When Patrick Crayton's demotion was the hot topic last week, most of the players shrugged off the idea that the veteran would be affected by either the move itself, or the coaches handling of it, which was less than savory.
On Sunday, Crayton, who Tony Romo called a "consummate professional" proved them right.
After losing his job as the team's second receiver to Miles Austin, and his role as punt returner to newcomer Allen Rossum, Crayton had a day that few would have expected. He caught a short touchdown pass from Romo, one of two catches on the day, and after Rossum was injured on his first play in a Cowboys uniform, returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown to effectively seal the victory.
Against Atlanta, Crayton proved his worth when, according to public perception at least, it seemed at an all time low. Against Seattle on Sunday, he will look to build on this redemptive performance.
Crayton is now the seventh best punt returner in the league, averaging 12.8 yards a return. Seattle has allowed 156 yards on 14 returns for an average a shade over eleven, though they haven't yet allowed a touchdown. As the number three receiver, if Crayton will continue to impress, he will likely do it in this facet of the game.
However, given Crayton's experience and the quiet performances of Roy Williams of late, no one can really tell with the self-described "seventh-rounder coming out of a small school."One thing seems clear, though, on the heels of the Atlanta game: betting against the Northwest Oklahoma State product is a bad idea.
