2017 Notre Dame Football Preview

2017 Notre Dame Football Preview

Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview

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142 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY MATT JONES I t didn't take long for Zack Martin to rise to the top of his profession, almost immediately performing as one of the best offensive guards in the National Football League. Soon, the former Notre Dame standout and two-time first-team All-Pro for the Dallas Cowboys will be paid like it. Currently playing under his rookie deal — the Cowboys already have picked up Martin's fifth-year option for 2018 for $9.3 million — Martin will likely cash in big time, and soon. Dallas has made inking Martin to a long-term extension a priority, a deal would likely net the 26-year-old Indianapolis native six to eight more years and guarantee him more than $30 million. "People ask [about the future] a lot, but we're getting close to the season now and it's getting serious where we've got to sit down and talk about just winning games," Martin told reporters. "That's what I'm focusing on right now, and if anything else happens, it will take care of itself. "I love being a Cowboy, but I'm going to let my agents and them handle that, and if the time comes, they'll tell me when it's the right time to do something." The highest-paid guard in the NFL — Cleveland's Kevin Zeitler — has a five-year, $60 million deal that pays him $31.5 mil- lion guaranteed. Zeitler has never made the Pro Bowl, while Martin has made it each of his three seasons. Dallas has built its offense around Martin and the offensive line and been rewarded handsomely for the strategy. Martin has helped pave the way for two different NFL rushing champions — DeMarco Murray in 2014 and Ezekiel Elliott in 2016. "Martin was the best run-blocking guard in the game this season, and as a pass blocker, allowed just two sacks," Pro Football Focus wrote in a breakdown of the top 101 players in the NFL, where they ranked Martin 35th. "He was only flagged two times across 1,058 snaps and graded well in all facets of the game." Far from the most glamorous position in the NFL, Martin has proved his worth after being taken 16th overall in 2014. Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones infa- mously wanted to select Texas A&M quarter- back Johnny Manziel instead of Martin, but was talked out of the pick. All Martin has done since is steamroll de- fensive linemen and become a linchpin in Dallas. Dallas Cowboys right guard Zack Martin is without a doubt an elite player at his position, having made the Pro Bowl in each of his three NFL seasons. PHOTO BY JAMES D. SMITH/COURTESY DALLAS COWBOYS IRISH IN THE NFL

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