NFL’s Top 10 Bonehead Plays

(all time -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzUHvg6QbaU)
10) DeSean’s Drop
In the second quarter of a close game, DeSean Jackson streaked past the Cowboys secondary to haul in a 61-yard pass from Donovan McNabb for an apparent touchdown. Replay revealed that the cocky rookie was a little too anxious to be a “Dancing Machine” like his long lost brothers Michael, Tito and Jermaine, and released the football before entering the end zone. Luckily for D-Jax, none of Cowboys realized what had happened and pounced on the ball. The Eagles retained possession on the one-yard-line and Brian Westbrook dove in for a touchdown on the following play.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuSAxX2_Fys&eurl=http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=24624

9) Down But Not Out
Like Jackson, Plaxico Burress was too quick to celebrate a big play during his rookie season. The Steelers’ receiver fell to the ground after making a catch on a key third down play in a game against the Jaguars. Apparently, Burress thought he was still playing for Michigan State. Even though he hadn’t been touched by a Jacksonville defender, he thought the play was dead, hopped to his feet and spiked the football. It was ruled a fumble and the Jaguars recovered the ball. Needless to say, Coach Cowher’s chin was jutting out even further than usual when he caught up with Plaxico on the sideline.
Hats Off to Rudd
In the opening week of the 2002 season, the Browns led the Chiefs 39-37 with under ten seconds remaining. Browns’ linebacker Dwayne Rudd tackled Chiefs quarterback Trent Green for what he believed to be a game-ending sack and joyously threw his helmet into the air. What Rudd didn’t realize was that as Green was going down, he lateraled the ball to John Tait. Tait rumbled to the Browns 28-yard-line and was knocked out of bounds after time had expired. However, Rudd was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and since a game cannot end on a defensive penalty, the Chiefs were awarded 15 yards and an additional play. Morten Andersen kicked a 30-yard field goal with no time on the clock to give the Chiefs a 40-39 win.
7) Why Gus?
When the Giants and Redskins squared off in November of 1997, Redskins quarterback Gus Frerotte gave a whole new meaning to the term “excessive celebration.” After sneaking into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown late in the first half, Frerotte spiked the ball against the padded wall at Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, then reared back and rammed the top of his head into the wall. The QB recoiled in obvious pain and was out for the remainder of the season with a sprained neck. I’m not sure how he explained that one to Coach Turner.

6) Flip Flop
The Steelers and Lions were tied at 16 at the end of regulation on Thanksgiving Day in 1998, and the teams’ captains convened at the middle of the field for the overtime coin toss. Official Phil Luckett told Steelers running back Jerome Bettis to call it in the air. “The Bus” appeared to say “tails” and the coin landed on tails, but Luckett stated that Bettis had said “heads”. Bettis and Coach Cowher furiously objected, but the referees awarded possession to the Lions, who received the kickoff, marched down the field and kicked a game-winning field goal.
5) Gramatica-ly Incorrect
Cardinals kicker Bill Gramatica jubilantly leaped into the air after connecting on a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter of a game against the Giants during the 2001 season. The overzealous rookie couldn’t stick the landing, tore the ACL in his right knee and was sidelined for the rest of the year. If he was that excited about making a relatively meaningless 42-yard kick, then he probably didn’t have much of a future in the league any way.

4) You Play To Win The Game
In November of 1978, the Giants led the Eagles 17-12 and had the ball with seconds remaining in the game. The Eagles were out of timeouts and Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik simply needed to kneel on the ball to run out the clock. Instead, Pisarcik attempted to hand it off to Larry Csonka and fumbled the ball. Philadelphia’s Herman Edwards scooped it up and ran 26 yards for the winning score.
3) Lett It Be
On a snowy Thanksgiving Day in Dallas, the Cowboy’s infamous lineman, Leon Lett, committed his second major blunder of the calendar year. Leading 14-13 with seconds remaining, the Cowboys blocked Miami’s 41-yard game-winning field goal attempt. While his teammates celebrated, Lett slid into the loose ball. Had he not touched it, the Cowboys would have gained possession and the game would’ve been over, but once a defensive player touched the blocked kick it became a live ball. The Dolphins recovered it on the Cowboys’ one-yard-line, with three seconds on the clock and kicked a field goal to win the game 16-14.

2) Leon Lett-Down
In the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXVII, Lett picked up a Buffalo fumble and scampered 45 yards to the end zone. Thinking he was all alone, he slowed down inside the 10-yard line and held the ball out as he approached the end zone. Bills wide receiver Don Beebe never quit on the play and managed to knock the ball loose just shy of the goal line. The ball rolled out of the end zone and was ruled a touchback. Fortunately for the “Big Cat,” the score was 52-17 at the time and his colossal blunder didn’t cost the Cowboys, though it remains the most memorable miscue in Super Bowl History.

1) You’re Going The Wrong Way!
Jim Marshall was an outstanding defensive end for the Vikings for many years, but he’s best remembered for committing the most bonehead play in NFL history. During the 1964 season, in a game against San Francisco, Marshall recovered a 49er fumble and ran 66 yards to the wrong end zone. Believing that he’d scored a touchdown for the Vikings, the disoriented lineman flipped the ball into the stands for a safety.
Honroable Mention:
Upon winning the coin toss before overtime, Lions coach Marty Mornhinwheg decided to kick to the Bears, instead of receive. The Bears scored on their first possession and won the game.  Courtesy of loveofsports.com.

written by Roc