![\"From](\"https:\/\/www.lonestarlive.com\/resizer\/v2\/2DTI2DU4UFBSDLOGI2D5HAQ25Y.jpg?auth=6ccc43650a1bc64bef5d1086df990049340dc6203748743475c61a21102cc31f&width=500&quality=90\")
<\/p>\nFRISCO – In the case of the Dallas Cowboys? It would be a swallowing of pride and an admission of failure. In the case of Zack Martin? It might represent some of the same … along with an opportunity to finally, truly, compete for a Super Bowl. Martin is an All-Pro, a future Hall of Famer and an all-time great Cowboy.<\/p>\n
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But Dallas is closing in on a truth about its 2024 ability to contend. And if in the coming days – like, Sunday at Atlanta – they can’t look in the mirror and see anything but non-contender staring back at them?<\/p>\n
They must consider following the demands of their own “Blow It Up” plan and consider the almost unimaginable …<\/p>\n
And trade Zack Martin. We already know Dallas has no general intention of being a buyer at the Nov. 5 deadline because the long-term plan here is about hoarding assets for a 2025 remodel, when this team could have its handful of big-money foundational stars (including Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons) along with maybe $100 million in cap room.<\/p>\n
We also know that Martin, who has been a starter and a stud here since his rookie year of 2014 as a nine-time Pro Bowler and a seven-time All Pro, is at age 33 contemplating retirement after this season.<\/p>\n
Lose this week and the Cowboys slip to 3-5. (They are three-point underdogs at 5-3 Atlanta, too.)<\/p>\n
Is that enough to acknowledge the truth of our reporting on “Blow It Up.” … and to accelerate the plan?<\/p>\n
There is a time to start moving present pieces now in order to gain future assets. But by Sunday night?<\/strong><\/p>\n With the deadline on Tuesday, the clock will be ticking. Related: Is Jerry Jones Selling at Trade Deadline? We have no idea if Martin would be for or against such a move, but we know it would be highly emotional for all involved, all the way up to the Jones family.<\/p>\n Of course, last spring the Jones family said goodbye to Martin’s “twin” Tyron Smith, a fellow future HOF’er now laboring for the Jets. What could Martin net Dallas? We don’t know that, either.<\/p>\n But while his presence is valuable here in many ways – even on a losing team, he’s a leader and a role model and a key Prescott protector – a 2025 NFL Draft pick needs to have its value calculated, too. And we are now on the eve of that “calculation” time … even for a player as great and valued as the legendary Zack Martin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" FRISCO – In the case of the Dallas Cowboys? It would be a swallowing of pride and an admission of failure. In the case of Zack Martin?… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2840,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n