I’m all about local sports events, and this is one that’s right up my ally. I’m going through a little bit of football withdrawal, so to fulfill my needs I’m going to check out the 41st Annual New York Rugby Conference Upstate Tournament.

Yup, RUGBY. If you’ve never seen a game of Rugby you really should. Guys AND girls beat the crap out of each other all in the name of scoring a touchdown. It’s like football without all the play calling and organization. LOVE IT.

For info and the schedule, check out:

http://nysrugby.org/default.php

The Buffalo Sabres are now 4 points out of a playoff spot and facing the reality that perhaps they will miss the post season for the 2nd year in a row.

This wasn’t supposed to be the way of things. They are a young team full of skill that has been to the post season before. Granted, some of those players have moved on, but many still remain.

When you really look at what this team is you come to two solutions as to why they are on the outside looking in for a playoff spot: they are either not a young team full of talent and skill, or they are massivley underachienving, which is what I think is the case.

Why though? Why are they udnerachieving?Is it a combination of things? Is it the coach? Is it the GM? The Owner? WHAT IS IT????

The answer: it’s the captain, Craig Rivet. Now Rivet is a solid veteran and a good guy. He speaks well, holds a level of respect with the younger players, and people like him. However, he clearly is not creating an atmosphere in the locker room which holds his teammates accountable. When was the last time someone not named Lindy Ruff called someone out for their mediocre play? You don’t have to give names to call someone out, just creative enough to make that happen. This is what Danny Briere and Chris Drury were amazing at. They not only could rally you behind the scenes and with their play, but they could also call you out without ever saying your name to the media. They knew how to push their team’s buttons and work with Lindy Ruff to put people on edge.

Until the Sabres find someone to truly be the face of this team again, like Drury and Briere were, few things are going to change. So at the end of the day, the fault doesn’t fall at the feet of Captain Craig Rivet, but on Darcy Regier. He has to bring someone in this offseason to become the rallying point of this organization. Someone who identifies Sabres Hockey not just with fans, but with the players.

Right now the identity of this team is not of Craig Rivet or Ryan Miller… it’s of Derek Roy. While Derek performs statistically, I will never forget last year when several people saw him and Jason Pomminville, two of the corner stones of this team, talking about how the season was over with when they still had a shot at making the playoffs. This is the current team identity: a bunch of young guys who had success early and were spoiled by it. They need real leadership to come from their roster, not from Lindy Ruff. Ruff can only do so much to motivate his guys. It’s ultimately their responsibility to hold eachother responsible, and they aren’t doing it.

I know a lot of people probably think this is a BAD idea, but I think the Buffao Bills should try to sign Terrell Owens.

Owens is a head case. He constantly complains about not getting the ball, says whatever he feels like saying, plays a lot of mind games, and is simply a disruption. When the Dallas Cowboys think you’re too much of a handfull then you know you have a problem.

All that being said, I think the Bills should sign him. He does one thing better then pretty much every receiver in the league: gets in the endzone. Right now the Bills are despirately searching for a Wide Reciever to take the heat off of Lee Evans, who faces double teams every time he’s on the field.  There are really only a couple of PROVEN impact receivers avaiable aside from Owens right now, which are Marrvin Harrison and Tory Holt. Harrison is in the twilight of his career.  He may or may not still ahve gas in the tank. Tory Holt is coming off a down season in which he had practically no quality Quarterback all season. I think he still has plenty in the tank, but the only way to get him is by trading for him.

T.O. is coming off a down year, but still got in the endzone 10 times and broke a 1000 yards despite also suffering from QB problems. He’s the only receiver to get over 10 TD’s in each of the last 3 seasons. With one exception (the 2003 season) anytime he has caught at least 65 passes he has gotten in the endzone 10 times or more. By comparison, the Bills’ star receiver Lee Evans has never broken 10TD’s in one season. Provided T.O. stays healthy, you have to figure he’ll still get in the endzone around 10 times and have around 65 catches based on his career stats. That alone gives the Bills reaon totake a seriously look at him.

What of his attitude though? Yes he would probably make enemies here in a hurry by running his mouth. For that reason alone, I say sign him. When was the last time the Bills had a player that not only played at the level of T.O. but also spoke his actual mind? Right now the Bills have a locker room of players playing at a mediocre level. They may or may not be more talented then they have shown thus far, and the only people making those criticisms are people in the media and occasionally Ralph Wilson, both of which are not in the locker room palying the game. This teams needs someone to light a fire under them, and what better then ahving one of their own openly take a shot at them? Dick Jauron won’t light a fire, we kinow that already. Maybe T.O. can wake him up as well.

This team is going no where fast unless they bring in players that can not only  perform but make people accountable.  Owens talk trash, but at least he keeps people thinking… something the Bills seem to never do.