Crayton hopes to catch on as starter
By MAC ENGEL
Star-Telegram staff writer
IRVING -- Patrick Crayton will finally get the chance he so craves to prove he is more than a No. 3 receiver.
By way of Terry Glenn's knee injury that will probably force him to miss the season, Crayton moves next to Terrell Owens as a starting receiver against the New York Giants.
Second-year undrafted receiver Sam Hurd moves up to the No. 3 slot, and second-year undrafted receiver Miles Austin moves to No. 4.
The long-term effect caused by Glenn's absence might not be fully felt for weeks, but for the short-term the Cowboys will be leaning on Crayton, who has only seven career starts. And they will be playing two receivers in Hurd and Austin who have combined for zero starts and five career catches (Austin has none).
It appears as if these will be permanent moves, too. Multiple sources said Glenn is expected to miss the season, and the injury could be career-threatening.
The Cowboys have spoken with the agent of receiver Reche Caldwell, who was recently released by the Patriots.
Glenn had arthroscopic surgery Aug. 1 to remove loose cartilage and a cyst in his right knee. After missing the entire preseason, he returned to limited practice Sept. 1. On Wednesday during practice, Glenn was running a route when he planted his foot and felt pain in his right knee. He tried to continue practicing, but something wasn't right.
The Cowboys posted a story on their Web site Thursday evening with a quote from owner Jerry Jones saying Glenn was out for the season. The story was changed shortly after to say Glenn will be out two weeks.
On Friday, Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Glenn would not play against the Giants and that, "I don't know what his status will be from there on."
Glenn is expected to have his knee examined further.
So that leaves Crayton and Owens doing the heavy lifting at receiver. Owens, who sees double teams on most passing downs anyway, will likely see more of the same.
"My shoulders are big enough for all of this," Owens said.
Crayton will spend more time on the outside rather than the slot, where he has done the majority of his damage. As the slot receiver, he was tagged a possession player, or a receiver not fast enough to be on the outside.
"It's a stereotype you get. That's fine," said Crayton, who enters his fourth year in the league after he was a seventh-round pick in 2004 out of Northwestern Oklahoma State. He will also serve as the emergency quarterback Sunday.
"I'll be relishing this [opportunity] since I got a chance to get into the mix. I hate that it presented itself this way."
The same for Hurd, who takes Crayton's place as the third receiver. Receivers coach Ray Sherman told Hurd on Friday it doesn't matter if he was undrafted, played at a small college or hasn't done much to this point, because he had best play well now.
"He said, 'I don't care about none of that. Just go out there and ball,'" Hurd said. "I feel the same way. I'm very surprised this opportunity is here as quickly as it is. I know Terry's knee has been hurt before, so it's sad that he's out. I have to help fill in his void."
Expect the void also to be occupied by tight ends Jason Witten and Anthony Fasano. Witten could also line up at receiver.
Just don't expect a lot of excuses from the Cowboys.
"No excuses for anything that happens," Phillips said. "We're not going to whine or cry about it. We're not crybabies. There is no crying in football."
Star-Telegram staff writer
IRVING -- Patrick Crayton will finally get the chance he so craves to prove he is more than a No. 3 receiver.
By way of Terry Glenn's knee injury that will probably force him to miss the season, Crayton moves next to Terrell Owens as a starting receiver against the New York Giants.
Second-year undrafted receiver Sam Hurd moves up to the No. 3 slot, and second-year undrafted receiver Miles Austin moves to No. 4.
The long-term effect caused by Glenn's absence might not be fully felt for weeks, but for the short-term the Cowboys will be leaning on Crayton, who has only seven career starts. And they will be playing two receivers in Hurd and Austin who have combined for zero starts and five career catches (Austin has none).
It appears as if these will be permanent moves, too. Multiple sources said Glenn is expected to miss the season, and the injury could be career-threatening.
The Cowboys have spoken with the agent of receiver Reche Caldwell, who was recently released by the Patriots.
Glenn had arthroscopic surgery Aug. 1 to remove loose cartilage and a cyst in his right knee. After missing the entire preseason, he returned to limited practice Sept. 1. On Wednesday during practice, Glenn was running a route when he planted his foot and felt pain in his right knee. He tried to continue practicing, but something wasn't right.
The Cowboys posted a story on their Web site Thursday evening with a quote from owner Jerry Jones saying Glenn was out for the season. The story was changed shortly after to say Glenn will be out two weeks.
On Friday, Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Glenn would not play against the Giants and that, "I don't know what his status will be from there on."
Glenn is expected to have his knee examined further.
So that leaves Crayton and Owens doing the heavy lifting at receiver. Owens, who sees double teams on most passing downs anyway, will likely see more of the same.
"My shoulders are big enough for all of this," Owens said.
Crayton will spend more time on the outside rather than the slot, where he has done the majority of his damage. As the slot receiver, he was tagged a possession player, or a receiver not fast enough to be on the outside.
"It's a stereotype you get. That's fine," said Crayton, who enters his fourth year in the league after he was a seventh-round pick in 2004 out of Northwestern Oklahoma State. He will also serve as the emergency quarterback Sunday.
"I'll be relishing this [opportunity] since I got a chance to get into the mix. I hate that it presented itself this way."
The same for Hurd, who takes Crayton's place as the third receiver. Receivers coach Ray Sherman told Hurd on Friday it doesn't matter if he was undrafted, played at a small college or hasn't done much to this point, because he had best play well now.
"He said, 'I don't care about none of that. Just go out there and ball,'" Hurd said. "I feel the same way. I'm very surprised this opportunity is here as quickly as it is. I know Terry's knee has been hurt before, so it's sad that he's out. I have to help fill in his void."
Expect the void also to be occupied by tight ends Jason Witten and Anthony Fasano. Witten could also line up at receiver.
Just don't expect a lot of excuses from the Cowboys.
"No excuses for anything that happens," Phillips said. "We're not going to whine or cry about it. We're not crybabies. There is no crying in football."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:48 AM
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