Martin announced his retirement today. Obviously he is a HOFer, but with the HOF's blind spot for interior OL, does Martin still make it first ballot, or wait a year or two?
Incredible stat I saw today: Martin has more All-Pros than holding calls in his career.
Zack Martin
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JohnTurney
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Re: Zack Martin
first ballot, IMO. Voters should and will see that he's a cut aboveJameisBrownston wrote: ↑Sat Feb 22, 2025 2:21 am does Martin still make it first ballot, or wait a year or two?
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SeahawkFever
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Re: Zack Martin
He deserves to be first ballot. The only reason why he wouldn't get in on the first ballot would probably be that he played guard.
No knock on Martin, but I don't know if the guard position is something that would jump out at voters as immediately as other positions.
How many offensive linemen who primarily played guard made it to Canton on the first ballot? Off the top of my head Randall McDaniel, John Hannah, and Larry Allen are the only three guards where that was the case.
No knock on Martin, but I don't know if the guard position is something that would jump out at voters as immediately as other positions.
How many offensive linemen who primarily played guard made it to Canton on the first ballot? Off the top of my head Randall McDaniel, John Hannah, and Larry Allen are the only three guards where that was the case.
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JohnTurney
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Re: Zack Martin
McDaniel was not first-ballot -- thought that can be questioned.SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Thu Mar 06, 2025 4:33 pm He deserves to be first ballot. The only reason why he wouldn't get in on the first ballot would probably be that he played guard.
No knock on Martin, but I don't know if the guard position is something that would jump out at voters as immediately as other positions.
How many offensive linemen who primarily played guard made it to Canton on the first ballot? Off the top of my head Randall McDaniel, John Hannah, and Larry Allen are the only three guards where that was the case.
Gene Upshaw was. Bruce Matthews was (also a C and a little bit of T). Jim Parker (played more at tackle) was as well, depending om how you categorize him.
I don't think him being a guard will hurt him. Maybe voting rules and maybe carryover, but doubt it. I think he will stand out like Hannah and Matthews and Allen. Maybe voters don't agree but I see him as a top 5 modern era guard