Detroit Lions DE Cliff Avril ready to miss out on training camp next week - NFL News
Detroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril held out of the team’s entire offseason programme as he awaited the franchise to offer him a new long term deal.
The Lions had placed Avril on a one-year franchise tag worth $ 10.6 million.
Both parties though failed to agree on a new deal by the July 16th deadline leaving the player no option but to sign his franchise tender or face missing out on the entire 2012-13 season.
Avril is yet to sign the tender and speaking to ESPN on Wednesday said that he is not willing to take part in the training camp which will be held next week.
He said:
"Probably won't be there first day, that's for sure. I have to sit down with my agent and figure out when's a good time, if we're even gonna show up."
Training camp is mandatory for under contract players but since Avril does not have a new deal and has still not signed the tender he is not under compulsion to take part.
He continued that he has to consider a lot of things before making himself available to Detroit Lions.
He said:
"This is probably one of the only times in your career that you'll ever get a chance to, you know, opt out (and say) I'm not going to camp or whatnot."
Adding further he said:
"But it also goes into with injuries and stuff like that. You know, you don't want to get hurt."
The defensive end had a great 2011-12 campaign with the franchise and put up the best numbers of his career since joining the franchise in 2008 as a third round draft pick.
Avril made 36 tackles and 11 sacks in 2011 as he helped Detroit to finish with a 10-6 record and qualify for the playoffs.
The defensive end is unlikely to miss games during the regular season as missing out on weekly cheques is not something he will be contemplating.
Now Avril will have to deliver in 2012 and show the Lions and other franchises that he is deserving of a long term deal.
He will become a free agent in the 2013 offseason after the end of the franchise tag.
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