Detroit Lions DE Cliff Avril 'hold out possible' if tagged - NFL News
The Detroit Lions may have refuted any suggestions that they wish to tag defensive end Cliff Avril, yet the 25-year-old does not seem to trust the franchise to keep their word.
In another follow up interview with the Detroit Free Press on Saturday, just one day after announcing that he wants to stay in Detroit, the defensive end said that he will not rule out a hold out from the offseason and training camp if the Lions
look to tag him.
"There's a lot of different possibilities, and that's one of the possibilities -- not showing up. But we don't know. That's not the plan, obviously. But there's a lot of different possibilities, and that's definitely one of them."
Avril will become a free agent soon and the Lions have time till March 5th to put him on the tag effectively stopping the defensive end from becoming a free agent for one more year.
Yet the 25-year-old wants a new long term deal with a salary on par with his efforts in 2011-12 when he had his best season for his home-town franchise.
Lions, general manager, Martin Mayhew, had previously dismissed all suggestions of tagging the player, but Avril does not seem to believe his words.
"I know it's the NFL. People make promises. It's a business. People tell you one thing one year and it might not be the same thing next year.”
If tagged the defensive end can expect to get an average of the top-five wage in his position which for the 2012-13 season is expected to be around $ 10.6 million but Avril does not want an amount similar to the one he received in this season.
"I don't want to be franchised. That's basically what I got last year. The tender was basically the same thing. I just want security and longevity."
He also said that he achieved all individual objectives laid out by Detroit this season as he made 11.0 sacks, 36 tackles and six forced fumbles to lead the Lions defence and he just wants the franchise to now deliver on its promise of a new contract.
The Lions ended the 2011-12 season with a first winning season since 1999 as they qualified for the playoffs.
Detroit had a 10-6 record in the regular season with Avril playing a big role but lost out in the wildcard round to New Orleans Saints.
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