an exciting season to come.

This will be the 15th time I have played against the Chargers, but the first time since the 1999 season that I will be lining up at guard. This is a challenge that I have been looking forward to since I changed positions in March. Even though I was a little banged up and missed the final 3 pre-season games, I am healthy now and ready to begin my 8th year as a Raider. Just Win Baby!!!!

Journal-8-23-06

I am very pleased to announce that the 2006 Oakland Raiders training camp has concluded. It has been a long tough month being away from my family and friends. The main purpose for Training Camp is to make sure we field the strongest team possible. Players are put through endless mental and physical challenges with the underlying goal of getting better and to improve each time we step foot on the field. I am excited about the hard work and dedication that every player has demonstrated during this off-season. As a team we have shown much improvement, however we have not yet arrived. We still have a long way to go before opening night Sept 11 against the Chargers. We will continue to prepare for the 2006 season with the goal to become a championship team.

Keep checking back for more updates. GO RAIDERS!!!

Journal Training Camp – Week 1

The time has finally come. After a full off-season of moves and questions for the 2006 season, it is time to head to Napa, CA for training camp. This year’s camp is expected to be the toughest of my 8-year career. Not only do we have a new coaching staff as well as a new set of core players, but also I will be moving from left tackle (a position which I have played for the last 7 years) to left guard. As I begin the transition to a new position I am excited about the possibilities that guard will bring. I believe playing guard will give me an opportunity be more aggressive and dominate, and really help me expand my football skills. As camp rolls on I will update my progress as I make preparations for my best season yet. So keep checking back to see what camp life is like, and get a first hand account of my big move. Go Raiders!!!

March 27, 2006

Welcome to my website. I am pleased to share my thoughts and experiences of my career through this site. As the 2006 season approaches there is a lot of excitement in the air. Beginning with a new coaching staff, and a renewed attitude the Raiders have their sights set high. We began our off-season conditioning program on March 20th with a large turnout of players ready for excellence. As I begin my own preparation to enter my 8th season as a Raider, I too am setting my goals to meet the challenges and expectations of my team and myself. As the workouts build, I will keep you updated to my progress. So keep checking back.

Thanks again for visiting my website.