Monday marked the fourth week of the Cowboys’ voluntary offseason program and backup quarterback Kyle Orton is nowhere to be seen.
Orton hasn’t shown up for the workouts since they started on April 21 and doesn’t appear he will do so until the mandatory veteran minicamp June 17-19.
And whether Orton arrives for that isn’t guaranteed. The Cowboys can fine Orton up to $70,000 if he fails to show for the mandatory workouts. Orton can also lose money if he fails to complete a good percentage of his offseason workouts.
The Cowboys can reduce his 2014 base salary by $75,000 if he fails to complete the workouts. His base salary is scheduled to be $3.25 million.
“I don’t know,” Jerry Jones said Saturday when asked about Orton’s status. “There’s nothing new other than I do expect him.”
When is the question?
The Cowboys aren’t ready to move on from Orton, who played in the 2013 regular-season finale against Philadelphia because starter Tony Romo underwent back surgery.
Brandon Weeden, whom team executive Stephen Jones said has looked good in offseason workouts, and Caleb Hanie back up Romo.
The Cowboys didn’t draft a quarterback but signed Dustin Vaughan as an undrafted free agent from West Texas A&M on Sunday to add depth to the position during offseason workouts. Romo is still rehabbing from back surgery, though he's throwing passes in a controlled setting.
So waiting on Orton's decision on whether he will retire is the biggest offseason mystery for the Cowboys right now.