Cowboys To Release Orton

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The Dallas Cowboys will release backup quarterback Kyle Orton, according to ESPN.

Orton, 31, has been considering retirement and skipped the team’s entire offseason program. His release adds $1.1275 million in dead money to the Cowboys’ salary cap this season and $2.255 million in dead money in 2015, according to the report. However, it does clear his $3.25 million salary against this year’s salary cap.

While Orton has not made any public comments this offseason, if he retired under contract he would be required to repay $3 million from his signing bonus.

The Cowboys have been bracing for Orton’s departure, adding veteran backups Brandon Weeden and Caleb Hanie over the offseason. Weeden took the majority of the first-team reps during the offseason program with Tony Romo recovering from back surgery.

The Cowboys also signed rookie Dustin Vaughan following the NFL Draft.

Orton has a career 35-35 record as a starter. In his final appearance for the Cowboys, he started last season’s finale in place of injured Romo and completed 33 of 51 passes for 398 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.