IRVING, Texas -- Jerry Jones can’t seem to avoid bringing up the thought of Johnny Manziel when he is asked about the future of the quarterback position of the Dallas Cowboys.
The player the Cowboys actually took over Manziel, Zack Martin, was named to the Pro Bowl for the second straight year on Tuesday.
Martin has not missed a game in his career. He helped DeMarco Murray lead the NFL in rushing last season. He has helped Darren McFadden post five 100-yard games in the last nine contests. McFadden needs just 102 yards over the last two games to reach 1,000 for the season.
Manziel is 2-5 as the Cleveland Browns' starter and has seven touchdown passes and six interceptions in his career. Most of his headlines have been about what he has done off the field rather than what he has done on it. The Browns are giving him another shot to claim the starting spot for 2016 in the final month this season, and Manziel has showed some positive signs.
Martin has been a starter for the Cowboys since Day 1. Of the three offensive linemen the Cowboys drafted in the first round since 2011, Martin was the most NFL-ready. He played tackle at Notre Dame but has been among the NFL’s best guards.
“Obviously it’s a great honor and it’s pretty cool to go and meet the guys around the league that you’ve watched play and really respect,” Martin said of the Pro Bowl berth. “It’s really just a huge honor.”
Martin is the first Cowboy since Emmitt Smith in 1990 and '91 to earn Pro Bowl bids in his first two seasons. Only four others in franchise history have done that: Everson Walls (1981-82), Bob Hayes (1965-66), Mel Renfro (1964-65) and Don Perkins (1961-62).
When teams draft guards now, Martin is the standard. Bill Callahan was the Cowboys’ offensive line coach when Martin was picked in the first round. Callahan played a big part in why the Washington Redskins took Brandon Scherff with the fifth overall pick last spring.
“I think I’m more comfortable with everything,” Martin said. “Obviously it’s disappointing with our team not being in a better situation, but I think there’s still a lot to get better on.”
As Jones continues with his Manziel envy, Martin just continues to produce.
Jones might get his Manziel wish should the Browns decide to want to move on from the Heisman Trophy winner. Like last offseason with Adrian Peterson, just about everybody pencils in a Cowboys-Manziel partnership at some point because of Jones' affinity for the quarterback. If it were to happen, Jones would have Johnny Football and all the marketing dream that will be.
More important, however, he would have Martin blocking for him.