Speculation Abounds on Patrick Crayton's Future with Dallas Cowboys
by Brandon Worley on Sep 2, 2010 2:45 PM CDT
in Dallas Cowboys News
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PrintAfter the Dallas Cowboys drafted Dez Bryant this past April, Dia Wall of DallasCowboys.com has said she overheard just two words from receiver Patrick Crayton: "That's interesting."
Crayton instantly began to worry about his future with the Cowboys, declining to attend voluntary OTA's while claiming he wanted to either be assured of a roster spot or just be traded or released immediately. His fear, a very legitimate one, is that he would spend all of camp with the Cowboys and then be released just a week before the regular season. He said during several interviews over the summer he'd be content with whatever role the Cowboys wanted him to fill this season but the last thing he wanted was to be searching for a job at the last minute.
If the reports coming out Dallas today are true, then that fear could very well become a reality.
First reported on the Ben & Skin Show on 105.3 The Fan, the word is that the Cowboys are reportedly actively seeking a trading partner for Crayton; if they can't trade him he'll likely be released before Saturday. Now, I don't put much faith into a random report on the Ben & Skin Show, but since then both ESPN Dallas and the Dallas Morning News have commented on the "whispers" from Valley Ranch that Crayton's future with the team is in doubt. I won't believe these rumors until something concrete emerges but when there's enough smoke...sometimes there's fire.
During Wade Phillips' time in Dallas, both he and Jerry Jones -- for the most part -- have made nothing but the right decisions. We can moan about the Roy Williams trade all we want, but this current regime's personnel decisions have tended to be the right ones.
If the Cowboys cut or trade Crayton, this would easily be the worst one.
While we don't know if any of these reports are remotely true, Crayton did go on the air this morning in Dallas to discuss his future. He didn't anything, but he did sound like a very despondent player who feels his time with the team is coming to an end. It's not a fair way to treat the veteran either, as he's had a great camp and good preseason and now could be having to scramble to find a job just days before the season starts.
I understand that the Cowboys are heavy at wide receiver this season and that they really love Sam Hurd and Kevin Ogletree. It's very likely that Crayton would be just a fourth receiver and a backup option on special teams, and that generally those players are a dime a dozen in the NFL. Yet with Crayton, the Cowboys would be losing a player that is so much more than that.
While the fans don't like his propensity to talk trash -- and he'll never live down his drop against the Giants -- it's arguable that the Cowboys would be losing their most dependable receiver. This is a guy that has spent nearly his entire career catching passes from Tony Romo, a receiver whom Romo turns to time and again on third down, in the second half and in the red zone. They have incredible chemistry and 98% of the time Crayton is going to catch what is thrown his way.
For a team that is hoping to make a Super Bowl run this season, Crayton is invaluable. He's a dependable veteran who can play any of the receiver positions, he is a dependable option on the return teams and he's willing to do whatever is needed to help the team.
Every Super Bowl team has a player like Crayton, a player that the quarterback can turn to at any time to make the play. He may not be the fastest, but he gets the job done.
We won't know for certain if Crayton is on his way out until tomorrow or Saturday, but personally this leaves me feeling a bit empty inside. For Patrick Crayton's sake, hopefully the Cowboys trade him -- if only for a very, very low draft pick -- so one of the most dependable players for the Cowboys over the past six years isn't looking for a job next week.
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Crayton is great
Hurd is marking nearly as much as Crayton is and has never been productive on the field in the regular season. So what’s the incentive to keep Hurd and cut Crayton?
If you can find a trade partner, I understand it. If you get a decent draft pick or an O-lineman, I can understand it.
But releasing Crayton outright and keeping Hurd? I think that’s a really bad decision.
Crayton can't play gunner
he’s too slow
by AustonianAggie on Sep 2, 2010 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Don't do it.
Trading or cutting Crayton is a big mistake. Dallas will need him to make a run at the SB.
Lock n Load
Agree
Why cut a Receiver who has chemistry with Romo for a special teamer who has never broken the starting lineup? If anyone gets cut it would be Hurd in my opinion
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"There is a fine line between Genius and Insanity"-Unknown Author
by I draft the Cowboys!!!! on Sep 2, 2010 2:53 PM CDT reply actions
I’m a fan of the San Antonio Spurs as well and Gregg Popovich saw his team getting too old and made a choice to go with younger players in lieu of dependable veterans. When the team struggled through most of last season Pop commented on underestimating the impact of losing so much “corporate knowledge” would have on the teams performance.
Crayton has a great deal of corporate knowledge. Who do you trust more at this point to make the right adjustment when reading a blitz Crayton or an Ogletree or a Bryant?
Honestly
I trust Crayton more than Austin.
Crayton has been a starter in this system longer than any other reciever on the team and has the best chemistry with Romo, even if he lacks the physical gifts of the others in the receiving corps.
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 2, 2010 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions
that's pretty crazy
I like Crayton and all- but Austin has oodles more talent, and hasn’t given you any reason not to trust him. That combined with Crayton crapping the bed in the playoffs where his role was more prevalent would keep me from feeling that way 7 days out the week.
I mean, it’s not like Crayton is earning a starting spot after all these years. Austin came from the same place and zoomed past him on the depth chart.
2009 BTB Part Deux Fantasy League Champion. 'Kill Everybody 13-2'. KDP knows football.
"Yeah, he's good. Dez Bryant is smooth, fast and has velcro hands.... He's going to give his QBs a giant comfort zone; if you throw it in his vicinity, odds are very good that he'll catch it."- Rafeal Vela, 1st day of 2010 training camp.
I wouldn't describe it as zooming past him
It did take him 3 seasons.
I think the issue of QB trust is totally different than outright talent. Austin has way more talent, but I do agree with Blue Eyed Devil that Crayton is still above Austin in Romo’s trust line of succession . Witten, Crayton, then Austin (but he’s almost caught up to Crayton there).
Thank you #22, for everything you did for the Cowboys. There will never be another one like you.
Not to mention...
Crayton has always been a staple of my fantasy teams…..
One of the last Joe Nieuwendyk supporters in Dallas....
Defending Big D - Dallas Stars news & analysis; SB Nation Dallas-Fort Worth
Kelvin Martin = Patrick Crayton
Totally agree with you. All successful teams I bet can look back and point to an unheralded player/nonsuperstar that played a big role in the playoffs/championship. Miles is great but has had only one truly great year after being hounded with injuries. Roy Williams can’t be trusted yet. Dez is coming off an ankle injury where he missed all of preseason as a rookie and is even more behind the 8 ball since he was suspended a majority of his last college season. Ogletree might have regressed from last year. Hurd has been so insignificant at WR there is talk of Holley passing him. And they want to get rid of Crayton? Idiotic.
It wouldn't be worse than the Roy trade
But it would be fishy.
And for what it’s worth, Crayton breaking off his route in the endzone of the Giants game, only to have Romo’s pass land a couple yards past him, was worse than the drop…but no one remembers that one.
But otherwise he’s been solid.
Nothing could be worse than the Roy Trade
The Joey Galloway trade, drafting Quincy Carter. The Roy trade was worse than all of them, it is Jerry’s new level of screw-ups.
I don’t think it’s even possible for this team to do worse.
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 2, 2010 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions
It wouldn't be worse
But cutting Crayton and keeping Williams and Hurd would be right up there. Williams has been awful ever since he got here. It seems like the offense is only playing with ten guys whenever he’s on the field. Hurd’s only value to this team is on special teams. I’d love to see the top four WRs be Austin, Bryant, Crayton, and Ogletree.
Not necessarily
Because the story’s not yet all been written on Roy. He might have an outstanding season this year. Bwahahahahahaha! Sorry, I thought I could say that with a straight face.
I can see a trade, but not a cut
If the team can get good value for Crayton, I can see trading him. It could be a win-win, if the trade is to a team that needs a good #2 or #3 receiver where Patrick would get more plays on the field.
But cutting him for Hurd or Ogletree? I just don’t see it. I think PC is clearly a better receiver than either of them. He has a history of usually making the catch to keep drives alive. He seem to have a good rapport with Romo. And it’s not like the Cowboys will have to ditch all their youth at wide receiver to keep him.
I hope the team is just shopping him to see if a trade would benefit them. There are also rumors flying about Hurd, so maybe the plan is to trade whoever they get the best deal for.
The new mantra: No more injuries. No more injuries. Everybody now: NO MORE INJURIES!
My biggest issue with trading him is that we’re not going to get much in return. To most teams he’s a number 2 or 3 WR so at most your looking at a late 3rd or 4th round pick and maybe a conditional pick.
I think if you can get a late 3rd for him then you have to do it. Right now he’s the 4th WR on a team that is going to give Ogletree every chance to succeed.
What's Dallas going to get for Crayton?
If they’re lucky a 6th or 7th. He’s worth more to this team if they really think they are in the NFC championship race.
Lock n Load
Even a 5th is a reach
In general, teams have been hoarding their draft picks recently.
by Blue Eyed Devil on Sep 2, 2010 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions
I like Crayton, especially appreciating his raport with Romo
his biggest problem is he’s not a gunner or a ST tackling ace though, and as a 4th WR you should be able to do some of that
Very true.
But if they can’t trade him….just releasing outright, at this point…that just seems dirty.
One of the last Joe Nieuwendyk supporters in Dallas....
Defending Big D - Dallas Stars news & analysis; SB Nation Dallas-Fort Worth
by Brandon Worley on Sep 2, 2010 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions
What if he's actually your 3rd because Dez isn't 100% or implodes or somesuch???
The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano
Really, that is the best argument
If something happens to one of the three receivers ahead of him (and let’s face it, it is very likely one will go down for a while at some point during the season), who do you want to rely on? I just can’t see cutting Crayton outright. Hurd or Ogletree, I can, but not Crayton.
I’ve been wrong before, but a cut just doesn’t seem logical.
The new mantra: No more injuries. No more injuries. Everybody now: NO MORE INJURIES!
my guess is Dallas is weighing
whether is can get more for Sam Hurd of Patrick Crayton, and if either catches something worthwhile, thats the one that gets dealt. Hurd is younger but good on ST, Crayton is older but established as a good route runner with good hands.
Good route running ages well though.
I also do not believe Olgetree is immune right now
by AustonianAggie on Sep 2, 2010 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Agree on Ogletree
Admittedly the tea leaves are murky, but it does seem like the team is planning to go with five wideouts, and wants to make the final decision based on who they can trade. The recent rumors about Crayton and Hurd may indicate that they are seen as having more value, but if neither is traded, I would not be surprised to see the Tree get cut down because of the issues earlier in camp.
The new mantra: No more injuries. No more injuries. Everybody now: NO MORE INJURIES!
We're talking about Jerry here.
He hasn’t done much that was logical this offseason.
"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel
100% agree with all of you
and if this team cuts Crayton, my confidence in this year would drop immensly. Hurd is walking potential and outside of special teams, he has contributed nothing to this team.
Crayton is a dependable professional and to cut him loose so close to the start of the regular season would leave a horrible taste in my mouth.
I sure hope this is a rumor that Jesse holley or somebody started.
Blame it on Roy!
Gets the conversation away from him. Besides, he gets blamed for so much, what’s something else?
The new mantra: No more injuries. No more injuries. Everybody now: NO MORE INJURIES!
Would hate to see him go.
I say free the Tree and let him find a job out there.
I want this team to win it all this year, not a year or two down the road.
Crayton helps them do it this year!
Go Cowboys.....Go White Sox.....
I can buy the trade speculation, but I call bs on just cutting him
Like most on here, I think cutting a player as good as Crayton has been for this team, and receive nothing in compensation would be totally idiotic, and don’t believe it for a second. Especially with Ogletree’s disappointing pre-season and TC. Romo and Garrett wouldn’t be on board with a move like that. The last thing the offense needs is to subtract a player who has great chemistry with Romo and knows his role on the team.
What I can believe, is that BSPN decided to throw in their opinion to make the story more juicy.
Thank you #22, for everything you did for the Cowboys. There will never be another one like you.
What?
I just noticed that the contributing authors list no longer contains Mr. Vela…?
There is no right way to do the wrong thing. GO COWBOYS!!
I'd definitely keep Crayton for one more year.
If we are this supposed Super Bowl-contending team, a player like Crayton can be a tool to help us get there.
~Texas Massacre '09~
Would be very sad to see him go.....
He has the best hands on the team, and has always played with passion — Except for that dropped pass and that quit route against the giants that year….. Romo trusts him, and I think we’ve already found out that when Romo doesn’t trust someone (ROY), it screws up the chemistry of the whole offense and Romo won’t even make the appearance of making his reads — he’ll just lock into 1 receiver every time.
So many teams are hurting at WR in the NFL right now....
The Cowboys have had it too good for too long, and they don’t realize that if they cut this guy — We’re 1 injury away from having to depend on guys that have never been productive in regular season games.
Why not just get rid of the overrated and overhyped Hurd?
Doesn’t make any sense. Yeah, if they do Crayton like that then that’s pretty sorry.
"The Angels are like the villain in the movie that isn't dead until he's been stabbed 150 times in the bath tub, yet he still might come back up one more time." - Eric Nadel
This would be very disappointing
Crayton’s been a reliable player, a staple of this team for a long time. I don’t agree with fans who say he is holding the team back at the wr spot. He and Witten are clearly Romo’s favorite targets when he gets in trouble. Seeing how unreliable Roy, Bennet and Ogletree have been at points, its no wonder fans want to keep Crayton
On the other hand, this team has a glut of talented wrs, and Crayton will probably be 4th string, which means very few opportunities a game.
So I don’t know. I love Crayton, but I won’t get worked up too much whatever our organization decides
I pretty much talked myself out of my title
over the course of my (relatively short) post
OH NO
For the love of the Triplets, keep Crayton! I would rather have a dependable guy who has chemistry with the QB, than a guy who was decent for one year!
They should keep Crayton
You never know how Williams will do and Bryant is just a rookie. If they both struggle, they’ll miss Crayton.
i hope patrick keeps his head up
i can believe that they’re checking to see what they could get for him, but unless someone comes across with a can’t-refuse offer, i agree that they should keep him. how can this team be talking about contending this year and have roy as the 2nd receiver and a rook (even a very promising one) as the 3rd? you need someone who you can count on, and that’s crayton all over.
not to mention that the guy is pretty versatile – can play all 3 WR spots, return punts, even be 3rd QB. i’d cut mcgee before i cut crayton.
Appreciate Your Respect for Crayton
. . . but Dallas needs the upside provided by the player who would be kept in lieu of Crayton. Dallas needs the speed and the longer term potential; Crayton got a good deal from Jerry in the middle of the season in 2007. Teams can’t make decisions on sentiment or loyalty foir past performances.
Iowacowboy fan?
B.S. this man told you out right if you didn’t want him release him so he could seek a trade. Now would I do that for every player on the team? No, but Patrick Crayton has been loyal to the Cowboys since we have drafted him. He is also a proven veteran who had contributed to our success at since we have drafted him. Yeah, I think we OWE it to him for what he has contributed to us to atleast trade him or keep him.
One more year
I think that we should atleast keep him one more year, then if we feel that we have more upside with other recievers, then release him in the beginning of the offseason like we did with Pacman and T.O. and the other players. Releasing him now would be dirty. I love my cowboys with all my heart, but if we do this, this is one move I just can’t get down with.
Roy Williams WR -- the mistake that keeps on giving
After the Cowboys drafted Dez Bryant, the Cowboys should have cut Roy Williams this offseason because it wouldn’t have caused them any cap hit.
Now they have compounded the problem by preparing to cut Patrick Crayton. If you look at the stats from last season, Patrick had one less catch than Roy, but gained more yardage. He had 5 TDs to 7 for Roy. Roy fumbled, Patrick didn’t. Compare yourself.
Player G Rec Yds Yd/G Avg Long TDs Fum Fum Lost
R. Williams 15 38 596 39.7 15.68 66t 7 1 1
P. Crayton 16 37 622 38.9 16.81 80t 5 0 0
Crayton also contributed on special teams by averaging 12.1 yards per punt return, his highest total ever. He also broke a couple for TDs.
Player G Ret FC Yds Avg Long TDs
P. Crayton 16 36 23 437 12.1 82t 2
Then there’s this:
Incomplete Pass Information
Targets Drops Percent Caught Percent First Down
86 8 44.2 33.7
Incomplete Pass Information
Targets Drops Percent Caught Percent First Down
67 4 55.2 40.3
Guess which one is Roy and which is Patrick? Of course the first is Roy.
To sum up, Roy catches 1 more ball despite being thrown 19 more balls, for fewer yards and a lower average, two more TDs, but a turnover that Patrick didn’t have, for a lower percentage of first downs, and he doesn’t play special teams, where Crayton was by far the best punt returner, and at 12.1 yards per return, he ranked 3rd in the NFL.
Objectively speaking, you would have to keep Patrick Crayton over Roy Williams. When you factor in that Patrick outperforms Roy for a tiny fraction of his salary, it is pretty ridiculous. But this is what happens when the owner goes all in for a player that turns out to be a big mistake. Maybe Dez Bryant can stay healthy and relegate Roy to #3 receiver, where he’ll produce almost as well as Patrick Crayton, and the whole thing will be a wash. Albeit with a lot of wasted money by the Cowboys that needs to be invested in the Offensive line.
Good analysis.
In addition to more balls thrown, I bet Williams was probably included in more plays (lined up on the field) than Crayton.
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