Lions DE Cliff Avril: 'I will miss some of camp or a lot ... I don't know'

Cliff Avril was asked just how far apart he and the Lions were on negotiating a long-term contract -- was the gap the size of the Grand Canyon?

"No way, not that big," he said. "It was close. It was like the size of a small ditch in the road. Neither side wanted to cross the ditch."

It was that close.

Now what will happen next is interesting.

"It's almost a guarantee I'll miss at least some camp," Avril said in a phone interview. "I don't know what's going to happen. I'm also not sure when I'll show up."

He added: "I will miss some of camp or a lot...I don't know."

I think the Lions not working out a deal with Avril is shortsighted, almost dumb. But the Lions know they have Avril so they're in no hurry. The risk for the Lions is angering one of your good-guy players who also happens to be a promising young one. It makes no sense.

But here they are.

"I keep training, prepare myself for if I go back to camp," he said. "I'm going to be sure to work hard so I'm physically better than last year. That's the goal. I'm disappointed to be sure but I'm not mad. I'll keep training and then see what happens."