A standing ovation for a future HOFer

[eromeopolk]

I was saddened but not surprised to see the great Zack Martin decide it was time to retire. Guys with this level of greatness deserve more than just a round of applause. This is the kind of player that does not come along often. Zack Martin will have a bust in Canton and his name in the Cowboys Ring of Honor.

Martin is one of the greatest players EVER to wear the star as a Dallas Cowboy. He will be remembered along with other great Cowboys Hall of Fame offensive lineman like Larry Allen, Rayfield Wright, and another eventual HOFer Tyron Smith.

Look at some of Martin’s unbelievable accomplishments as a player:

• 7 time FIRST TEAM ALL PRO
• 2 time SECOND TEAM ALL PRO
• NFL All Decade Team 2010-19
• Had 7 accepted holding penalties for his entire career (that alone is astounding)

One sad asterisk on a truly all time great player is the fact Martin will be one of only a handful of Hall of Famers to never play in a conference championship game or a Super Bowl. But what a truly awesome career.

When we see greatness like this retire, a salute and standing ovation is in order. Thank you Zack Martin!

It's a shame how many Jones boys will go to the Hall of Fame without a Super Bowl ring. Since they have no championships, Maybe the Cowboy bias will go away for Witten, and Martin getting in the Hall faster than Pearson, Irvin, and Haley.

 

[Diehardblues]

For sure!
Just hate to see him and Jason never having an opportunity to play in the bigger games.
Dware had to leave the team for his chance.
Is this the message we wan to send our players?
If you are a winner and want to play for a chip you gotta go elsewhere?
Its a shame...

I think as fans we place too much importance on playing for a championship as the end all for players careers.

 

[john van brocklin]

I think as fans we place too much importance on playing for a championship as the end all for players careers.

I think the type of players like Michael Irvin that are super competitive care about it.
That's the kind of players we need here.
That's also the kind of coach Jimmy was.
Not realistic that you are going to be competing for a chip every year.
But to go 29 seasons without getting out of the wildcard round sucks for the players and fans.

 

[diamonddelts]

Waste of a great career in Dallas. Jason Witten 2.0.

 

[Diehardblues]

I think the type of players like Michael Irvin that are super competitive care about it.
That's the kind of players we need here.
That's also the kind of coach Jimmy was.
Not realistic that you are going to be competing for a chip every year.
But to go 29 seasons without getting out of the wildcard round sucks for the players and fans.

I’d argue it suks more for the fans. If we had a career earning millions of dollars setting us and our family up financially we wouldn’t be as disgusted.

When we consider only about 10% of college athletes become professional it is a great personal achievement regardless the team success.

All players want to win. It’s the nature of competition. And simply makes it more fun. But football is a team sport. Players are not in control of the teams built around them. Everyone can’t be on a great team. Fortunately we can still recognize individual greatness.

 

[Diehardblues]

Was Barry Sanders career wasted cause he wasn’t on a championship team. How about Dick Butkus, Fran Tarkenton..the list goes on.

I’m not sure how some fans can only attach individual greatness with being on a championship team.

Their HOF careers and talents weren’t wasted.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Was Barry Sanders career wasted cause he wasn’t on a championship team. How about Dick Butkus, Fran Tarkenton..the list goes on.

I’m not sure how some fans can only attach individual greatness with being on a championship team.

Their HOF careers and talents weren’t wasted.

I agree. The last decade or so everything has shifted to championships. Fine for team accomplishments, but I dont understand why we compare individual careers this way. It seems very much to be the fallout from the Jordan vs Lebron debates around that time.

The other thing that drives me crazy is you better never lose a championship game or else you're labeled a choker. Its almost better to never get to a big game instead of losing it from fan perspective now.