As the training-camp practices rolled along and Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin was nowhere to be found, it was beginning to feel more and more like the holdout and push for a new contract may not find a happy ending. Fortunately for Cowboys fans, Martin and anyone behind the team's offensive line, the two sides came to terms on a pay raise for the All-Pro and everyone walked away with a smile on their face.
One of the most interesting aspects of the entire situation was Cowboys owner Jerry Jones taking a hard stance publicly against altering Martin's contract. He remained consistent in that approach to the public eye, but as Martin himself detailed, it seems a sitdown with Jones was actually what helped push things forward and facilitated the pay raise getting done, as ESPN's Todd Archer detailed.
A face to face meeting between Jerry Jones and Zack Martin helped start and finish the talks regarding the reworked contract. Zack: pic.twitter.com/CcHrC99v7j
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 15, 2023
It's interesting insight into the final stages of Martin's push to receive a pay raise, but it's worth wondering whether Jones was playing some level of hardball and was planning to work out a deal at some point or if he truly planned to not give in to the request. Regardless, the Cowboys get one of their best players back after a brief holdout, Martin receives his new deal and the team can push toward Week 1 without having to worry about whether the All-Pro will be on the field.
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