It’s official, All-Pro guard Zack Martin is holding out from Dallas Cowboys training camp. During a press conference on Tuesday, Jerry Jones declined to speak about Martin, saying that he would not discuss any players’ agreements but that they all have “great communication with everybody.”
Dallas Cowboys’ Zack Martin Doesn’t Report to Training Camp
“He’s a great player and one of our team leaders. There is nothing but love for him; that part hasn’t changed… This is a business situation, and that’s where it is,” said Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy in that same press conference.
After the press conference, Jones spoke to reporters, saying that a holdout “doesn’t affect” their plans and that he is in them, shown in a video posted by NBC5’s Pat Doney.
However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Martin did not report to camp according to a source. So it’s still a big question mark surrounding what Martin will do as we advance. How long will he hold out, and will the Cowboys give him the contract restructure he wants?
According to David Moore with the Dallas Morning News, Martin was not on the team’s charter plane that departed Dallas to Southern California on Monday. It’s still unknown if Martin is in California or not at the moment.
Remember that according to the collective bargaining agreement with the NFL, all players were to report to camp today and can be fined $50k per day that they miss.
Zack Martin’s Current Contract
This comes after a report from Schefter last week saying that Martin is unhappy with his current contract and the team’s lack of interest in restructuring it, and that he feels “woefully underpaid relative to the market.”
In 2018, Martin signed a six-year contract extension worth $84 million. The contract included a $20 million signing bonus, with $40 million guaranteed. This season, Martin will make $14 million with a base salary of $1.7 million and a restructured bonus of $11.8 million.
Martin ranks ninth in the NFL for what other guards’ annual salaries will be in 2023.
What Will the Cowboys Do in Martin’s Absence?
Dallas will be left in a waiting game while things get sorted out with Martin if he doesn’t report to practice. This means that the Cowboys’ offensive line will shift again, giving T.J. Bass, Chuma Edoga, and Matt Farniok some reps with the one during this time.
Though the team is versatile and can fill Martin’s absence while he holds out from camp, he is a staple of the offense who can’t be replaced easily.
In regards to Martin’s career thus far, he is easily one of the most decorated guards in the NFL. He was recently announced as a member of Madden NFL 24’s “99 Club,” the first time for a guard since 2003.
One of Martin’s most decorated stats is that he is going into his 10th season with more Pro Bowl appearances (8) than he does penalties (7).