Zack Martin still mulling over his football future: 'I want to try to get healthy'

[Tussinman]

and it's interesting he said another team.

He's got like 27 million in dead cap/money so from his perspective I couldn't imagine the cowboys would actually want to pay him anymore money especially with his health. It would have to be with another team

 

[Kingofholland]

I'll sign him to a 1 year deal to keep him around.

If he can be 75%-80% of Zack I would take that. However, he fell off so bad last year I don't think he was even a quarter of what he was.

If he does get healthy he has to come to terms that a short term team deal isn't probably more than a 2-5 million.

 

[Cowboys93]

Move to fresher blood. This is a young man’s game. Thanks for the memories and all that but yeah

 

[BleedSilverandBlue]

He says 4-6 weeks so we will know something before the draft. Considering his decline in play and persistent injuries of late, I expect him to walk away. Sad ending to a HOF career.

Zack Martin still mulling over his football future: 'I want to try to get healthy'
Tommy Yarrish
Feb 04, 2025

NEW ORLEANS – Being in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX is a bittersweet moment for Zack Martin. On one hand, he's the Cowboys nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, one of the most prestigious honors in the NFL.

On the other hand, he's not in town playing for a chance to win a Lombardi trophy.

"I mean, it'll be cool to experience it as a fan, but obviously wish we could have played in it at some point in my career." Martin said.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/...-football-future-i-want-to-try-to-get-healthy

Next stop, Canton. Hopefully with his brother Tyron Smith.

Zack deserved a Super Bowl and a better team than what this front office could deliver.

 

[Birch_Wood]

He wanted him, but he wasn't intercepted before he could put in the ticket, especially since the ticket was in New York and he was in Dallas. The story gets further and further from the truth with time. There never was a ticket with Manziel's name on it. Just like how the story of Stephen pushing Jerry up against a wall that night to stop him keeps getting repeated despite how no one watching the war room's live feed (which never cut out while we were on the clock up to the selection) that night saw anything close to that happening.

https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news...ones-dallas-cowboys-and-almost-johnny-manziel

"But again, to the actual facts from the people involved:

*There are no "draft cards'' in the Valley Ranch war room where Jerry and Stephen oversaw the selection process along with McClay and then-coach Jason Garrett. There are computers, notepads and magnetized name tags. There are no "draft cards.''

*The "draft card'' was actually in New York, where each of the 32 teams had representatives who carry their card with their selected player's name on it up to the commissioner for him to announce. The Cowboys' rep is Blackwell. There is no way for Blackwell to "be handed a card'' by Jerry as they were sitting 1,600 miles apart from one another.

*There was no Jones-vs.-Jones wrestling match. By virtue of our live coverage on the draft on the official station of the Cowboys, 105.3 The Fan, I was able to watch the WarRoomCam at times even when the telecast is not being shared with ESPN and NFL Network.

I watched - along with colleagues Bryan Broaddus, Shan Shariff and others - as Jerry and Stephen and staff talked through the process of the No. 16 pick. There seemed to be some disappointment over Shazier going off the board at 15, to Pittsburgh."

Thanks for clearing up the rumors.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

He's is The President. What he has accomplished and done for the Dallas Cowboys over his career earns him all the time he needs to make a decision on his future. He said 4-6 more weeks and he will decide. That is more than fair.

No one man is bigger than this organization or team though.They can't allow one man to hold this team hostage and we won nothing with him so with all due respect to his career he can go and chase a ring or steal money from someone else. I hate when these guys hold us hostage so they have to wait for him to make a decision so they can know how they need to build their team? Its selfish. But Cowboys are stupid for dealing with it. You can't be on the fence in the NFL. Either you want to play or you don't. A lot of guys have faked it and end up quitting in the middle of the season. ITs tough.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

He doesn't have a contract for next year genius, how we gonna cut him?

Also, how does taking a few weeks to make this decision impact anything?

But yeah -- the team should totally take a hard line on HoF bound veterans. That always makes people want to come and play for you.

Well technically "genius" he's under contract since we are still in the 2024 season....

But I stand corrected I thought he was under contract another year. I was wrong. So I change my stance. INstead of cutting him let him walk and move on. Make the decision for him.

Moving on from a "HOF bound veteran" is the right move. They've done it before. Ware, Witten, Romo, Emmitt...what am I missing to why they can't move on from Martin who's struggling to stay healthy?

 

[KJJ]

If he gets healthy he won’t stay healthy. Time to hang it up.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

If he gets healthy he won’t stay healthy. Time to hang it up.

This is it here.....even if he gets healthy, can you trust it for 17 games?

 

[KJJ]

This is it here.....even if he gets healthy, can you trust it for 17 games?

He’ll try playing with something nagging him and even when he’s 100% he’s not the same player.

 

[big dog cowboy]

They can't allow one man to hold this team hostage

Exactly how is Martin holding the Cowboys hostage?

 

[DuncanIso]

I remember the season, before we drafted Zach Martin. Most of the zone wanted defense we were struggling horribly. But I kept saying Zach Martin, Zach Martin, I was shocked when they drafted him. But it was the right choice.
He’s had a great career, First round Hall of Fame. I would retire so you can live the rest of your life with some mobility

He can make mega $$$ with another team.

dude will be paid well.

 

[DuncanIso]

He’ll try playing with something nagging him and even when he’s 100% he’s not the same player.

His leg was jacked.

 

[DuncanIso]

Well Zack is serious about getting healthy and then deciding, and it's interesting he said another team.

His contract with Dallas has void years on it.

27M cap hit still has to be accounted for.

 

[Mr_437]

His contract with Dallas has void years on it.

27M cap hit still has to be accounted for.

Zack has a retirement package with that money. Capboy needs to stop structuring contract with dead money.

 

[Creeper]

I am still wondering how much injuries played a part in his decline last year or if it was just age. At this point I would not bother re-signing him unless he is will to work for a lot less money.

 

[big dog cowboy]

At this point I would not bother re-signing him unless he is will to work for a lot less money.

https://overthecap.com/player/zack-martin/2955

 

[montgod]

If he plays again I hope it would be for a team that is a contender. He Deserves a ring.

I kind of already feel like this is what will happen and you know Quinn will be calling so....

 

[Creeper]

https://overthecap.com/player/zack-martin/2955

I saw this. When the restructured him they pushed money into voidable years. They have to eat this money in 2025. OTC has his number at $10.6 million in 2024. But he has another $17 million next year. So dumb.

 

[blueblood70]

I'm not sure how to think about this,

I mean it was the right move to let tyron Smith walk everyone was pretty upset that we didn't pay the man 6,000,000 Jerry stupid Jerry was really dumb because I don't know Simon Smith had two decent games with The Jets and then after all the narratives were spit out about Jerry being stupid tyron Smith just fell off a Cliff and looked like he had his worst season of his entire career..​

So here we sit but in a different position because I believe Martin is a free agent I don't believe he belongs to the Cowboys I believe he gets to choose where he wants to go but do the Cowboys make a bid is it worth trying to keep him around is he willing to take nonstarter type money.. will he take 6,000,000 is he worth 6,000,000? I mean the dude just stole money from Jerry threatening a holdout then having a very average season that season and a bad season last season?

So, emotions aside, is he worth keeping that's the question not because he's a fan favorite not because he was a lifelong cowboy but are the cowboys better off using the money elsewhere?

I think we'll be OK without him the only problem is what if he goes to one of our rivals and he has a good season and then we'll all be upset that's the risk when you're at a point where a guy has one foot in one foot out of retirement...

The team has to make a decision but I kinda like the guys we have that we ended the year with this new coaching staff needs to figure out can they work with these bodies put together the best 5 without Martin.. I think you need to convince him to come back at a very very team friendly deal and make him the swing tackle therefore he doesn't have to be in there full time he can work his way into the season and be as fresh as possible and then he can offer us stability if we end up having a bunch of injuries but not be counted on week in and week out that way get some time to get his body right in between the time we need him...

You know we can use them like Jason Peters.. But with his ego allow him to stay with the team if he's not the starter?