The Dallas Cowboys training camp officially began on July 26 in Oxnard, although veteran player Zack Martin voluntarily skipped it due to dissatisfaction with his current deal.
The NFL world never anticipated this from the Cowboys’ 16th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, and the predicament is already out of control. In light of these circumstances, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made a pitch that the current round of negotiations over his deal would come to an end.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones offers the latest update on Zack Martin’s situation
Having played and started in 137 games over nine seasons with Dallas, the 32-year-old is a man the Cowboys have reasons to feel a bit confident about extending. The owner of the organization, however, revealed through Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News that Jones’ team appeared to have dug in its knot with Zack.
Jerry saw Martins’ request for a contract extension as expensive and the current source of their disagreement. The team owner believes that the Cowboys need to address extensions for Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, CeeDee Lamb, and Terence Steele with over $20 million in salary-cap space.
“Surprise is really not the word there. It’s very costly, and so that’s where we are. Huge, significant ramifications happening here by anybody’s measurement financially.”
While Zack did not completely rule out the prospect of increasing the veteran offensive guard’s contract, Jones made it apparent in a different interview with Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that they were moving on from their veteran offensive guard.
Update: #Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on OG Zack Martin who's currently holding out of Training Camp:
"You just move on here without him.'', via @fishsports
Zack Martin is being fined $50,000 a day for holding out, he's currently over $600,000 in fines, per Mike Fisher.
"You… pic.twitter.com/SrS5siI7UZ
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 8, 2023
“We’ll just move on here without him.’ But you say, ‘Boy, that sounds concerning. No, I’m just trying to give you how you really have to look at it.”
While Martin and his team are still at a standstill, they are adamant in their choice, implying that a divorce between them will occur shortly.
Why did Zack Martin not report to the Cowboys’ NFL 2023 training camp?
Martin allegedly thought about not going to training camp before it started. The eight-time Pro Bowler believes he is grossly underpaid compared to the market because his $14 million yearly average ranks eighth among guards. With Dallas, he is looking for a new deal as his current one expires in two years.
The six-time first-team All-Pro stuck to his word and skipped 12 training camp workouts while refusing to sign a contract. He is expected to pay a punishment of $50,000 for skipping each day of camp, totaling more than $600,000 in penalty.
ZM evolved into the highest-paid guard in the NFL in 2018 after agreeing to a six-year, $84 million agreement. In addition to a non-guaranteed $13 million in 2024, he is expected to earn $13.5 million this season.
The iconic player demonstrated during his whole career with the Cowboys that he was the ideal first-round selection for them and an integral part of their offense. Losing him would undoubtedly be devastating for the Cowboys.
