| Players Behaving Badly.com Leon Lett Bonehead Plays |
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Leon Lett
Lett was a talented player and a cornerstone of the Cowboys defense during its
heyday in the early 1990s, but fans will likely remember him for his infamous
"bonehead" plays. Two of the top three of ESPN's "25 Biggest Sports Blunders"
are attributed to Lett. The fans ranked him #1 and #3, whereas an expert panel
placed him at #2 and #3. His career was also marred by a number of drug-related
suspensions.
Super Bowl XXVII
The first play (ranked #1 in the ESPN fan list, #2 in the ESPN expert panel)
occurred in January 1993, late in Super Bowl XXVII, when Lett recovered a fumble
in the fourth quarter. With no one in front of him, he seemed to be headed for an
easy touchdown on the fumble return, so he stretched his arms out in celebration
as he was nearing the end zone. But a hustling Don Beebe chased him down from
behind and knocked the ball out of his hand just before he crossed the goal line,
sending the ball through the endzone and resulting in a touchback that cost Lett
his touchdown.
The Cowboys had a commanding 52-17 lead at the time, and the play did not
affect the outcome of the game, but it certainly embarrassed Lett on the greatest
stage in the sport, and it is still well known by football fans today. Lett's gaffe also
cost the Cowboys the record for most points scored in a Super Bowl (55, by the
San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIV), and may have cost Dallas the largest
margin of victory in a Super Bowl. However, his performance in the game was not
a total disappointment: He recorded a sack and 2 forced fumbles, one of them
setting up a Dallas touchdown. (Photos of incident on the Right)
1993 Thanksgiving Classic
The second play (ranked #3 in both ESPN lists) occurred during the very next
season and was actually more serious as it resulted in a Cowboy defeat. On
Thanksgiving Day in 1993, during a rare snow and sleet storm in Dallas, the
Cowboys were leading the Miami Dolphins 14-13 with mere seconds remaining in
the game. The Dolphins attempted a 41-yard field goal to take the lead but the
kick was blocked. While most of his teammates began celebrating, Lett attempted
to recover the ball but slipped on the ice as he attempted to pick the football up,
and Miami recovered the "muff" on the Dallas one yard line. There was no need to
pick up the ball as the Cowboys would have automatically received possession
and could have simply run out the clock. By touching the ball and then failing to
hold onto it, Lett enabled the Dolphins to take possession and then try another
field goal. This second attempt was successful and the Dolphins won the game
16-14.
Lett was a talented player and a cornerstone of the Cowboys defense during its
heyday in the early 1990s, but fans will likely remember him for his infamous
"bonehead" plays. Two of the top three of ESPN's "25 Biggest Sports Blunders"
are attributed to Lett. The fans ranked him #1 and #3, whereas an expert panel
placed him at #2 and #3. His career was also marred by a number of drug-related
suspensions.
Super Bowl XXVII
The first play (ranked #1 in the ESPN fan list, #2 in the ESPN expert panel)
occurred in January 1993, late in Super Bowl XXVII, when Lett recovered a fumble
in the fourth quarter. With no one in front of him, he seemed to be headed for an
easy touchdown on the fumble return, so he stretched his arms out in celebration
as he was nearing the end zone. But a hustling Don Beebe chased him down from
behind and knocked the ball out of his hand just before he crossed the goal line,
sending the ball through the endzone and resulting in a touchback that cost Lett
his touchdown.
The Cowboys had a commanding 52-17 lead at the time, and the play did not
affect the outcome of the game, but it certainly embarrassed Lett on the greatest
stage in the sport, and it is still well known by football fans today. Lett's gaffe also
cost the Cowboys the record for most points scored in a Super Bowl (55, by the
San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIV), and may have cost Dallas the largest
margin of victory in a Super Bowl. However, his performance in the game was not
a total disappointment: He recorded a sack and 2 forced fumbles, one of them
setting up a Dallas touchdown. (Photos of incident on the Right)
1993 Thanksgiving Classic
The second play (ranked #3 in both ESPN lists) occurred during the very next
season and was actually more serious as it resulted in a Cowboy defeat. On
Thanksgiving Day in 1993, during a rare snow and sleet storm in Dallas, the
Cowboys were leading the Miami Dolphins 14-13 with mere seconds remaining in
the game. The Dolphins attempted a 41-yard field goal to take the lead but the
kick was blocked. While most of his teammates began celebrating, Lett attempted
to recover the ball but slipped on the ice as he attempted to pick the football up,
and Miami recovered the "muff" on the Dallas one yard line. There was no need to
pick up the ball as the Cowboys would have automatically received possession
and could have simply run out the clock. By touching the ball and then failing to
hold onto it, Lett enabled the Dolphins to take possession and then try another
field goal. This second attempt was successful and the Dolphins won the game
16-14.
