Dallas Cowboys All-Pro guard Zack Martin made his training camp debut on Tuesday following a weeks-long holdout.
Martin spoke to the media for the first time since the holdout and discussed his reason for the holdout and how the renegotiation came to be.
Zack Martin on What He Felt He Earned and Deserved
Martin mentioned that this was a difficult decision for him, and he probably wouldn’t have considered himself a holdout guy in the past, but it was a necessary decision for him to make.
He said he felt that it had to happen to reach some of his goals, but ultimately, felt like it was what he deserved. Martin said it had been on his mind since last season and weighed heavy on him.
“Trying to get those talks early in the offseason and then, you know, kind of not seeing it go my way a little bit and come to the realization that if I felt this strongly about it and wanted it to get done, then this was going to be something that I would have to do,” said Martin.
The veteran guard said things all came together when the team returned to Dallas for their first preseason game.
“We got to spend some of that face-to-face time and kind of hammer this thing out,” said Martin, who added that he is the one that reached out first at that point and that some of his “buddies in the organization” got that going for him.
Martin discussed that he never took anything personally during this time, and there are no hard feelings between him and owner/general manager Jerry Jones because even, despite the hard times, the deal was made.
According to Martin, it was never about being the highest-paid guard in the NFL but to get the money he earned. As far as the fines Martin will owe, according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL, he said his pay raise justified the holdout to himself.
“That’s how I justify it to myself is that if I got this done… I would make more money than I would be losing money,” said Martin as he laughed.
Martin said that he didn’t have a return date in mind but that he’s happy with the timing so he could return ahead of the team’s regular-season opener against the New York Giants. But now that the deal is done, Martin is ready to focus on the season ahead.
“It’s all about the season. It’s all about getting ready for the season and helping this team win a championship. So that’s where my mind goes right away,” said Martin.
Martin on Returning to His Teammates
Overall, Martin said he’s happy to be back with his teammates. Their love and support helped him get through that time.
“It was great. I said my head hurt last night because I was smiling and laughing so much all day. You know, I don’t think I stopped talking from the moment I got here till I went to bed,” said Martin.
He mentioned the holdout felt longer than it was at times when he was back home in the Dallas heat, watching his team at training camp and not being there.
Martin said in his absence, he was in contact with guys like Dak Prescott, Tyron Smith, and Tyler Biadasz to stay connected with what was happening at camp.
But it was great for him to return to camp, where he did some individual work.
“It was great to put the pads on. You can work out and all you want, but until you get those pads on and start getting those movements, and in pads, that’s where you really start to feel it,” said Martin, who said he would be smart about his return.
He credited Duke Manyweather, who was helping him train and stay in shape during his holdout.
— Duke Manyweather (@BigDuke50) August 14, 2023
#Cowboys right guard Zack Martin continues to work on strength and position training with @BigDuke50 🏈
(🎥: @ olmastermindstraining on IG) pic.twitter.com/b020LfHWoz
— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) August 13, 2023
Martin Spoke With Ezekiel Elliott
The last holdout the Cowboys dealt with was in 2019, when Ezekiel Elliott did the same thing. The difference was that Elliott’s holdout ended days before the season opener.
Martin said he talked to Elliott and hung out with him before they signed their new deals, but that every situation is different.