Sun Feb 1 2015 | 21:39 | Cliff Avril: Exits Super Bowl With Concussion |
Avril left Sunday's Super Bowl with a concussion, and he will not return to the contest, according to NBC's broadcast of the game. |
The Seahawks have now lost two key pieces on defense, with slot corner Jeremy Lane suffering an apparent broken arm/wrist in the first quarter. In Avril's absence, the Seahawks will need more snaps from O'Brien Schofield, who had 20 tackles and two sacks during the regular season. |
Mon Jan 27 2014 | 09:29 | Avril doesn't want to hit free agency again |
DE Cliff Avril is hoping for a long-term extension from the Seahawks. |
Avril notoriously turned down a three-year, $30 million offer from the Lions in the summer of 2012 because he thought he could get more in 2013 free agency. It didn't happen, as he settled for a two-year, $13 million deal with the Seahakws. Avril understandably doesn't want to go back into free agency in 2015, but he should find a warmer market if he keeps up his current level of play. He had eight sacks, five forced fumbles and an impressive 33 quarterback hurries despite playing roughly half the snaps this season. |
Source: Profootballtalk on NBCSports.com | |
Wed Sep 11 2013 | 10:26 | Cliff Avril expected to play Week 2 |
DE Cliff Avril (hamstring) is expected to make his Seahawks debut Sunday. |
Avril missed most of the preseason and Week 1 with a serious pull. But he returned to practice last week and was almost ready to face the Panthers. Avril will slide right in at right end, boosting an already dominant and insanely deep front seven. He has 29 sacks over the last three seasons. |
Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | |
Mon Sep 9 2013 | 13:16 | Carroll: Avril 'great chance' to be back |
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll believes RE Cliff Avril (hamstring) has a "great chance" to return in Week 2 against the 49ers. |
Carroll makes a habit of being coach gumdrops, so take this with a grain of salt. Carroll originally called Avril a "game-day decision" for Week 1, but he didn't come close to playing. Avril has still barely practiced since signing with the Seahawks in March. |
Source: John Boyle on Twitter | |
Fri Sep 6 2013 | 16:31 | Cliff Avril doubtful to face Panthers |
Updating a previous item, Seahawks RE Cliff Avril (hamstring) is listed as doubtful for Week 1 at Carolina. |
Coach Pete Carroll initially called Avril a "game-day decision," but the doubtful listing strongly indicates he will not play. The Seahawks figure to turn to a rotation at "Leo" pass rusher of O'Brien Schofield and UDFA Benson Mayowa. Their pass rush could certainly be diminished against Cam Newton. |
Source: John Boyle on Twitter | |
Wed Sep 4 2013 | 15:43 | Cliff Avril (hamstring) returns to practice |
Seahawks RE Cliff Avril (hamstring) returned to practice Wednesday. |
Avril has been limited all preseason by hamstring/foot injuries. His status for Week 1 remains up in the air. With Chris Clemons (knee) unavailable for Sunday's game, O'Brien Schofield will draw the start if Avril is ruled out. |
Source: Eric Williams on Twitter | |
Wed Aug 28 2013 | 16:08 | Carroll unsure of Avril's Week 1 status |
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is unsure of RE Cliff Avril's (hamstring) Week 1 status. |
"As of (Wednesday) morning he's feeling better and we're hoping he will be able to go next week," Carroll said. "But we won't know until we get there, though." Carroll usually deals in unbounded optimism, so it's telling he's unwilling to guarantee Avril's health for the opener. Avril has had barely a healthy day since signing with Seattle in March. |
Source: Seattle Times | |
Mon Aug 26 2013 | 13:08 | Cliff Avril out indefinitely |
Seahawks RE Cliff Avril is out indefinitely with an aggravated hamstring injury. |
Avril has seemingly been banged up ever since the Seahawks signed him, also missing almost all of spring practices with a plantar fascia tear. His status for Week 1 is unknown. Meanwhile, however, Seattle has gotten explosive edge rushing from UDFA Benson Mayowa, who looks like the real deal. The Seahawks are good and deep enough up front to withstand some missed time from Avril. |
Source: ESPN 710 Seattle | |
Tue Jun 18 2013 | 01:26 | Cliff Avril will be all systems go for camp |
Seahawks RE Cliff Avril (plantar fascia) returned to practice on the final day of minicamp and will be all systems go for training camp. |
It appears he's fully recovered. A high-end DE2 per Rotoworld IDP maven Jeff Ratcliffe, Avril should have no trouble pacing Seattle in sacks. At the "Leo" position Avril will play, incumbent RE Chris Clemons tallied 11-plus sacks in three straight seasons. Avril is a more talented speed rusher than Clemons. |
Source: Seattle Times | |
Mon May 20 2013 | 19:25 | Cliff Avril dealing with plantar fascia |
Seahawks DE Cliff Avril is sitting out OTAs with plantar fascia in his foot. |
Avril has been dealing with the issue for four weeks, but he's still a "couple weeks" away from taking part in on-field drills. Per coach Pete Carroll, Avril will "run some" this week. He'll then need time to rest the foot and "wait it out." Avril is expected to be the Hawks' starting "Leo" pass rusher in Week 1. |
Source: Tacoma News Tribune | |
Mon Mar 18 2013 | 12:57 | Cliff Avril gets 2-year, $13 million contract |
Updating a previous item, Cliff Avril's two-year deal with the Seahawks is worth just $13 million in base value. |
The defensive end-needy Lions surprisingly didn't exceed or match Seattle's offer after franchising Avril for over $10 million in 2012. A left defensive end in Detroit, Avril will play right end or "Leo" with the Seahawks. Seattle figures to open the season with a starting front four of Avril, Red Bryant, Brandon Mebane, and either Michael Bennett or Clinton McDonald at "three-technique" tackle. |
Source: ESPN.com | |
Sat Mar 16 2013 | 15:09 | Seahawks believe Avril fits at 'Leo' position |
Seahawks GM John Schneider envisions Cliff Avril as capable of playing both "Leo" defensive end and 4-3 strong-side linebacker. |
The "Leo" is Chris Clemons' position and typically aligns on the weak side of the formation, squaring off one-on-one with left tackles. K.J. Wright is Seattle's strong-side linebacker and isn't in danger of losing his job. Avril will likely be the Seahawks' Opening Day starter at Leo. Across 16 starts last season, Clemons amassed 40 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. |
Source: Liz Mathews on Twitter | |
Wed Mar 13 2013 | 19:24 | Seahawks do deal with top pass rusher Avril |
Seahawks agreed to terms with DE Cliff Avril on a multi-year contract. |
That escalated quickly. Avril's market had been dead quiet to this point, but the Seahawks came out of nowhere to snap him up. Avril turns 27 in April. He has 29 sacks and nine forced fumbles over the last three seasons. Although some have attributed Avril's success to drawing single teams next to Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, Lions GM Martin Mayhew thought enough of Avril's edge-rush ability to pay him over $10 million in 2012 as Detroit's franchise player. In Seattle, Avril will add to the Seahawks' pass rush along with Bruce Irvin as Chris Clemons tries coming back from a torn ACL. Avril will be an immediate candidate for 9-12 sacks. |
Source: Albert Breer on Twitter | |
Wed Mar 13 2013 | 19:17 | Seahawks flying in free agent Avril for visit |
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports free agent DE Cliff Avril is currently on a flight to Seattle for a visit with the Seahawks. |
The Seahawks traded for Percy Harvin on Monday, but otherwise have been quiet in free agency. Avril could be the first domino to fall in a slow-developing defensive end market that also includes John Abraham, Osi Umenyiora, Dwight Freeney, and Michael Bennett. Seattle needs edge-rush help with Chris Clemons coming off a torn ACL. Avril is the premier pure edge rusher left in free agency. |
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter | |
Tue Mar 12 2013 | 10:44 | Report: 'Good chance' Colts sign Cliff Avril |
The Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson is hearing there's a "good chance" the Colts will sign free agent Cliff Avril. |
Wilson acknowledges "nothing concrete yet." Our prediction on the top free-agent pass rushers at this point would be Paul Kruger to the Browns, Avril to the Colts, and Dwight Freeney to the Broncos, with Michael Bennett, Osi Umenyiora, and John Abraham still up in the air. Elvis Dumervil could soon join this market. |
Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter | |
Tue Mar 12 2013 | 09:45 | Bucs could be in on free agent Cliff Avril |
"Several league sources" tell CBS Sports that Tampa Bay is a potential landing spot for free agent Cliff Avril. |
The Buccaneers desperately need edge-rushing help and Avril is the premier outside pass rusher on the market, ahead even of Paul Kruger. The Bucs do not anticipate re-signing free agent Michael Bennett. Like Bennett, Avril has been a defensive left end. Avril is a better athlete and offers more versatility, as well. |
Source: CBS Sports | |
Mon Mar 11 2013 | 08:59 | Browns expected to sign Kruger or Avril |
A source tells SI's Peter King he expects the Browns to sign either Paul Kruger or Cliff Avril "by Tuesday night." |
King's "money" is on Avril, but it appears to be a true 50-50. Whomever the Browns miss out on could end up in Indianapolis. What's clear is that neither Avril nor Kruger will be returning to their old teams. |
Source: Sports Illustrated | |
Sat Mar 9 2013 | 10:56 | Report: At least 4 teams interested in Avril |
Anwar Richardson of MLive.com reported Saturday that "at least four teams" have shown "interest" in Lions DE Cliff Avril thus far. |
It's not presently known whether or not the Lions are in the mix. With 39.5 sacks in five NFL seasons, Avril is one of top pass rushers in free agency. He's only played in a 4-3 scheme in his NFL career, but several 3-4 defensive teams, like Cleveland, were rumored to have interest in Avril prior to this weekend. Avril recently said he would not mind switching positions with another team. "I thought I was going to be a 3-4 coming out (of college)," said Avril, who turns 28 in April. |
Source: MLive.com | |
Fri Mar 8 2013 | 13:12 | Cliff Avril 'not really talking' with Lions |
Free agent DE Cliff Avril says he's "not really talking" with the Lions. |
"Maybe they will make a strong push, or we'll make a push with them," Avril said. "I don't know if that's their way of doing things, but we haven't been talking." Avril also reiterated he'd be willing to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. In his prime and keeping his options open, Avril is going to earn a major payday. |
Source: MLive.com | |
Wed Mar 6 2013 | 19:57 | Report: 'Multiple' 3-4 teams eyeing Avril |
A source with knowledge of the situation tells Profootballtalk "multiple" teams that run 3-4 defenses are interested in free agent DE Cliff Avril. |
We already know one, as the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Wednesday the Browns are interested in the soon-to-be former Detroit Lion. PFT's source doesn't name names, but with their ample cap space and need for pass rushers, the Colts are another good bet. Touted as scheme versatile by Lions GM Martin Mayhew, Avril likely wouldn't have much trouble converting to outside linebacker, which he played in college. |
Source: Profootballtalk on NBCSports.com | |