(Editor's Note: This is a blog from Cowboys guard Zack Martin from the NFL Rookie Symposium. It appeared on **Sportsblog.com*). *
Zack Martin: Life In the Pros
June 24, 2014
It's been a great opportunity for us to come here to the Rookie Symposium. Like many of the speakers have said, we may think we know everything, but we have so much more to learn. It really means a lot to hear from the players that have been there and recently done it...the message sticks a little more. The vets talking to us are taking time out of their day and their schedules to share their stories and experiences with us, and it's been awesome and made an impact.
The biggest thing that stood out to me was talking about having a plan. You never think you are going to be that guy who gets hurt or that guy who makes a foolish investment, and that's why it's important to make a plan before something like that happens. Take precautionary measures to guard yourself from those types of things. [embedded_ad]
We hit on so many different subjects, but one big thing is preparation and being a professional. We are coming from college where we have practice and meetings and class, but now this is our job. Many of the veterans have recommended that we find a veteran or two on our team that defines what it means to be a professional and then mimic them. It's definitely something I will be doing going forward.
I've been very lucky going to a spot where I play on an offensive line that is very close. They've been great with me so far. Also, center Travis Frederick, who was the first-round pick last year and has gone through everything I'm going through now, has been a great help also.
Martin, the 16th overall pick of the 2014 Draft out of Notre Dame, was one of several rookies blogging this week, along with first-round picks Jake Matthews, Eric Ebron and Odell Beckham Jr. The rest of the blogs are posted on ****Sportsblog.com***. *
