Oh you knew this was coming. A career isn’t made in a play. But two? Yes, two will do.
Leon Lett was a defensive tackle with the Cowboys through the 1990s. True to his nickname, The Big Cat, Lett was a physical freak in his prime, possessing a rare combination of size, speed and athleticism. Draft gurus that they once were, in a time long, long ago, the Cowboys selected Lett late in the 1991 NFL Draft. He quickly became a fixture on underrated Dallas defenses that brought home 3 Lombardi Trophies. When considering Leon Lett’s career, those accomplishments matter little. In fact, it really wouldn’t have mattered if Lett had had the talent and career of Reggie White; he still would have been remembered for all the wrong – or in this case, right - reasons. Lett overshadowed his considerable triumphs with just two unforgettable blunders.
In Super Bowl XXVII, Dallas took its turn breaking western New York’s heart by defeating the overmatched Buffalo Bills 52-17. It would have, could have, should have been worse, save for Leon Lett. With the game in hand late in the 4th quarter, Lett recovered a fumble and was running free down the sideline with only grass between him and the goal line; or so he thought. Just before hitting pay dirt and completely lost in his signature Super Bowl moment, Lett casually held out the ball to spice up his victory lap. Bills wide receiver, Don Beebe, hustling like few players would have considering the circumstances, snuck up behind Lett, knocked the ball out of his hands before it crossed the goal line and through the end zone. The Bills were awarded possession on the resulting touchback. The play didn’t cost Dallas the game, but it cost the Cowboys the most points in Super Bowl history (San Francisco once scored 55 points) and it provided the first glimpse of the peerless buffoonery of Leon Lett.
Leon Lett trumped, well, Leon Lett during the annual Thanksgiving Day game in 1993. Trailing by a slim margin and in the middle of a rare Dallas snowstorm, the Dolphins lined up for a would-be game-winning field goal attempt. The kick was blocked and the ball slid harmlessly through the snow toward the Dolphins’ goal line. Once the ball stopped, the play was over…unless Dallas touched it. With several Dolphins in the vicinity and all but one Cowboy staying clear, a “bull-in-the-china-shop” Leon Lett recklessly slide into the ball, made contact and the Dolphins recovered. The play afforded Miami another shot at victory. This time the kick, like Grandma’s stuffing recipe, was true.
For years Thanksgiving triggered memories only of Clint “bleeping” Longley; since 1993, our recollections over the seasonal bird have, thankfully, also included Leon Lett.
Hail…Sons of Washington!
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