You can now add Cowboys Guard Zack Martin to the list of elite NFL players currently skipping voluntary Organized Team Activities. Some are skipping just for veteran rest or to avoid injury, and others like Martin are still trying to work out new contracts with their clubs.
As usual, ESPN’s Todd Archer was the first to break the news:
Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Le’Veon Bell, Julio Jones, Aaron Donald… many of the best in the business are not currently with their teams for a variety of reasons. “Voluntary” often gets forgotten when it comes to OTAs, and absent players are often portrayed as committing a sin rather than exercising their right.
For a guy like Zack Martin, who is in the middle of a major contract negotiation, avoiding unnecessary injury is just smart policy. One bad moment and he could be like Chargers Tight End Hunter Henry, who has likely suffered a season-ending ACL injury yesterday.
Of course, you’d ideally like all of your players present at any team function. But tens of millions of dollars are on the line for Martin over the next two months, making this a time when the business side of professional football takes precedence.
It’s not all bad that he’s gone, either.
In Zack’s absence, newcomers like Marcus Martin get a chance to work with the first team offense. Those reps could come in handy down the road if the backups ever get called into action during the regular season.
It’s far too early to hit any panic buttons about Zack Martin’s status with the team. Until he would actually hold out during a mandatory camp, this is just smart business on his part and what happens throughout the league during contract negotiations.
Nothing to see here. Move along.
