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Taylor: Cowboys can't afford to let go of Patrick Crayton
09:22 PM CDT on Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Column by JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News
Column by JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News | jjtaylor@dallasnews.com
Jean-Jacques Taylor
Archive | Bio | E-mail
OXNARD, Calif. – The Cowboys would be stupid to release Patrick Crayton. Or trade him.
They're not a better team with the sixth- or seventh-round pick they would wrangle from another team in a trade. And the third tight end they could acquire for him isn't going make them better than Crayton would, either.
Crayton will earn $2 million this season, a reasonable salary by NFL standards, and since there's no salary cap, his salary shouldn't matter. Besides, Jerry Jones is making a mint off the nachos, beer and margaritas at Cowboys Stadium, so he can afford it.
And we haven't discussed the most important reason Crayton should be a member of this team: He's the third-best receiver.
It's not debatable, so don't even try.
Smart organizations don't get rid of good players. Cheaper isn't always better. You get what you pay for whether it's suits, cars or NFL players.
Crayton's value is in his versatility.
He knows each receiver position and can return punts. He's capable of holding for kicks, and now the Cowboys are even working him on the side as an emergency long snapper.
Among the receivers, he's the best blocker and is in the discussion for who has the best hands. Don't underestimate the trust factor between Crayton and Tony Romo.
"He runs really good routes, he has good hands and he has a great feel for our offense and great instincts for the game," Romo said. "Patrick is the same guy every day. We're lucky to have him."
Frankly, it's really kind of silly that Crayton has to keep proving his value to the Cowboys. Every time they try to replace him as a receiver or a punt returner, he shows why it would be a bad idea.
Last year, the Cowboys signed Skyline grad Alan Rossum during the bye week to return punts, but he pulled a hamstring on the opening kickoff against Atlanta. Just so you know, Crayton returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown in that game, and he had an 82-yard punt return for a TD against Seattle the next week.
Point made.
Crayton isn't the biggest, fastest or flashiest receiver. As a seventh-round pick, his draft pedigree will always work against him because he's a complementary player – not a star.
But every good team has a few tough, crafty veterans who aren't afraid to have the ball in their hands when the game is on the line. It's not about succeeding or failing; it's about wanting the opportunity to be the hero.
Not every player wants that pressure.
Some folks are probably still mad because Crayton dropped that pass – you know the one – against the Giants in the 2007 divisional playoffs.
Fair enough, but let's not act like he's the reason the Cowboys lost that game. There were a lot of culprits that day.
Other folks don't like Crayton because they think he's too opinionated. Get over it.
In a league full of cookie-cutter players who are too scared to say what's on their mind, it's refreshing to occasionally hear from one who isn't.
There was nothing wrong with Crayton voicing his dislike for the Giants, just as there was nothing wrong with Crayton saying he wanted to be traded or released in the off-season if the Cowboys viewed him only as an insurance policy.
He wanted to have time to find a team with the best situation for him to succeed. Players cut in September have to get in where they fit in because their options are limited.
Crayton really just wanted a legitimate opportunity to compete for playing time, something he wasn't sure would happen since Roy Williams isn't going anywhere because of his contract.
Neither is Miles Austin. Or first-round pick rookie Dez Bryant.
All Crayton's training camp performance has done is reinforce his value to the Cowboys, which is why they would be foolish to start the season without him.
• • •
09:22 PM CDT on Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Column by JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News
Column by JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News | jjtaylor@dallasnews.com
Jean-Jacques Taylor
Archive | Bio | E-mail
OXNARD, Calif. – The Cowboys would be stupid to release Patrick Crayton. Or trade him.
They're not a better team with the sixth- or seventh-round pick they would wrangle from another team in a trade. And the third tight end they could acquire for him isn't going make them better than Crayton would, either.
Crayton will earn $2 million this season, a reasonable salary by NFL standards, and since there's no salary cap, his salary shouldn't matter. Besides, Jerry Jones is making a mint off the nachos, beer and margaritas at Cowboys Stadium, so he can afford it.
And we haven't discussed the most important reason Crayton should be a member of this team: He's the third-best receiver.
It's not debatable, so don't even try.
Smart organizations don't get rid of good players. Cheaper isn't always better. You get what you pay for whether it's suits, cars or NFL players.
Crayton's value is in his versatility.
He knows each receiver position and can return punts. He's capable of holding for kicks, and now the Cowboys are even working him on the side as an emergency long snapper.
Among the receivers, he's the best blocker and is in the discussion for who has the best hands. Don't underestimate the trust factor between Crayton and Tony Romo.
"He runs really good routes, he has good hands and he has a great feel for our offense and great instincts for the game," Romo said. "Patrick is the same guy every day. We're lucky to have him."
Frankly, it's really kind of silly that Crayton has to keep proving his value to the Cowboys. Every time they try to replace him as a receiver or a punt returner, he shows why it would be a bad idea.
Last year, the Cowboys signed Skyline grad Alan Rossum during the bye week to return punts, but he pulled a hamstring on the opening kickoff against Atlanta. Just so you know, Crayton returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown in that game, and he had an 82-yard punt return for a TD against Seattle the next week.
Point made.
Crayton isn't the biggest, fastest or flashiest receiver. As a seventh-round pick, his draft pedigree will always work against him because he's a complementary player – not a star.
But every good team has a few tough, crafty veterans who aren't afraid to have the ball in their hands when the game is on the line. It's not about succeeding or failing; it's about wanting the opportunity to be the hero.
Not every player wants that pressure.
Some folks are probably still mad because Crayton dropped that pass – you know the one – against the Giants in the 2007 divisional playoffs.
Fair enough, but let's not act like he's the reason the Cowboys lost that game. There were a lot of culprits that day.
Other folks don't like Crayton because they think he's too opinionated. Get over it.
In a league full of cookie-cutter players who are too scared to say what's on their mind, it's refreshing to occasionally hear from one who isn't.
There was nothing wrong with Crayton voicing his dislike for the Giants, just as there was nothing wrong with Crayton saying he wanted to be traded or released in the off-season if the Cowboys viewed him only as an insurance policy.
He wanted to have time to find a team with the best situation for him to succeed. Players cut in September have to get in where they fit in because their options are limited.
Crayton really just wanted a legitimate opportunity to compete for playing time, something he wasn't sure would happen since Roy Williams isn't going anywhere because of his contract.
Neither is Miles Austin. Or first-round pick rookie Dez Bryant.
All Crayton's training camp performance has done is reinforce his value to the Cowboys, which is why they would be foolish to start the season without him.
• • •