Friday, February 22, 2013
Detroit's thoughts on Avril
By Tim Kavanagh
The mass exodus of defensive players that is expected for the Detroit Lions this offseason may not include all of their impending free agents. To varying degrees, the team hopes to re-sign the likes of DE Cliff Avril, LB DeAndre Levy, CB Chris Houston and S Louis Delmas. It's Avril, however, that's drawn the most attention to this point.
Speaking to reporters at the scouting combine on Thursday, Lions HC Jim Schwartz addressed the impending free agency of the player on whom the Lions placed their franchise tag in 2012. "We just have to wait and see," Schwartz lamented, per the Detroit News. "He was very productive and a great fit for our scheme. He was drafted before I got to Detroit but has really developed. As we go forward, the market will determine what happens."
There are some other productive pass-rushers available this offseason at both ends of their careers -- Dwight Freeney representing the veterans; Paul Kruger, Anthony Spencer and Avril the younger ones -- so Schwartz may be right on the market determining whether the Lions can afford to keep Cliff around. We'll know soon.
