Kyle Orton is apparently giving up on not only the Dallas Cowboys, but all of football.
The backup quarterback has yet to report to OTAs and reports say that he is considering retirement .
It could be quite a costly decision if he follows through. Orton would be required to pay the Cowboys back $3 million of his $5 million signing bonus collected when he signed a five-year contract in 2012 and would also forgo $3.25 million in base salary.
If true, it would be the end of a career once filled with promise. Kyle Orton took over as starter for the Denver Broncos and many believed he would lead them to the playoffs, but instead he was replaced by Tim Tebow in 2011. The second-year Tebow — along with a stingy defense — led the team on an incredible second-half streak that ended with a playoff berth and a wild card round victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Orton then went to Dallas to serve as backup to Tony Romo, and he was forced into action in Week 17 last year. But with a playoff berth on the line, the Cowboys lost to the Eagles despite Orton completing 30 of 46 passes for 358 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Orton’s position on the team is shaky going into organized team activities. The Cowboys signed former Cleveland Browns starter Brandon Weeden and veteran backup Caleb Hanie, both of whom would compete with Orton for the spot behind Romo.
The team’s coaching staff had already given indications that they were prepared to move on without Kyle Orton .
“We’re still hopeful that Kyle will be here,” quarterback coach Wade Wilson said last week, “but if he doesn’t, we feel really good about Brandon, especially since he’s going through our off-season program.”
Many believed that Kyle Orton could compete for a starting job elsewhere, but if he does follow through with plans to retire he’d better be ready to pay up.
