Detroit Lions DE Cliff Avril may sit out OTAs if new deal is not reached - NFL News
Detroit Lions are facing their own contract saga with defensive end, Cliff Avril, as both parties continue to try and negotiate a new deal.
Both parties though are on the same page which is to sign Avril to a new multi-year deal and the defensive end has repeatedly stated his desire to remain a Lion for the future.
Detroit have franchise tagged Avril to keep him from reaching free agency and also to gain more time to negotiate a new deal.
Both parties have to work out a new contract by July 15 after which the defensive end will be forced to play on the tag which will earn him a total of $ 10.6 million for the year.
Avril though is considering holding out from the team’s organised team activities (OTAs) if they cannot reach a new deal and will instead workout privately and will re-join once a new deal has been reached.
Speaking to the Detroit Free Press he said.
“I think we’re going to continue to try and get something done hopefully and we’ll see how it goes,”
Adding further he said.
“It’s still important, but last year was definitely a good way, for example, of how I can get it done just by working with myself a little bit. If it has to come down to it then I’ll be ready whenever I do get back with the team.”
The defensive end also expressed the hope that talks can resume soon and even this week which will see him sign a new deal and remain with Detroit for the long term.
“I definitely do hope so. We’ll see. This whole thing, I just know I want to be out there, I want to play ball and we’ll see how it goes.”
The Detroit Lions are struggling with their salary cap having just recently given star wide receiver, Calvin Johnson, a record long term deal.
The Lions have also restructured the contracts of some star players to gain cap space.
Detroit reached the playoffs for the first time since 1999 last year but were knocked out at the wild card round by New Orleans Saints.
This year the team is looking to go further into the playoffs and Avril will be a key part of that achievement.
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