Avril Whoring Himself

[lions2011]

Cliff letting the 3 -4 teams know he'd be willing to switch to LB , starting to shop himself.....


Cliff Avril - DL - Lions

Free agent LE Cliff Avril says he would be willing to switch from defensive end to linebacker.
Avril will be a particularly attractive free agent because he can be "scheme versatile," with the ability to fit both 3-4 and 4-3 alignments. Avril even started 12 games at strong-side linebacker at Purdue. "I feel like I'm an athlete," he said. "I can do a lot of different things to help the team out."

 

[Mitchrapp]

Can he defend the pass? Not sure he's suited to play Jack.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

I've always felt he would make more sense as a rush LB in a 3-4. Heck, the Packers would love a guy like him opposite Matthews. As long as they don't has him to cover a lot, he could probably put up even more sacks.

But this just gets back to Avril likely being out of our price range. Some team in desperate need of a pass-rush could offer him stupid money. If we are even considering offering him near Charles Johnson money, we should slap ourselves and then invest in a CB or OT. Would anyone honestly rather have Avril than Carlos Rogers and Jared Gaithers? That's the kind of money we could be talking.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Lets see what he wants but if he's someone other team covert, use a 1st and 3rd round tender.

 

[specialteams]

Doubt a team will throw him a huge contract and then make him switch positions... that could really blow up in someones face

 

[tonyballs]

Filthy.

 

[everyoneneedsasmil]

Doubt a team will throw him a huge contract and then make him switch positions... that could really blow up in someones face

The difference between 4-3 DE and 3-4 OLB isn't much, and in many cases the switch has allowed the player to pile up even bigger sack totals. But teams do that all the time. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Our own Corey Williams was a victim of scheme change, from 4-3 DT to 3-4 DE, and it ruined his productivity. But certainly rookies change position for the better ever year, and as well players actively market themselves as scheme-versatile.

DE Mario Williams is a prototype for a 4-3 DE, but Houston didn't have any qualms about switching him to OLB in the 3-4.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Yeah but I think its more difficult years playing without have to defend against a pass and now suddenly needs to do it. Granted the Jack will do most of the pass rushing but he'll still need to defend the pass.

 

[lp4ever41]

Mitch[/color]]Lets see what he wants but if he's someone other team covert, use a 1st and 3rd round tender.

Do you mean franchise tag? Cuz he's not restricted, so we can't just tender him.

We'd have to hit him with the tag before he hits the open market, so we'd never know what his true market value would be. I'm fine with tagging him. If someone offers a late first/early second, take it. Otherwise, make him play on the $10 million tag. Better than signing him to a long-term deal for $10-12 million per year IMO.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Yeah I guess I do. I don't want him long term.

 

[Monster]

draft a DE in the 4th/5th round. Let Lojack and Young take his snaps.

 

[lp4ever41]

Everything I've read seems to signal that Cliff is going with the highest bidder. This makes it unlikely he'll re-sign before hitting the open market unless Mayhew throws a ton at him, which I doubt will happen.

It doesn't matter if Avril CAN get $12 million per year. Whats important is that he THINKS he can. If Mayhew offers him $8-10, I think Cliff will pass and test the open market. At that point, Mayhew could risk letting him walk or tag him. Based on Mayhew's track record, I can't imagine him letting Cliff walk for free, so I think he'll get tagged.

That's just how I see it playing out. We'll see though.

 

[lionsFTW]

Mayhew has never used the franchise tag and said he doesn't plan to this year. not sure if that's just posturing or not?

edit: http://www.nationalfootballauthority.com/2012/01/detroit-lions-rumors-re-signing-cliff.html

 

[mhughes0021]

Wouldn't he have to tag him soon? When the deadline?

 

[lions2011]

Wouldn't he have to tag him soon? When the deadline?

Feb 20th they can start tagging.....March 5th is the deadline.

 

[lp4ever41]

Mayhew has never used the franchise tag and said he doesn't plan to this year. not sure if that's just posturing or not?

edit: http://www.nationalfootballauthority.com/2012/01/detroit-lions-rumors-re-signing-cliff.html

LMAO Name one FA in the last 3 years since Mayhew took over that was worth hitting with the tag!

Yeah, I know he said he doesn't expect to use it, but then he said "you never know". I think Mayhew expects to be able to re-sign Avril. I'm just saying that I don't think he'll be able to do it, and I doubt he'd let Avril walk for free. Could be wrong though, but I'd be surprised if he let value go like that.

 

[tonyballs]

If they let this guy walk without getting nothing, they completely fucked up big time. Tag the guy if you can't re-sign him but DON'T let him walk out the door. My God....

 

[lions2011]

you can't tag him without restructuring CJ first.

CJ , Suh , Stafford and KVB eat up almost 60 million of a 120 million dollar cap in 2012.


Suh cap figure is 9.5 million , KVB is 7.7 , Corey Williams 5 million add in a potential Avril tag at 10.8 million.

thats a 35 million dollar DLINE , almost 1/3 of your entire cap.

 

[lp4ever41]

you can't tag him without restructuring CJ first.

CJ , Suh , Stafford and KVB eat up almost 60 million of a 120 million dollar cap in 2012.


Suh cap figure is 9.5 million , KVB is 7.7 , Corey Williams 5 million add in a potential Avril tag at 10.8 million.

thats a 35 million dollar DLINE , almost 1/3 of your entire cap.

What day do you have to be under the cap? There's some specific date, right?

If CJ doesn't get restructured, there's not much Detroit can do at all this offseason

 

[gloverunderthere]

I say we should just let him walk, KVB too. A top tiered Linebacker and Safety seems to be the formula for all of the playoff teams this year.