Atmosphere was what I thought it would be last week, but obviously we were disappointed in the results. I got a stinger in my neck and had to leave the game. Everything's fine though, ready to play against Kansas City. I heard it gets loud there. Another big rivalry and their home opener so I'm sure it will be loud and crazy. I guess it will be a little like going on the road in the SEC. All those stadiums get loud, LSU probably the loudest and definitely the most wild. I think playing in the SEC and going to those stadiums helps get you ready for places like KC. I guess I'm about to find out. We had a good week of practice and we can't wait to get out there again.

Here come the Broncos: You can tell the season's about to start just because the intensity has picked up. You always try to practice the same at all times, but there's definitely a little more urgency now that the Broncos are coming. I feel like I've learned a lot about football since I got here just being around the guys and the coaches. They're smart and they know so much about the game you can't help but learn when you're around them all the time. My focus has really been the playbook and learning my pass protections. You always have room to get better but I really feel like I'm getting it down, especially the pass protection. That's been a big adjustment. There's so much technique and you have to be smart. You have to read the defense and know what your assignment is once you break the huddle. It's like night and day between when I first got here til now. Before by the time I figured out who I had the ball was snapped now it's a lot more clear to me and I can see who I have almost immediately. Coach Rathman is such a good teacher of fundamentals and technique. He wants you to be the best at everything you do so he won't ever let you slack. It's a fundamental game, that's what it all comes down to. I've enjoyed learning under him. We have a great group of backs and it's a great feeling knowing that we're one of the strong points of the team. I know we're expected to make big plays and we're going to be ready to do that.

I can't think of a better way to start my NFL career than playing against the Broncos on Monday Night. I grew up dreaming of playing in the NFL and I grew up watching Monday Night Football. To have my first game on Monday Night is really exciting. I actually grew up a Broncos fan watching Terrell Davis and John Elway and Ed McCaffery. That was my team, but that's all changed now. It's strictly Raiders and Razorbacks for me. I've never been a part of this before, but I can imagine the stadium's going to be crazy Monday night. It's a rivalry game and it's Monday Night the atmosphere is going to be special. The Black Hole reminds me of the Arkansas student section only 10 times crazier. They're always on their feet cheering for you, it's great. You never really know what the rivalry's like until you play in it. I'm looking forward to it. I'm very excited, it probably really won't hit me until Sunday, but I'll know then how big this one is. My family will be there and so will some of my friends from home. I know the Black Hole will be ready and so will I, ready to make some big plays.

The new Madden game comes out this week. A few weeks ago I filmed a spot for the TV show Madden Nation. Here's some behind the scenes footage from that. Thanks to all of my fans for the comments and support.

Less than 12 hours until I play in my first NFL game. It's "only" preseason but every practice and game matters. Here's a video of me talking about my coach, Coach Kiffin. I like that he wants to be versatile with how he uses me.

One of the biggest differences between college ball and the pros is learning pass protections. There's a lot more to know in the NFL than there was at Arkansas. I'm studying hard though, and I'm going to be prepared so I always know what I'm doing when the ball is snapped.

I'm a guy who likes to drink soda but it's something I don't do right now. I've completely cut it out. I'm just drinking water, Gatorade or G2 -- the stuff that keeps me hydrated. They have a real healthy menu for us now while we're here in camp... chicken, food that's healthy with not a lot of fat. I'm going to try my best to stick to the diet when we get out of camp. Right now you have no choice but to do it, but when we get out I am going to try my best because I feel like it helps out a whole lot.

Good morning, Yardbarkers.

The key to camp for the RB's is resting legs. I'm not a real cold water type of guy so maybe once a week I get in the cold tub but the rest of the time I'm laying in bed staying off my feet. I try not to do much walking around, just get off my feet and rest and let my legs rejuvenate. I try to get as much rest as I can in bed.

I learned the hard way my freshman year in college. During 2-a-days they always used to say get in the cold tub, it will help you get legs back under you. Try to stay off your feet and don't be moving around as much. My freshman year I was young and energetic so I figured I could go out here and move around and still get out there and perform. Then there were days at practice and my legs would feel real heavy. I'd say midway through my freshman year I'd get in the cold tub and chill out a lot. Now it's to the point that I'm not on my feet at all if I don't have to be.

Good morning to the Yard.

I call my mom when I first get up each morning. She's usually up when we get up at 6:45 -- it's 8:45 at home. I'll call my dad in the afternoon and usually call my mom again too. But it's not as many phone calls today as it usually will be. I just like to talk to them, find out how everything is going at home and fill them in on what's happening at camp. The little back and forth stuff. Always good to hear their voices.

Here's a video of me talking about life as a rookie. Some guys get it tougher than others. Fortunately the RBs don't have it as bad as I hear some of the guys on D do.

The Raiders and the Niners practiced together today. Friday we play San Francisco at home in an exhibition game. Check out my video talking about Patrick Willis and practicing with another team. I've got another practice tonight in about an hour and a half. Until then I'm gonna rest up my legs. Gotta stay fresh, Yardbarkers.

Just saying what's up to the Yard. I'm gonna be in the Yard blogging my entire rookie season along with some other Yardbarker rookies in the NFL. I'm excited about it. You'll be seeing me in the Yard, and of course also in silver and black. Go Raiders.

Yall doing good in the Yard?

As most of you know by now I chose #20 as my jersey number. I like the number and thought that it fit me well. I always wore #4 in little league, although the first year I ever played I was #71. That was not the right # for me so I became #4. My first year in junior high I was #8. I tried to get #4 in the 10th grade but someone already had it so I became #5 and stayed with it in college. Now I'm #20, which means they'll be getting four quarters of #5 on Sundays! Michael Irvin told me you make your own history and that's what I plan to do.

In case all you good people in the Yard hadn't heard, I signed my contract with Raiders. It is done, it is out of the way and I am very happy. I am officially part of the Raider Nation and I am excited about it. There will be no worries about holdouts, we'll just be focusing on football.

Here's how it played out. My agent, Mike Conley left out on Tuesday so when I got the call Thursday night that it was done it caught me off guard a little bit. I was watching the Celtics-Lakers game with my sister when JR called me. It was around 8:30 and he said he'd come by around 9 for me to sign. I don't know what my facial expression was like, probably not much of one because I was so into the basketball game, but I was happy and relieved. I called my dad and my step mom to tell them the news. They were in town until yesterday. My dad's reaction was just like mine - happy to have it out of the way so I could focus on football and learn the plays.

Coach Rathman called me to congratulate me and we had a good talk. When I woke up that next morning I had at least 20 text messages and tons of missed calls. News travels fast I guess. I'm just glad I had some of my family with me when it happened. I am going to wait to celebrate when I get home and I have all my family there. That's when we'll really celebrate. Now I'm just going to keep working.

I am pulling for the Celtics btw.

I gotta say Yard, I love the Bay Area. Weather is great and I'm going to love making it my home. I just haven't found my spot to live just yet. I've been looking around for the last couple weeks but haven't settled on anything. I found one spot in Pleasanton that I liked but it's just a little too far from the facility. It would probably be a 45 minute drive each day and I don't want to commute like that.

I've been looking in Pleasanton, Oakland Hills, Alameda. Coming from the South the places are a lot smaller than I'm used to, but don't get me wrong I'm not looking for anything big. I want to start small, something with decent space but not too big. I don't do much cooking and most of these places that I'm seeing don't have yards. The most important thing for me is proximity. I want to be close to work so I need to find a nice spot that's not too far out.

If you have any ideas let me know

It's been awhile Yardbarkers but I am back.

I am just getting back to Oakland from the Hall of Fame. Each team sends its rookies to Canton in order to learn about the history of the game. We had history with us because two of our Hall of Famers, Willie Brown and Ted Hendricks, went with us. We flew out yesterday and got to Ohio at about 11 last night. Our wake up call came at 7:30 and then after breakfast we went to the Hall of Fame. It was really cool seeing all of that history, learning about when the game started and seeing all of those great coaches and players in there. You can tell things have changed just by looking at some of the cleats they have on display. They looked like work boots with spikes on the bottom. They have come a long way since then.

I was watching highlights of all the running backs. There was this one highlight when Dallas was playing Washington and they had the ball near the goalline. Tony Dorsett took the handoff, dipped inside, put his foot in the hole, spun and then bounced it outside. He left the defenders crashing into each other and scored. I know after watching that there are some things he did that I wouldn't mind picking up.

It was a great trip. It's so important to keep the legacy of the game going because these great players paved the way for all of us. You always have to appreciate the history and those who played the game before you. I know I do.

- Darren