Dallas' ‘good hands man'
Crayton a primary receiver in prolific offense
Crayton a primary receiver in prolific offense

By Berry Tramel

Published: October 7, 2007

IRVING, Texas — Tony Romo says he has confidence in Patrick Crayton. But talk is cheap.

Romo proved his trust.

Given a chance to make amends for the most capital of receiver crimes, Crayton produced the game of his life last Sunday in the Dallas Cowboys' 35-7 rout of St. Louis: six catches, 184 yards, two touchdowns.

Romo had no qualms throwing the ball to Crayton a week after Crayton dropped an easy touchdown pass against Chicago.

"Patrick has great hands,” Romo said of the fourth-year wide receiver from Northwestern Oklahoma State. "Maybe the best hands on the team. Last week will probably be the last time you see Patrick drop something like that.”

With the injury to veteran Terry Glenn, Crayton has become a primary receiver in the prolific Dallas offense. Through four game, tight end Jason Witten has 20 catches for 304 yards and three touchdowns, flanker Terrell Owens 19 catches for 362 yards and three TDs, and Crayton 13 catches for 262 yards and two scores.

"We're spreading the ball out a lot,” Witten said. "We're going to get T.O. the ball as much as we can, but Tony gets the ball to other receivers as well.”

Owens, a troublemaker on teams past but a model citizen so far in 2007, said that's fine with him: "I've known that's going to be the case all along. Anybody's going to have a big day. Someday's going to be my day, Witten's day. (Sunday) was Patrick's day. Sounds good; St. Patrick's Day.”

The previous Sunday was not saintly for Crayton. The Bears led 3-0 at Soldier Field in the second quarter when Dallas faced 3rd-and-10 from the Chicago 12-yard line. Romo dropped back, found Crayton clear in the end zone and delivered the ball on target. It fell to the turf.

Touchdowns are hard to come by in the NFL, even with this Dallas offense. Early in the third quarter of that Cowboy-Bear game, the score was 3-3, though Dallas broke away for a 34-10 rout.

"No one wants to drop the ball,” Crayton said. "But they're part of the game. Like injuries or fumbles. It's how you bounce back from them that determines what kind of football player you are.”

Consider Crayton's status secured. He caught two third-quarter touchdowns: a 59-yarder on a short pass in which cornerback Lenny Walls gambled for an interception and was made to pay when Crayton sped down the sideline to the end zone, then also scored on a 37-yarder on a perfectly-thrown streak route.

"I have a lot of confidence in all our young receivers,” Romo said. "I don't think twice about throwing them the ball. Patrick's always stepped up. He came open and did a great job.”

Crayton was a quarterback at Northwestern. Drafted in the seventh and final round by Dallas, he was a bit player early for Bill Parcells. An occasional receiver. Kick returner. Special-teams member.

But Crayton's receiving numbers have gone up each year with Dallas:

* 12 catches in 2004, 22 in 2005, 36 in 2006 and now on pace for 52 in '07.

* 162 yards in 2004, then 341, 516 and now on pace for 1,048.

* One TD catch in 2004, then two, four and now on pace for eight.

Glenn's injury has provided Crayton with a chance to shine.

"I feel like I'm back in Northwestern Oklahoma, out there having fun, giving high-fives,” Crayton said.

Against the Rams, Crayton even improvised on a touchdown celebration, kissing the goal post.

"I waited for a lineman to come and spike it,” Crayton said. Guard Marc "Colombo was like, ‘I was coming.' I said, ‘You took too long.'

"I try to keep up with 81 (Owens), but he gets a few more opportunities than I do. I have to take advantage.”

Dallas coach Wade Phillips awarded Crayton a game ball for his performance against the Rams, but Crayton immediately passed it on to Ray Sherman, his receivers coach.

"He's been the type of coach, never any yelling, never berates you,” Crayton said. "Always in your corner. Coaches like that are why you want to play.”

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