Crayton Request Release?

[SharutoX]

Sorry if repost, just saw this on twitter

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/news/story?id=5229510&campaign=rss&source=DALLASHeadlines

Cowboys' Crayton requests release
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By Tim MacMahon
ESPNDallas.com

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DALLAS -- Wide receiver Patrick Crayton, who doesn't believe the Dallas Cowboys plan to keep him on the roster this season, said Friday the team is "messing with people's careers and people's lives" and that he wants to be released immediately.

Crayton, who has not participated in voluntary workouts this offseason, said during an appearance on ESPN 103.3's Ben and Skin Show that he is concerned that the Cowboys will keep him as insurance and cut him after training camp. Crayton wants a chance to join another team as soon as possible, which he said agent Fred Lyles frequently tells the Cowboys.

"He has definitely expressed that, but they're not going to do that," Crayton said. "I'm the insurance guy."

Ben & Skin: 5/28

Cowboys WR Patrick Crayton on why he's skipping OTA's and requesting an immediate release from the team.

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Crayton has no clear role after the Cowboys traded up in the first round to draft receiver Dez Bryant, who is expected to be the third receiver as a rookie behind Pro Bowler Miles Austin and Roy Williams.

Bryant will also return punts, another job that used to belong to Crayton. The Cowboys are also intrigued by the potential of receiver Kevin Ogletree, who contributed as an undrafted rookie last season.

"The thing is, you want to be wanted," Crayton said. "So in order to be wanted and felt wanted ... why would you go to a place that you're not feeling that way? I'm not sure if I'm wanted or not wanted."

The 31-year-old Crayton is skeptical that the Cowboys would be willing to pay him $2 million to be their fourth or fifth receiver.

"For those guys to develop, they have to be on the field," Crayton said. "For them to be on the field, I'm not going to be on it, so I would love them to not dangle me around and everything because I have a family to think about.

"If I'm going to be with another team, I need to get used to another city, another franchise, a new coach, a new quarterback, a new coordinator, everything. Just a whole new environment. My wife and kids got to get settled in, got to get in schools and everything. I would love to have the opportunity to compete with another team versus come here and come here for a numbers thing where they're like, 'Oh, we're not going to pay you that to be our fourth or fifth guy,' or whatever the situation is and you kept me the whole training camp because you need camp bodies.

"To me, you're messing with people's careers and people's lives."

Owner/general manager Jerry Jones recently said that the Cowboys still value Crayton and that the team has no intention of releasing him at this point.

"I don't have any issue with how he's doing,'' Jones said earlier this month. "He's one of the hardest workers we've got. Things have a way of working out. I'm not for sure where it will end up here, but it has a way of working out.''

Crayton, a native of the Dallas suburb of DeSoto, has spent his entire career with the Cowboys after they selected him in the seventh round of the 2004 draft. He worked his way up the depth chart until taking over as a starter when Terry Glenn suffered a knee injury in 2007, when Crayton had career highs of 50 catches for 697 yards and seven touchdowns. He was rewarded with a six-year, $14 million contract.


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Crayton was demoted to the No. 3 receiver after the Cowboys traded for Williams the next season. He briefly became a starter again after Terrell Owens was released prior to the 2009 season, but Crayton was demoted again after Austin's breakout 250-yard, two-touchdown game in an October overtime win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Williams has been a disappointment since arriving in the 2008 blockbuster deal from the Detroit Lions, but Jones has made it clear that the starting job isn't in jeopardy for a receiver guaranteed $12.9 million this season. The production last season from Crayton (37 catches for 622 yards and five touchdowns) was comparable to that of Williams (38-596-7) despite Crayton being targeted 19 fewer times.

Crayton said he will report to the team's Valley Ranch facility for the mandatory minicamp in June and doesn't plan to hold out during training camp. He said he wouldn't let his ego and pride prevent him from making $2 million this season, although he considers that scenario unlikely.

"It'd be an uncomfortable situation having guys play in front of you when you know that you're just as good as them," Crayton said. "But it's one of those situations, man. At the end of the day, I don't think that's going to happen."

Crayton said he hasn't had been in contact this offseason with anybody from the Cowboys other than teammates and receivers coach Ray Sherman. He said he isn't participating in voluntary organized team activities because he doesn't feel wanted and doesn't want to risk injury given his uncertain situation.

The Cowboys tried to trade Crayton during draft weekend, which he said he learned after executives from other teams contacted his agent.

"It was behind my back," Crayton said. "I just felt kind of betrayed in a way. But that's the business."

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

~sniffle~

My heart bleeds for poor Patrick Crayton.

He's the only one in the NFL who is fighting for a roster spot, after seeing younger, more talented players emerge on the roster.

Poor, poor, Patrick Crayton.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I don't blame him and wonder what is the holdup. His replacement has already been brought in, Dez. And the staff really likes Ogletree. I think the fair thing is to let him search for a job elsewhere. But now it's just too late.

 

[CIWhitefish]

The Cowboys tried to trade Crayton during draft weekend, which he said he learned after executives from other teams contacted his agent.

"It was behind my back," Crayton said. "I just felt kind of betrayed in a way. But that's the business."


Wow...seems Crayton was the only guy who didn't know he was being shopped if he says it was 'behind his back'. It's all EVERYONE was talking about.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Wow...seems Crayton was the only guy who didn't know he was being shopped if he says it was 'behind his back'. It's all EVERYONE was talking about.

He has such an overinflated opinion of himself, it's mind boggling.

How dare the team try to trade him, or even replace him. Don't they know he's Patrick Freaking Crayton?

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Crayton will become more vocal the closer we get to camp. I think all chances of trading him are gone. If he is not released, could turn into a very ugly situation.

 

[DCBoysfan]

I would not release him, and I hope Dallas doesn't, if he can be traded then fine, but like it or not I would keep him until Dallas sees what it has as far as WR's, that why he has a contract.

 

[superpunk]

I'd be pissed if I was Crayton, too. He's right, he's that insurance guy. Which is fine for the team, but at 31 he's got to do what's best for him. 7th rounder who beat the odds, he's got about one more shot at making some money. He can read the tea leaves, and as much as he wants to stay a Cowboy they've shown that they're ready to move on. Plenty of other teams could use a possession receiver who can return some punts - so why not push for a release?

I hope he gets it. With Dez and Otree on the roster there is no reason to keep him around. Hurd stays as the 5th and STer. Everyone is happy.

 

[Gemini Dolly]

I understand his frustration, but that is business. Swallow that pride and just go to work. Easier said then done, I know, but what can you do??

 

[theebs]

I'd be pissed if I was Crayton, too. He's right, he's that insurance guy. Which is fine for the team, but at 31 he's got to do what's best for him. 7th rounder who beat the odds, he's got about one more shot at making some money. He can read the tea leaves, and as much as he wants to stay a Cowboy they've shown that they're ready to move on. Plenty of other teams could use a possession receiver who can return some punts - so why not push for a release?

I hope he gets it. With Dez and Otree on the roster there is no reason to keep him around. Hurd stays as the 5th and STer. Everyone is happy.

I feel the same way.

I think there must be some fear on the side of the team of doing that right now though.

On the surface bryant and ogletree have all the makings of good players.

but the reality is, ogletree has to prove it for a full season and bryant hasnt even played in a year so how will that affect him.

So if they dumped crayton today and then ogletree struggles and bryant struggles and we roll into washington with austin/williams and hurd...that would make them very uncomfortable.

I dont think that is going to happen though, I imagine ogletree and bryant will be ready to go. I hope it works out for crayton though somewhere he has been a good player here for us.

 

[CIWhitefish]

He has such an overinflated opinion of himself, it's mind boggling.

How dare the team try to trade him, or even replace him. Don't they know he's Patrick Freaking Crayton?

Yeah it looks like a classic agent/client ploy when leverage is gone. No one obviously is going to trade for him and Dallas is willing to keep him. Crayton wants to be top 3 and he sees that is not going to happen. His only option is to create enough noise that Dallas may just say forget it and either lower trade demand to a conditional 7th or something or outright release him. Too bad it's gotta come to this kindergarten negotiation tactic.

 

[adamknite]

I don't blame him and wonder what is the holdup. His replacement has already been brought in, Dez. And the staff really likes Ogletree. I think the fair thing is to let him search for a job elsewhere. But now it's just too late.

I completely agree.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Yeah it looks like a classic agent/client ploy when leverage is gone. No one obviously is going to trade for him and Dallas is willing to keep him. Crayton wants to be top 3 and he sees that is not going to happen. His only option is to create enough noise that Dallas may just say forget it and either lower trade demand to a conditional 7th or something or outright release him. Too bad it's gotta come to this kindergarten negotiation tactic.

I'd be happy if we released him, just so I wouldn't have to hear him whining.

Then, he can go out and sign a slightly above vet minimum contract with a bottom-feeder franchise.

 

[Alexander]

He has such an overinflated opinion of himself, it's mind boggling.

How dare the team try to trade him, or even replace him. Don't they know he's Patrick Freaking Crayton?

How did he suggest anything like that?

If anything he has some perspective on himself and his career mortality and it not displaying arrogance here.

If he was, he would be angry but also defiant and confident that no matter if the team released him at the end of camp he would have no problem finding another team in short order. He would anyway, but he does realize he's 30 plus and his options would be limited the later on he is released.

 

[CIWhitefish]

I'd be happy if we released him, just so I wouldn't have to hear him whining.

Then, he can go out and sign a slightly above vet minimum contract with a bottom-feeder franchise.

I understand why he's squawking. He doesn't want to accept a diminished role so he wants out. I'd argue he should accept it but if it were me and I was a competative WR type I probably wouldn't either. I just don't like the fact he and his agent have to resort to the same old tired ideas. Oh it's not fair competition, oh I have to think of my family, and on and on. It's the battle cry of the average vet being sqeezed out by the upside draft pick.

 

[jobberone]

I understand how he feels. I'm not sure it's in his best interest to mouth off but I can understand it.

I think the team has enough to easily replace him. The only reason to keep him is for insurance for injury. That's the only way he will see significant playing time this year.

It's cold for the Cowboys to keep him IMO. But I understand they want to see more of KO and DB before letting him go. And they want to keep him around in case of injury to DB. And they are still holding out for a trade for him.

The problem is for him to be a productive player for another team he needs a full camp to be able to absorb the playbook.

If the Cowboys are willing to keep PC this year despite his salary then it'll be an expensive insurance policy. His job as the PR may be carrying more weight than has been expressed on this board as well. He doesn't fumble. There is something to be said for that.

 

[Dhragon]

I really liked Ellis before he started to whine every year. It took a couiple of years to get to the point to where I just wanted him GONE ASAP.

With Patrick, I'm already at that point. Never really cared for him and his mouth anyway, so I really wish they really would grant him his wish and let him leave.

If they are afraid of someone in the division (like the Commanders) getting him if we just cut him, then "trade" him to some junk AFC team like the Browns for some JAG that that team would have cut anyway (doesn't matter who it is, we could cut that guy the next day for all I'd care).

I'm ready for him to be gone, even though he really is a decent WR.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I'm more interested in him possible blaming Romo for the reason why Roy Williams has struggled.

That is a bunch of bologna!

 

[superpunk]

I feel the same way.

I think there must be some fear on the side of the team of doing that right now though.

On the surface bryant and ogletree have all the makings of good players.

but the reality is, ogletree has to prove it for a full season and bryant hasnt even played in a year so how will that affect him.

So if they dumped crayton today and then ogletree struggles and bryant struggles and we roll into washington with austin/williams and hurd...that would make them very uncomfortable.

I dont think that is going to happen though, I imagine ogletree and bryant will be ready to go. I hope it works out for crayton though somewhere he has been a good player here for us.

It was the same thing with Flotel and Hamlin though. Jerry even said that we released them when we did so they could catch on elsewhere. That's all Crayton wants here, a release now so he has a chance to sign and contribute to a team, fight for a #2 WR spot throughout a team's whole camp.

Otherwise, by the time we feel "comfortable" releasing him, camp battles are settled and he's trying to shoehorn himself in somewhere else, and he's really gained nothing.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

How did he suggest anything like that?

If anything he has some perspective on himself and his career mortality and it not displaying arrogance here.

If he was, he would be angry but also defiant and confident that no matter if the team released him at the end of camp he would have no problem finding another team in short order. He would anyway, but he does realize he's 30 plus and his options would be limited the later on he is released.

I'll admit that I don't hold a high opinion of the player to begin with, so perhaps that is clouding my judgement.

That said, several of his quotes just come off as whiney . . .

Sorry that you feel you're an "insurance" guy. Or that you think the Cowboys are "messing with your life" because they don't outright cut you, etc . . .

The NFL is a business. The Cowboys are making decisions in the best interest of the TEAM. He's been paid handsomely for moderate production. The organization owes him no favors.