It made me think, what is the perfect mix of religion and science, and it dawned on me, its sports.

Who does every professional athlete thank when he wins a championship or award, God is always in there.  When the big game is on the line, what does every player do, they join hands and pray.

What does it take to win the game, the right amount of faith and physics.  We have found nirvana, and it is sports.

Now, I have never heard of a team having too many running backs. We all know the position comes with bangs, bruises, and season or career-ending injuries. What I am suggesting is that it may be possible to have too many premier running backs. Until last season I don’t think many people would have put Fast Freddy in the “premier” category. But now? I would take that argument to the mat any day. Fred Jackson is a very quality back who is more than capable of stepping up for Marshawn through the first four weeks of the season as Lynch serves his suspension. In fact, I would say that there are days when I would have Jackson taking more carries than Lynch. And I know I’m not alone there.

As for Dominic Rhodes, I don’t think most would argue that he should fall into the premier category either. Though in many ways his recent performance with the Colts reminds me of Jackson.  Like Jackson, who a year ago managed to rush for almost 600 yards at 4.4 per carry while carry splitting time with Lynch, Rhodes also put up solid numbers sharing time in the Colts backfield with Joseph Addai.  Even though Rhodes, at 30, is a couple of years older than Jackson he may be ready to put up break-out numbers. We’ve seen it before in older backs. Priest Holmes, for example, put together his best years rushing in the 1,500 yard zone just as he was reaching thirty.

I’m not predicting a running back controversy coming here. I just hope that Jauron and the staff realize the depth of talent that they have with these three guys and are able to manage expectations (and carries) appropriately.

Citing the fan base as his biggest reason for wanting to stay, Owens loves the fan base here in Buffalo and wouldn’t mind staying on. 

Now, if he has a great year for the Bills, they could use the franchise tag and keep him around, but that could be detrimental to any relationship he has with the organization, as most players hate the franchise tag process. 

If Owens does indeed want to stay, the terms will have to be his, or he will turn into the type of player that has scorned relationships in other NFL markets. 

This is a step in the right direction for the Buffalo Bills, if they can convince Owens to stay beyond his one year “rehab” contract - it could be the start of a trend where free agents may actually want to come to Buffalo to play.

Tim Redinger is the lead blogger here at Buffalowdown. Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily

Consider Buffalowdown.com - in addition to being the finest Bills blog on the net - the trashy gossip magazine with all the titillating news you could ever want on the UFL. Earlier this week we brought to you news regarding the  new league’s courtship of Michael Vick and now the moment you have all been waiting for - enter J.P. Losman.

Oh yes, it get’s better. The man we love to hate, second only perhaps to Rob ‘Glass-Arm’ Johnson, looks like he will be slinging for start-up UFL Las Vegas “where the future stars come to play!” Give me a moment as I am literally rolling on the floor with laughter. There is a God, and he may not be a Bills fan but he definitely has an awesome sense of humor.

J.P.’s life seems to have unraveled in typical Vegas fashion: married to a beautiful and under appreciated woman (the Bills in this case), our hero heads to Vegas, gets shit-bombed and wakes up knotted to a stripper. The stripper, of course, is underage, hasn’t proven herself and will ultimately amount to nothing. Hint: In the metaphor UFL Las Vegas is the stripper and Losman plays, well, himself as only he can.

It’s not likely, but were there for them every Sunday (or Monday) anyways with our high hopes and loud jeers.  But if you look at the numbers in the right way, the Bills are already in elite company.

They are the only team in the history of the league to make it to count them, four Super Bowls in a row - a feat that is likely not to be repeated.  They are also hold the distinction of losing all four of those Super Bowls, another record that everyone in Buffalo needs no reminder of.  But if you take a special look at the Super Bowl numbers, and we do have something over someone, at least.

Of 32 franchises, only half of them have ever won the big game, with 16 teams making it to the big dance and winning.

The Bills are in special company with only 7 other teams, 8 total to have made the Super Bowl and not won.

Of those 8 teams, only two of them had more than one visit to the show, Minnesota.

Teams that have never made it to Super Bowl Sunday are the Cleveland Browns; Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens; Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans; New Orleans Saints, San Diego Charges, Houston Texans, and the Detroit Lions.

At least the Bills can say they have been there.  Could this be the year?

Tim Redinger is the cynical but fanatical lead blogger here at the BLD Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily

UPDATE

The Eagles and Bengals did make it to more than one Super Bowl, with both teams going 0-2 in the big game.  I also mis-counted on what teams have made the Super Bowl and not won, which should be at 10, instead of 8.  I apologize for not clicking one more page and getting the most accurate information for you.  Check here for a complete win/loss record for the Super Bowl.

Simeon Rice, that rip? Can’t stop that!

Now it’s in context.

P.S. In Madden 06 Simeon Rice was a 95 overall. Thought you should know.

P.P.S. Willis McGahee is a bitch.

P.P.P.S. Yes, Royal did say in the second video, “Marshawn is a fresh of breath air.” That’s why we can’t get the TE spot working on offense, the playbook isn’t in dyslexic!

According to the AP, Huyghue has called Vick “a phenomenal talent,” which, in the UFL’s premiere, is essential to “show outstanding players who find themselves in this quagmire the NFL creates.”

Frankly, I’m stunned to think that Vick is ready to make the transition from time behind iron to the gridiron. Where is Vince McMahon when you need him? I would love to watch this garbage in the XFL. Remember Rod Smart a.k.a He Hate Me? Vick’s new jersey could read: He’s Hated.

People scalping tickets for higher than the face value, and much to expensive for the given entertainment value.

Thousands of people gather to watch a product that went from good to horribly bad.  Not saying Jackson’s music was horrible, just his off “field” antics.

The headline on www.rr.com read that Jacksons memorial took a spiritual turn.  Same goes for Bills games when it comes down to game time, thousands of people praying for the same result…

The memorial venue has been call a literal circus, with tailgating in Buffalo becoming the main reason to go to Bills games, and the addition of Terrell Owens, well enough said there.

While I can’t say that the show has the appeal of the original Survivor, I have to admit I’ve watched it to see our new investment in action. In fact, that’s the only reason I watch it (sorry Joanna Krupa you’re not quite Megan Fox). Wait … so I watch The Superstars because of a superstar? Talk about effective marketing - frankly I’m embarrassed. Can the producers at least throw me a bone? What will it take to make T.O. eat a rat? Or a cockroach? Hell, Mighty Taco? If nothing else the Bills should toss that in during a home halftime this year so I will feel like I’m getting value out of another 7-9 season.

Oh, and for the other four of you who watch the show and missed it here are the CliffsNotes: T.O. and Krupa get eliminated, but injury to another team forces them to withdraw and the ‘Bama-bad-boy and Warsaw model are back in action. Here’s to hoping the Bills are so lucky. If we are able  to sneak into the playoffs because all other wild-card contenders are down to ten guys on their roster due to injury you won’t see this guy complaining.

Many of us, especially here in New York, are used to our own states taxing us to death, but now some states are targetting tourists to balance out their state budgets.

The traveling sports fan is going to take more of a hit in the pocket book to travel with their favorite team.  Headed to Bean Town for the season opener against New England?  You can expect to pay more at the inn, where the hotel tax was just raised from 4 percent to 6 percent, and that’s on top of the state tax of 5.7%.

You want to see the Giants or the Jets in NYC? March first the hotel tax in NYC went up to 14.25 %.  Did you make your reservation online?  Your gonna get charged for that.

It seems like the average consumer/fan is being left out again, with only those with money left to be entertained by the sports markets.

More information can be found by reading the article by Dennis Cauchon in today’s USA Today or by catching it online here.