The Dallas Cowboys' 2018 mandatory minicamp starts tomorrow, and one has to wonder what's going on with All-Pro Guard Zack Martin. With his contract still under negotiation, will the Pro Bowler report or holdout?
Yesterday, Safety Earl Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks announced that he would skip his team's minicamp this week due to his own contract demands. But Thomas' situation with Seattle appears more volatile, given the recent purge of many of his veteran teammates.
Last week, Cowboys reporter Mike Fisher explained how the relationship between Martin and the Cowboys was more amicable.
“A team source tells me that Dallas will require Martin to be in attendance in the building (as he's been in OTAs, just without practicing) but will not ask him to do much if anything on the field.”
Despite the ongoing negotiation on the contract, it appears team and player are on “the same page” regarding his participation this week. This is an excellent sign for the eventual positive outworking of the new deal.
Remember, Zack Martin is currently under contract for 2018. Dallas exercised a fifth-year option on his rookie deal to extend it one more year, and giving Martin a handsome $9.3 million salary. But Zack wants a long-term deal, as do the Cowboys, and that is still being hammered out.
So as long Fisher's source is accurate, it appears Martin will be in attendance tomorrow. He will avoid the fines associated with absence from the three-day mandatory minicamp.
If Zack is limited in his use on the field, it could mean more starter reps for Chaz Green. To the surprise of many, Green was working with the first team when Martin missed Organized Team Activities over the last few weeks.
Dallas could also give veterans Joe Looney and Marcus Martin a look with the starters during the camp, working to decide who will be the first guy off the bench in the regular season.
Thankfully, all signs point to Zack Martin being a full participant once the action really starts. Even if his long-term deal doesn't get figured out this summer, the relationship between Martin and the Cowboys appears much better than some other elite players in contract disputes right now.
Hopefully, though, Zack will get to enter the regular season with the security and satisfaction of the long-term contract that he so richly deserves.
