Crayton confirms that Austin will start

[Chief]

Crayton said. “Life is not fair."

What a tough life.

Hang in there, Patrick. You're in our thoughts and prayers.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

What a tough life.

Hang in there, Patrick. You're in our thoughts and prayers.

 

[Gemini Dolly]

That was a wimpy move by our coaching staff not to tell Crayton face to face hes been demoted. Why beat around the bush?

 

[Zimmy Lives]

What a tough life.

Hang in there, Patrick. You're in our thoughts and prayers.

Exactly! Pat can spend his time pulling the splinters out of his arse while pining over his lost starter spot or he can work that much harder to regain it.

 

[iceberg]

Crayton confirms that Austin will start

By Tim MacMahon
ESPNDallas.com
Archive
IRVING, Texas -- Patrick Crayton is willing to say what the Dallas Cowboys coaches won't: He's been replaced in the starting lineup by Miles Austin.

Crayton just wishes somebody would have told him that. He figured it out Monday, when Austin worked opposite Roy Williams in two-wide receiver sets.

Austin continued to get reps with the starters during Wednesday's practice, but none of the coaches have explained the situation to Crayton.

"I would have loved it," Crayton said of an explanation from head coach Wade Phillips or offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. "It would have been real stand-up. That's not what happened. Oh, well."

Crayton, who dealt with a similar demotion after the Cowboys traded for Williams in the middle of last season, isn't pouting about becoming a No. 3 receiver again. He considers his role "to help in whatever way possible." He just feels that, as a six-year veteran, he deserves an explanation.

"That way you're not in the dark about why the change is made," Crayton said.

It's not as if Crayton didn't see it coming. He knew when Wade Phillips told the media last Monday that Austin would play "50-something" snaps per game on the heels of his franchise-record 250-yard performance. But Crayton wonders how much his admittedly poor performance in Kansas City affected the decision.

Based on production, one could make the case that Austin (15 catches, 331 yards, three touchdowns) and Crayton (15 catches, 243 yards, one touchdown) should be the starters with Williams (11 catches, 214 yards, one touchdown) relegated to the third receiver role. But, considering Williams' arrival in a blockbuster trade and $9 million per year salary, Crayton knew that wasn't a realistic scenario.

"When you give up a first and third and a sixth and you pay a guy that much," Crayton said, "he's gotta play."


Tim MacMahon covers the Cowboys for ESPNDallas.com. E-mail [email protected].

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/news/story?id=4583208&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines

i like crayton - it's crap to just move people around like that and not even man up and be respectful to them.

 

[Idgit]

That was a wimpy move by our coaching staff not to tell Crayton face to face hes been demoted. Why beat around the bush?

I agree. They should have had a conversation of some sort with PC no matter what. But to play Devil's Advocate, maybe they were waiting to see how RW came back from injury during the bye. If he didn't come back all the way, they'd might have played Austin and Crayton for a week and bought more time to decide who'd keep the spot when RW came back.

 

[iceberg]

I want this WHINER gone

it was clueless act by coaching staff

but still want this guy gone traded or cut

you just hate crayton and that's fine.

but to make up things about him? he's not whining. he said he understands it, wish he'd found out differently and no, life isn't fair.

we could use more "whining" like that in the world instead of being so focused on what *I* want.

 

[Bluefin]

Patrick Crayton knew Miles Austin was going to take his job, no surprise there, but one would expect to hear the news from either the head coach, offensive coordinator or position coach before walking on the practice field and seeing it.

No one can come out and say Austin is the starter for reasons unknown and they can't even the demoted receiver what's going on.

That's just basic stupidity.

Why give the media the chance to fan a fire that had no reason ever being allowed to start?

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Its kind of a non-issue to me.

He goes back to slot where that is his strength. He can have good success there. Just because he was opposite Roy made him the #2? I dont think so.

End of line...................................

 

[ajk23az]

PC knows he is best suited for the slot and Miles and Roy as starters. If he knew best he would just be a team player and do what you can to help the team win. I would bet that PC will have better stats in the slot than he did at #2.

 

[romo2to]

Reason 4,569,256 why Wade Phillips/Jason Garrett should still be coaching this team.

 

[Bluefin]

Wade Phillips was firm during his presser that Patrick Crayton was made aware of what would happen involving moving Miles Austin into a starting role.

But he also said that they didn't know yet if Roy Williams will be starting, so a decision hasn't been made about who will be starting along with Austin this week.

And regardless of whether or not the coaches could've handled the situation better and been more up front with all parties involved, we all knew it was coming and Crayton gained nothing by airing dirty laundry via the media.

 

[DT101]

i dont look so dumb for drafting austin in the 4th round of my fantasy football league do i? (Ok it was an accident but still)

but anyways, austin should be starting but the staff should have told crayton

 

[8FOR!3]

Wade Phillips was firm during his presser that Patrick Crayton was made aware of what would happen involving moving Miles Austin into a starting role.

But he also said that they didn't know yet if Roy Williams will be starting, so a decision hasn't been made about who will be starting along with Austin this week.

And regardless of whether or not the coaches could've handled the situation better and been more up front with all parties involved, we all knew it was coming and Crayton gained nothing by airing dirty laundry via the media.

What would not starting Roy Williams entail? Starting Patrick Crayton ahead of HIM?! No.

 

[dadymat]

I wonder if Wade had to tell Pat it was raining today.....

 

[Bluefin]

What would not starting Roy Williams entail? Starting Patrick Crayton ahead of HIM?! No.

Roy Williams is returning from injury and was in pain the day after practicing on Monday.

So Wade Phillips was saying that it isn't automatic Roy will be starting this game, they want to see how he does the rest of the week. That means there's a chance Patrick Crayton might stay in the starting line-up until Williams is fully recovered.

 

[21Savage]

I wonder if Wade had to tell Pat it was raining today.....

Wade said he did but I think Pat wanted an explanation why. You know, as a veteran.......

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

For anyone who's calling Crayton a whiner, let me break it down like this....


If you're on a job (thank goodness I work for myself) and your boss demotes you and puts someone ahead of you without an explanation at least, how would you feel?


Ok......... Thought so.

 

[BAT]

Crayton said he understood the move, but was disapointed he was not told.

``I would have loved it. It would have been real stand-up,'' he said. ``That's not what happened. ... Nothing was explained to me. I had the dropped pass and I had the muffed punt. Maybe that was it. ... This thing is not about fair. That's what you come to realize. Life is not fair. You've just got to roll with the punches.''

MAYBE that was it??? C'mon Cray, even you know that THAT was precisely the reason why you were demoted.

It would have been real stand up on your part to admit that, then work harder to get back your starter spot.

 

[Idgit]

Wade said he did but I think Pat wanted an explanation why. You know, as a veteran.......

He wanted to hear the 'you fumbled twice and the other guy went 10/250/2TDs the same game' speech.