Dan OrlovskyFormer UConn Huskies and Detroit Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky has decided to sign a 3-year, $9.1 million contract with the Houston Texans to be their backup quarterback. Included in that contract is a signing bonus of $2.4 million.

Orlovsky decided not to re-sign with the Lions when he found out he’d be backing up Daunte Culpepper but decided Houston was the place to be because of head coach Gary Kubiak.

“I think the big reason here is just coach Kubiak,” Orlovsky said. “Spending time with him and coach [Kyle] Shanahan, sitting down with them and really getting to know them, not only as football coaches but as people, what they preached and what they believed in, was important to me.”

“Coach Kubiak carries a reputation with quarterbacks. The economics of it wasn’t a big deal to me; it was about the opportunity to learn and get better. I’m still only 25, so I know I have a long career ahead of me, and my biggest thing was to try and become as good of a quarterback as I can, and I think that this situation presents that.”

It’s good to see Orlovsky get rewarded for his time in Detroit. They may have sucked this year but when Orlovsky was in, he gave them a chance to win. Unfortunately for him and the Lions, he didn’t get them a win this season.

In 10 games (7 starts) for the Lions in 2008, Orlovsky threw for 1,616 yards with 8 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.

Texans sign ex-Lion Orlovsky as backup quarterback [Houston Chronicle]