Hurd Ready To Replace Crayton For Cowboys On Thanksgiving

IRVING, Texas (AP) Despite his sprained left foot being in a walking cast and having missed both practices this week, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Patrick Crayton said he's still a game-time decision

Wednesday, November 21st 2007, 4:43 pm

By: News On 6

IRVING, Texas (AP) Despite his sprained left foot being in a walking cast and having missed both practices this week, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Patrick Crayton said he's still a game-time decision to play on Thursday against the New York Jets.

Across the locker room, though, Sam Hurd said he's ``supposed to'' start in Crayton's place. He's so sure of seeing more action than usual that he admitted Wednesday to having thought about becoming the latest unheralded Dallas player to have a starring performance on Thanksgiving, joining the likes of Clint Longley, Jason Garrett and even Tony Romo just last year.

``I'm like, 'Is this going to happen again?''' Hurd said. ``God says never say anything negative, so I'm thinking positive all day that I'm going to have a big game.''

Crayton was hurt during a punt return early in the last game, but adrenaline helped keep him from feeling it. The soreness set in Monday and he hasn't even tried running on it yet.

He'll see what he can do during pregame warm-ups, but doesn't sound optimistic. Trainers already have advised him to take a big-picture approach, which basically means there's no reason to push it with NFC co-leader Green Bay up next. Besides, Dallas is 9-1 and New York is 2-8, with receiver Laveranues Coles questionable because of an ankle injury.

``The thing is, we've got to think about the long haul,'' Crayton said. ``We're trying to get into that last run. That's when you want to be playing your best football, November going into December. So you want to be healed up for it.''

Crayton has 31 catches for 466 yards and five touchdowns this season, taking advantage of defenses worrying more about Terrell Owens and tight end Jason Witten. The third receiver last year, Crayton has started the first 10 games in place of the injured Terry Glenn.

Glenn, who is recovering from knee surgery, was seen headed out to a practice field with a trainer Wednesday.

``It's not because Patrick's hurt,'' he said.

Hurd started twice as an undrafted rookie last season, even once filling in for Glenn opposite T.O. He had four catches for 42 yards that game, and came up big in the opener by turning a blitz-beating route into a 51-yard, victory-sealing touchdown against the New York Giants. He has 10 catches for 169 yards on the season.

``I have a lot of confidence in Sam,'' Romo said. ``He's worked (hard) to be in a position to help this team. When he's out there on the field, I don't second-guess him at all. I am real comfortable with him out there.''

Hurd, a San Antonio native, already was planning to have about 20 relatives at the game.

``It's Thanksgiving, national TV and I get to start for the Dallas Cowboys with a 9-1 record,'' Hurd said. ``Can't beat that.''