Originality is taking a hit harder than Aaron Rodgers.

Just look around these days. No one is innovating anymore.

What about the Wildcat, you say? It was called the Single Wing 100 years ago. Pop Warner invented it, not the Miami Dolphins.

The West Coast offense? Sure, it was quasi-original when that football alchemist Bill Walsh drew it up while in Cincinnati in the 1970s and then brought it with him to San Francisco, but these days just about every NFL team runs some form of it.

The spread offense in college? It's the wishbone of the new millennium.

The NBA hasn't innovated, well, ever. You can't count that 3-point line. It has actually ruined the game.

The shot clock? Please. It just hastens more wildly inaccurate shots from behind the arc.

Baseball? Here's something unique: let a pitcher pitch past the sixth inning, start a World Series game before the sun goes down, or, gasp, end one before commercials tell me hot girls are standing by to talk to me at 1-900 ...

The NHL? As the French-Canadians would say, "Au revoir."

Soccer? Until they actually let players touch the ball with their hands, nothing is going to be cutting edge on the pitch.

So, where does that leave us? With a sports landscape as boring and predictable as the Buffalo Bills offense.

It seems nothing can save us from the same-old, same-old.

But, never fear, sports fan, there might be some innovations on the horizon — out of necessity.

After all, invention is the mother of necessity.

Here are some possible cutting-edge tactics that could pop up soon:

•

The no-coast, North-coast offense: Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini, inspired by the movie "Waterboy," decides to scrap that whole offense thing.Mangini loads up on defense through trades, the draft and free agency, fielding an All-Pro at every position.With a staunch defense, he figures an offense can only get in the way, so he punts or kicks a field goal on first down, putting every game in the hands of his defense and special teams.

Analysis: Hey, it can't be any worse than what is happening now in Cleveland.•

The knuckleball rotation: With a rotation of scraps after back-to-back Cy Young winners were traded away, new Cleveland Indians manager Manny Acta decides to go outside the box and assemble a rotation of three knuckleball pitchers.Acta tabs Tim Wakefield, R.A. Dickey and Charlie Haeger to top his rotation and eat up innings.

Analysis: Why not? The Indians did something similar in the 80s with Tom Candiotti and Phil Niekro. Sure, that didn't work out so well, but maybe knuckleball rotation 2.0 would work now.•

Sumo goalie: The Toronto Maple Leafs, tired of giving up goals in bunches and losing, finally give the sumo wrestler a try as a goalie. The teams signs Takamisakari, who is known in Japan as "Mr. Roboto" and "Robocop," slaps a pair of skates on him and just dares teams to try to squeeze a puck past him.

Analysis: It's an idea long overdue.Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.