Patrick Jamel Crayton (born April 7, 1979) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and the San Diego Chargers. He played college football at Northwestern Oklahoma State.
Early years
Crayton attended DeSoto High School, where he played as a wide receiver, quarterback, running back and return specialist. He accepted a scholarship from Northwestern Oklahoma State University, where he was a wide receiver in his first three seasons, before switching to quarterback as a senior.
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 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.
In 2013, he was inducted into the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Crayton was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round (216th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft. He was declared inactive for the first 3 weeks of the season and was waived on October 1. He was signed to the practice squad on October 4 and was later promoted to the active roster on October 29.
In 2005, he had an unexpected success, following injuries to wide receivers higher up the depth chart. He outperformed Quincy Morgan in preseason, leading to Morgan's release. In his first game of the season, Crayton continued his solid play with six receptions for 89 yards and one touchdown. However, he sustained a broken ankle on October 16 against the New York Giants, and was unable to return to full form until December 24.
The 2006 season brought Crayton back to renewed prominence, especially when the Cowboys switched quarterbacks mid-season to Tony Romo. he recorded his first 100-yard game against the Arizona Cardinals while filling in for an injured Terry Glenn. Head Coach Bill Parcells had said that Crayton possessed the best hands on the team. In the Wildcard playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, Crayton had a diving touchdown reception in a losing effort.
In 2007, he filled in at the second receiver spot while Terry Glenn was rehabbing from a knee injury. On December 27, Crayton was rewarded for his efforts with a four-year contract extension worth $14 million. Crayton finish with 697 receiving yards, 7 touchdowns and had developed a reputation around the league as a vocal player. In the divisional round, where Dallas lost to the eventual Super Bowl XLII Champions, New York Giants, he dropped a pass that would have resulted in a critical first down if not a touchdown.
In 2008, Crayton started seven-of-16 games played and was replaced by Roy Williams in the starting position after he arrived from the Detroit Lions in week 5. By the end of the season Crayton had caught 39 passes for 550 yards and four touchdowns - which tied for second on the team with Jason Witten. He also finished with 15 punt returns for 143 yards while sharing that role with Adam "Pacman" Jones.