Patrick Crayton
| File:61855220 JPG | |
| No. 12 San Diego Chargers | |
| Wide receiver | |
| Personal information | |
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| Date of birth: April 7, 1979 | |
| Place of birth: DeSoto, Texas | |
| Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | Weight: 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: Northwestern Oklahoma State | |
| NFL Draft: 2004 / Round: 7 / Pick: 216 | |
| Debuted in 2004 for the Dallas Cowboys | |
| Career history | |
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| Roster status: Active | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2011 | |
| Receptions | 246 |
| Receiving yards | 3,627 |
| Receiving TDs | 25 |
| Stats at NFL.com | |
Patrick Jamel Crayton (born April 7, 1979) 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.
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[edit] College career
Crayton attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University where he was a quarterback during his senior year and a wide receiver in his previous three seasons.[1] 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.
[edit] Professional career
Crayton was drafted 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.[2]
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.
[edit] Family
Crayton married his wife Najiyyah on October 27, 2008.[3]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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