San Francisco 49ers: Dumb and Dumber and Dumberest

(Photo by NFL Photos)

Everyone knows that there have been some dumb actions on NFL football fields throughout the years.

One of the all-time classics, and actually THE all-time classic, involved Jim Marshall of the Vikings, playing against guess who? Yep, the 49ers, at Kezar stadium in 1964.

Marshall scooped the ball up, saw an open field in front of him, and was so exited that he did not have the time to stop and think about which direction he was facing.

Honestly, its kind of surprising this kind of thing has not happened more than once.

In the thick of battle, in the fog of war, it can be difficult to have an accurate compass in your head at all times.

Usually, if a defender sees a football rolling around the ground, instinct takes over and the hard wired course of action is to simply pick the ball up and run like hell at the open field in front of you.

A defensive lineman would understandably assume that the open field in front of him is the opposing end zone, because 99 percent of the time, if a ball is fumbled in the backfield, that is exactly what the defensive lineman is looking at.

Marshall is not alone, however.

Leon Lett, DeSean Jackson, and others have contributed to the NFL book of follies.

But none of those plays, none of them approach the utter ludicrousness of what I witnessed this past Sunday.

The 49ers made history against the Falcons this past Sunday. But instead of talking about that particular circus show as a whole, I would rather focus on one particular clown's, one particular act. An act, that made at least one 49er fan, go apoplectic with confusion.

Prime Time

Many players in the NFL like to put on a good show.

They like to give their fans something memorable; and heck, why not spice it up a bit while you're at it?

Deion Sanders was one of the greatest examples of this type of showmanship.

He danced and pranced his way into the Hall of Fame. He talked the talk and walked the walk.

He invented the “high step.” You know, like a pony.

It worked like this: First, you intercept the football. Second, you make sure there is plenty of open field in between you and the end zone. Third, you run as fast as you can, until you are sure (very important) you will score a touchdown. Finally, you start to lift your feet higher in the air with each step as you prance into the end zone.

Deion sometimes put his hand to the side of his head while doing the pony impersonation (a pony ear?). Anything for more flare and dare.

But why, Deion?

Because Deion Sanders COULD.

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