As we are now a week away from the Cowboys returning to training camp, and all had been quiet on the Arlington front.
I recently wrote about how the lull of the offseason in July is deafening, and we desperately needed some Cowboys football to break the silence.
Well I got my wish. Just not at all what I wanted to hear.
As reported by ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, Dallas Cowboys All-Pro G Zack Martin is considering not reporting to training camp.
Martin is reportedly unhappy with his contract and the Cowboys lack of interest in restructuring it to match his on the field value.
He believes he is “woefully underpaid relative to the market”.
The six time All-Pro is currently playing on a 6yr/$84 million contract that he signed in 2018.
At the time, that made Martin the highest paid guard in the league and the richest contract in history for the position.
Now five years removed from then, Martin currently ranks eighth in salary amongst guards in the NFL.
Here are the players who rank ahead of Martin’s $14 million in annual average salary.
- Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons, $20.5 million
- Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts, $20 million
- Elgton Jenkins, Green Bay Packers, $17 million
- Brandon Scherff, Jacksonville Jaguars, $16.5 million
- Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns, $16 million
- Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs, $16 million
- Wyatt Teller, Cleveland Browns, $14.2 million
What Does This Mean For Dallas?
The questions on the offensive line for the Cowboys are widely publicized.
Starting RT Terence Steele is recovering from an ACL tear suffered near the end of the 2022 season.
Long time LT Tyron Smith is projected to again start there in his 13th season, but cannot be counted on to stay healthy for 17 plus games.
Second year player Tyler Smith is locked in at left guard, but that is contingent on Tyron’s health.
Should Tyron go down, the natural move would be for Tyler to kick out to left tackle just like he was forced to do as a rookie.
In that scenario, there is a Texas sized hole at left guard.
There are players who have been rotating in there throughout all offseason activities, but not one of them has stood out to cement themselves as a starter.
Matt Farniok, Matt Waletzko, and newly signed veteran Chuma Edoga have been the main three players considered for the starting left guard job.
The one sure thing we have been able to count on from the offensive line this offseason is that we don’t have to worry at all about right guard.
A Martin contract dispute changes that narrative.
Why Now?
This is honestly the only question that came to my mind immediately after the Schefter tweet came across my feed.
Of all the players I expected to hold out from team activities for a new contract, Zack Martin was the absolute last one on my list.
The President has always been a quiet guy who just goes out and does his job.
Why did he decide to make noise after one of the best off-seasons for the Cowboys in recent memory?
The attitude of the front office has changed.
It is apparent that they believe this team is close to greatness, and their moves in recent months have been to get as close to that greatness as possible.
The Cowboys went out of their comfort zone and traded for two established veterans to bolster the talent on both sides of the ball.
WR Brandin Cooks and CB Stephon Gilmore automatically make the Cowboys one of the favorites to win the NFC.
Another move out of their comfort zone was to release fan favorite RB Ezekiel Elliott to unload his expensive contract.
They also opened up the checkbook, and paid a safety, Donovan Wilson.
The Cowboys are notorious for not addressing the safety position over the years, but the new attitude changed that.
I’m all for Martin getting his money. The timing is just odd to me.
In a season where the collective goal should be focusing on getting to the Super Bowl before the window closes, Martin’s actions feel a tad bit selfish.
Perhaps Martin feels his body is physically on the decline, and is trying to get out ahead of that.
Whatever the case may be, this is some very unwelcome news to Cowboys fans and the team, alike.