kepdawg
12-28-2007, 12:15 AM
Pay-Day
Crayton Agrees To Four-Year, $14 Million Extension
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 27, 2007 9:05 PM
IRVING, Texas - He entered this season as the third wide receiver, but has played the No. 2 spot all year. On Sunday, he'll probably be the lead receiver.
He's handled the punt return duties all season.
And although the Cowboys have barely even needed a backup quarterback this year, he's always been ready to handle the third spot in an emergency situation.
It would appear that Patrick Crayton has some value to the Cowboys.
They showed just how much on Thursday night.
The Cowboys have agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension worth $14 million, including a $6 million signing bonus. The deal could reach as high as $16 million, based on escalator clauses and incentives.
Crayton is third on the team in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns with 48 grabs for 689 yards and seven touchdowns.
"This is exactly where I want to be," Crayton said, referring to the speculation that he might re-join Bill Parcells, who drafted him in Dallas and was recently named vice president of football operations in Miami.
But Crayton denied any interest in leaving the Cowboys on Thursday, stating his focus is getting a deal done and staying in Dallas. Crayton was a high school standout at nearby DeSoto, just south of Dallas.
With Terry Glenn's knee injury keeping him out of the first 15 games, Crayton has thrived in the No. 2 spot opposite Terrell Owens, who will not play this Sunday against Washington because of a high ankle sprain.
Crayton, a fourth-year receiver, was expected to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. This past off-season, the Cowboys gave him a one-year, $1.3 million tender offer as a restricted free agent.
Crayton becomes the third player the Cowboys have signed to a long-term extension this season to avoid free agency after the year.
Of course, the Cowboys made major headlines back on Oct. 30 when they tagged Tony Romo as the team's quarterback of the future, giving him a six-year, $67.5 million extension. Romo was expected to be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.
Just two weeks ago, the Cowboys gave starting nose tackle Jay Ratliff a five-year, $20.5 million deal. Ratliff was set to be a restricted free agent after the season.
The Cowboys didn't want Romo, Ratliff or Crayton to test the free-agent waters. And just like Romo and Ratliff, Crayton has been a pleasant surprise considering where his career started.
A seventh-round pick from Northwestern Oklahoma State, Crayton was a college quarterback who had to make the adjustment to wide receiver. A do-it-all star at the NAIA level where he excelled as a quarterback, occasional receiver and kick and punt return specialist, Crayton didn't make the transition to receiver right away.
But he's gradually improved every season.
As a rookie, Crayton caught just 12 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown - a game-winner against the Redskins. But in 2005, he was on his way to a solid year as the third receiver behind Glenn and Keyshawn Johnson before a broken ankle forced him to miss five games. He finished the year with 22 grabs for 341 yards and two scores.
Last year, despite the arrival of Owens, Crayton still emerged as a clutch receiver for Romo, getting 36 receptions for 516 yards and four touchdowns and catching another score in the playoffs.
That warranted the Cowboys to put a first-round tender tag on Crayton, meaning if he signed an offer sheet with another club and the Cowboys decided not to match, they would receive a first-round pick for compensation.
But with Crayton being unrestricted this year, the Cowboys didn't have that luxury.
And with Owens (34) and Glenn (33) firmly entrenched in their 30s, the Cowboys had to make sure they locked up Crayton in some capacity.
Even if Owens and Glenn both return next year - they're both under contract - Crayton's deal still allows him to be the team's third receiver.
But if this year is any indication, Crayton will likely end up doing much more than that.
LINK (http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=1EB76C40-9554-68D2-B68E5FF65F1E299D)
Crayton Agrees To Four-Year, $14 Million Extension
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 27, 2007 9:05 PM
IRVING, Texas - He entered this season as the third wide receiver, but has played the No. 2 spot all year. On Sunday, he'll probably be the lead receiver.
He's handled the punt return duties all season.
And although the Cowboys have barely even needed a backup quarterback this year, he's always been ready to handle the third spot in an emergency situation.
It would appear that Patrick Crayton has some value to the Cowboys.
They showed just how much on Thursday night.
The Cowboys have agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension worth $14 million, including a $6 million signing bonus. The deal could reach as high as $16 million, based on escalator clauses and incentives.
Crayton is third on the team in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns with 48 grabs for 689 yards and seven touchdowns.
"This is exactly where I want to be," Crayton said, referring to the speculation that he might re-join Bill Parcells, who drafted him in Dallas and was recently named vice president of football operations in Miami.
But Crayton denied any interest in leaving the Cowboys on Thursday, stating his focus is getting a deal done and staying in Dallas. Crayton was a high school standout at nearby DeSoto, just south of Dallas.
With Terry Glenn's knee injury keeping him out of the first 15 games, Crayton has thrived in the No. 2 spot opposite Terrell Owens, who will not play this Sunday against Washington because of a high ankle sprain.
Crayton, a fourth-year receiver, was expected to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. This past off-season, the Cowboys gave him a one-year, $1.3 million tender offer as a restricted free agent.
Crayton becomes the third player the Cowboys have signed to a long-term extension this season to avoid free agency after the year.
Of course, the Cowboys made major headlines back on Oct. 30 when they tagged Tony Romo as the team's quarterback of the future, giving him a six-year, $67.5 million extension. Romo was expected to be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.
Just two weeks ago, the Cowboys gave starting nose tackle Jay Ratliff a five-year, $20.5 million deal. Ratliff was set to be a restricted free agent after the season.
The Cowboys didn't want Romo, Ratliff or Crayton to test the free-agent waters. And just like Romo and Ratliff, Crayton has been a pleasant surprise considering where his career started.
A seventh-round pick from Northwestern Oklahoma State, Crayton was a college quarterback who had to make the adjustment to wide receiver. A do-it-all star at the NAIA level where he excelled as a quarterback, occasional receiver and kick and punt return specialist, Crayton didn't make the transition to receiver right away.
But he's gradually improved every season.
As a rookie, Crayton caught just 12 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown - a game-winner against the Redskins. But in 2005, he was on his way to a solid year as the third receiver behind Glenn and Keyshawn Johnson before a broken ankle forced him to miss five games. He finished the year with 22 grabs for 341 yards and two scores.
Last year, despite the arrival of Owens, Crayton still emerged as a clutch receiver for Romo, getting 36 receptions for 516 yards and four touchdowns and catching another score in the playoffs.
That warranted the Cowboys to put a first-round tender tag on Crayton, meaning if he signed an offer sheet with another club and the Cowboys decided not to match, they would receive a first-round pick for compensation.
But with Crayton being unrestricted this year, the Cowboys didn't have that luxury.
And with Owens (34) and Glenn (33) firmly entrenched in their 30s, the Cowboys had to make sure they locked up Crayton in some capacity.
Even if Owens and Glenn both return next year - they're both under contract - Crayton's deal still allows him to be the team's third receiver.
But if this year is any indication, Crayton will likely end up doing much more than that.
LINK (http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=1EB76C40-9554-68D2-B68E5FF65F1E299D)