Ex-Lions, from nothing to everything

[sggatecl]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/201...-bowl-xlviii-ex-lions-teammates-go-everything

NEW YORK -- The view from the Westin Hotel overlooks the Manhattan skyline, and the food is scrumptious and the beds are soft. This is what it must feel like to be a king: Everywhere the Seattle Seahawks go, there are police escorts and fawning fans hanging to their every word. Their sendoff in Seattle last weekend was a scene out of a movie, with tens of thousands of well-wishers lining the streets and overpasses during their route to the airport. They passed by boaters holding up a sign. "GO HAWKS," it said. "Everything was done first-class," said Seahawks receivers coach Kippy Brown. "It's hard to put into words."

Perhaps no one appreciates these moments more than Brown. Five years ago, Brown, along with Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril, Broncos linebacker Paris Lenon and Denver center Manny Ramirez, were in a much darker place. They were part of a Detroit Lions team that played 16 games and lost every one of them.

The odds of making a Super Bowl are long, but what those 2008 Lions did was unprecedented. No other team in the history of the NFL has gone winless since the league went to a 16-game format in 1978. It's a topic, not surprisingly, that none of them wanted to focus on this week. You play a season and you move on, Brown says.

But the fall of 2008 was hard to forget. The country was deep into a recession, and Detroit was one of the hardest-hit cities. Unemployment soared as the auto industry collapsed, and soon, many in the Lions' organization would be looking for jobs, too. It became popular for fans to hold signs at Ford Field requesting a government bailout for the Lions.

"I didn't realize how bad it was until the offseason," Avril said, "and not wanting to tell people that I played for the Lions at the time. It was crazy, but we're here at the Super Bowl [five] years later, and everything happens for a reason."

 

[cheeno]

And the rest of the Lions and their fans go from nothing to still nothing. It would be nice for our team to make a turn around like that rather than our guys having to go elsewhere to achieve anything. Barry and CJ certainly come to mind.

 

[mhughes0021]

How much less money did avril take to play for a decent organization? 8 mil?

 

[sggatecl]

How much less money did avril take to play for a decent organization? 8 mil?

I'm sure he's cutting coupons and on his local energy companies payment plan.

 

[boogerlovejoy]

How much less money did avril take to play for a decent organization? 8 mil?

And he still sucks......

Good for him!

 

[kdp80]

Denvers game winning game plan:
Run at Cliff Avril every time he is on the field, cuz he will be 5 yards out of the play by the time you reach where he SHOULD be

 

[cheeno]

He made a huge possibly game changing play on the forced fumble, and since he doesn't play much on run downs he's less of a liability. I think the Seahawks are happy to have him.

 

[schles192]

How much less money did avril take to play for a decent organization? 8 mil?

I don't know who else offered him a contract but we didn't even negotiate with him so he went to Seattle for 3.75 this year and 9.25 next year (base of 7).

 

[boogerlovejoy]

He made a huge possibly game changing play on the forced fumble, and since he doesn't play much on run downs he's less of a liability. I think the Seahawks are happy to have him.

He did, but that play was an Avril special. He ran straight upfield and was being pushed out of the play when Kapernick turned his back to him and rolled out of the pocket.

If kapernick had stepped up Avril would have been 10 yards behind him.

Good for Cliff, Seattle is a great situation for a guy like him. A situational player.

 

[mhughes0021]

I don't know who else offered him a contract but we didn't even negotiate with him so he went to Seattle for 3.75 this year and 9.25 next year (base of 7).

but youre forgetting the fact that mayhew offered him 10 mil to stay.

 

[biggunsbob]

and we are still with one playoff win in a zillion years under fords..

 

[schles192]

but youre forgetting the fact that mayhew offered him 10 mil to stay.

but your forgetting that was the year before, then we offered him nothing so he didn't take less he took the best offer he got.

 

[sggatecl]

I think the sadder part is Lenon and Ramirez. At least with Avril, he had some supporters. When Ramirez and Lenon left it was considered addition by subtraction by the majority.

Ramirez couldn't get past Raiola on the depth chart now he's snapping to Peyton Manning for crying out loud.

 

[boogerlovejoy]

but your forgetting that was the year before, then we offered him nothing so he didn't take less he took the best offer he got.

2012 showed what Avril is. He's a 3rd down specialist against T's that have trouble with speed rushers.

That's it.

He has a niche in the NFL, for sure, just not in Detroit.

Good move by Mayhew to realize that and let him walk after 2012.

However, Avril is probably Millens 2nd best pick (CJ). Late 3rd rounder that actually played ABOVE his draft slot.

 

[jdeb]

He made a huge possibly game changing play on the forced fumble, and since he doesn't play much on run downs he's less of a liability. I think the Seahawks are happy to have him.

I agree. He is a solid player.

 

[jdeb]

I think the sadder part is Lenon and Ramirez. At least with Avril, he had some supporters. When Ramirez and Lenon left it was considered addition by subtraction by the majority.

Ramirez couldn't get past Raiola on the depth chart now he's snapping to Peyton Manning for crying out loud.

Well Ramirez was playing right guard, then Kopen blew his knee out in training camp then Walton could not get healthy thus leading to Ramirez being moved to center. Heck, Ramirez started a dozen games last year at guard so Denver has got great value. They gave him a two year deal this year. Pretty impressive and another example of crap personnel decisions by our great upper management. This organization is a joke and I have no idea why I root for them year in and year out. The Lions did offer Avril a lot more money the year prior but the new bargaining agreement bit him in the rear. The Lions lucked out in all reality.

 

[coel73]

Good for them. I'd rather not hear about the media or them piling it on (whichever it might be, on purpose or not). It worked out better for both teams, but since our team is not in the super bowl you won't hear about that, or how mediocre Avril is as a player that can't stay on the field for 3 downs. But, Seattle didn't pick him up to be a 3 down player and he couldn't stay in Detroit for not being a 3 down player. He's got a long ways to fall should Seattle decide they don't need him, but whatever, I'm sure he's living it up, as he has every right to.

 

[jdeb]

Heck, he had 8 sacks this year which would have lead the Lions and has 1.5 so far this post season. He is solid.

 

[LKP]

Avril's cap number jumps from 3.7 million to 9.2 million in 2014. 5 million of his base is guaranteed one day after the Super Bowl. We'll see how much they value him. They have to re-sign Michael Bennett who is a free agent.


http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/seattle-seahawks/cliff-avril/

 

[sggatecl]

Heck, he had 8 sacks this year which would have lead the Lions and has 1.5 so far this post season. He is solid.

But how many hurries does he have!?!? :lmao: