Backup will get three years, $9.1 million; he says he likes being with offensive-minded coach.
John Niyo / The Detroit News
Dan Orlovsky
said he was looking for a chance to start. But really, he was just looking for a chance to start over.
Orlovsky, who started seven games last season in relief of Jon Kitna and Daunte Culpepper with the Lions, signed a three-year contract with the Houston Texans on Sunday. The deal is worth $9.1 million, according to a league source, including a $2.4 million signing bonus.
A 2005 fifth-round pick who spent his first four seasons with the Lions, Orlovsky will be the No. 2 quarterback behind Matt Schaub in Houston. He canceled a scheduled visit to Denver.
Orlovsky, 25, balked at the Lions’ pitch to re-sign him before free agency, saying he didn’t feel he’d get a fair shot at winning the No. 1 job over Culpepper.
“It was a confusing situation to be a part of because I didn’t think the play on Sundays was warranting that call or that decision,” said Orlovsky, who completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,616 yards and eight touchdowns with eight interceptions last season. “So it was disappointing.”
Lions general manager Martin Mayhew addressed that last month at the scouting combine.
“I told Dan … ‘The best player will play,’ ” Mayhew said. “ ’If you come in here and you’re the best player to help us win football games, you’ll start.’ ”
But, Mayhew added, “He was a backup last year, he was a backup before that, he’s been a backup his whole career. I don’t think anybody would be surprised if I thought he was a backup.”
Orlovsky got his first chance at extended playing time last season when Kitna went down with a back injury Oct. 5. He started the next four games before suffering two fractures and a torn ligament in the thumb on his throwing hand Nov. 2. The day before, the Lions had agreed to terms on a deal to bring in Culpepper, though, and Orlovsky knew he was headed back to the bench.
He started the final three games after Culpepper hurt his throwing shoulder Nov. 9, and played arguably his best game in a 31-21 loss to the Colts. But he and his teammates couldn’t avoid a historic 0-16 finish.
“When you’re 0-9, 0-10, 0-11, that’s really difficult to get up every day and go to work when you know that not everyone is on board,” Orlovsky said. “I can’t say that the players weren’t; I think all of our players were great and I think they didn’t give up, but it was difficult.”
As for becoming a starter, Orlovsky insists he understands his role in Houston.
“I think any quarterback in the NFL wants to start,” he said. “That’s just the competitive nature of us. … But I’m not stupid: I know no team is just going to say, ‘Hey, you’re our starting quarterback.’ And I wouldn’t feel comfortable with them because I haven’t done enough to prove that I’m a clear-cut starter. Did I do enough to say that I have potential? Sure.”
Orlovsky played for four offensive coordinators in four seasons in Detroit, but he’s eager to get to work with a fifth, Kyle Shanahan, as well as offensive-minded coach Gary Kubiak, in Houston.
“They’re straight shooters,” Orlovsky said. “I feel it’s a good opportunity just to learn from those guys. I told them I’m really hungry to get coached, to get pushed and to see where I can get to.”