Zack is not sure if this is his final year

[Hawkeye0202]

I think his return will depend a lot on what happens this season.........I can't see him coming back after a losing season, especially if MM and Dak are gone. A better question is if it is his final year as a Cowboy. Like Tyron, he is certainly a first-ballot HOFer for sure. My goodness, this time next year, Tyler could be the oldest vet on the Oline.




https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40284357/cowboys-zack-martin-wonders-2024-final-season

Cowboys' Zack Martin wonders if 2024 might be final season​

FRISCO, Texas -- As Zack Martin enters his 11th season with the Dallas Cowboys, the nine-time Pro Bowler and seven-time first-team All Pro wonders if 2024 could be his final one.

"I think I'd be lying if I said it has not entered my mind, right?" Martin said on Thursday. "I think that's been a big thing for me this year, just try to tell myself, 'Hey, go out, do your thing and let anything else take care of itself after the season.' I don't know when I'll be done, but it's definitely getting closer to the end. I think it's just a good reminder for myself to stay in the present and take advantage of this year."

In this offseason, Martin saw his longtime teammate, Tyron Smith, leave as a free agent for the New York Jets. Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys' first- and second-round picks in 2014, are the longest-tenured Cowboys.

 

[John813]

They way his contract is set up, seems like his agent designed it to be.

His contract voids next year, but on March 15th, allowing the Cowboys to make him a June 1st release.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

They way his contract is set up, seems like his agent designed it to be.

His contract voids next year, but on March 15th, allowing the Cowboys to make him a June 1st release.

Yep......appears he's closer to leaving after this season than not.

Martin held out of a portion of training camp last year before receiving $36 million guaranteed over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, a raise of $8.5 million. The Cowboys reworked Martin's contract again this offseason, but it was with the idea that 2024 could be his final season and allowed them to spread out a potential salary cap hit in 2025 while saving $13.5 million against the 2024 cap.

 

[EST_1986]

Once you start talking about It, it’s pretty much oveR

 

[plymkr]

They way his contract is set up, seems like his agent designed it to be.

His contract voids next year, but on March 15th, allowing the Cowboys to make him a June 1st release.

What’s the salary cap ramifications if he’s not on the team in 2025?

 

[Bullflop]

Once you start talking about It, it’s pretty much oveR

Yep -- they say once you start talking about retiring, you already have! Let's just hope his last hurrah is a good one.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Martin and the rest of those big investments in the OL along with Zeke were made so Jason Garrett would not actually have to coach. They were beat up trying to replicate 90s football. They were great players (some of them for a very small window). But there are plenty of other teams that have been able to run the football without using 1st round picks and/or having the "highest" paid OL at every position and the highest paid RB. There is a reason Jason Garrett went to NY and in 2 years they were last and 2nd to last on offense. He has not been on an NFL sideline since. Didn't Brian Dabol take over the Giants offense once Garret departed and they made it to the divisional round in his 1st or 2nd year there?

 

[MyFairLady]

Our star players are like government workers. Just putting in time until they can call it quits. Just go home already there are tons of hungry young players who would make the team better.

 

[John813]

What’s the salary cap ramifications if he’s not on the team in 2025?

9.4 mil in 2025 and 17 in 2026

 

[jwitten82]

Yep -- they say once you start talking about retiring, you already have! Let's just hope his last hurrah is a good one.

I talk about retiring a lot...but im only 32, i dont got the funds playboi!!! Lol

 

[Zekeats]

I think it depends on Lance honestly. If Lance shows he's worthy of making a run at it next year and so on I think he'll be back. If we need to draft a QB for the future he'll prob check out.

 

[VaqueroTD]

I think it depends on Lance honestly. If Lance shows he's worthy of making a run at it next year and so on I think he'll be back. If we need to draft a QB for the future he'll prob check out.

Seriously doubt it. Lance is a longshot project.

I think it depends on his health. He was injured a lot last year and couldn’t play to his full abilities. We all get old.

 

[John813]

Seriously doubt it. Lance is a longshot project.

I think it depends on his health. He was injured a lot last year and couldn’t play to his full abilities. We all get old.

I think a lot of these guys who got paid nicely in contracts 2 and possibly 3 rather think of the bigger picture than try to prolong their career and deal with short and long term injuries.

Donald retired when he probably could of had 2-3 years of very good play + money. But he got his ring, big paydays and is a HOF lock.
Probably the same thing for Martin. Was the #1 paid guard at one point and got one last payday last year. HOF lock as well.

If he's having these thoughts, I can't see him wanting to play longer even if he has an injury free year.

 

[Cowboyny]

I think his return will depend a lot on what happens this season.........I can't see him coming back after a losing season, especially if MM and Dak are gone. A better question is if it is his final year as a Cowboy. Like Tyron, he is certainly a first-ballot HOFer for sure. My goodness, this time next year, Tyler could be the oldest vet on the Oline.




https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40284357/cowboys-zack-martin-wonders-2024-final-season

Cowboys' Zack Martin wonders if 2024 might be final season​

FRISCO, Texas -- As Zack Martin enters his 11th season with the Dallas Cowboys, the nine-time Pro Bowler and seven-time first-team All Pro wonders if 2024 could be his final one.

"I think I'd be lying if I said it has not entered my mind, right?" Martin said on Thursday. "I think that's been a big thing for me this year, just try to tell myself, 'Hey, go out, do your thing and let anything else take care of itself after the season.' I don't know when I'll be done, but it's definitely getting closer to the end. I think it's just a good reminder for myself to stay in the present and take advantage of this year."

In this offseason, Martin saw his longtime teammate, Tyron Smith, leave as a free agent for the New York Jets. Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys' first- and second-round picks in 2014, are the longest-tenured Cowboys.

This is why they reloaded the OL in this year's draft, had to prepare for Tyron's replacement and Zach's in the near future. If these prospects work out, they will be cost effective moving forward for a few seasons.

 

[Mr_437]

This is why they reloaded the OL in this year's draft, had to prepare for Tyron's replacement and Zach's in the near future. If these prospects work out, they will be cost effective moving forward for a few seasons.

^Exactly.
Dallas stocked up on OL at the right time, and these rookies may get, at least, a year
to learn from Martin.

 

[buybuydandavis]

I think his return will depend a lot on what happens this season.........I can't see him coming back after a losing season, especially if MM and Dak are gone. A better question is if it is his final year as a Cowboy. Like Tyron, he is certainly a first-ballot HOFer for sure. My goodness, this time next year, Tyler could be the oldest vet on the Oline.




https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40284357/cowboys-zack-martin-wonders-2024-final-season

Cowboys' Zack Martin wonders if 2024 might be final season​

FRISCO, Texas -- As Zack Martin enters his 11th season with the Dallas Cowboys, the nine-time Pro Bowler and seven-time first-team All Pro wonders if 2024 could be his final one.

"I think I'd be lying if I said it has not entered my mind, right?" Martin said on Thursday. "I think that's been a big thing for me this year, just try to tell myself, 'Hey, go out, do your thing and let anything else take care of itself after the season.' I don't know when I'll be done, but it's definitely getting closer to the end. I think it's just a good reminder for myself to stay in the present and take advantage of this year."

In this offseason, Martin saw his longtime teammate, Tyron Smith, leave as a free agent for the New York Jets. Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys' first- and second-round picks in 2014, are the longest-tenured Cowboys.

I'm shocked. Playing at a 1st Team All Pro level for the last 3 years. And in striking distance to solidify a claim to the greatest G of all time.

 

[gtb1943]

I'm shocked. Playing at a 1st Team All Pro level for the last 3 years. And in striking distance to solidify a claim to the greatest G of all time.

To anyone that never saw Larry Allen play perhaps.

 

[gtb1943]

Yep -- they say once you start talking about retiring, you already have! Let's just hope his last hurrah is a good one.

That is what BP said.
Of course you have some like Favre who retire and retire and retire
and even Brady did it.

 

[Bullflop]

Seriously doubt it. Lance is a longshot project.

I think it depends on his health. He was injured a lot last year and couldn’t play to his full abilities. We all get old.

If he had a problem, it wasn't from being old. His harshest critics contend his abilities are non-existent. That, despite his extreme inexperience.
He'll be tested in practices, training camp and the preseason games -- very likely more than anyone else on the Cowboys' roster. We'll see. The organization is determined to find out if their 4th round pick was justified or not. He'll be watched intensely, without a doubt. They're desperate to learn if their investment was in vain or not. The position they've gotten themselves into with regards to Dak has them in panic mode.

 

[Whyjerry]

Another great whose career was ruined by Jerry. The list goes on.