While most of the recent bad news for the Dallas Cowboys concerns injured linebacker Sean Lee, they're also dealing with a tricky situation at quarterback.
Current backup QB Kyle Orton wants to retire. The Cowboys are due to pay him $3.25 in 2014, but he doesn't want the money - he's perfectly happy walking away and leaving it on the table. Dallas is trying to convince him to put off retirement for one more season, but team officials aren't optimistic that Orton will see out his contract.
Backup Caleb Hanie is still under contract and the Cowboys signed Brandon Weeden to replace the departing Jon Kitna, but Orton's departure would leave the Cowboys thin on QBs with game experience. The team is reportedly looking at several quarterbacks in the event that Orton walks, and while names like Josh Freeman aren't surprising anyone, one name has been getting a disproportionate amount of attention over the last few days: Tim Tebow.
Tebow, still training hard and hoping for another shot at the NFL, has already been mentioned as a possible Orton replacement, but the team is reportedly not interested. The Cowboys aren't prepared to trot out a player who hasn't played live NFL football in over a year, and the team is also wary of the media circus signing Tebow would create. If Orton should retire, look for Dallas to pursue Josh Freeman or former practice squad QB Alex Tanney.
