Dallas Cowboys Update: Austin Move has Crayton Closer to the Door

The World Cup betting has really started to heat up, and so has the competition for wide receiver roster positions with the Dallas Cowboys. Over the past few weeks the sports betting world has been trying to figure out what head coach Wade Phillips will do with his over-stocked corps of receivers. At practice last week, he may have finally tipped his hand.

For those betting on NFL final rosters, the question with the Cowboys has been revolving around the future of receiver Patrick Crayton. Last season, Crayton played the slot position in a three receiver set and wound up catching 37 passes. In practice last week, Wade Phillips started to give a little indication as to his final three receiver look and Crayton was not involved. The formation had rookie Dez Bryant and veteran Roy Williams on the outside, and Miles Austin in the slot.

Sam Hurd is the other wide receiver that seems to be left out of the picture, but Hurd has not made a spectacle of himself during OTAs and mini-camp by demanding a trade and sitting out to protest a lack of playing time. With Austin playing the slot, it looks like Crayton’s days in Dallas are truly numbered. It is doubtful the Cowboys will even want him back as a third or fourth receiver on the depth chart.

Wide Receiver Miles Austin has finally agreed to sign his tender offer of $3.168 million for the 2010 season under the premise that a long-term deal will be discussed before the end of the season. Head coach Wade Phillips and Cowboys’s owner Jerry Jones have both indicated the desire to get a deal done with Austin that will keep him in Dallas for a long time.

Rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant is already raising some concerns for the coming 2010 season. Bryant has performed beyond expectations during OTAs and mini-camp, but he has been nursing a bad hamstring for a week now. He expects to be back in action in time for training camp, but the Cowboys are taking their time on getting their star rookie receiver healthy.

During the Celtics Lakers betting that is going on, people choose the most focused team to win it all. In Dallas, it looks like Tony Romo still has not learned what it means to be a focused champion. Romo has been playing in the Wisconsin State Golf Association Match Play Championship this week, and shot a 71 to keep him in contention. Wisconsin is a long way from Valley Ranch, TX and the rest of his hard working teammates.

The Cowboys may have the best problem in the league at running back. There is the power of Marion Barber, the sure hands of Felix Jones and the all-around ability of Tashard Choice. It is doubtful that the Cowboys will be able to keep this trio together beyond the 2010 season as all three will want, and deserve, more playing time. But while the Cowboys have such a potent backfield, look for the team to be at the top of the rushing stats all season long.