Broncos release Orton

Kyle Orton has gone from Jay Cutler’s replacement to Tim Tebow’s backup to the unemployment line.

The Denver Broncos released the 29-year-old veteran quarterback Tuesday, six weeks after benching him following a 1-4 start.

“I spoke with Kyle earlier today and thanked him for everything he did for the Broncos. He was a true professional throughout this season. I’ve got a great deal of respect for him as both a player and as a person,” coach John Fox said in a statement.

Orton shouldn’t stay unemployed for long.

Although he’s a vested veteran with seven NFL seasons under his belt, Orton is subject to the waiver rules because he was released after the trade deadline.

If any team claims him, it will be responsible for about $3 million in salary, which is what remains of his roughly $9 million contract for 2011.

The 29 teams below the Bears in the NFL standings would have to pass on Orton before the Bears could claim him. The process is based on inverse order of records, and only Green Bay (10-0) and San Francisco (9-1) are ahead of the Bears.

If nobody claims him, he will be free to sign with anybody.

Orton reportedly said Chicago is one place he would like to play, according to his agent. He played for the Bears from 2005-08, and, if available, he could return to help until Cutler returns from his thumb injury.

One reason the Bears would not want to bring Orton in is to avoid any quarterback controversy with Caleb Hanie if Hanie struggles.

Orton went 10-5 as a starter in his rookie year and helped the Bears make the 2005 postseason.

John Elway, the Broncos’ executive vice president of football operations, called Orton an “absolute pro,” and said he decided against keeping him on the roster through the remainder of the season.

“We thought it was best for the Broncos at this time as well as for Kyle to catch on with a different team,” Elway said.

Orton decisively outplayed Tebow in training camp for a second straight season, but he turned ordinary when the games started to count, turning the ball over nine times and losing a string of winnable games and the organization’s confidence.

Orton’s slide hit bottom Oct. 9, when he went 6-for-13 for 34 yards in the first half against the Chargers and threw his seventh interception, tied for most in the league at the time.

Fox sent in Tebow to start the second half and after a slow start, the former Florida star sparked a listless offense to within a last-gasp pass of coming back against San Diego.

Orton pledged to be a good teammate and stay ready in case his number was called again, but Tebow has gone 4-1 with the Broncos tailoring their offense to his unique skill set and reintroducing the option to the NFL.

Several teammates said Orton was anything but a cancer in the locker room in recent weeks, even though it had become obvious he was biding his time until his first foray into unfettered free agency as a healthy QB in his prime and with a .500 record as a starter.

Semifinalists for Hall:Former coach Bill Parcells, running back Jerome Bettis and NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue are among 26 modern-era semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Among other semifinalists for the Class of 2012 are wide receivers Tim Brown, Cris Carter and Andre Reed, along with former 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr.ŸDaily Herald sports writer Bob LeGere contributed to the report.