Cliff Avril Says Next Move Belongs To Lions In Contract Talks

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Lions defensive end Cliff Avril has yet to sign the team's $10.6 million franchise tender. He's been a no-show at Detroit's voluntary workout program and doesn't figure to make an appearance at next week's mandatory minicamp. Albert Breer reported last month the sides are $2 million per year apart in talks, putting the gap in the neighborhood of $8 million to $10 million for a four- to five-year deal. On Friday, Lions president Tom Lewand said "the ball's in (Avril's) court." Avril disagrees. "It's up to Tom," he told the Detroit Free Press on Saturday at Ndamukong Suh's football camp. "It's up to Tom, and see where we can go with that." Asked to clarify if he meant the so-called ball was back in Lewand's so-called court, Avril said, "Nah, we're not passing back and forth." Avril expressed hope that "things will work themselves out" in time for training camp. "It's never personal," he told the Detroit News. "I still have to work for these people. I still have to play football. You can't make it personal."

Source: NFL.com