Second Thoughts

Don't forget about Lett's 1993 turkey

Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett (center) says he is still haunted by this infamous play in 1993 when he went after a blocked fi eld goal, giving the Miami Dolphins a second shot at winning the game on Thanksgiving Day.
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett (center) says he is still haunted by this infamous play in 1993 when he went after a blocked fi eld goal, giving the Miami Dolphins a second shot at winning the game on Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving isn't always good for the Dallas Cowboys.

Last season, the Cowboys got roasted by Philadelphia, losing 33-10. On Thursday, the Cowboys suffered a 33-14 loss to the Carolina Panthers, and lost quarterback Tony Romo for the rest of the year after Romo reinjured the same collarbone he broke earlier this season.

For Cowboys defensive line coach Leon Lett, who spent 10 seasons and won three Super Bowls as a defensive tackle with the Cowboys, it was a reminder of how things can go wrong.

Lett said his infamous fumble against the Dolphins on Thanksgiving in 1993 still haunts him.

"I've avoided talking about it. I've avoided dealing with it," Lett told NPR during an interview broadcast Friday with Daniel Hajek. "That was just one of the worst days of my NFL career."

The Dolphins trailed the Cowboys 14-13 with just seconds remaining in the game and were attempting a field goal for the go-ahead score. The Cowboys blocked the kick, and, as his teammates started to celebrate on the sidelines, Lett inexplicably attempted to pick up the ball, slipped on the icy field, and slid into the ball.

The Dolphins recovered the ball with three seconds remaining and attempted another field goal. This one was good and the Dolphins won 16-14.

"Of course my teammates and the coaching staff were all upset, and I could understand that," Lett said. "I was upset. I had basically messed it up for the entire team."

Lett's Thanksgiving frozen turkey wasn't all bad. The 1993 Cowboys went on to win their next eight games and claimed their second consecutive Super Bowl title, beating the Buffalo Bills 30-13.

It's been 22 years. Maybe it's time to let it go.

Miami mistake

Miami Marlins broadcaster Tommy Hutton was fired by the Miami Marlins last week after 19 seasons in the team's television booth. The reason? He was too negative.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald called it "the worst broadcasting personnel decision ever made by a South Florida team."

"I know there were times I was negative, but I thought those times were called for," Hutton told Jackson in an interview. "Ninety percent of what I said was positive. I tried not to be a homer, but you could tell I wanted the Marlins to do well."

"Hutton was critical when necessary and had a penchant for unleashing the occasional playful rant," Jackson wrote, "but there's a distinction between critical and excessively negative."

Jackson said that Hutton's dismissal "serves as a disconcerting reminder that many teams prefer cheerleaders in the booth, announcers who won't rock the boat and certainly won't openly question coaching or personnel decisions."

Guess the Marlins don't realize that you can only put so much lipstick on a pig.

He said it ...

From Omaha World-Herald columnist Brad Dickson:

• "Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is changing his nickname from Johnny Football to Johnny Third String."

• "On Thanksgiving night, the Packers retired Brett Favre's jersey. The halftime ceremony was slightly marred when Favre tripped Aaron Rodgers in an attempt to start the second half."

• "Marshawn Lynch is out four weeks with a hernia. He said it's still less painful than having to talk to reporters."

Sports quiz

In 1993, the Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback was Troy Aikman. Who was his backup?

Answer

Current Dallas Cowboys Coach Jason Garrett.

Sports on 11/30/2015

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