Cowboys 'Zack Martin 'Best Player in NFL,' Says Star Lineman Amid $600K Holdout
It's officially game week for the Dallas Cowboys, who are set to kick off the preseason with a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night.
But there are still things to figure out in Frisco/Oxnard/Arlington, including a number of contractual concerns - the most pressing being the status of six-time first-team All-Pro right guard Zack Martin.
The 32-year-old Martin, who's made the Pro Bowl in eight of his nine professional seasons, became the highest-paid offensive guard in the league when he signed a six-year, $84 million contract extension in 2018 ... but times have changed.
Earlier this offseason, the Atlanta Falcons gave Chris Lindstrom that title by way of a five-year, $105 million contract; per Spotrac, Lindstrom will make $6.5 million more on average than Martin, who's now the eighth highest-paid guard in football.
So, with his track record, Martin (who is absorbing daily $50,000 NFL fines that have now added up to $600,000) feels like his play warrants more pay - while the Cowboys believe his last contract is sufficient.
But what about Lindstrom? How does the new standard among offensive guards feel about Martin amidst his contractual disputes?
"Zack's the best player in the NFL," Lindstrom said. "I have more respect for Zack than anybody - he's phenomenal. He's somebody I looked up watching when I was coming into the NFL, (have) watched my whole career, and he's somebody that I always try and play like and always try and learn (from) ... But Zack's the best."
Lindstrom added that Martin didn't reach out to him after getting his contract extension, but it's evident from the latter's holdout that he took great note of it.
That said, Lindstrom appreciates who Martin is as an individual - and thinks by the time his career comes to a close, he'll be trading in the starred helmet for a gold jacket.
"Zack's a great guy," Lindstrom said. "Obviously, a phenomenal player and is probably going to be a Hall of Famer - not probably, definitely is."
Will the Cowboys take care of their future Hall of Famer? That part remains to be seen ... but if Lindstrom is to lose his title as highest-paid guard in the league, it doesn't seem he'd be surprised - or disappointed - should Martin be the recipient.
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