When Eagles WR DeSean Jackson dropped the ball short of the end zone on Monday night against the Eagles, it didn't really affect the game all that much. He's pretty fortunate that Brian Westbrook punched it in, because even though the Eagles still lost the game, it wasn't Jackson's fault.

The more important thing that happened on that play was Jackson joining an elite brotherhood. Before the play, Jackson was a solid prospect, a speedy WR and kick returner who could end up being Donovan McNabb's favorite target this year. But after the play, he ranks right up there with guys like Bill Grammatica, Leon Lett, Tony Romo, Trey Junkin and... well, Leon Lett.

If he wants someone who might empathize with DeSean Jackson's blunder, he could have looked across the field at the opposing QB, Tony Romo. Romo's missed hold against the Seahawks in the playoffs in January of 2007 cost the Cowboys the game. Romo has since moved on, but still has yet to win a playoff game. Maybe this play will forever be in Romo's mind in the playoffs. Maybe not. But there are definitely many fans who will never forget this:



It seems like field goals aren't as easy as most NFL players make them look. The New York Giants convinced Trey Junkin to come out of retirement to be their long snapper in the playoffs in 2002. Junkin had been a world class long snapper for years, and had been nearly flawless in that role since 1983. But this time, when the Giants were going for a FG to win the game, Junkin botched the snap, and the Giants lost. After the game, Junkin retired (again). Although he was an excellent player for a long time, he will likely be remembered for that one play.

Bill Gramatica didn't cost his team the game in his most idiotic moment, but he cost himself a few games, and possibly a career. After making an essentially meaningless field goal in a 17-13 loss to the Giants, Gramatica jumped in celebration. He must have jumped a little too high, because when he came down, he tore his ACL.

Gramatica would miss the rest of the season, and it may have had an effect on the rest of his career. After a stellar career at South Florida, Gramatica lasted only one more full season in the NFL, and his career fizzled out, and now he has failed again, with the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League.

While these are all pretty boneheaded plays, no one can compare with Leon Lett. He not only occupies the top spot on the "Stupidest Plays Ever" list, he just might hold the top two spots. Lett certainly gets the lifetime achievement award for boneheaded plays, by virtue of two of the most embarrassing plays in football history.

Lett's first screwup came against the Bills in Super Bowl XXVII. Lett recovered a Bills' fumble, and was well on his way to scoring the first TD of his career, on the world's biggest stage. There was no one who could have taken him down and rob his chance at history. Short of a monumental mistake, Lett was pretty much guaranteed to score.

Of course, Lett made that monumental mistake. Much like Jackson against the Cowboys on Monday night, he celebrated a little too early. He held the ball out in celebration, giving Bills WR Don Beebe a chance to knock the ball out of his hand.

Beebe forced the fumble, causing a touchback, and giving the ball back to the Bills. Fortunately for Lett, the Cowboys still won the game in a blowout, but much like Junkin, people will remember Lett's mistakes more than they will ever remember his accomplishments.

Not one to settle for mediocrity, Lett must have decided that he needed to dominate this list. So a few months later, on Thanksgiving Day in 1993, Lett once again made people wonder what he was thinking.

The Cowboys had a 14-13 lead, and the Dolphins were attempting a possibly game-winning 41-yard FG with seconds left on the clock. The Cowboys blocked the kick, which appeared to seal the victory. Enter Leon Lett, he of the unmatched ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Lett inexplicably tried to recover the blocked kick. Had he just let the play end, the Cowboys would have gotten the ball, and they could have knelt the ball, run down the clock and won the game. But after Lett (unsuccessfully) tried to pick up the ball (in the snow, mind you), the Dolphins were now allowed to recover the ball. They did, and had another opportunity to try a game-winning field goal, but this time a much shorter kick, since the ball ended up at the Dallas 1-yard line. The Dolphins were able to convert the kick the second time, and the Cowboys lost the game.

So when you think about DeSean Jackson and his completely idiotic play on Monday night, remember that he's not alone. Was it stupid? Absolutely. But the dumbest play ever? Not even close.