Zack Martin: A little disappointed no extension reached with Cowboys
Right guard Zack Martin expressed some disappointment that he and the Dallas Cowboys couldn’t reach a long-term contract extension in training camp.
The two sides have agreed to table talks until after the season.
“Yeah, it’s a little disappointing, but at the end of the day it’s a business,” Martin said. “We couldn’t come to an agreement, so that’s all right. I’m under contract. I can focus on football and get excited for the season. That’s the only thing on my mind.”
Executive vice president Stephen Jones expressed optimism in getting a deal done before the season, but it never came to fruition.
Martin hoped it would get done, too, and remains committed to being with the Cowboys in the future. He’s under contract through the 2018 season.
Asked if this lessened his desire to be with the organization, Martin said: “No, not at all. Just tabling discussions for now and just have some time now to get ready for the year and hopefully start off right on Sunday.”
Martin refused to say whether the two sides were ever close to reaching an agreement.
Martin is widely regarded as one of the top guards in the league, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2014 and 2016 and second-team honors in 2015. His contract is expected to surpass the one the Cleveland Browns handed to Kevin Zeitler, who became the highest-paid guard this offseason with a five-year, $60 million deal.
Martin, 26, is under Cowboys control for the next two seasons. The organization exercised their fifth-year option on him during the offseason, which means Martin would be paid $9.3 million in 2018.
Martin has allowed just six sacks and been called for 13 penalties in his three-year career. He is excited for Year 4.
“It’s great. What better opponent to go against than the Giants?” Martin said. “They’ve got a great defense, great front, so it’s going to be a good test for us early.”
This story was originally published September 5, 2017 at 5:27 PM with the headline "Zack Martin: A little disappointed no extension reached with Cowboys."