Negotiations Ongoing With Backus
Left tackle Jeff Backus' agent Pat Dye said he had a productive meeting with general manager Martin Mayhew and president Tom Lewand at the Combine.
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Left tackle Jeff Backus' agent Pat Dye said he had a productive meeting with general manager Martin Mayhew and president Tom Lewand at the Combine.
He was a 1949 first-round draft pick for Detroit, playing two seasons with the Lions and three with the Chicago Cardinals.
Lions coach Jim Schwartz was asked last Thursday whether he's spoken with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh about his temperament since Detroit's playoff loss to New Orleans. His answer: Not really.
There has been this angst among Lions fans whether they will be able to re-sign potential free agent defensive end Cliff Avril.
Martin Mayhew and company are floating in uncharted waters.
The Lions do not have a cornerback signed beyond next season and the lack of depth was exposed late last season after starter Chris Houston, nickel back Aaron Berry and free safety Louis Delmas were injured.
Cliff Avril is a very good player. On the free agent market, he would get a huge contract.
Rev. Charles Fluellen,57, father of Lions defensive tackle Andre Fluellen collapsed and dies of an apparent heart attack during a charity basketball game in Cartersville, Georgia.
Defensive end Cliff Avril made his aversion to the franchise free agent designation known last week, but the Lions are no closer to a decision on Avril's future in Detroit.
Detroit Lions assistant coach Don Clemons is retiring.
Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best should be back on the field in training camp after a series of head injuries ended his 2011 season.
RBs Jahvid Best (concussion) and Mikel Leshoure (Achilles) are expected to participate in the team's offseason workouts in April but club president Tom Lewand said the team will still be looking for help at running back.
Cliff Avril is used to being in the background. Avril is smart and funny, but he's lived most of his Detroit Lions career letting other big-name teammates do the talking (I'm pointing at you Ndamukong Suh).
Billy Sims joined Mike Valenti, Terry Foster and Pat Caputo at SportsFest on Saturday to talk about what it was like to win the Heisman Trophy as well as how he thinks the Lions will do in the 2012 season.
Lions safety Louis Delmas joined 97.1 The Ticket's SportsFest roundtable discussion to talk about the Lions playoff run as well as if he thinks Cliff Avril will re-sign with the Lions.
Lions DE Cliff Avril joined 97.1 The Ticket's SportsFest roundtable discussion on Saturday to discuss free agency and the current state of the Lions.
Cliff Avril had a fantastic 2011 that included a dominating performance against the Broncos and Tim Tebow in Week 8 when he recorded two sacks, and turned a forced fumble into a 24-yard touchdown.
Karsch and Anderson talked to Avril about who he's rooting for in the Michigan State vs. Purdue game. Avril was also asked about his current situation with the Lions and being a free agent. Does he like his status? Watch and find out.
Free agent defensive end Cliff Avril says he has no idea whether the Detroit Lions will apply the franchise tag to him.
The Lions' defense gradually collapsed over the last eight games of the season.
General manager Martin Mayhew has not used the franchise tag since he's taken the job and he said recently that he would prefer not to in the case of Cliff Avril.
The Lions have restructured the way they will coach the secondary next season.
Prior to the 2011 NFL season, the league moved kickoffs from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line in an effort to reduce the number of injuries on kickoff returns.
It makes for interesting conversation when a former NFL player of note doesn't just praise the players of today and becomes critical.
