IRVING, Texas -- Dallas wide receiver Patrick Crayton signed
a four-year deal with the Cowboys on Thursday that's worth up to
$14 million, his agent said.
Crayton will receive $6 million in guaranteed money said agent
Frederick Lyles.
He is third on the team in catches (48) and yards (689) this
season, trailing only tight end Jason Witten and fellow wide
receiver Terrell Owens. Crayton is averaging 14.4 yards per catch
and has seven touchdowns. His role has increased this season
because of an injury to No. 2 wideout Terry Glenn.
Crayton, who attended DeSoto High School about 20 miles from
downtown Dallas, would have been a free agent after the season.
"He could have easily secured more money on the open market,"
Lyles said. "But his family is here. His wife and child and mother
and siblings, they all live in Dallas. He was more concerned about
not uprooting his family."
Crayton had hinted Thursday that a deal was imminent, telling
reporters "Hopefully, soon" when asked about signing an
extension.
The new deal also ends talk that Crayton would end up in Miami,
where former Cowboys coach Bill Parcells is the new executive vice
president of football operations for the Dolphins. Parcells drafted
Crayton out of Northwestern Oklahoma State in the seventh round of
the 2004 draft.
Crayton told reporters Thursday that "this is where I want to
be."