The Dallas Cowboys released veteran Quarterback Kyle Orton on Wednesday, after not showing up for off-season workouts.
Orton skipped the workouts amidst reports that he was giving serious thought to retirement. Orton was fined almost $70,000 in fines for failing to attend off-season workouts and missing a mandatory minicamp in June according to The Globe and Mail.
The Cowboys will save $3.25 million in base salary this year by releasing Orton. Orton signed with Dallas as an unrestricted free agent in 2012 and had a year remaining on his three-year deal. His release adds $1.1 million of dead money to their 2014 cap according to the Dallas Morning News.
Orton started the final game of the Cowboy’s season last year against the Philadelphia Eagles in a win or go home match. He went 30 of 46 for 358 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in a heartbreaking 24-22 defeat against their division rivals.
Tony Romo will now have the Oklahoma State graduate Brandon Weeden as his backup. Weeden turns 31 in October, but is entering just his third season in the NFL after spending five years playing professional baseball right out of high school.