• Originally published November 3, 2009 at 6:50 p.m., updated November 3, 2009 at 6:54 p.m.

By Gerry Fraley

The Dallas Morning News

(MCT)

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 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.

Philadelphia represents a tougher challenge than Crayton's last two victims: Atlanta and Seattle, both of which rank among the NFL's bottom six in opponents punt-return average. Philadelphia has allowed only 5.3 yards per return, fourth-best average in the league and has not given up a scoring punt return since the 10th game of the 2007 season.

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."

Bucs claim Mickens:

Tampa Bay signed rookie cornerback Mike Mickens off the Cowboys' practice squad. Mickens, a seventh-round pick in this year's draft, had been on the practice squad all season. His departure raised the number of draft picks who have not played this season to five. Offensive tackle Robert Brewster, defensive end Brandon Williams and safety Stephen Hodge are injured. Cornerback DeAngelo Smith was cut.

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 4,000-plus yards passing in a season is seven, set in 2007.

Briefly:

With his fourth holding penalty of the season in Sunday's win against Seattle, tight end Martellus Bennett became the league leader in the category. The last tight end with more than four holding penalties in a season was Denver's Shannon Sharpe, with five in 2003. ½ellipsis¾ Romo received his third nomination for the FedEx Air player of the week award. If Romo wins in the voting, conducted at NFL.com/FedEx, the local Safe Kids Coalition will receive a $1,000 contribution.

___

(c) 2009, The Dallas Morning News.

Visit The Dallas Morning News on the World Wide Web at http://www.dallasnews.com/

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

• Print
• •
• Share
  • Share this item

    Send this to a friend

    Share on FaceBook

  • Grab the link

    Copy and paste the link:

  • Blog about it

    Blog about this page.

  • Close
• •
• Post a Comment
• •
• Favorite
• •
• Report error
  • Thank you for your submission.
    Error report or correction

    Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  

    
  • Close
• •