Why we shouldn't keep Patrick Crayton

he knows the playbook, veteran experiance, no trade value, we aren’t even through training camp preseason so who know what injuries we will have…. For real, why does this topic get rehashed every two fan posts??

Patrick Crayton is an Average Receiver: With Crayton, we know what we have. He’s an average possession receiver, who has average speed, and average size. In 2009, Crayton had an average number of catches (37), an average number of yards (622) and an average number of touchdowns (5). No matter how you look at it, Crayton will never be anything more than average.

Let me ask you a question that will seem like a non-sequiter but I promise is relevant to this discussion.

Who is a better RB: Matt Forte or Felix Jones?

but unless some team jumps for a trade, I would at least hold on to him until training camp to see if another team suffers an injury or god forbid we do.

over the years. He has also made some clunkers, like everyone on the team. It’s the attitude I’ve always wondered about. He’s got a mouth on him, and on more than one occasion has provided unnecessary bulletin board material for other teams. I think he also chose up sides with TO year before last, and continued to defend that divo when I think it would have been prudent to shut up. Now, he’s acting like a star player who is taking his marbles and going home. He’s not a star and never has been. He’s a serviceable player who should understand that this is a business. If they can shop him and get something for him, great. If not, I suppose keep him around and see how the other receivers weather training camp, as bad knees says.

He is as good as gone. If he is lucky he will be the #5 WR on this team this season.

I think the main point is the point about being a locker room cancer. Crayton is barely willing to accept being the number 3 receiver much less the number 4 or lower. He’s an average wide receiver, that’s it, the problem is he doesn’t know it and he isn’t willing to accept his role.
Does anyone really think a guy with the kind of mouth he has is going to be anything but a terrible influence to all the young players in the locker room when he isn’t getting the playing time he thinks he deserves? We got rid of T.O. for similar reasons and he is twice as talented as Crayton. This guy is done with the Cowboys. Period.

How would you feel iv every year you are loyal to your job and you showed good level of production production at work and you still were getting passed over every year. I don’t blame him one bit for his diva attitude or asking for a trade. Do the man a favor, let him go.

The concept of stopping progress is one I have raised as well but not in regards to Patrick Crayton.

First: Patrick is our punt returner. Only Newman is returning that has also successfully fulfilled this role on the team in the past and Newman has only been used in optimal situations. Relying on rookie punt returners in this league is folly without at least a veteran backup. There are too many difficult stadiums and conditions and too many judgment situations that are critical to catch the punt and not fumble it to trust rookies only, Patrick is an above average punt returner (I believe I read here he was 9th in average yards returned). Until another player proves he is better and as reliable doesn’t he need to be considered for retention?

Second: Patrick is not the first on this team to sound the concern about being replaced by a draft pick. Greg Ellis comes to mind in recent years. I did not like it then and I don’t like it now but it does not mean he is a cancer on the team. My own following of Patrick over these years has indicated throughout that he is a solid team guy who has never been a diva – only a typical WR in displaying confidence in his abilities. I can see Patrick’s position with his family. I suspect he wife may be behind his need to speak out. Also we have all seen misquotes before because reporters would rather have sensationalism than accurately conveying the intent of the player. Until he actually becomes a problem in the locker room (he can be cut at any time) wouldn’t it be more prudent to simply say no cut and assure him of getting a fair opportunity?

Finally: There are too few veteran receivers on this team without Patrick. Injuries happen and a team that is a contender needs to put winning first and have that assurance that the critical situations will have our best available. Slot receivers are a different breed and only Patrick has shown consistent production from that spot. Progress vs production is a tough balance that is more likely to see Patrick still with the team through training camp. Wouldn’t you feel more comfortable with this known productive player? Can you be sure the player replacing Patrick is above average and able to fulfill all these roles?

First: Dez Bryant and AOA were both drafted to add explosiveness to our return game. Also, there is precedent for rookies not being able to return punts. For instance, just look at how exceptional Desean Jackson and Percy Harvin have been in their young careers.

Second: It is interesting you would bring up Greg Ellis since Anthony Spencer’s play has certainly justified the Cowboys decision to move on from him. Also, I honestly have always thought Crayton was more of a me-first guy than he let on. Just look at his propensity to trash talk and make bold words (remember him telling everyone how the Cowboys would get another shot at the Patriots). You don’t usually see that in a great team-first guy. I also think his recent actions (staying away from OTAs while Spears and Hurd attend) certainly have revealed his true colors.

Finally: I understand that Crayton has experience, but if you look at a lot of the Cowboys most recent great moves they usually involve moving on from veterans to young players (Ellis to Spencer, Henry/Pacman to Jenkins). Youth, while it comes with some question marks, is not inherently bad by any means. Also, when you look down the line, we have Bryant and Ogletree. Both are guys that should excel in the slot and keeping Crayton around for this year will take reps and experience from those guys.

The Cowboys would’ve at least hosted the ‘08 NFC Title Game. You’ll remember Toomer as the wily veteran who made Roy Williams and Greg Ellis look like they were skating on crisco and displaying the tackling prowess of Gumby dammit. See, that’s what an impact no. 2 receiver does in the playoffs; not what Crayton did in that very same game.

Now I don’t necessarily begrudge him for being pissed that he’s the odd man out despite outperforming overpaid non-entity Roy Williams. On other hand, he has to understand it’s just business, baby. Besides Jerry taking a last stab out of getting something out of Roy, I like promoting the much sleeker and younger Ogletree over Crayton.

Everyone goes Ape-$h1T over cutting the 2nd most productive WR on the team just because Dallas drafted a WR 1st.

I think everybody needs to calm down and let training camp tell us who stays and who goes.

And just remember this, if Dallas lets Crayton go, they will have exactly ONE WR on this team who has demonstrated any sort of chemistry with Romo.