20 Dumbest Professional Athletes of All Time

By James O'Hare

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Feb 19, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Boston Celtics center Fab Melo (13) during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 97-90. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Dumbest Athletes in Sports

This is not just a list of pros who have had legal issues with drugs, firearms, fights, etc. Though the players who fall under this category are stupid indeed, if it were that kind of list, there would be way more than 20 guys on it. Rather, it’s a list of players who have had moments that cause us, as fans, to just sit there perplexed and think, “Why? Why would you do that? You idiot!”

Let us know if we missed anyone with a comment below.

20. JaMarcus Russell

San Diego Chargers v Oakland Raiders
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20. JaMarcus Russell

JaMarcus Russell San Diego Chargers v Oakland Raiders
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Russell has a reputation as a guy who is too dumb to run an NFL offense. While it's debatable whether intelligence was to blame for his struggles on the field, it's definitely to blame for his issues off it.

In 2010, Russell was arrested for criminal possession of codeine syrup and admitted he had tested positive for the substance prior to being drafted by the Raiders. He also nearly lost his him to foreclosure despite his massive rookie deal.

19. Ben Roethlisberger

Ben Roethlisberger
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

19. Ben Roethlisberger

Ben Roethlisberger
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Roethlisberger has faced not one, but two sexual assault allegations. The chargers were dropped both times but with multiple incidents, Big Ben's off-the-field decisions are questionable to say the least.

Furthermore, he was involved in a motorcycle accident in 2006. At the time, he didn't have a valid motorcycle license, nor was he wearing a helmet. Not smart when your fortune is contingent on your physical shape.

18. Ndamukong Suh

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 27: Ndamukong Suh #90 of the Detroit Lions prior to the start of the game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on November 27, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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18. Ndamukong Suh

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 27: Ndamukong Suh #90 of the Detroit Lions prior to the start of the game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on November 27, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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Suh stomped on Evan Dietrich-Smith, kicked Matt Schaub in the groin and has been penalized for late hit after late hit. Then he makes excuses and tries to act like a victim. Suh is dumbfounded every time he gets fined yet he continues to play dirty.

17. Kevin Brown

Kevin Brown New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Tokyo - March 31, 2004
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17. Kevin Brown

Kevin Brown New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Tokyo - March 31, 2004
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As a member of the Yankees in 2004, Brown had a bad start in early September. So naturally, he punched a wall and broke his hand.

Luckily, he heeded the advice from "Bull Durham" and threw the punch with his non-throwing hand, but still, how stupid do you have to be punch a wall at any time, let along during a pennant race?

Maybe it was roid rage. Brown was later implicated in the Mitchell Report.

16. Bill Gramatica

Cardinals v Giants X
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16. Bill Gramatica

Bill Gramatica injury
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Bill (not Martin) Gramatica was kicking for the Arizona Cardinals when he had a the worst celebration in the history of sports -- he tore his ACL celebrating a 43-yard field goal that put his team up 3-0 with eight minutes remaining in the first quarter.

15. Gus Frerotte

Gus Frerotte
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15. Gus Frerotte

Gus Frerotte
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While we're still on the topic of self-inflicted injuries, Frerotte pulled a real head-banger. As QB of the Redskins in 1997, he scrambled for a touchdown against the Giants and celebrated by head-butting the wall behind the end zone.

He ultimately had to go to a hospital at halftime and missed the second half of the game.

14. Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard -- Steve Mitchell
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

14. Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard -- Steve Mitchell
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Free agency is part of the NBA, but the way Dwight Howard went back and forth with the Magic was a soap opera. He clearly wanted to join a team of superstars like LeBron James, but didn't want the backlash that comes with that. You can't have it both ways.

But the worst thing was Howard going after Stan Van Gundy and then acting like the two of them were buddies when the cameras came on. Does that sound like "Superman" to you? Yeah, right.

13. Albert Haynesworth

December 17, 2011; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (95) during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE
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13. Albert Haynesworth

December 17, 2011; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (95) during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE
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As a Titan in 2006, Haynesworth stomped in Andre Gurode's head and left a gash that required 30 stitches. The incident led to a five-game suspension.

In 2009, he signed a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Redskins then declined to participate in offseason workouts and took 10 days to pass the team's conditioning test.

He consistently clashed with Mike Shanahan until he was finally traded for a fifth-round pick.

12. Zack Greinke

Zack Greinke -- Jake Roth
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

12. Zack Greinke

Zack Greinke -- Jake Roth
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The Brewers traded for Greinke in the winter of 2010, but he wasn't ready for Opening Day because he injured his ribs playing pickup basketball.

Then in 2013 Carlos Quentin charged the mound after Greinke plunked him on the elbow. Greinke tried to take on the much larger Quentin by lowering his shoulder, which led to a broken collarbone and over a month on the DL.

Dude's career might one day hinge on his seemingly self-inflicted injuries...

11. John Rocker

John Rocker #49
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11. John Rocker

John Rocker #49
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As closer for the Braves in 1999, Rocker was asked if would ever consider playing in New York. He said he would retire before playing for the Mets or Yankees and then made racist and homophobic comments about the Big Apple.

Over a decade later, he claimed the Holocaust could have been prevented if not for gun control laws in Nazi Germany.

It's no surprise he was out of MLB by 2003 and linked to a steroid ring by 2007.

10. Fab Melo

Fab Melo
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10. Fab Melo

Fab Melo
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Melo missed the entire 2012 NCAA Tournament for Syracuse due to academic ineligibility, and claimed he was failing because he didn't understand English. He may have been born in Brazil, but he went to high school in Florida.

After he got drafted by the Celtics, he gave himself a concussion walking into a door frame. Maybe he couldn't read a sign that said "watch your head."

9. Joba Chamberlain

Joba Chamberlain
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9. Joba Chamberlain

Joba Chamberlain
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Chamberlain injured himself before the 2012 season on a trampoline.

While being interviewed, Mariano Rivera once politely asked him to lower his voice. Chamberlain responded, "Never shush me again."

Rivera later said it was fine, but Chamberlain angrily said it wasn't fine and he would act the same way again in a similar situation.

Gotta grow up sometime, bro.

8. Keith Ballard

Keith Ballard -- Kevin Hoffman
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

8. Keith Ballard

Keith Ballard -- Kevin Hoffman
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

With the Panthers, Ballard was frustrated after the Thrashers scored to go up 2-1 in a 2009 game. He went to break his stick on the goal, but accidentally broke it over goalie Tomas Vokoun's head.

To make matters worse, he then took a second swing at the post and skated away while his teammate was writhing in pain on the ice.

7. Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson-Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

7. Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson-Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Tyson bit off Evander Holyfield's ear and has been convicted of rape, among a plethora of legal issues. After being hit in the head so many times and the amount of drugs he's done, it seems like Tyson's brain has been seriously scrambled.

6. Metta World Peace

Metta World Peace Ron Artest
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

6. Metta World Peace

Metta World Peace Ron Artest
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The player formerly known as Ron Artest is responsible for the Malice at the Palace. With the Pacers, Artest fouled Ben Wallace hard, who then shoved Artest back into the scorer's table. Then a Pistons fan threw Diet Coke on Artest, who jumped into the stands and enticed a brawl between the Pistons fans and Pacers players.

In the locker room after the game, Artest turned to his teammates and asked, "You think we're gonna get in trouble?"

5. Bobby Valentine

Bobby Valentine -- Kim Klement
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

5. Bobby Valentine

Bobby Valentine -- Kim Klement
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Bobby V. must really hate the Yankees. He claimed that after the 9-11 attacks, the Yankees' organization did nothing to help the city heal.

Not only was using a national tragedy in a shot at a rival unacceptable, Valentine was completely wrong.

The Yankees visited Ground Zero four days after the attacks, in addition to the Armory, Javits Center and St. Vincent's Hospital.

4. Adam "Pacman" Jones

Adam Pacman Jones
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

4. Adam "Pacman" Jones

Adam Pacman Jones
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Pacman was involved in so many off-the-field altercations, he hired body guards to help prevent more in the future. Then in 2008, he fought his own body guard -- the same guy who was supposed to keep him out of trouble.

3. Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees Steroids Lie
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3. Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees Steroids Lie
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During the 2012 ALCS, A-Rod was busy chasing tail while the Yankees were being dominated by the Tigers. He's not the first player to pull the number on a signed baseball move, but you don't do that with a .111 average in the series.

What's more is, in addition to admitting PED use with the Rangers, he was implicated in the Biogenesis scandal. Then he tried to buy the evidence against him so MLB couldn't get it.

2. Michael Vick

Atlanta Falcons v Carolina Panthers
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2. Michael Vick

Atlanta Falcons v Carolina Panthers
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Vick was the No. 1 overall pick in 2001 and quickly became a phenomenal dual-threat NFL quarterback. In 2007, he pleaded guilty to financing a dog fighting ring and admitted to directly participating in several dog fights.

He gave up a 0 million contract while serving 21 months in prison and two months of home confinement.

1. Plaxico Burress

Plaxico Burress
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1. Plaxico Burress

Plaxico Burress
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First mistake: Owning a gun illegally.

Second mistake: Wearing sweat pants to the club.

Third mistake: Bringing the illegally owned (and loaded) gun to the club and holding it in his sweat pants.

Fourth mistake: Shooting himself in the leg with the illegally owned gun in the club because he was holding it in his sweat pants.

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