Cowboys 2009 Training Camp Position Battles To Watch: Number 2

Written by theMBIIIeffect

The wide receiver spot has been a big headache for Dallas in recent years.

That headache’s name is Terrell Owens.

But he’s gone, released by the Cowboys and signed by Buffalo. And by VH1, where you can see his new reality show.

The heir to Owens’ top receiver spot is former Detroit Lion and former Longhorn Roy Williams. But who will line up opposite him?

The Favorite: Patrick Crayton

This position was his before Williams’ arrival, and even then the two split time opposite Owens. He should have the inside track to winning the job again now that Williams has taken the top spot.

Crayton is a good possession receiver who has familiarity with Tony Romo, more often than not makes important catches and, for now, is penciled in as the number 2 guy. He has even stated that he’s motivated by people not mentioning him as one of the guys who could help make up some of Owens’ production in the passing game.

The Long Shot: Jesse Holley

The winner of Michael Irvin’s show Fourth and Long faces an uphill battle to even make the roster.

Some might write him off as a gimmick, as a publicity stunt to increase the Dallas Cowboys brand.

But the 6’3, 216-pound receiver has all the impetus in the world to prove the world wrong, as he stated in this interview with the Dallas-Forth Worth NBC affiliate:

“Coming into camp, I fully expect people to look at me as just ‘the TV guy,’ or just as a guy who only made it here because of a TV show, coming to camp as sort of a gimmick,” Holley said, still breathing heavily from the workout. “I think I’ll put those whispers, or those yells, to bed pretty early. Just going out, working hard, letting people know that, yes, my route was different than yours, but none the less, I am a player.”

Well, Holley, here’s to hoping that you will be a player, and that you can make a difference for the Cowboys in 2009.

The Prediction: Miles Austin

Austin was forced to sit out most of last year with an injury, but when he was on the field, he was dangerous. Working mostly out of the slot, he picked up 278 yards on 13 catches for a 21.4 average per catch. If Austin can stay healthy, the job will eventually be his.

Coming Tomorrow: The Top 2009 Dallas Cowboys Training Camp Battle

Tags: Jesse Holley, Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton, Roy Williams, Terrell Owens, Tony Romo