The Dallas Cowboys have reached a deal to trade disgruntled WR Patrick Crayton to the San Diego Chargers, ESPNDallas.com reports.
Dallas traded Crayton for a 7th-round pick, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Crayton had been asked to be released from the team prior to training camp, but the team refused. In June, Crayton said he didn't want to be used as "insurance" only to be cut after training camp, at which time finding a new team at a fitting price would be significantly more difficult.
"To me," Crayton said last week, "you're messing with people's careers and people's lives."
That same month, owner Jerry Jones said he had no intention or plans to release Crayton, who was under contract and had not attended the team's voluntary workouts.
"There is nothing to be confused about," Jones said. "Patrick is under contract, and this is a voluntary workout. When we have mandatory workouts, he will probably be the first in line to be here. That's the way it is."
All seemed fairly well with the receiving corps in Cowboys-land through Thursday's game with the Dolphins. Then, overnight, reports began to surface that Crayton's agent was asking for his client's immediate release from the team.
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“I'm 99 percent sure that was the last time Crayton will enter the stadium as a Cowboy,” Lyles said in a text message after the game, per Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “It's no reason to prolong the situation. Why not release him now?”
With the departure of Crayton, the Cowboys punt return until will be relying more heavily on rookie Dez Bryant. The move also may make room for players on the bubble -- WR Sam Hurd and Jesse Holley come to mind, especially with Holly's special team's contributions.
Apparently, Crayton's teammates knew this was coming. On his Facebook page, Miles Austin said he couldn't speak before, but now wanted to wish his former teammate good luck in San Diego and thanked him for everything.
Details of the trade are still being finalized.
NBCDFW's Scott Crisp contributed to this report.
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