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Patrick Crayton's contract makes it hard for Cowboys to keep him or trade him

Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton reportedly wants to know what his role will be in Dallas.  Based on his salary, it’s pretty clear to us.  (Or at least to me.) 

He’ll have a spot on the roster only if Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, and/or Roy Williams get hit by a bus between now and the start of training camp.

The problem is Crayton’s salary.  According to NFLPA records, he’s due to earn $2 million in 2010.  Despite the absence of a salary cap, it’s hard to justify paying that kind of money to a guy who will be standing in line behind Austin, Bryant, Williams, Jason Witten, and a three-headed tailback monster for a crack at the ball.

That said, “Three-G” Rosenthal thinks Crayton has value in Dallas, because he primarily plays the slot.  Still, at $2 million for 2010 and with a plethora of weapons, we think the Cowboys will be inclined to get by without him — unless they decide to dump Roy Williams.  (Or unless the aforementioned bus accident occurs.)

And it probably makes sense to forget about a trade.  Though in some situations a team will give up a low-round draft pick because it’s cheaper to absorb the existing contract than it is to sign a guy off the street, it’s unlikely that Crayton would get $2 million for 2010 on the open market. 

Thus, it’s unlikely that anyone will trade for his contract — unless Crayton agrees to a new deal that reduces his salary to the minimum for his level of experience and pays him the balance of the $2 million as a signing bonus, with lower salaries in 2011 and beyond.

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27 Responses to “Patrick Crayton's contract makes it hard for Cowboys to keep him or trade him”
  1. MasterShake says: May 15, 2010 4:02 PM

    Is Stallworth driving the bus? Can we call G.R. Tre instead of “Three-G”?
    If you eliminate the “for Cowboys to keep him or trade him” makes a better HEADline. At least for Patrick.
    Patrick Bateman.

  2. MasterShake says: May 15, 2010 4:04 PM

    Side note: What’s with the pop-ups that seem to happen lately?
    Don’t give me the “you’ve got a virus” crap.
    I may have a fever. But the only cure is more cowbells.

  3. Heath says: May 15, 2010 4:27 PM

    As much as I like Austin, Bryant, Ogletree and some of the younger guys, I would hate to see Crayton go! He’s probably the slowest receiver on the team and I don’t think he’s very big.. but he seems to find a way to be productive and he has great hands with the exception of a drop in a playoff game.
    If an NFL team is still willing to sign guys like Joey Galloway then I would think there would be a team that would be willing to pay Crayton $2 mil.

  4. Chapnasty2 says: May 15, 2010 4:29 PM

    Cowboys win it all this year with or without Crayton

  5. downwithdansnyder says: May 15, 2010 4:38 PM

    I’m sure he’d like two cracks a year at the ‘Boyz if he gets cut and the ‘Skins sure need some help.

  6. danielcp0303 says: May 15, 2010 4:40 PM

    2 million is actually a really good price for a slot reciever that will still get plenty of looks. He will probably also share punt return duties with Dez Bryant, especially if Dez struggles. All of these weapons, why get rid of them? It’s an uncapped year and Dallas already has a really high payroll. Next year is when they’ll dump Roy most likely and they’ve already canned Adams and Hamlin. They got money and Crayton will get playing time.

  7. brasho says: May 15, 2010 4:45 PM

    Bryant, Williams, Jason Witten, and a three-headed tailback monster for a CRACK at the ball.
    ______________________________
    Can’t we just leave Dez Bryant’s mother out of it?

  8. WhoDey_Man says: May 15, 2010 4:47 PM

    the rock, the rock says… know your role!

  9. MartinK says: May 15, 2010 4:53 PM

    Well, he’s 31 years old. He’s had 1 season of 40+ catches. He is under contract for $2Mil this year and $2.5Mil next year. I think a WR-needy team would consider trading for him. NE could use some help across from Moss ad Welker won’t be ready & healthy for the early part of the season.

  10. Bious says: May 15, 2010 5:14 PM

    Jerry will make sure that Dez gets his catches, Roy will cry w/o catches, and Austin NEEDS catches
    So, Patrick knows that he is the odd man out
    I don’t blame him for wanting out of that circus that won’t win a super bowl with Romo as QB

  11. XBOD says: May 15, 2010 5:16 PM

    Cowboys go 7/9 with or without him, Romo has season ending injury by game 5

  12. ChrisD says: May 15, 2010 5:17 PM

    It’s a little early to anoint Dez Bryant the #3 WR.
    Not sure the Cowboys want to make a Super Bowl run with a rookie, and over priced disappointment, and Miles Austin with good year under his belt.

  13. Dixon29 says: May 15, 2010 5:58 PM

    Dez Bryant’s Dad is going to pimp Crayton around the league to see what that ho is worth!

  14. gasolinej says: May 15, 2010 6:23 PM

    Dez will start at least 10 games in the coming season.

  15. PinesRob says: May 15, 2010 6:39 PM

    Nice problem to have 2 many weapons…
    It’s amaZing what that offense can do 10 vs 11
    Roy you suck!!!!!

  16. 49ers Rule says: May 15, 2010 6:45 PM

    Who cares about crayton, he and the rest of his team sucks

  17. 49ers Rule says: May 15, 2010 6:48 PM

    All of the cowboys suck

  18. Franchise says: May 15, 2010 6:50 PM

    He will be released, then picked up by a division rival and will torch the Cowboys 2 times a year.
    Welcome to New York Mr. Crayton.

  19. FireJerryJones says: May 15, 2010 6:50 PM

    You fail to mention the cost of another option:
    Dump Roy Williams. Seems pretty clear Dez and Roy will be competing for the same role. Crayton is more of a slot guy and Miles is the speed and deep route runner.

  20. BritDawg says: May 15, 2010 7:28 PM

    I honestly believe that Romo might prefer to play with Crayton rather than the unreliable Roy Williams, who dropped a bunch of passes last year.
    However, the latter has received $9.5 in bonus money this offseason (which was guaranteed in his 2008 contract). Surely, it would just be too embarrassing for Jerry Jones to pay someone that kind of money and then immediately cut him?
    I think Williams will be gone after the 2010 season, and that Crayton would still be an asset for the Cowboys over the last two years of his contract, both as a slot receiver and punt returner. Which probably means he’ll be cut next week!

  21. ham1 says: May 15, 2010 9:42 PM

    Getting rid of the wrong guy. Crayton is the better player, so I hope they do cut him loose and keep that butter finger no count Williams.
    Serves em right for making such a dumb a$$ move getting him from Detroit. Hes no good, not now, not ever, and hes taking up a roster spot from a better player….chump.

  22. hamburglar says: May 15, 2010 10:09 PM

    Crayton isnt good at sports.

  23. TheDPR says: May 16, 2010 1:13 AM

    If they’re smart they’ll keep him.

  24. Chapnasty2 says: May 16, 2010 6:08 AM

    I love morons who say all of the Cowboys suck. It clearly proves they have no understanding of the game of football or a respect for statistical data proving the opposite. The public school system has failed many.

  25. edgy1957 says: May 16, 2010 12:25 PM

    Chapnasty2 says:
    I love morons who say all of the Cowboys suck. It
    *********************
    Statistics have nothing to do with it. If it were Johnny Unitas or Jim Brown or Jesus Christ, all it would take is for them to don a Cowboys uniform and thse guys will say that they suck and it isn’t confined to people who hate the Cowboys but they (and the Pats and Steelers) get the most guff because of their success.

  26. CurseofBoJackson says: May 17, 2010 9:57 AM

    Agree with some others here, Crayton is the guy they should keep if money is not a neccessary part of the conversation (which it always is). Just like with pitchers in baseball, money guys are going to get SOME playing time just cause of their salary, and that’s a shame for Dallas. Crayton isn’t a gamebreaker but he’s reliable and experienced, Roy totally lacks the former.

  27. overkil2 says: May 17, 2010 10:11 AM

    I would keep Crayton and dump Roy Williams. At least Crayton can catch the ball.

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