Cliff Avril On Contract Extension: I’m Not Getting A Good Vibe
By Josh Sanchez
Detroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril has just over 24 hours before the July 16th deadline for players slapped with the franchise tag to agree to a long-term deal. The deadline comes at 4 pm ET tomorrow.
Avril remains optimistic that he could join the ranks of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Oakland Raiders safety Tyvon Branch, who received extensions, but Avril also has his doubts that any multi-year extension will be coming his way on time.
“I’m hopeful, but I don’t know,” Avril said. “I’m not getting a good vibe, let’s put it that way. But I’m hopeful.
“I haven’t talked to my agent past that point, honestly. Of we don’t get a deal done I’ll fly out to New York and figure something out from that point on.”
Avril has said that he is willing to play the 2012-13 NFL season under the $10.6-million franchise tender, but it remains possible that he would skip out on the team’s training camp.
Former Lions general manager and current ESPN analyst Matt Millen believes that the two will eventually agree on a long-term deal — even if it isn’t by the deadline.
“It’ll get done,” Millen said. “They usually do or they wouldn’t put the franchise tag on him. He was productive, he’s young, he’s ascending, so he’s figured out the game right now and he’s in his best years. And that’s an asset so you’ve got to have that. They know they’ll have to pay him, they’re willing to pay him, it’s just they have to be able to come to an agreement on the right numbers. But it’ll get done.”
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