Tulsa World: Crayton could break return record

TULSA WORLD HOMEPAGE | Tuesday, February 09, 2010 | WIRELESS

OU | OSU | TU | ORU | HIGH SCHOOLS | COLLEGE FOOTBALL | COLLEGE BASKETBALL | NFL | FANTASY | OUTDOORS | GOLF | PROS | ALL

HOMEPAGES

SPORTS EXTRA BLOGS

		Sports Editor Mike Strain
		Sports Columnist Dave Sittler
		The Picker Entertaining & Infuriating

LOCAL PROS

ALL SPORTS

PHOTOS & VIDEOS

OUTDOORS

FIND A STORY

Search the World's archives

EMAIL ALERTS

SOCIAL MEDIA

RSS FEEDS

CONTACT US

BUY PHOTOS & PAGES

Buy a published photo by clicking the "Order this Picture" link on the photo. For a full-color page reprint, call 732-8198 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday or order online.

TULSA WORLD

ADVERTISE ON SPORTS EXTRA

Learn more about the site.

Newspaper View Print this story

Bookmark

Crayton could break return record

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Patrick Crayton (84) escapes a tackle by Seattle Seahawks punter Jon Ryan (9) as he heads to the end zone for a touchdown on a punt return. Donna McWilliam/AP Photo

By GERRY FRALEY Dallas Morning News
Published: 11/4/2009 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 11/4/2009 7:42 AM

IRVING, Texas — Dallas Cowboys punt returner Patrick Crayton will try to set history in Sunday's game at Philadelphia.

Crayton has returned a punt for a touchdown in each of the last two games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, no professional player has ever returned a punt for a touchdown in three consecutive games.

Since 1941, only 13 players have had as many as three scoring punt returns in a season. Three players share the record of four punt returns for a touchdown in a season: Hall of Famer Jack Christensen with Detroit in 1951, Denver's Rick Upchurch in 1976 and Chicago's Devin Hester in 2007.

Crayton, who played at Northwestern Oklahoma, said the entire punt-return unit now thinks score on every kick.

"The guys up front are giving even more effort, because I think they realize we have the potential to break one at any moment," Crayton said. "If we get a returnable punt and block, we've got the potential to take it all the way back to the house now."

Dante Hall is the last player to return a kick for a score in three consecutive games. With Kansas City in 2003,

Hall had a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown against Houston followed by a 97-yard scoring kickoff return against Baltimore and a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown against Denver.

Back to work: The plan, always subject to change, calls for the Cowboys to practice at their Valley Ranch complex this week. The consistency will be welcomed.

Because of bad weather and logistical restrictions, the Cowboys practiced in three locations last week. The constant shuttling made preparations more difficult.

"We practiced everywhere but in the road," linebacker Bradie James said. "But we had to find a way to get ready, and we did."

Romo on 4,000-yard pace: Tony Romo is among 10 quarterbacks currently on a pace to throw for more than 4,000 yards.

Indianapolis' Peyton Manning leads with a pace of 5,090 yards. Romo is ninth at 4,361 yards. The record for most players passing for 4,000-plus yards in a season is seven, set in 2007. By GERRY FRALEY Dallas Morning News

Newspaper View Print this story

Bookmark

COMMENTS

Add your comment

Show: Most Recent Comment First

0 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!

Reporting Comments

If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you. -- Web Editor Jason Collington

Add Your Comment
In order to post a comment on this article, you must sign in to Tulsaworld.com. If you do not have a site account, you can create an account for free.