Zack Martin - Pro Football Rumors

Zack Martin Enters Concussion Protocol

November 23rd, 2017 at 7:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys will be playing at least the rest of this game and possibly more without the services of maybe the best guard in football. Zack Martin is now in concussion protocol.

Longtime backup Joe Looney replaced the All-Pro right guard in the lineup. Martin left the game in the second quarter. The fourth-year interior stalwart has never missed an NFL game.

This comes just as Tyron Smith returned to the lineup after a two-game absence. The Cowboys, who rode to the NFC’s No. 1 seed last season behind Ezekiel Elliott and a bulldozing offense line, are now reeling after injuries, departures and a suspension depleted that unit.

Martin does not have the usual 10-day recovery period following a Thursday game. The Cowboys face the Redskins next Thursday.

Dallas is down 16-0 in the fourth quarter and in danger of falling 1.5 games off the wild-card pace in the NFC with a loss to Los Angeles.

Cowboys, G Zack Martin Put Contract Talks On Hold

September 4th, 2017 at 11:41am CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys and All-Pro guard Zack Martin have put contract negotiations on hold, Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes. They’ll try again next offseason to get a deal done.

The two sides unofficially set a late August deadline for getting a contract done so that it would not be a distraction during the year. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a lot of progress on that front this summer.

The Cowboys exercised Martin’s fifth-year option in the spring and he’s now slated to earn $9.341MM in 2018. The option is guaranteed for injury only, so Martin would presumably prefer an extension to gain greater financial security. The Cowboys, in theory, can use tags to keep him through 2021, but they’ll probably want to use their one tag per year on other players along the way.

Last year, Martin finished as Pro Football Focus’ second-best guard. Kevin Zeitler, who inked the largest free agent contract ever given to a guard this offseason, was seventh. Martin is likely looking to top Zeitler’s five-year, $60MM pact, and that has given Dallas some pause.

Other key players on the Cowboys’ line are already locked up for years to come. Left tackle Tyron Smith and center Travis Frederick are under contract through through 2023 and right tackle La’el Collins is signed through 2019.

Cowboys, Zack Martin “Deep In Talks”

August 9th, 2017 at 5:30pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

An extension for Cowboys guard Zack Martin has seemed like a foregone conclusion for several months, but executive vice president Stephen Jones revealed Tuesday that negotiations between the two sides haven’t been easy. The parties are “deep in talks” at the moment, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, though a deal isn’t imminent (Twitter link).

With Tom Condon serving as his representative, the 26-year-old Martin has the same agent as the highest-paid guard in the league, the Browns’ Kevin Zeitler, who left Cincinnati for Cleveland’s five-year, $60MM offer in free agency. Martin would like to surpass that mark, Rapoport suggests, which explains why Jones believes that contract talks have been tough. While Martin has been an elite guard during his three years in the league, the Cowboys still own his rights for another two seasons. They’re not competing against other teams to keep him, then, whereas the Browns had to outdo various clubs’ offers to secure the 27-year-old Zeitler.

Martin is due to make a relative pittance in 2017 – $1.64MM – and scheduled to rake in $9.34MM next season as a fifth-year option player. That’s a high figure, of course, but it’s a good deal less than the $12MM per year for which he’s aiming. Nevertheless, the expectation is that the Cowboys will lock him up at some point.

Since Dallas chose Martin 16th overall in 2014, the ex-Notre Dame standout has started 48 straight regular-season games. Martin has combined durability with excellence along the way, having earned three Pro Bowl berths in as many years and a pair of first-team All-Pro nods. He finished as Pro Football Focus’ second-best guard last year, beating out the seventh-ranked Zeitler, and a key piece of PFF’s No. 2 overall O-line.

NFC Notes: Cowboys, 49ers, Eagles, Panthers

August 8th, 2017 at 7:35pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones has made it clear on several occasions that the team would like to extend three-time Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin, who’s entering the penultimate year of his rookie contract. Jones addressed Martin’s contract situation again Tuesday, telling Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News: “We’re making our rounds there, it takes time, that’s usually how these things work. There’s a whole lot of zero progress and then all of a sudden you start to make some. And then you get to where you can get a deal done. It’s too early for me to speculate.” Jones added that while negotiations haven’t been easy, Martin wants to stay in Dallas and hasn’t set a deadline on contract talks.

NFC East Rumors: Cowboys, Giants, Redskins

July 23rd, 2017 at 3:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The NFL is reportedly wrapping up its investigation into Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, but franchise owner Jerry Jones stood behind Elliott when addressing the media earlier today, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. “I have reviewed everything and there is absolutely nothing – not one thing – that had anything to do with domestic violence,” Jones said. Last week, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported a “growing sense” that Elliott will face a league-imposed suspension. Elliott was never arrested or charged in the incident, but his accuser addressed her allegations in a statement today.

Here’s more from Dallas and the rest of the NFC East:

Echoing statements he made earlier this year, Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones reiterated his club’s desire to reach an extension with right guard Zack Martin, tweets Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “We’d love to get Zack Martin‘s [deal] done,” said Jones. “He’s an important part of our future…confident we’ll get something worked out.” The Cowboys plan to meet with Martin’s agent during training camp, per Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). Dallas, which has already hammered out deals with left tackle Tyron Smith and center Travis Frederick, controls Martin through 2018 via the fifth-year option. Martin, a 2016 All Pro, ranked as the second-best guard in the league a season ago, per Pro Football Focus.
With B.J. Goodson entrenched as the club’s starting middle linebacker, the Giants are unlikely to re-sign Kelvin Sheppard, reports Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. Sheppard, 29, started 11 games for New York last season, but was essentially a two-down player, as he saw action on only 40% of the team’s defensive snaps. Goodson, Jonathan Casillas, and Devon Kennard figure to serve as Big Blue’s starting ‘backers, with Kenan Robinson and J.T. Thomas serving as relatively high-priced reserves.
The Giants aren’t expected to reach an extension with guard Justin Pugh, as the fifth-year pro seemingly wants to reach the free agent market in 2018, as James Kratch of NJ.com writes. The upper echelon of the guard market has now hit the $12MM mark, and it’s possible Pugh could hit that barrier with another solid season. Pugh, a 55-game starter during his career, will earn $8.821MM next year, and Kratch believes the franchise tag (with a cost near $15MM) could be in play for 2018.
Free agent addition Brian Quick isn’t likely to act as one of the Redskins‘ top four wideouts next season, meaning his roster spot could be in danger, details John Keim of ESPN.com. If Quick isn’t a contributor on offense, he’d need to be a factor on special teams, something he hasn’t been throughout his career. Washington inked Quick on a minimum salary benefit contract that contained just $80K in guarantees, so cutting him wouldn’t represent much of a fiscal loss.

Rory Parks contributed to this post.

Cowboys, Zack Martin Extension Talks On Hold

June 3rd, 2017 at 6:07pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cowboys and guard Zack Martin aren’t expected to reach agreement on an extension in the near future, as negotiations won’t begin “in earnest” until later this summer, reports Todd Archer of ESPN.com.

The lack of urgency between Dallas and Martin isn’t entirely surprising, as the Cowboys control the All Pro offensive lineman through 2018 after exercising his fifth-year option earlier this year. But executive VP Stephen Jones called an eventual Martin extension a “big priority,” and Martin himself is in favor of a long-term deal.

“It would be huge,” Martin said. “I’m not real worried about that. I’m worried about playing. Obviously I’ll be here for hopefully a long time. These guys make it fun to come to work every day…Hopefully we can get something done.”

Martin, 26, has started all 48 games since joining Dallas three years ago, and has emerged as one of the league’s best guard on one of the NFL’s finest offensive lines. Playing alongside talents such as left tackle Tyron Smith and center Travis Frederick — each of whom are signed to long-term deals — Martin graded as the third-best guard of 2016, per Pro Football Focus.

As Archer notes, the Cowboys picked up $14MM in cap space today when Tony Romo‘s post-June 1 release was officially processed, but that savings doesn’t figure to be immediately utilized on a Martin extension. Based on Dallas’ precedents, Martin’s new deal figures to be “cap neutral,” meaning his 2017 cap charge won’t be altered.

NFC Notes: Jackson, Cowboys, Kaepernick, Bears

May 20th, 2017 at 10:02am CST by Ben Levine

Wide receiver DeSean Jackson signed a three-year, $33.5MM deal ($20MM guaranteed) with the Buccaneers earlier this offseason, and the organization is counting on the veteran to live up to this contract. With Jackson coming off the fifth 1,000-yard campaign of his career, offensive coordinator/receivers coach Todd Monken is expecting the 30-year-old to perform like a top receiver.

“How can we get DeSean Jackson up to playing at a really high level? Not that he’s still not capable of it, but how do we get him to play at why we paid him?’’ Monken told Rick Stroud of TampaBay.com. “I’ve told him that, ‘we have paid you a hell of a lot of money to be a damn good player. We’re not paying you a lot of money, this is a contract where we’re paying you for what you’ve done for us…we’re not paying like (Derek) Jeter the last three years…we don’t have any old street cred that we’re paying you. No. We need you to be a great player now. Okay? That’s why we gave you the money.

“You came here because of the money. Don’t give me all that bull about you came here because of the weather and Jameis. No. You came here because we paid you the most. You need to play like that. He gets that. He’s smart enough to understand that.’’

The Buccaneers could end up having one of the best receving corps in the NFL, as Jameis Winston will be throwing to a group that includes Jackson, Mike Evans, Adam Humphries and rookie Chris Godwin.

Let’s check out some more notes from around the NFC…

The Cowboys are currently rostering quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Kellen Moore (as well as undrafted free agents Cooper Rush and Austin Appleby), leading ESPN.com’s Todd Archer to wonder if the team will pursue another veteran signal-caller. The writer specifically dives into Colin Kaepernick‘s fit with the team, with Archer ultimately concluding that the embattled quarterback would be a solid backup to Prescott. Furthermore, the writer points out that Kaepernick would be a much more attractive choice than the other available veteran quarterbacks, including Robert Griffin III and Zach Mettenberger.
Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News expects Cowboys offensive guard Zack Martin to sign an extension during training camp, with the writer citing the extension’s signed by Travis Frederick and Tyron Smith. Martin hasn’t missed a regular game since entering the league as a first-rounder in 2014, and he’s been named to three straight Pro Bowls.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wasn’t particularly impressed with the Bears offseason, especially when it came to the team’s handling of the quarterback position. While the organization could presumably find their future signal-caller among Mike Glennon and Mitch Trubisky, Barnwell still believes the organization paid too much for the free agent and sacrificed too many assets for the rookie. The pundit also wasn’t a fan of the Bears selection of several “small-school” prospects, including Ashland tight end Adam Shaheen and Kutztown offensive lineman Jordan Morgan. If there was a positive to take away from the Bears offseason, Barnwell points to the team’s improved secondary.

Cowboys Exercise Zack Martin’s 2018 Option

April 18th, 2017 at 8:14am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cowboys have officially exercised their 2018 fifth-year option on guard Zack Martin, the club announced today. The option will be worth $9.341MM, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com.

The decision comes as no surprise, given that Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones said in January Dallas planned to pick up the option. Martin, 26, has started all 48 games since joining Dallas three years ago, and has emerged as one of the league’s best guard on one of the NFL’s finest offensive lines. Playing alongside talents such as left tackle Tyron Smith and center Travis Frederick, Martin graded as the third-best guard of 2016, per Pro Football Focus. Jones called an eventual Martin extension a “big priority,” and Martin himself is in favor of a long-term deal.

“It would be huge,” Martin said. “I’m not real worried about that. I’m worried about playing. Obviously I’ll be here for hopefully a long time. These guys make it fun to come to work every day…Hopefully we can get something done.”

A new contract won’t come cheap, especially after Kevin Zeitler reset the guard market last month by inking a five-year deal with the Browns that pays him $12MM annually. Martin, a two-time All Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, will surely set Zeitler’s pact as his target. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have already invested significant resources in the offensive line, as both Smith and Frederick are under contract via long-term deals.

NFC Notes: Redskins, Cowboys, Lions, Saints

January 28th, 2017 at 10:48am CST by Ben Levine

Earlier this week, the Redskins promoted Matt Cavanaugh from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator. Despite Kirk Cousins‘ questionable future with the team, the quarterback was happy that the organization valued continuity on the coaching staff.

“I love the fact that we’re not starting over,” Cousins said (via Jake Kring-Schreifels of Redskins.com). “We’ve learned a certain way of doing things for a couple of years now and with Coach Cav as the coordinator, we’ll be able to keep that rolling, as opposed to having to start all over with a brand new system and terminology and philosophy.”

Cavanaugh had served as the Redskins quarterbacks coach since 2015, and he played an important role in helping Cousins’ production over the past two seasons.

Let’s take a look at some more notes from the NFC…

The Cowboys recently exercised the fifth-year option on offensive guard Zack Martin, but both sides are hoping the player’s tenure with the team lasts beyond 2017. Jon Machota of the Dallas News writes that the team is hoping to hammer out a long-term deal with the three-time Pro Bowler, and the 26-year-old echoed that sentiment. “It would be huge,” Martin said. “I’m not real worried about that. I’m worried about playing. Obviously I’ll be here for hopefully a long time. These guys make it fun to come to work every day…Hopefully we can get something done.”
The Lions need some talent on the defensive side of the ball, and ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein believes the team can acquire those types of players via free agency. The writer lists a number of impending free agents who could be intriguing fits for the Lions, including Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan, Rams cornerback T.J. McDonald, Patriots defensive end Jabaal Sheard, Giants defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, Jaguars defensive tackle Abry Jones, and Jaguars running back Denard Robinson.
Lions defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker missed out on a $150K playing time bonus by only seven snaps, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. The five-year veteran was required to play 35-percent of his team’s defensive snaps in order to earn the incentive, but he ended the season having played 34.4-percent of the defense’s snaps. Walker was a healthy scratch during his team’s Week 11 win over the Jaguars, and that decision surely cost the defensive tackle his bonus.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis has a history of trading up in the draft, but the executive told Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com that he doesn’t have a definitive process when it comes to their draft strategy. “I think it depends on how the board falls,” he said. “You just kind of have to pay attention to the players that are still available for you and what players are below them and how are you going to acquire those players.” The Saints traded up twice in last year’s draft to select second-round safety Vonn Bell and fourth-round defensive tackle David Onyemata.

Cowboys To Exercise Zack Martin’s Fifth-Year Option

January 25th, 2017 at 8:35am CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys possess one of the more open-and-shut fifth-year option cases in the league as the 2017 league year approaches. Executive VP Stephen Jones said the team plans to pick up Zack Martin‘s fifth year, via Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter), and categorized it as a “big priority” to keep the All-Pro guard around.

Dallas already has Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick signed to long-term deals, so prioritizing a potential Martin accord makes sense considering how the team is now constructed to win. Now that Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott are the centerpieces of the Cowboys’ offense, a possible Martin extension — which is now an option for 2014 draftees — would make more sense without a franchise-quarterback salary on the payroll. Neither Prescott nor Elliott is extension-eligible until 2019.

Tony Romo‘s league-high cap figure of $24.7MM could be coming off the Cowboys’ books — well, much of it, at least. So, the currently cap-strapped team could move into better position to sign one of its cornerstone performers in the near future. But that might have to wait. For now, Dallas is projected to be more than $8MM over the 2017 cap.

The fifth-year figure for offensive linemen drafted outside of the top 10 in 2014 will likely exceed $9MM. Martin is scheduled to make $2.853MM next season. Like Smith, Martin is a two-time first-team All-Pro. Frederick’s earned that distinction once, so Jones tabbing the 26-year-old right guard as a player that’s going to be part of Dallas’ long-term future seems like a given.