Cowboys’ Martin back in camp, on verge of signing monster deal
Seahawks’ Thomas among other stars still holding out
FRISCO, Texas — Zack Martin rejoined the Dallas Cowboys for mandatory minicamp Tuesday with the two-time All-Pro closing in on a contract that’s expected to make him the highest-paid guard in the NFL.
Martin skipped all nine voluntary offseason practices while negotiations that started about a year ago kept dragging. But he was on the field after the club and his representatives got close on a deal over the weekend.
The 27-year-old Martin was set to make $9.3 million in the final year of his rookie deal. Martin’s new contract is expected to surpass the $13.3 million annual average in the $66.5 million, five-year contract that Jacksonville’s Andrew Norwell signed in March.
Martin, the 16th overall pick in 2014, was an All-Pro as a rookie when DeMarco Murray led the NFL in rushing for the NFC East champions. He repeated the feat two years later when rookie Ezekiel Elliott was the league rushing leader for another division champion.
A Pro Bowl player in each of his first four seasons, Martin only did individual and conditioning work in his first practice of the offseason. While coach Jason Garrett said that was more because Martin has been out, the former Notre Dame standout noted the contract isn’t finished.
Four years ago, Martin was a rookie who engaged Sean Lee in a noncontact drill when the star linebacker’s left knee gave way, resulting in a torn ligament that kept Lee out all season. It was the first offseason practice.
“Right now, until the pen actually gets on paper, I’m going to be smart about it and just do individual work and some conditioning so I don’t do something stupid,” Martin said. “Two more days, so we’ll see what they want to do, if we just want to play it smart.”
SEAHAWKS: Free safety Earl Thomas officially commenced his holdout as the team began its three-day mandatory minicamp Tuesday.
Thomas released a statement on Twitter on Sunday announcing his intention to skip the minicamp and all team-related activities until his contract situation is resolved.
“Kind of had heard that he was making that choice,” head coach Pete Carroll said. “I wish he was here. That would be nice. But we’re focusing on the guys that are here and we’ll see how that goes.” OTHER CONTRACT HOLDOUTS: Oakland defensive end Khalil Mack, Arizona running back David Johnson, Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Falcons receiver Julio Jones are among them.
COLTS: Andrew Luck’s big secret is finally out. He’s been throwing a football for weeks — and now he’s throwing in public, too.
Nearly 17 months after undergoing surgery on his injured right shoulder, Luck jogged onto the practice field Tuesday wearing a red jersey, strapping on a helmet and picking up a special ball as he started throwing in front of reporters for the first time since October.
No, it wasn’t a regulation NFL ball and the longest pass he attempted was only about a 20-yard lob, but it still was progress.
“It’s a lighter football,” Luck said, referring to the striped football he tossed around. “It’s sort of a bridge. I’ve thrown a real football, ‘The Duke,’ whatever you want to call it. I’ve picked it up and I’ve thrown it and it felt great. And honestly, there was a little mental block to doing it and I had to do it sort of by myself.”
BILLS: Running back LeSean McCoy likes what he’s seen from rookie quarterback Josh Allen, who is being developed behind A.J. McCarron and second-year holdover Nathan Peterman.
“I’ve got to be honest. He’s pretty good, and I’m not a big fan of rookies,” McCoy said of Allen.