Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 Biggest Bonehead Moments in Team History

Even a steadily competitive franchise like the Pittsburgh Steelers has its fair share of dud moments.

You know what they say. Nobody's perfect.

The Steelers have had some interesting moments over the years, but let's focus on five low points in team history during the Super Bowl era. I'm sure you'll enjoy recalling some moments from years gone by where, for one reason or another, things just didn't go the way they should have.

1. Plaxico Burress Spikes Live Football, 2001

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

20 Jan 2002 : Plaxico Burress of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC divisional playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers won 27-10. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Why?

Plaxico Burress was one of the Steelers' top receivers during his time here, but he was prone to some notable mental lapses. His worst such incident came in 2001 when celebrated a catch by spiking the ball.

If he had done it in the end zone, it would have been perfectly fine (unless the referees had chosen to penalize Burress for excessive celebration). When it comes in the open field and before Burress had been touched down by contact, it's a huge mistake. The live ball was ruled a fumble and recovered by the alert Jaguars.

How Burress is Remembered Today

Burress' time with Pittsburgh was thankfully mostly free of major mental breakdowns like that one, but he's best remembered today as a guy who took a gun to a night club and accidentally discharged it while it was still in his pants. You can't make up material like that.

Plus, who could forget the "Spike Lee" nickname he earned for his early-career faux pas.

2. Steelers Draft Walter Abercrombie, 1982

Why?

Running backs are supposed to make people miss, right? Abercrombie made people miss. He made them miss Franco Harris in a big way.

Drafted in the first round of the 1982 draft with the 12th pick, it was thought that the star college runner would thrive in the Steelers run-oriented system. Instead, he struggled and became a major repeat offender on the injury report.

He, in seven seasons (six with Pittsburgh), ran for 3,357 yards and amassed 22 touchdowns. Those would be great totals for two or three seasons. By comparison, Rashard Mendenhall has rushed for 2,439 yards and 20 touchdowns in two full seasons.

How Abercrombie is Remembered

He's not really, except as one of the team's notable and rare first round draft busts. He came right after Harris and not long before the glory days of Barry Foster, Bam Morris and Jerome Bettis, so he's not as evident if you look at overall history.

If you take the time to look at the not-so-good Steelers of the 1980s, however, Abercrombie's poor, below par numbers stick out like a sore thumb.

3. Jack Lambert Throws Cliff Harris in Super Bowl X, 1976

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HONOLULU, HI - FEBRUARY 4: Class of 1990 Hall of Fame inductee, Jack Lambert, attends the 1990 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on February 4, 1990 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The NFC won 27-21. linebacker Jack Lambert played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 197

Why?

Linebackers, especially good ones, play with a tremendous mean streak. Think about how much you'd like to get in front of an angry James Harrison or a focused Greg Lloyd.

Every so often, that anger gets the best of them. In Super Bowl X, Jack Lambert didn't take a minor taunt by Dallas Cowboy Cliff Harris very kindly. Harris patted Pittsburgh kicker Roy Gerela on the side of the head after Gerela missed a kick (Pittsburgh's kicking woes are older than you may think).

Lambert immediately picked up Harris and slammed him to the turf. As Lambert tells it, he then artfully talked his way out of being ejected, which he should have been. Given the magnitude of the game and the stupidity of the play, this was NOT a smart move.

How Lambert is Remembered

He's one of the all-time favorite Steelers and, since Pittsburgh triumphed over Dallas, this moment is usually laughed about today.

But if Lambert's move had somehow flipped the Steelers' luck, he would probably be one of the all-time goats in Super Bowl history. Luckily for him, his negotiating skills were on par with his tackling.

4. Phil Luckett Messes Up Coin Toss, 1998

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 12: Back judge Phil Luckett #59 makes a call during the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers on December 12, 2004 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The 49ers won in overtime 31-28. (Photo by Step

Why?

This one wasn't Pittsburgh's fault, but Luckett's gaffe will be remembered forever by Steelers fans as one of the worst moments in franchise history.

Pittsburgh fans have a complex about officiating (that I share), and Luckett's goof, which cost Pittsburgh a victory that likely would have put them into the playoffs, confirmed their belief that officials are commonly set against the Steelers.

Luckett's reputation was ruined and he is no longer a referee. He's now a back judge for one of the league's officiating crews.

How Luckett is Remembered

This wasn't Luckett's only major officiating gaffe. He had two other huge failures in his career. He will always be remembered in the Steel City for a nationally televised Thanksgiving Day gaffe that likely kept Pittsburgh out of the playoffs and generally cost him his reputation.

Coin toss rules were altered because of this call, which tells you just how important it was to the NFL.

5. Neil ODonnell Ruins Super Bowl XXX, 1996

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28 Jan 1996: Head Coach Bill Cowher (left) and quarterback Neil O'Donnell (right) of the Pittsburgh Steelers share a few words during the Steelers game versus the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Steelers went

Why?

You may not know that Neil O'Donnell holds the NFL record for lowest percentage of passes intercepted. The ironic part of that record is that O'Donnell is best remembered for throwing away Super Bowl XXX.

For those who aren't initiated to Pittsburgh's first brush with Super Bowl failure, let me set the stage for you. Pittsburgh had trailed for most of the game, but had gained momentum and was driving down the field with a chance to take the lead. They had been moving at will and O'Donnell seemed set to go down in history as a comeback artist.

And then, either a receiver ran the wrong route or O'Donnell was mentally expecting a different play. Either way, the play ended with Dallas corner Larry Brown pulling down what can only be described as a reception. The ball was thrown right to him by O'Donnell; the Steelers lost and would wait 10 years before redemption finally came their way.

How O'Donnell is Remembered

It seemed that the quarterback, who was just entering his prime, was finally making a real name for himself. That interception ruined all of that. O'Donnell still cashed in with the Jets in free agency, but he never again was a starter in the playoffs and quickly fell off into the abyss.

In Pittsburgh, O'Donnell is remembered as a traitor who possibly threw the Super Bowl on purpose (our own Black Sox scandal). While those charges are unfounded, it's safe to say he has few fans and friends in this town.