Cowboys: Zack Martin 'considering not reporting' to training camp
What an off-putting way to kick off Wednesday for the Dallas Cowboys and their fans. Just minutes after Madden 24 revealed it was making right guard Zack Martin part of the game's iconic 99 Club, things took a wrong turn.ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Martin is "considering not reporting to training camp due to his unhappiness […]
What an off-putting way to kick off Wednesday for the Dallas Cowboys and their fans.
Just minutes after Madden 24 revealed it was making right guard Zack Martin part of the game's iconic 99 Club, things took a wrong turn.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Martin is "considering not reporting to training camp due to his unhappiness with his contract and the team's lack of interest in restructuring."
In addition, Schefter quoted his sources saying that Martin believes he is "woefully underpaid relative to the market."
Talk about a punch in the mouth for Cowboys fans who were taking a victory lap following the videogame-related news. Real life quickly hit the fanbase with a bucket of cold water as arguably the best player on the team (only Micah Parsons could battle him for that title) suddenly could be absent from training camp.
Martin's deal – which was signed back in 2018 – currently expires after the 2024 season. The All-Pro guard is currently making a lower average salary than seven other guards in the league at $14 million per year. As salaries at the position are hitting $20 million following the extensions of Quenton Nelson and Chris Lindstrom, Martin is playing it smart.
With an offensive line with plenty of question marks, the Cowboys' right guard holds significant leverage. If anything, he's playing it smart as the front office seems focused on Trevon Diggs, CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott, and even Terence Steele, who's entering a contract year.
Martin is making his push to climb that to-do list. And if someone deserves to get paid, if you ask me, is the best and most reliable player on the team. Expect this to be a big storyline moving forward. The Cowboys got awfully close to training camp without any major drama. Buckle up.
Featured image via Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
