Dak Prescott Reacts: Cowboys 3-Word Reveal on Zack Martin Contract Holdout

"Pay the man!'' responds Dak Prescott when asked about Zack Martin's contractual conflict with the Cowboys.

OXNARD, Calif. - Jerry Jones has sent his message to contract holdout Zack Martin, responding to a CowboysSI.com question by stressing the "integrity of a contract.

And now Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott - who is surely just a little but uncomfortable working here at training camp in Oxnard with one of the best protectors of his generation not present - has on behalf of Martin crafted a three-word response to Dallas' lack of flexibility here.

"Pay the man!'' responded Prescott when asked Thursday about a contractual conflict that has now stretched into three camp days.

As much as Dak wants his All-Pro offensive guard in camp, and as much as he is surely sincere about his three-word response, he also without a doubt recognizes the complexities here ... and of course, those same complexities are involved in his own negotiations toward a new contract extension.

Martin, who by CBA rules is being fined $50,000 a day as the calendar moves, believes he is underpaid at $13.5 million for 2023. He's seeking a raise, and it is easy to see his logic.

At the same time, Martin has two years remaining on the contract the Cowboys gave him in 2018 making him the highest-paid guard in the history of the NFL. It is the front office's position that that contract was all part of a master plan - a "slice of the pie,'' as the Joneses like to put - to assemble a roster that would be Super Bowl-worthy.

That, they have done. Unless of course they have to really plow forward without the services of Martin, who feels he's "woefully'' underpaid as a couple of guards have now leapfrogged him and are making $20 million APY.

Just as Dak is wise to support his guy - that's a good way to keep a locker room together - Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is wise to have offered his insight without taking sides.

"My father always told me, and I think it’s true, you never talk about another man’s money, and most importantly, never talk about your own," McCarthy said. "It’s business, and Zack needs to focus on that. We all respect that."

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