Patrick Crayton

Patrick Jamel Crayton (born April 7, 1979) is a former American football wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League in 2011. He was an originally drafted in the seventh round (216th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Northwestern Oklahoma State. He is currently a free agent.

College career
Crayton attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University where he was a quarterback during his senior year and a wide receiver in his previous three seasons. A four-time all-conference selection, Crayton saw time as a punt returner, kickoff returner, quarterback and wide receiver at NWOSU. In 44 games during his Ranger career, Crayton averaged 19.0 yards-per-catch and scored 17 touchdowns at receiver, rushed for 17 touchdowns, returned 72 punts for a 20.8-yard average and ten touchdowns, returned two kickoffs for scores and passed for 21 touchdowns with eight interceptions. In four years, he amassed 5,688 all-purpose yards, including 3,718 yards in total offense and 46 touchdowns.

As both a sophomore and junior, Crayton earned All-America honorable mention and All-Central States Football League first team honors at receiver. As a sophomore he led the nation with 19 punt returns for 508 yards (26.7 avg.) and three touchdowns. As a senior, he earned Little All-America second team and All-CSFL Offensive Player of the Year honors starting at quarterback while also handling kickoff returns, punt returns and logging time at wide receiver. While leading the Rangers to the 2003 NAIA National Championship game his senior year, Crayton passed for 1,837 yards and a school-record 19 touchdowns. He also rushed for a school single-season record 1,476 yards with 13 touchdowns on 173 carries while adding 15 receptions for 331 yards and four scores. He became the first player in NAIA history to score a touchdown passing, receiving, rushing and on kickoff and punt returns in a single season.

Dallas Cowboys
Crayton was drafted by Dallas in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He had unexpected success as a rookie during the 2004 season, following injuries to wide receivers higher up the depth chart. During the following offseason, he outperformed Quincy Morgan, leading to Morgan's release. In his first game of the 2005 season, Crayton continued his solid play with six receptions for 89 yards and one touchdown. However, he sustained a broken ankle during the middle of the 2005 season, and was unable to return to full form during his return later that year.

The 2006 season brought Crayton back to renewed prominence, especially when the Cowboys switched quarterbacks mid-season to Tony Romo. Crayton recorded his first 100-yard game against the Arizona Cardinals in 2006 when filling in for an injured Terry Glenn. Former Cowboys Head Coach Bill Parcells has said numerous times that Crayton has the best hands on the team. In the Wildcard playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, Crayton had a diving touchdown in a losing effort.

During the 2007 season, Crayton filled in nicely at the #2 receiver spot while Terry Glenn was rehabbing from a knee injury. On December 27, 2007, Crayton was rewarded for his efforts with a four-year contract extension worth $14 million. Crayton had a 697 yard season and developed a reputation around the league as a vocal player.

In 2008, Crayton started seven-of-16 games played and was replaced by Roy Williams in the starting position after he was traded from the Detroit Lions in week 5. By the end of the season Patrick had caught 39 passes for 550 yards and four touchdowns - which tied for second on the team with Jason Witten. Patrick also finished with 15 punt returns for 143 yards while sharing that role with Adam "Pacman" Jones.

In 2009, he was yet again the number two receiver behind Roy Williams after the Cowboys cut Terrell Owens, who signed with the Buffalo Bills soon after. He started 6 out of the 16 games he played this season and caught 37 passes for 622 yards (Averaging 16.8 yards per catch, a career high )including a career long 80 yard touchdown reception in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also caught 5 touchdowns which ranked third on the team behind Roy Williams (7) and Miles Austin (11). Crayton also scored his first punt return touchdown of his career in week 7 at Atlanta, which earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He followed it up with his second touchdown return in a week later against the Seattle Seahawks. Crayton finished with 36 punt returns for 437 yards and 2 touchdowns (tied with DeSean Jackson for first in the league punt return touchdowns) with a long of 82 which are all career highs.

San Diego Chargers
On September 3, 2010, Crayton was traded to the San Diego Chargers for a 2011 7th-round draft pick, one day after his agent requested his release. In his first season with the club he was injured after 9 games, finishing with 28 catches for 514 yards and 1 touchdown. He played 14 games the next year before being released.

Family
Crayton married his wife Najiyyah on October 27, 2008.