News: CW: Cowboys reportedly 'dug in' on Zack Martin contract holdout

[KingCorcoran]

They need to dance this delicately. If they “dig in” then the agent will do likewise and then it escalates to a Cold War that is harder to work out. On one hand, if they cave like they did with Zeke then it opens the floodgates that any player can do the same the second they feel they are underpaid. On the other hand, they are underpaying for the best or near best OG in the game. They have to find a middle ground that allows the player to save face and feel appreciated while not opening the floodgates for everyone demanding a new deal. This is what the FO gets paid to do.
They don’t have a great track record….

He’s a right guard entering his mid-30’s. He and/or his agent decided not showing up for camp is his best chance at getting Jerry Jones to acquiesce to whatever their demands are. Chris Jones of the Chiefs, a 29 year old all-pro that plays a more critical position than Martin and is going into the final year of his contract is doing the same thing. And racking up the same fines. I suspect NFL ownership groups do not want to seem like they can be extorted. Martin and Jones aren’t being sent a message. It’s the other 2,878 players vying to make NFL rosters that are being sent a message.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

How is running back less important than right guard?

Supply vs demand

 

[HungryLion]

Or a tick.

Like an Alabama tick

 

[Praxit]

....drop the mike. Dial the Jason Peters insurance plan again.

@42, he still throws dudes around.

 

[GMO415]

Good, he got his money and now he's butt hurt?

 

[Ranching]

This front office is such a joke.

Why? Because someone doesn't honor his contract? When Zeke did it, most were ticked off, now Martin does it and the FO that has put together one of the best rosters in the NFL is a joke....lol....

 

[Ranching]

How is running back less important than right guard?

Lol! This guy! Lol!

 

[gimmesix]

If they renegotiated his deal - they’d be killed for it here, if they hold their stance they’ll be killed for it here. It’s lose lose at this place no matter what on most things. Personally, I do think they’ll come to some middle ground understanding where he gets some sort of raise

Yeah, dug in doesn't really mean much. We've seen Dallas negotiate through the media before and ultimately cave.

Here's what Jones said when Elliott held out:

“As far as doing something that would disrupt and shake the base of our plans for how to keep the talent we’ve got here and how to do that, I’m not about to shake that loose over that concern,” Jones said. “We do have agreements and we do have contracts. … and they do bite when you don’t play.”

“You have to put in place more than a running back to win a championship,” Jones said. “That is almost elementary. Everybody who is involved with contracts understand that. Certainly individually they want to be recognized when it comes to money but it has to fit our plan.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Wednesday that the team is “damn sure not going to be a market setter” doling out lucrative contract extensions.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Supply vs demand

Maybe for other teams but the RB position is important in Dallas and hell most teams. Look at the Eagles....they have a RB at QB. They prioritized him.

 

[gimmesix]

It makes me wonder about Martin's frame of mind even if he does return without a new contract. Will he be able to put the disappointment behind him and give 100%?

Can't Jerry make some type of magnanimous gesture and add a little something that won't derail contract plans of other important players?

No matter the final results of this situation, it will not be a victory for Jerry Jones.

I still think they will ultimately guarantee his $13 million base next year, turning some of it into bonus to bump up what he makes this year ($11 million) while bringing down what he's supposed to make next year ($23 million). That would make his contract "affordable" for the next two years.

 

[john van brocklin]

He signed the contract let him live up to it. The team has some big contracts coming up with Dak, CeeDee and Parsons.

Why is this concept so difficult to see?
You only have so much salary cap to go around.
If you start keeping all your top performers at the top of their positional pay scale, you are not going to be able to field a competitive team long term.
I have been hard on this front office, but they are getting this right.

 

[Hawkeye19]

So we overpay guys that don’t deserve it, then dig our heels in on paying arguably our best overall player?

This FO is clueless. If your position is that you don’t want to pay him— then you publicly sing his praises and throw bouquets and swear you are working on getting a deal done.

Doing it this way just poisons the well. At least play the game Jerry. Sheesh

 

[Cowboys5217]

Like an Alabama tick

 

[Rockport]

Lol. The year when the oline is biggest question mark is when they are going to make a stand against a HOfer. Brilliant

I love watching people freak out over this.

 

[speedkilz88]

I agree, but at the same time they caved to Zeke, a player and a position less important than Martin.

I'm positive they realize now that it was a mistake.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

Maybe for other teams but the RB position is important in Dallas and hell most teams. Look at the Eagles....they have a RB at QB. They prioritized him.

The problem people are having understanding the contract issues with RBs isn’t about the position. RB is important and valuable to all teams, no one disputes that.

But supply and demand dictate contract values in the NFL. If there were 30 QBs who could do what Dak does, he’d never sniff 40m$. But there aren’t. There is no benefit in paying high price tags to Star RB’s right now in the NFL because you can replace them with bargain players in FA or late in the draft who can contribute day 1. Whereas it may take years to replace Zach Martin, and likely cost premium assets and/or cap. That is how his value is significantly more than a RB’s.

 

[GoldenR]

This discussion is getting silly. Zach Martin is gonna go down as one of the best guards in NFL history; 5 or 6 time NFL all pro 1st team, pro bowls everywhere, and rarely commits a penalty. Get him in camp Jerry, you have given away far more ridiculous $$ to far less players, WORK IT OUT!

 

[Teague31]

Give him 1% of the concessions this year. Problem solved

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The problem people are having understanding the contract issues with RBs isn’t about the position. RB is important and valuable to all teams, no one disputes that.

But supply and demand dictate contract values in the NFL. If there were 30 QBs who could do what Dak does, he’d never sniff 40m$. But there aren’t. There is no benefit in paying high price tags to Star RB’s right now in the NFL because you can replace them with bargain players in FA or late in the draft who can contribute day 1. Whereas it may take years to replace Zach Martin, and likely cost premium assets and/or cap. That is how his value is significantly more than a RB’s.

That's irrelevant. Right guards are not more valuable than running backs. Now a player of Zack's caliber is more important than most RB's yes but not the position itself.

 

[Calvin2Tony2Emmitt2Julius]

How is running back less important than right guard?

Right !!!!!