Kyle Orton has a year remaining on his contract with the Cowboys, but the team isn’t entirely sure that he’ll be back for the 2014 season, Clarence Hill and Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram hear from executive VP Stephen Jones and multiple sources. Orton is mulling the idea of retiring, and figures to make his decision before the new league year begins on March 11. If the Cowboys’ backup does call it a career, quarterback will become an even stronger area of focus for the club in free agency and the draft.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

• The Rams will meet with Rodger Saffold‘s agent tomorrow to discuss a new contract for the offensive tackle, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
• Speaking to the NFL Network about free agent defensive end Greg Hardy, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said that GM Dave Gettleman told him they’re working to get something done with Hardy (Twitter link via Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer).
• Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians told reporters, including Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (Twitter link), that he thinks quarterback Carson Palmer can play until he’s 36 or 37. That would mean another two or three seasons for the Arizona signal-caller.
• The 49ers haven’t had trade discussions involving LaMichael James, according to GM Trent Baalke, who says the running back will “continue to be a 49er” (Twitter link via Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee). A report earlier this month indicated James could be on the trade block this offseason.
• We rounded up several NFC East items earlier today.