Patrick Crayton
Encyclopedia
Patrick Jamel Crayton is an American football
wide receiver
for the San Diego Chargers
of the National Football League
. He was a originally drafted in the seventh round (216th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft
by the Dallas Cowboys
. He played college football
at Northwestern Oklahoma State
.
where he was a quarterback
during his senior year and a wide receiver
in his previous three seasons. A four-time all-conference selection, Crayton saw time as a punt returner, kickoff returner, quarterback and wide receiver at NWOSU. In 44 games during his Ranger career, Crayton averaged 19.0 yards-per-catch and scored 17 touchdowns at receiver, rushed for 17 touchdowns, returned 72 punts for a 20.8-yard average and ten touchdowns, returned two kickoffs for scores and passed for 21 touchdowns with eight interceptions. In four years, he amassed 5,688 all-purpose yards, including 3,718 yards in total offense and 46 touchdowns.
As both a sophomore and junior, Crayton earned All-America honorable mention and All-Central States Football League
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. As a senior, he earned Little All-America second team and All-CSFL Offensive Player of the Year honors starting at quarterback while also handling kickoff returns, punt returns and logging time at wide receiver. While leading the Rangers to the 2003 NAIA National Championship
game his senior year, Crayton passed 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 history to score a touchdown passing, receiving, rushing and on kickoff and punt returns in a single season.
by Dallas in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft
. He had unexpected success as a rookie during the 2004 season
, following injuries to wide receivers higher up the depth chart
. During the following offseason, he outperformed Quincy Morgan
, leading to Morgan's release. In his first game of the 2005 season
, Crayton continued his solid play with six receptions for 89 yards and one touchdown. However, he sustained a broken ankle during the middle of the 2005 season, and was unable to return to full form during his return later that year.
The 2006 season
brought Crayton back to renewed prominence, especially when the Cowboys switched quarterbacks mid-season to Tony Romo
. Crayton recorded his first 100-yard game against the Arizona Cardinals
in 2006 when filling in for an injured Terry Glenn
. Former Cowboys Head Coach
Bill Parcells
has said numerous times that Crayton has the best hands on the team. In the Wildcard playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks
, Crayton had a diving touchdown in a losing effort.
During the 2007 season
, Crayton filled in nicely at the #2 receiver spot while Terry Glenn was rehabbing from a knee injury. On December 27, 2007, Crayton was rewarded for his efforts with a four-year contract extension worth $14 million. Crayton had a 697 yard season in 2007. Crayton has developed a reputation around the league as a vocal player.
In 2008, Crayton started seven-of-16 games played and was replaced by Roy Williams
in the starting position after he was traded from the Detroit Lions in week 5. By the end of the season Patrick had caught 39 passes for 550 yards and four touchdowns - which tied for second on the team with Jason Witten. Patrick also finished with 15 punt returns for 143 yards while sharing that role with Adam 'Pacman' Jones.
In 2009, Patrick was yet again the number two receiver behind Roy Williams after the Cowboys cut Terrell Owens
, who signed with the Buffalo Bills soon after. Patrick started 6 out of the 16 games he played this season and caught 37 passes for 622 yards (Averaging 16.8 yards per catch, a career high )including a career long 80 yard TD recption in Week 1 against Tampa Bay. Patrick also caught 5 Touchdowns which ranked third on the team behind Roy Williams (7) and Miles Austin (11). Patrick also scored his first punt return touchdown of his career in this season in week 7 at Atlanta and followed it up with his second a week later against the Seahawks. Patrick finished with 36 punt returns for 437 yards and 2 TDs(Tied with DeSean Jackson for first in the league PR TD) with a long of 82 which are all career highs.
On September 3, 2010, Crayton was traded to the San Diego Chargers for a 2011
7th-round draft pick, one day after his agent requested his release.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was a originally drafted in the seventh round (216th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Northwestern Oklahoma State
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Northwestern Oklahoma State University, also known as NWOSU, is a university in Alva, Oklahoma, United States, with satellite campuses in Enid and Woodward. A state university, it offers both bachelor's and master's degrees.-Establishment:...
.
College career
Crayton attended Northwestern Oklahoma State UniversityNorthwestern Oklahoma State University
Northwestern Oklahoma State University, also known as NWOSU, is a university in Alva, Oklahoma, United States, with satellite campuses in Enid and Woodward. A state university, it offers both bachelor's and master's degrees.-Establishment:...
where he was a quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
during his senior year and a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
in his previous three seasons. A four-time all-conference selection, Crayton saw time as a punt returner, kickoff returner, quarterback and wide receiver at NWOSU. In 44 games during his Ranger career, Crayton averaged 19.0 yards-per-catch and scored 17 touchdowns at receiver, rushed for 17 touchdowns, returned 72 punts for a 20.8-yard average and ten touchdowns, returned two kickoffs for scores and passed for 21 touchdowns with eight interceptions. In four years, he amassed 5,688 all-purpose yards, including 3,718 yards in total offense and 46 touchdowns.
As both a sophomore and junior, Crayton earned All-America honorable mention and All-Central States Football League
Central States Football League
The Central States Football League is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA. Member institutions are located in Oklahoma and Texas and compete only in football...
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. As a senior, he earned Little All-America second team and All-CSFL Offensive Player of the Year honors starting at quarterback while also handling kickoff returns, punt returns and logging time at wide receiver. While leading the Rangers to the 2003 NAIA National Championship
NAIA national football championship
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Football National Championship is decided by a post-season playoff system featuring the best NAIA college football teams in the United States. Under sponsorship of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the championship game has...
game his senior year, Crayton passed 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 history to score a touchdown passing, receiving, rushing and on kickoff and punt returns in a single season.
Professional career
Crayton was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by Dallas in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. He had unexpected success as a rookie during the 2004 season
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
, following injuries to wide receivers higher up the depth chart
Depth chart
In sports, a depth chart is used to show the placements of the starting players and the secondary players. Generally a starting player will be listed first or on top while a back-up will be listed below...
. During the following offseason, he outperformed Quincy Morgan
Quincy Morgan
Quincy Demond Earl Morgan is an American football free agent wide receiver in the National Football League who has played for the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Denver Broncos...
, leading to Morgan's release. In his first game of the 2005 season
2005 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2005 Dallas Cowboys season began with the team trying to improve on their 6–10 record in 2004. Despite a 7–3 start, the Cowboys ended the season with a 9–7 record and narrowly missed the playoffs.-Offseason:...
, Crayton continued his solid play with six receptions for 89 yards and one touchdown. However, he sustained a broken ankle during the middle of the 2005 season, and was unable to return to full form during his return later that year.
The 2006 season
2006 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2006 Dallas Cowboys season began with the team trying to improve on their 9–7 record in 2005. The base offense was changed to a 2-TE formation. Several high profile free agents were signed including controversial wide receiver Terrell Owens and kicker Mike Vanderjagt...
brought Crayton back to renewed prominence, especially when the Cowboys switched quarterbacks mid-season to Tony Romo
Tony Romo
Antonio Ramiro "Tony" Romo is a professional American football quarterback in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys. Romo's career passer rating - at 95.8 - ranks third-best all time. Tony Romo didn't play in the regular season in 2003, 2004, or 2005...
. Crayton recorded his first 100-yard game against the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2006 when filling in for an injured Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn
Terry Tyree Glenn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
. Former Cowboys Head Coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
has said numerous times that Crayton has the best hands on the team. In the Wildcard playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, Crayton had a diving touchdown in a losing effort.
During the 2007 season
2007 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2007 Dallas Cowboys season was the 48th season for the team in the National Football League. The Cowboys finished the regular season tied for the best record in the NFC , and earned a first round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs...
, Crayton filled in nicely at the #2 receiver spot while Terry Glenn was rehabbing from a knee injury. On December 27, 2007, Crayton was rewarded for his efforts with a four-year contract extension worth $14 million. Crayton had a 697 yard season in 2007. Crayton has developed a reputation around the league as a vocal player.
In 2008, Crayton started seven-of-16 games played and was replaced by Roy Williams
Roy Williams (wide receiver)
Roy Eugene Williams, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currently a member of the Chicago Bears. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions seventh overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
in the starting position after he was traded from the Detroit Lions in week 5. By the end of the season Patrick had caught 39 passes for 550 yards and four touchdowns - which tied for second on the team with Jason Witten. Patrick also finished with 15 punt returns for 143 yards while sharing that role with Adam 'Pacman' Jones.
In 2009, Patrick was yet again the number two receiver behind Roy Williams after the Cowboys cut Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
, who signed with the Buffalo Bills soon after. Patrick started 6 out of the 16 games he played this season and caught 37 passes for 622 yards (Averaging 16.8 yards per catch, a career high )including a career long 80 yard TD recption in Week 1 against Tampa Bay. Patrick also caught 5 Touchdowns which ranked third on the team behind Roy Williams (7) and Miles Austin (11). Patrick also scored his first punt return touchdown of his career in this season in week 7 at Atlanta and followed it up with his second a week later against the Seahawks. Patrick finished with 36 punt returns for 437 yards and 2 TDs(Tied with DeSean Jackson for first in the league PR TD) with a long of 82 which are all career highs.
On September 3, 2010, Crayton was traded to the San Diego Chargers for a 2011
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
7th-round draft pick, one day after his agent requested his release.