Lions Notes: Cliff Avril Hoping For Long-Term Deal

by Sean Yuille on Jul 17, 2011 2:10 PM EDT in Detroit Lions Notes

Lions linebacker Zack Follett said on Twitter that he received word that players will be able to report back to their teams on the 25th if a new deal is in place.
Cliff Avril reiterated on the radio earlier this week that he wants a long-term deal with the Lions.
Mikel Leshoure's No. 1 goal for 2011 is to "find a way to get on the field and make the team." Considering he's a second-round pick and is expected to contribute quite a bit to the Lions' offense, I would say he's probably going to achieve both of those goals.
According to DeAndre Levy, OTAs could be reduced from 14 to nine in the new CBA. Also, two-a-days might only include a second practice that is without helmets and without contact.
FOX Sports interviewed Matthew Stafford this week.
Titus Young is excited join the Lions and make the city of Detroit proud.
The Lions in Winter discovered that the Lions are selling a black "Lights Out" Ndamukong Suh jersey.
Lomas Brown is hoping that the new CBA provides "total health care" for former players.
Adam Schefter thinks the Lions will be one of the most improved teams in the league next season.

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that uni is sweet loking

RIP KURTIS CHAIVRE

by det32 on Jul 17, 2011 2:21 PM EDT reply actions

Foreal, I might have to pick that up for the Monday Night game

'The reality is - the police become necessary in human society, only at that junction in a society where it is split between those who have, and those who ain't got' - Omali Yeshitela

"In the absence of logic it is not uncommon that sanity can only be found by embracing lunacy." – Leonuro, circa 2011

by Nate D. on Jul 17, 2011 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions

i hope they use it some time.. dont think they will though

RIP KURTIS CHAIVRE

by det32 on Jul 17, 2011 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Seriously?

If the Lions sell a lot of these then we’ll start wearing them in games and the next thing you know we’re Raiders posers. Be proud of the colors and screw what’s “trendy”.

No thanks. I’ll keep my Honolulu blue and silver

by chicagofire1871 on Jul 17, 2011 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

I hated the black uni’s that we had when Joey Happy Feet was around here and our Lions are not a Black uni kind of team. If you guys want a different uni so bad then lets get those old dark blue throw backs out and play some ball.

How many lumps you want Doc?

by davis0169 on Jul 17, 2011 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

+1

"Common Sense, isn't" Solomon Short

by YpsilantiJeff on Jul 18, 2011 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I like the dark blue

I woould even like dark blue pants to go with the road white jerseys.

Yooperlionfan is officially "the man"
the Lions D-Line: the Four Horsemen of the A-sack-alypse
Jim Schwart: Erasing the stink of Millen, one fist pump at a time.
P.C.P: It is not just for recreation anymore.

by JCruize on Jul 19, 2011 6:27 AM EDT up reply actions

That right there is one of the finest looking uni's ever fielded in the NFL

"Common Sense, isn't" Solomon Short

by YpsilantiJeff on Jul 19, 2011 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

any news on nick?? havent heard a dam thing othere then his dum armeral ad or w/e it was for

RIP KURTIS CHAIVRE

by det32 on Jul 17, 2011 2:28 PM EDT reply actions

i have to admit

I would really start questioning Mayhew if we lose Avirl. He has improved so much in two years he deserves a longterm deal.

"I think the biggest thing for us and the city is that the mind-set is changed. We are not the same old Lions that have lost." - Ndamukong Suh

PCP 4 LIFE

by The Profiler on Jul 17, 2011 2:31 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

The problem with Avril as I see it

He did almost nothing before the arrival of our upgraded interior D line. His improvement is as much if not more to do with that change than his game improving. Look at the other players that played end for us this last year and how all of their years improved too. It is not a coincidence.

If he is looking for a top of the line contract at his position, he is IMHO, asking for far too much. At best, he has a middle of the line DE contract written all over him. If someone else wants to over spend on him. Let them. This D line is turning into a factory. Plug in the next DE machine, as long as that core in the middle is strong, and the numbers will be produced.

I like Wins, Cheese and I also Like Cookies. If you don't. Wow. :P
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by joshsun on Jul 17, 2011 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

good point

RIP KURTIS CHAIVRE

by det32 on Jul 17, 2011 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Those are good points joshsun.

I would also have to say that the 0-16 season was his rookie year. As much as the players we have now help him, the lack of talent he previously had hurt him and his development. 6 sacks as a young gun and no one else around too help is not that bad. I am not sure what the rules on him would be with the new CBA. I know before if he signed somewhere else we would get a 1st and 3rd. With Lo Jack right behind him, that actually might help us in the long haul.

by Joey-P on Jul 17, 2011 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

Give credit to the D line sure and cunningham and who ever you want. Cliff deserves his share as well. It dosen’t matter why his numbers go up the fact is they are up. You are the one who always says Joshun facts are facts. I doubt he will look to be paid like Freeney, Peppers or Allen. You can’t deny the fact that he is better and for whatever that reason it is dosen’t matter. Improved is improved and you look at his age he still has room to grow before he hits his ceiling. The line you are on benifits every defensive and offensive line player. So for all the positives of him playing with KVB and Suh. The opposite is true for playing with Rogers and company as well.

"I think the biggest thing for us and the city is that the mind-set is changed. We are not the same old Lions that have lost." - Ndamukong Suh

PCP 4 LIFE

by The Profiler on Jul 17, 2011 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions

agree for the most part

I see him as a middle of the road paid kind of DE.

by joshsun on Jul 17, 2011 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not a huge Avril fan at all

But I still think you might not be considering his growth as a player. I don’t think he’s asking for a ‘top of the line contract’ either, just wants a long term deal, which makes sense. Why wouldn’t you resign a guy who obviously meshes with the line? It’ll be a mistake to let him walk, and he has quite a bit of upside.

'The reality is - the police become necessary in human society, only at that junction in a society where it is split between those who have, and those who ain't got' - Omali Yeshitela

"In the absence of logic it is not uncommon that sanity can only be found by embracing lunacy." – Leonuro, circa 2011

by Nate D. on Jul 17, 2011 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

because of our salary cap problems we have now and will have even worse down the road

This has as much to do with a shrinking cap that will grow of course but so with the cost of keeping our key players down the road. I just do not see him as a key player.

He is a middle of the park DE, at best, IMHO. If he is willing to sign a long term middle of the road (at most) contract. I would not have any problem signing him. Remember, lojack and McBride had 6 and 5 sacks each too. LoJack has just as much potential if not more than Avril. McBride is a perfect example of what I am talking about. Him having 5 sacks is as much a result of those around him as his own growth. He had 1.5 sacks last year. This year he had 5. This unit is about all the parts and will inflate the stats of each member. I hope he knows how good he has it here now and does not try to run for the paycheck. If he is looking for that check. Cya

by joshsun on Jul 17, 2011 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions

First off I am NOT an Avril fan as most of you know.

But Josh where is this salary cap issue that you speak of? We are like 18 mil under the new cap, we have at least 2 guys who could be shipped out and free up at least 3 more million in Morris and Johnson, and we have a whopping 5 rookies to sign. Where is this cap issue that you speak of? Yeah we have to resign some guys but other than Houston who is going to ask for real money? Carpenter? Palmer? Follet? oh theres a couple of million between the entire group. I can’t say that I have studied exactly how many UFA’s we actually have on this team but I can’t see Houston leaving and he might get like an extra mil on top of his last contract but again still way under the cap.

How many lumps you want Doc?

by davis0169 on Jul 17, 2011 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions

The most recent number I have read

Seems to say we are around 113 to 114 million committed this next season. We could and should drop BJ and save his estimated 4 million. That would leave us with roughly 10-11 Million in cap space.

Now, we have to resign or sign one LB and CB, if not two of one of them. Then we have to sign our rookies. Then we have to resign our own free agents. Add to that the eventual and coming fast Calvin resigning, Suh, Stafford (if he steps up). We have a lot coming at us in the next 3 years.

I know that 18 million number has been floated around a lot but I just do not think it is accurate.

by joshsun on Jul 18, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Hopefully

We will know the real cap number within the next 2 or 3 days.

How many lumps you want Doc?

by davis0169 on Jul 18, 2011 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

that is an inflated cap number

first that is with 54 players or so, due to all the players that was on the IR last season, and their replacements. I think right now under contract( not including the rookies) 5 RBs, 6 WRs, 5 TEs and so on. There will be a flurry of player movement once the lockout is lifted.

by JCruize on Jul 18, 2011 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Did almost nothing?

He had 10.5 sacks and 7 forced fumbles in his first two years, when the Lions essentially had no pass rush at all. Sure, having a better D-line makes him look better, but he wasn’t doing nothing at all. Now he’s not only bringing the pressure but he’s learning how to knock passes down.

by drgarnett on Jul 18, 2011 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I did not say nothing

I said almost nothing, and I stand by that statement. 5 sacks in 16 games is almost nothing for a DE.

by joshsun on Jul 18, 2011 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I really liked Youngs comments.

He seems level headed and seems to have a great work ethic from all accounts. Hope he catches on quick.

by Joey-P on Jul 17, 2011 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

Gotta have that Suh jersey...

As for Cliff why not resign the guy he continues to climb the ladder and will get better. He is just starting to mature, he has got better due to the talent around him which is what you want.

Suh and KVB make everyone on the Dline better and will continue to do so this year. Suh is going to demand triple teams at times leaving CW SLH Nick Cliff LoJack Turk and KVB all with a one on one match up which favors us big time.

I would love to see Cliff come around the edge one on one 5 to 10 times a game. That is a promised sack a game and a handful of knockdowns and hurries.

He will get the long term contract and it will be a fair contract on both ends. Cliff knows exactly whats about to take place here in Detroit and you can damn sure bet he wants to continue to be apart of that.

" Maybe for a writer...but i am sure most of you can tell i am not a writer". det32

by SmittyJ on Jul 17, 2011 10:42 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Leshoure is going to be a beast...

I think Leshoure is the total package. Power speed hands vision the kid is going to be hard to stop.

Love Mr. Youngs attitude another kid out of the second round that will make a impact for the Lions.

I think its a toss up between who will make the biggest impact. I am excited to see who will be the first to show up come game day, the smart choice would be Leshoure but i just have a hard time counting out Young.

" Maybe for a writer...but i am sure most of you can tell i am not a writer". det32

by SmittyJ on Jul 17, 2011 11:02 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

HOLY SHIT!

You guys know how I always make comments about never seeing my facebook picture up on the side. . . .I am finally up there. NO really it’s me and my little future Lions MLB.

How many lumps you want Doc?

by davis0169 on Jul 17, 2011 11:18 PM EDT reply actions