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PRO: The Cowboys added a versatile athlete with the ability to contribute on offense and as a return specialist when they drafted Patrick Crayton in the seventh round (216th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft. Touted as one of the most versatile and multi-talented athletes in the country, Crayton saw time as a punt returner and receiver as a rookie, making an immediate impact in the club's historic Redskins series with a last-minute game-winning touchdown catch. In 2005 Crayton thrived in training camp taking full advantage of the competition to earn the third receiver spot and continued to impress coaches with his ability to make plays before a mid-season ankle injury slowed his second NFL season. After rehabbing the ankle Crayton came back to contribute for the final stretch in 2005, and he will be back to 100 percent for the 2006 season.
2005: Crayton had an outstanding sophomore campaign slowed by a fractured ankle but still saw action in 11 games. He led the team with a 7.2-yard punt return average and added 22 receptions for 341 yards and two touchdowns as the club's third receiver. He got off to a quick start, leading the team with career-highs in receptions (six) and receiving yards (89) at San Diego (9/11). He scored one touchdown and five of his six catches in the season opener gave the Cowboys first downs. Against Washington (9/19) he was limited to one catch for five yards and served as the team's punt returner with four returns for a 7.3-yard average. At San Francisco (9/25) he had four receptions for 39 yards and his first career rush for no gain on a fake punt attempt. He had a career-long 63-yard touchdown reception at Oakland (10/2) in the fourth quarter before posting two receptions for 30 yards and setting career-highs with seven punt returns for 84 yards against Philadelphia (10/9). Against the N.Y. Giants (10/16) he caught four passes for 46 yards, and his one catch on the Cowboys game-winning scoring drive in overtime was for 10 yards and gave the Cowboys a first down. Unfortunately he fractured his ankle on the play and was inactive for the next five games. He retuned to action at the N.Y. Giants (12/4) and saw limited playing time with one punt return for four yards. Crayton had four fair catches, tying the club single-game record, against Kansas City (12/11). At Washington (12/18) he had his first reception for 24 yards since suffering the injury and had one punt return for six yards. He added two more returns for eight yards at Carolina (12/24). He closed out the season against St. Louis (1/1/06) with three receptions for 45 yards and two punt returns for 15 yards.
2004: Crayton's rookie season got off to a slow start as he was inactive the first three weeks of the season. He was released on Oct. 2 and spent the next month on the club's practice squad before moving back to the active roster on Oct. 30 after Terry Glenn was lost for the season and Quincy Morgan was injured at Green Bay. Crayton made his NFL debut against Detroit (10/31) as a punt returner and receiver, recording a clutch 30-yard catch on third-and-eight to pick up a first down for his first career reception. That drive ended in the final touchdown of the game, putting Dallas up 31-21 with 1:54 remaining. The next week at Cincinnati (11/7), Crayton recorded two receptions for 14 yards as the club's third receiver. Again working as the club's third receiver against Philadelphia (11/15), he recorded two catches for six yards and took over as the club's punt returner in the second quarter, logging three returns for 34 yards (11.3 avg.). Crayton saw limited action as the fourth wide receiver at Seattle (12/6) and took a direct snap from center on a two-point attempt but was tackled short of the end zone. The following two weeks against New Orleans (12/12) and at Philadelphia (12/19), he was inactive. He returned to action in style against Washington (12/26), recording two catches for 54 yards and the game-winning touchdown. His first catch, a 15-yarder, came on fourth-and-10 from the Dallas 25-yard line with 1:09 remaining to pick up a first down on his first snap of the game. Five plays later, he hauled in a 39-yard touchdown pass to give Dallas the lead at 13-10 with 0:30 remaining. It was his first career touchdown reception and his first catch since Week 10. In the regular season finale at the N.Y. Giants (1/2/05), Crayton was second on the team with a season-high five receptions for 58 yards after taking over as the club's number two receiver when Keyshawn Johnson fractured his ankle. Four of his five receptions picked up a first down for Dallas and all five came on scoring drives. He had a 19-yard grab on fourth-and-one with 0:08 left in the first half to set up a Billy Cundiff 45-yard field goal as time expired. He then had three receptions for 27 yards, including one to convert a third-and-four on the Cowboys opening touchdown drive of the second half. In the second quarter he attempted his first career pass, throwing an interception after getting the ball on a handoff.
COLLEGE: A four-time all-conference selection, Crayton saw time as a punt returner, kickoff returner, quarterback and wide receiver at Northwestern Oklahoma State. In 44 games for the Rangers, Crayton averaged 19.0 yards-per-catch and scored 17 touchdowns on 80 receptions at receiver, rushed 209 times for 1,751 yards and 17 touchdowns, returned 72 punts for a 20.8-yard average and 10 touchdowns, returned 39 kickoffs for a 23.7-yard average and two scores and completed 136-of-236 passes for 1,967 yards, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. In four years, he amassed 5,688 all-purpose yards, including 3,718 yards in total offense and 46 touchdowns. As a senior, he earned Little All-America second team and All-Central States Football League Offensive Player of the Year honors starting at quarterback while also handling kickoff returns, punt returns and logging time at wide receiver. He completed 128-of-221 passes for 1,837 yards and a school-record 19 touchdowns. He also rushed for a school single-season record 1,476 yards with 13 touchdowns on 173 carries while adding 15 receptions for 331 yards and four scores. He became the first player in NAIA annals to score a touchdown passing, receiving, rushing and on kickoff and punt returns in a single season. As both a sophomore and junior, Crayton earned All-America honorable mention and All-CSFL first team honors at receiver. As a sophomore he led the nation with 19 punt returns for 508 yards (26.7 avg.) and three touchdowns.
PERSONAL: Crayton attended DeSoto, Texas, High School and was a standout competing at receiver, quarterback, running back and return specialist. He graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State with a degree in health education. He was a member of the Cowboys 2004 Rookie Club - a program designed to introduce rookie team members to community service in the Dallas area. He and his fellow rookie teammates participated in visits to various non-profit organizations serving children and adults, including the NFL Play It Smart program at Dallas' Lincoln High School, ChildCareGroup, NFL United Way Hometown Huddle and The Salvation Army. At the NFL Play It Smart visit to Lincoln High School, Crayton spoke to the football team about the importance of education. He also participated in the 2006 Stars of Texas - Racing Against the Odds event hosted by local newspaper columnist and radio personality Randy Galloway that raised over $300,000 for the American Diabetes Association. During the 2006 offseason, Crayton hosted a football camp for youth in his hometown of DeSoto, Texas. |
