Tag: Zack Martin

7 Cowboys whose contracts must be reworked, restructured, or extended in 2024

The Cowboys’ best players all have contracts which need addressing, as do some other veterans for various reasons. Includes a projection of CeeDee Lamb’s new deal. | From @KDDrummondNFL

With the end of the regular season occurring over the next 72 hours, 18 teams are going to be closing up shop for the year. Technically contracts across the league don’t expire until the start of the new year, but for all intents and purposes, the season is over when it comes to the bulk of the majority of player contracts. There are several players who have playoff incentives tied to their base salaries, but those base salaries are paid across the 18 weeks of the regular season. A playoff share is spread across rosters based on how far each team goes.

For the Dallas Cowboys, this technically means that it’s time to start examining the contract situation they will face in 2024. We’ve already covered the teams long list of impact free agents. This happens annually with Dallas as they are a team that has done an excellent job of acquiring talent through the draft. Now, let’s look at the players who are currently under contract for 2024, but where their current salary isn’t ideal.

This is a two-way street. Some players are well deserving of an extension while others either have too big of a cap hit or make too little of an impact to be paid they way they are supposed to be. Check out the seven players who will need to have some things adjusted before the free agency frenzy of early March.

  • Prescott
  • Gallup
  • Lamb
  • Zack
  • Diggs
  • Tank
  • Micah

Notre Dame Football: 6 Former Irish Earn Pro Bowl Selections

Notre Dame has put plenty of talent into the NFL but these six players shined the brightest in 2023.

The 2023 NFL regular season comes to an end this weekend, and, as is tradition, the annual Pro Bowl selections were announced the Wednesday night before the final set of games.

Although the Pro Bowl game no longer actually exists players are still named and will participate in a new weeklong skills competition and flag football contest against one another.

As you would probably expect, Notre Dame is well represented with Pro Bowl selections. Six former Notre Dame student athletes were selected for the Pro Bowl, five of which played football at Notre Dame and one who starred in soccer.

Here are the six former Golden Domers headed to the Pro Bowl this season:

Dak Prescott among 7 Cowboys named to 2024 Pro Bowl

The Pro Bowl votes have been tabulated and seven members of the Dallas Cowboys have been honored as among the best at their positions. Through a process that allegedly has equal parts fan voting, player and coaching input, the NFL has announced the …

The Pro Bowl votes have been tabulated and seven members of the Dallas Cowboys have been honored as among the best at their positions. Through a process that allegedly has equal parts fan voting, player and coaching input, the NFL has announced the first wave of their all-stars for the 2023 season.

Led by quarterback Dak Prescott, all three phases of the team will be well represented at this year’s festivities in Orlando, FL. The Pro Bowl is no longer an actual game, but rather a series of events meant to celebrate the best of the best. Here’s who has been named to the initial team.

The weirdest Pro Bowl selections and snubs for the 2024 team

The 2024 Pro Bowl teams have been announced, and here are the oddest selections and snubs.

[anyclip-media thumbnail=”https://cdn5.anyclip.com/byBI1YwBYdwULzK8WvPD/1704387376688_248x140_thumbnail.jpg” playlistId=”undefined” content=”PHNjcmlwdCBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vcGxheWVyLnBvcHRvay5jb20vYW55Y2xpcC13aWRnZXQvbHJlLXdpZGdldC9wcm9kL3YxL3NyYy9scmUuanMiIGRhdGEtYXI9IjE2OjkiIGRhdGEtcGxpZD0ibWo0dWVzanJsZjN1ZXdsZW81a3V5NnNsaGJseG11Y2UiIHB1Ym5hbWU9IjE5OTgiIHdpZGdldG5hbWU9IjAwMTZNMDAwMDJVMEIxa1FBRl9NODMyNSI+Cjwvc2NyaXB0Pg==”][/anyclip-media]

The Pro Bowl is not a serious endeavor. We know that because at the actual Pro Bowl as it’s played now, there isn’t any actual football — it’s more like Field Day in elementary school. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but when it comes to the voting process — 1-3 from the fans, 1/3 from the coaches, and 1/3 from the players — it’s pretty frivolous. There are lifetime achievement awards which have little to do with the present, regionally-stacked oddities, and face-value selections which, again, have nothing to do with present performance.

Still, players get hefty contract incentives from Pro Bowl selections, so you know that players, agents, and teams take this seriously to a point. Now that the rosters for the 2024 Pro Bowl have been announced, here are the weirdest and worst selections.

Cowboys-Dolphins Inactives: Zack Martin, Tyreek Hill to go in Week 16, Tyron Smith out

The Cowboys and Dolphins are set to square off in a battle of 10-4 teams. Here’s who won’t be in full gear, through injury or coach’s decision. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys will be with one, but without another key member of their offensive line. In doubt all week, left tackle Tyron Smith was ruled out of the contest on Saturday, staying behind in Dallas while the team boarded their plane for South Florida. Smith will miss his fourth game of the 2023 and first since the game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Dallas will however have right guard Zack Martin, who left last week’s loss to the Buffalo Bills with a quad injury. Dallas has announced their Week 16 inactives ahead of their matchup with the Miami Dolphins. Both teams are 10-4 and looking to improve their playoff seeding in their respective conferences.

For Miami, the biggest question mark would be whether or not Tyreek Hill, trying to become a 2,000-yard receiver, would play. He’s in the lineup as well after being marked questionable following the week of practice.

Here’s a look at all of the inactives from Dallas’ 55-man roster after they elevated a DT and RB this week.

 

Cowboys ‘just don’t know’ about Zack Martin, Tyron Smith’s status for Miami

From @ToddBrock24f7: Both star linemen have missed the previous 2 days of practice with injuries; a ferocious Dolphins defense awaits in a big Week 16 matchup.

No one in Cowboys Nation wants to repeat any aspect of Week 3’s disaster in the desert, when the lowly Arizona Cardinals led a decimated Dallas team from wire to wire and notched a stunning 28-16 win.

Yet just 48 hours before a monumental interconference matchup with the explosive Miami Dolphins, the Cowboys might be coming into Week 16 with one very troubling similarity.

Right guard Zack Martin and left tackle Tyron Smith are both nursing injuries that have the Cowboys talking contingency plans.

“I just don’t know,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on Friday, “and we won’t know until it gets here. We’ve got a few days to go.”

Martin and Smith represent a combined 16 Pro Bowl appearances; their absences against one of the top defenses in the league would not bode well for the Cowboys coming out of Hard Rock Stadium with a win.

Too doom-and-gloom for you?

Consider that the last time both both were missing from the starting lineup was that ugly September outing in Glendale, and the opponent that day was a winless flock of Cardinals.

Martin left last week’s game versus Buffalo in the first quarter after taking a hard hit to his thigh. A quick check in the sideline medical tent revealed that his quad muscle “wasn’t firing,” and he sat out the rest of the contest.

The 10th-year veteran gave positive reports after the loss, telling reporters, “I feel good about” the prospect of being ready to go against Miami. He sat out the team’s practices on Wednesday and Thursday but remained optimistic on Friday.

“Just trying to do as much as you can, trying to get it just to get some of that soreness and tightness out, keep it firing, getting ready to play Sunday,” he said during his weekly radio call-in with GBag Nation.

Martin participated in Friday’s walkthrough, while Smith did not.

Smith’s appearance on the injury report was unexpected, showing up Wednesday with a back injury he suffered during the Buffalo game. He, like Martin, did not practice on either Wednesday or Thursday, but his prognosis sounded a little less encouraging.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said on 105.3 The Fan, “I would say Zack’s ahead of Tyron right now.”

Jones concurred with that assessment a few hours later, allowing for the possibility that Smith, who just turned 33, will miss his fourth game of 2023.

“We’ve got a game plan that’s going to be there without him,” Jones told the K&C Masterpiece Show. “It won’t be as pleasing as one with him, but we’ll have a game plan.”

Smith has already missed 36 games since the start of the 2020 campaign due to injury.

T.J. Bass filled in for Martin in Week 3 and again on Sunday. Chuma Edoga figures to get the call should Smith be unable to play in Miami.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Whoever suits up in South Florida in Week 16, the Cowboys will be looking for them to not only bounce back after a lackluster effort in Buffalo, but to take things up to a playoff-level intensity against a powerhouse Dolphins squad, with the real postseason looming for both clubs.

“You have to be ready to go,” Jones said. “You’ve got to have depth. You’ve got to have people step in. They’re never going to be the perfect pictured performance of a Smith or a Martin. They’re never going to be that, but they do surprise you.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=video id=01hj91bnntqm1x6p8mbq playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01hj91bnntqm1x6p8mbq/01hj91bnntqm1x6p8mbq-6dd30a2ff3e116e3665daceab82ace64.jpg]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Cowboys’ Zack Martin updates injury, optimistic about playing vs Miami

From @ToddBrock24f7: The 8x-Pro Bowler was knocked out of Sunday’s game with what looked to be a knee injury. It’s his quad, and Martin says it’s not that bad.

Adding a very concerning injury to the embarrassing insult of a 31-10 defeat, the Cowboys lost right guard Zack Martin in the first quarter of Sunday’s game in Buffalo.

But early indications are, at least from Martin himself, that his injury is not serious and that he should be good to go for next Sunday’s interconference clash with Miami.

The six-time first-team All-Pro lineman took what appeared to be a hard, direct shot to the left knee as he collided with Buffalo defensive end Greg Rousseau in a collapsing pocket around Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott.

After staying down on the turf for a few minutes, Martin was able to walk off the field with assistance. He spent some time in the sideline medical tent and was eventually declared out with a quadriceps injury.

In the hours after the game, Martin told media members that he also believed at first the injury had been to his knee.

“I got hit deep in the quad,” he explained per Patrik Walker of dallascowboys.com. “We went to the tent, it stiffened up and wasn’t firing for me. A fluke thing. Hoping to treat it and get it ready to go on Sunday. I feel good about that.”

Head coach Mike McCarthy said he is less concerned now after having spoken to Martin in the locker room.

“He told me he’s going to be okay,” the coach said.

Martin is expected to get further testing done on Monday once the team is back in Dallas and will likely go easy this week in practice. But Martin’s optimism about being back in the lineup next Sunday is welcome news for Cowboys fans, who watched Prescott come under fire for most of the game against a fierce Buffalo pass rush.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

T.J. Bass, the undrafted rookie out of Oregon, came on in Martin’s stead and finished out the game. He performed well, despite having big shoes to fill.

The 10-4 Cowboys will travel to Miami to play the Dolphins in Week 16. The Dolphins defense currently ranks second in the league in sacks, with 48 through 14 games.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=video id=01hhd6z0g18jb4qmreqh playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01hhd6z0g18jb4qmreqh/01hhd6z0g18jb4qmreqh-9dbf23f8af323af89afa00ea26f9ccfd.jpg]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Cowboys guard Zack Martin suffers leg injury vs Bills

The Cowboys’ top lineman left the game in the first quarter after getting hit in the leg while blocking.

Update: Zack Martin has been ruled out for the remainder of the game.

This has been a disjointed affair thus far for the Dallas Cowboys. Their trip to Buffalo saw their defense get marched down the field on the opening drive and two offensive possessions that end in punts. The most concerning thing though is that right guard and perennial All-Pro Zack Martin left the game during that second possession after getting hit in the leg.

Martin went into the the blue medical tent for further evaluation. Reports say when he returned from the tent he was still being worked on, on the sideline.

Cowboys’ Zack Martin: ‘Just being smart’ by coming out of game after 4th-quarter leg whip

From @ToddBrock24f7: Martin was rolled up on after a red-zone run by Tony Pollard, but re-entered the game for the final snaps and said afterward he feels good.

Cowboys right guard Zack Martin gave fans a few nervous moments throughout the week leading up to Sunday’s interconference matchup with the Jets. Then, right at the end of another dominant performance in the team’s 30-10 Week 2 win, he gave one last scare.

The 32-year-old was seen visibly limping around in the fourth quarter and even came out of the lineup for a time. But the eight-time Pro Bowler was back on the field to do the famous “Landry Shift” as part of the Cowboys’ victory formation in the game’s final moments.

And he maintains that there’s no cause for long-term concern.

“I feel good, just got rolled up a little bit,” Martin told reporters at his AT&T Stadium locker after the win. “Just being smart there at the end of the game, but I feel good.”

The injury came on the first play from scrimmage after Jayron Kearse’s interception and return put the Cowboys offense on the Jets’ 17-yard-line with under 12 minutes to go. Running back Tony Pollard plowed his way up the middle for an 8-yard gain, but took out Martin from behind on his way to the turf.

Martin stayed on the ground briefly. He carried on, but was noticeably hobbled for the remainder of the series, which ended in a Brandon Aubrey 30-yard field goal.

The next time the Cowboys had the ball, Martin stayed on the sideline, causing a shuffle along the Dallas offensive line.

Undrafted rookie T.J. Bass, already in at left guard for the injured Chuma Edoga (who was himself subbing for the injured Tyler Smith), shifted over to Martin’s right guard spot; fifth-round draft pick Asim Richards took over at left guard.

Martin was able to return for the contest’s final possession, and said he would have been able to stay in the game if the score had been closer.

Afterward, Martin looked to be getting around with no problem.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he visited with Martin after the game and told media members, “He seems to be okay.”

The team will no doubt be smart with Martin’s ankle as this week of prep starts and could potentially limit his work in practice as the Cowboys gear up for a visit to Arizona in Week 3.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

But the perennial All-Pro knows that the team has quality depth players who are ready to step in whenever they’re needed.

“Obviously, Chuma in there, and then T.J. Bass came in, Asim Richards, all those guys. They’re ready to go and they’re ready to play, which is great to see,” Martin said. “The coaches have done a great job getting those guys prepared, knowing their number could be called at any time.”

The Cowboys offensive line cleared the way for 134 rushing yards by Dallas ball carriers on Sunday and held the vaunted New York defense to just one sack in the decisive win.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=video id=01hak5ftcyeqzdvy3pk1 playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01hak5ftcyeqzdvy3pk1/01hak5ftcyeqzdvy3pk1-df2d140cf1daa008a2de4e9c9217c052.jpg]

[lawrence-newsletter]

 

Cowboys’ Zack Martin ‘took every rep’ on Friday; Saturday to give clue on groin injury

From @ToddBrock24f7: Martin downplayed the injury that limited him this week; Saturday’s practice squad elevations could indicate whether he’ll play Sunday.

Cowboys right guard Zack Martin caused some concern when he showed up on the team’s injury report this week with a groin injury. The issue had the eight-time Pro Bowler listed as “limited” on both Thursday and Friday.

Martin’s own words and what he did in practice on Friday were cause for optimism among Cowboys Nation heading into Week 2’s home opener against the Jets, but officially, he’s considered questionable for Sunday’s game.

Saturday, however, will be very telling in regard to his actual gameday outlook.

In his regular Thursday appearance, the 32-year-old lineman told Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan shortly after first appearing on the team’s injury report, “Oh, I’m doing good. It was just a little tight. They were taking care of me today.”

Martin’s nonchalant answer about the injury was perhaps bolstered by news that he “took every rep” in Friday’s practice (according to head coach Mike McCarthy), despite keeping the “limited” classification for a second straight day.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

The future Hall of Famer is expected to start, but as Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News points out, Saturday’s practice squad elevations will provide a major clue.

If the club uses one of their two gameday elevations on Sean Harlow, Alex Taylor-Prioleau, or Earl Bostick Jr., it’s a sign that the Cowboys coaching staff acknowledges a “realistic chance” that Martin will need to sit.

If the elevations are used on other positions, the team likely feels good about Martin’s state of readiness.

Martin is slated to line up against Jets veteran defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, the No. 3 player chosen in 2019’s draft and a first-team All-Pro last year.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=video id=01haakca2bcr443wvf1n playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01haakca2bcr443wvf1n/01haakca2bcr443wvf1n-5d025a78c3b92006a5d8607b63e7f57d.jpg]