Cowboys finally release Kyle Orton

The Cowboys apparently saw enough of Brandon Weeden to make them willing to eat the money.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Cowboys have informed veteran quarterback Kyle Orton he will be released.

The Cowboys held out hope the veteran backup would return, and that he might retire (at which point he’d owe them $3 million in signing bonus). But when he skipped veteran minicamp (incurring $70,000 worth of fines) it was clear he wasn’t bluffing.

Now, they’ll roll with Weeden behind Tony Romo, who is coming off back surgery.