IRVING, Texas - Patrick Crayton has never been one to bite his tongue. Usually, when he's got something to say, the sixth-year receiver doesn't hold back.
Clearly, Crayton held a little back on Wednesday, but still expressed his frustration with being demoted as the punt returner and the second wide receiver - all in a two-week span.
"Yeah, it's been a tough two weeks," Crayton said. "It comes with the territory though. You have to be able to respond and bounce back from it and go about your business. My job now is to help wherever possible."
Crayton will likely be the third receiver behind Roy Williams and Miles Austin, whose 250-yard game against the Chiefs has suddenly put him in a starting role.
As if the receiver switch isn't bad enough for Crayton, the veteran also lost his punt return duties with the addition of veteran Allen Rossum, who signed with the team last week. Crayton will continue to play on the punt return unit as the up-back in front of Rossum.
But more frustrating than the actual demotions for Crayton is the lack of communication he claims occurred between the coaching staff and himself.
Rather than simply seeing Austin take the first-team reps, Crayton said it would've been nice to have either head coach Wade Phillips or offensive coordinator Jason Garrett explain the situation to him.
"Well, (Phillips) said it to you guys without saying it," Crayton said, referring to Phillips' comments to the media last week. "That means you're starting. If he tells you you're going to play as many plays as you did before, it means you're starting."
But why didn't Crayton get that information? That's a question for which the receiver doesn't have an answer.
"Ask Coach Wade that, buddy. Ask Wade that, ask Garrett that," Crayton said. "Yeah, that would've been real stand-up. But that's not what happened."
Phillips said Wednesday in his regular press conference that Crayton had been informed in the meetings, but there hasn't been a formal discussion because of Roy Williams' injury situation on the other side.
However, if Williams is healthy enough to play with the bruised ribs that kept him out of action against the Chiefs, opening the door for Austin's record-breaking day, Phillips said Williams and Austin would start.
"I think it's obvious . . . the guy had 250 yards receiving in one game," Phillips said of Austin. "It's hard to say you're not going to play the guy. I think he deserves the start."
Fair or not, Crayton understands the business.
"It's not about fair. That's what you come to realize," Crayton said. "Life is not fair. You just have to roll with the punches."
But while he may be upset with the situation, Crayton remains happy for the guy replacing him on offense.
"I'm excited for Miles because he's getting an opportunity," he said. "I'm going to back him regardless.
"But this gives me a lot of incentive. I always feel like there's a chip on my shoulder anyway. I'm a seventh-rounder coming out of a small school. Trust me, it all gives me incentive, but this is a little more fuel to the fire."
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