Crayton gets first shot at postgame podium
By GIL LeBRETON
glebreton@star-telegram.com
IRVING — The greatest day of Patrick Crayton’s NFL career ended Sunday afternoon with a trip to the Cowboys’ interview room.
Spotlights. A dozen TV cameras positioned at the rear of the gathered media. Another 10 or so microphones waiting at the podium.
“Podium?” Crayton said, hesitating for a second as he entered the room. “I’ve never been to the podium.”
It turned out to be the only thing that slowed receiver Patrick Crayton all day.
Three weeks ago, the same media was chronicling the daily rehabilitation of injured wide receiver Terry Glenn. When Glenn, a veteran of 12 NFL seasons, underwent a second knee surgery Sept. 13, the Cowboys’ best hope for a full-featured passing game was supposed to have vanished with him.
But after Sunday’s 35-7 silencing of the Rams, there should be no questions about Crayton or the Cowboys’ passing game.
Except maybe one: Uh, who’s Terry Glenn?
Starting again, Crayton, a seventh-round draft choice in 2004, enjoyed the game of his NFL life. He caught seven passes for 184 yards, including third-quarter touchdown receptions of 59 and 37 yards.
Without Glenn, and with the St. Louis defense doubling Terrell Owens and tight end
Jason it was vital that someone, anyone, step up and be a factor on offense.
“Patrick has always stepped up,” quarterback Tony Romo corrected.
“It was huge for him,” Witten added. “Patrick kind of gets lost in the shuffle, but he really is a clutch receiver for us.”
He doesn’t have Witten’s Pro Bowl credentials. He doesn’t have Owens’ flamboyance. He doesn’t have Glenn’s lengthy résumé.
But Romo knows what Crayton does have for the Cowboys’ offense.
“Patrick has great hands,” Romo said. “Last week was probably the only time you’ll ever see him missing passes.
“He has great hands. Maybe the best hands on the team.”
Owens’ fickle paws have been well documented. He led the free world last season in dropped passes.
At the same time, according to Stats Inc., Crayton led the NFL in 2006 in fewest dropped passes: zero.
The game in Chicago was an aberration. Crayton had trouble handling at least two Romo throws and dropped a sure touchdown pass before halftime.
But, unofficially, he had a note from the doctor. Against Miami the week before, Crayton suffered an open dislocation of his pinky finger on his right hand.
Underneath his receiver gloves, the bone had broken through his skin. But Crayton kept playing, even returning a punt 49 yards.
“The finger is feeling fine,” he announced after Sunday’s game. “Last week wasn’t the finger, it was just a drop.”
Crayton said he told receivers coach Ray Sherman after the Bears game that he owed him one. When coach Wade Phillips gave Crayton a game ball after beating the Rams, the receiver presented the ball to Sherman.
“Because he’s been that type of coach,” Crayton explained. “With him, there’s never any yelling. He never berates you. He’s always in your corner.”
Crayton didn’t mention any names. But the veiled reference to The Previous Head Coach was obvious.
“I’m not going to get into that,” he said. “But it’s just more upbeat around here.”
Granted, just having the Rams in town is enough to make most NFL teams happy. St. Louis further accommodated Romo by leaving Crayton in day-long single coverage.
Cornerback Lenny Walls was scorched on the two touchdown receptions, and rookie Jonathan Wade mounted a futile chase on the others.
Crayton had special praise for the long throw over Walls that led him perfectly for the 59-yarder.
“The fade? It was lovely,” the receiver said. “It was lovely. Don’t tell Romo that, though.”
Crayton celebrated the touchdown by planting a kiss on the goal post. He couldn’t really explain why.
“Whatever comes into my head,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “I’m trying to keep up with No. 81 [Owens]. But he has a lot more opportunities there than I do.”
No one seems to be saying when Glenn will return to the lineup — or if. But days like Sunday make the question moot.
With Romo at quarterback and the Cowboys scoring at a record NFL pace, the ball is going to be spread around.
“Some days it’s my day,” Owens mused. “Some days it’s going to be Witten’s day.
“And today it’s St. Patrick’s Day.”
Crayton made it a holiday. The timing, like almost everything else so far this Cowboys season, seemed perfect.
glebreton@star-telegram.com
IRVING — The greatest day of Patrick Crayton’s NFL career ended Sunday afternoon with a trip to the Cowboys’ interview room.
Spotlights. A dozen TV cameras positioned at the rear of the gathered media. Another 10 or so microphones waiting at the podium.
“Podium?” Crayton said, hesitating for a second as he entered the room. “I’ve never been to the podium.”
It turned out to be the only thing that slowed receiver Patrick Crayton all day.
Three weeks ago, the same media was chronicling the daily rehabilitation of injured wide receiver Terry Glenn. When Glenn, a veteran of 12 NFL seasons, underwent a second knee surgery Sept. 13, the Cowboys’ best hope for a full-featured passing game was supposed to have vanished with him.
But after Sunday’s 35-7 silencing of the Rams, there should be no questions about Crayton or the Cowboys’ passing game.
Except maybe one: Uh, who’s Terry Glenn?
Starting again, Crayton, a seventh-round draft choice in 2004, enjoyed the game of his NFL life. He caught seven passes for 184 yards, including third-quarter touchdown receptions of 59 and 37 yards.
Without Glenn, and with the St. Louis defense doubling Terrell Owens and tight end
Jason it was vital that someone, anyone, step up and be a factor on offense.
“Patrick has always stepped up,” quarterback Tony Romo corrected.
“It was huge for him,” Witten added. “Patrick kind of gets lost in the shuffle, but he really is a clutch receiver for us.”
He doesn’t have Witten’s Pro Bowl credentials. He doesn’t have Owens’ flamboyance. He doesn’t have Glenn’s lengthy résumé.
But Romo knows what Crayton does have for the Cowboys’ offense.
“Patrick has great hands,” Romo said. “Last week was probably the only time you’ll ever see him missing passes.
“He has great hands. Maybe the best hands on the team.”
Owens’ fickle paws have been well documented. He led the free world last season in dropped passes.
At the same time, according to Stats Inc., Crayton led the NFL in 2006 in fewest dropped passes: zero.
The game in Chicago was an aberration. Crayton had trouble handling at least two Romo throws and dropped a sure touchdown pass before halftime.
But, unofficially, he had a note from the doctor. Against Miami the week before, Crayton suffered an open dislocation of his pinky finger on his right hand.
Underneath his receiver gloves, the bone had broken through his skin. But Crayton kept playing, even returning a punt 49 yards.
“The finger is feeling fine,” he announced after Sunday’s game. “Last week wasn’t the finger, it was just a drop.”
Crayton said he told receivers coach Ray Sherman after the Bears game that he owed him one. When coach Wade Phillips gave Crayton a game ball after beating the Rams, the receiver presented the ball to Sherman.
“Because he’s been that type of coach,” Crayton explained. “With him, there’s never any yelling. He never berates you. He’s always in your corner.”
Crayton didn’t mention any names. But the veiled reference to The Previous Head Coach was obvious.
“I’m not going to get into that,” he said. “But it’s just more upbeat around here.”
Granted, just having the Rams in town is enough to make most NFL teams happy. St. Louis further accommodated Romo by leaving Crayton in day-long single coverage.
Cornerback Lenny Walls was scorched on the two touchdown receptions, and rookie Jonathan Wade mounted a futile chase on the others.
Crayton had special praise for the long throw over Walls that led him perfectly for the 59-yarder.
“The fade? It was lovely,” the receiver said. “It was lovely. Don’t tell Romo that, though.”
Crayton celebrated the touchdown by planting a kiss on the goal post. He couldn’t really explain why.
“Whatever comes into my head,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “I’m trying to keep up with No. 81 [Owens]. But he has a lot more opportunities there than I do.”
No one seems to be saying when Glenn will return to the lineup — or if. But days like Sunday make the question moot.
With Romo at quarterback and the Cowboys scoring at a record NFL pace, the ball is going to be spread around.
“Some days it’s my day,” Owens mused. “Some days it’s going to be Witten’s day.
“And today it’s St. Patrick’s Day.”
Crayton made it a holiday. The timing, like almost everything else so far this Cowboys season, seemed perfect.
posted by The Gryphon at 5:34 PM
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