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With the Patriots on the threshold of greatness*, media bobbleheads are quick to point out how Bob Kraft/Scott Pioli/Bill Belichick created the blueprint for building a championship roster. Here's the thing: the Pats aren't the only team with smart personnel guys.

Look around the league: the Steelers, Eagles, and hell, even the Chargers, have shown the ability to find talent and build a competitive team. And the Cowboys have also earned the right to be mentioned in that conversation.

Owner Jerry Jones is often characterized as a meddling busybody -- and maybe he is -- but he's also got people around him who know how to put together a football team. That explains how Dallas found wideout Patrick Crayton four years ago, and also why the team just gave him a shiny new four-year, $14 million deal ($6 million in guaranteed loot).

The former Northwester Oklahoma St. star replaced the injured Terry Glenn this season and with a game to go in '07, has 48 catches for 689 yards, and seven touchdowns. Crayton's been a nice complement to Terrell Owens and Jason Witten, and now he'll be around for four more years.

Crayton would've been an unrestricted free agent and might've made more money on the open market, but he had no interest in leaving Big D:

"This is exactly where I want to be," Crayton said before the Cowboys practiced Thursday. "My client is very happy," said Crayton's agent, Fred Lyles. "He didn't consider the money. He considered his family for making his decision. His wife, son and mother are very important to him because they live in Dallas. "He's a family person, and it means a lot to him."

With Romo and now Crayton under contract long term, the Cowboys can make a run at signing their other soon-to-be free agents.