Jan. 2, 2007

OLATHE, Kan. - As the NFL ends its regular season and steps into the chase for Super Bowl XLI, four NAIA schools will be represented on the rosters of three of the NFL's 12 playoff teams.

In the NFC, Dallas Cowboys' wide receiver Patrick Crayton headlines the NAIA group with 36 receptions that have gone for 516 yards and four touchdowns in 2006. Crayton, who played his collegiate football at Northwest Oklahoma as both a quarterback and wide receiver, has played in all 16 games for the Cowboys, averaging 14.3 yards per reception and producing a 53-yard catch that marks his longest of the year.

While at Northwest Oklahoma, Crayton also returned punts and kick-offs and was a four-time all-conference selection in the Central States Football League. Dallas opens the post-season on the road, taking on the Seattle Seahawks Saturday at Seattle's Qwest Field.

Crayton is joined in the NFC by a pair of New York Giants who are inactive for the playoff hunt and are on injured reserve for the franchise. Third-year running back Derrick Ward played in eight of New York's 16 regular season games this season, going without a carry and playing special teams with a fumble recovery against Chicago in November.

Ward played his final season of collegiate football at Ottawa University (Kan.), transferring to the KCAC school from Fresno State for his senior campaign. In his year with the Braves, Ward set NAIA single-season records with 2,061 rushing yards, 28 touchdowns and 7.8 yards per carry (263 attempts). 

Also on the Giants' 2006 roster is rookie cornerback E.J. Underwood, who played at Pikeville (Ky.) and has not appeared on the field for the Giants this season. The Giants open post-season play with NFC East Division Rival Philadelphia in the Eagles' back yard, with kick-off slated for Sunday at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field.

On the AFC side of the bracket for the March to Miami, Lindenwood (Mo.) University's DeDe Dorsey has played in four games for the Indianapolis Colts, who will host the Kansas City Chiefs Saturday in Indianapolis.

Dorsey started his career at Ottawa before transferring to Lindenwood for his final two seasons and was named All-America at running back at the conclusion of his senior season. He also earned All-America honors as a junior as a cornerback.

Dorsey, who was acquired by the Colts in 2006 from Cincinnati, has four kick return yards in his rookie season with Indianapolis.

The NFL playoff schedule kicks off Saturday with two games and the Wild Card round concludes Sunday with its final two games before the Divisional rounds are played Jan. 13 and 14.

The AFC and NFC title games will be decided on Jan. 21, with Super Bowl XLI scheduled for Feb. 4, in Miami.