Run on franchise tags around the NFL likely to continue through weekend
Posted by on March 2, 2012 – 4:05 pmThere was a run on franchise tags given out to players around the league Friday.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that as many as 25 tags could be given out by Monday’s deadline, which would be the most ever.
The Lions are continuing to work on a long-term deal to avoid using their tag on defensive end Cliff Avril. Both Avril and the Lions have agreed that the franchise tag is not the best option moving forward for either party, but Lions general manager Martin Mayhew told reporters at the combine last week that playing without Avril next season is a worse option.
“It’s not really a good option for us to franchise Cliff,” Martin. “That’s not appealing to me. It’s not appealing to Cliff. But the worst option is to play without Cliff.”
The run on tags in the NFL is due to the new rules under the collective bargaining agreement that makes it a cheaper option for teams from previous years.
Under the old formula, the franchise tag was based on the average of the top five salaries at a given position. The new formula takes the value of the tags over the last five years and weighs them with a percentage of the salary cap.
If the Lions tag Avril, they’ll pay him $10.6 million. That’s down from $13 million for the position in 2011.
Tags: Cliff Avril, Martin Mayhew
Posted in Lions Insider Tim Twentyman | 18 Comments »
By Stuart Left on Mar 2, 2012 | Reply
Almost all Franchise tag prices are down$2 Million@ year under the new CBA. Thats only one reason Goddel is worth $20 Million @ year to the owners.
By Kevin on Mar 2, 2012 | Reply
Well try making minimum wage or being laid off! $10.6 million! Are you kidding me!?? I love the NFL but they have got to do a better job reigning in these salaries. Yeah I’ll go to my boss and say, “Hey bossman, I think I deserve more money and I’ll walk if you don’t give it to me.” HA!
By Shea on Mar 3, 2012 | Reply
Pay Avril and tag Backus. Not sure how many more seasons Backus has any way and I’d rather see longer term deals for Avril, Tulloch, and obviously Calvin Johnson.
By eric on Mar 3, 2012 | Reply
cliff is a big part of this team but sounds like to me he wants money more than to win a championship so if he wants to go somewhere else for money then dont let the door kick you in ass on the way out we got other big men to step in and fill the hole for less money. Players now in days all want money more than they want to win we dont need those players.
By ca lionfan on Mar 3, 2012 | Reply
All Lions’ fans want to continue the success we enjoyed last season and improve upon it also. However, if a player is going to be unhappy and not give 100% effort because he is only making 10.6 million dollars then he needs to go. We do need talent, but we also need team players. It shouldn’t ONLY be about the money
By che on Mar 4, 2012 | Reply
I concur
By Danny Skellett on Mar 4, 2012 | Reply
Free Agency is going to be a problem for most teams. The Lions need the players eligible for free aency to work with our cap this and next year. The Lions have a great chance of being in the playoffs. Teams that might pay more in free agency have a slim chance of being in the playoffs. Push come to shove the Lions can only afford _____. Teams were built for the old salary cap, with the new salary cap those teams face problems. Players wanting to play for a team have to make fair proposals.
By Fred Roeder on Mar 4, 2012 | Reply
The team can’t afford to lose Cliff Avril but can the team afford to keep a player who cares more about himself than the team. More about getting paid than about trying to win a Super Bowl. This is a team on the verge but is still struggling to be a team.
By Brian W on Mar 4, 2012 | Reply
Playing without Avril NOT worst option. Worst option is paying him big money. He’s good but benefits from Suh and company. Jackson or someone else could step in and rush the edge if Avril left. We need money to sign Tulloch. Playing without him is WORST option.
By Andrea L. Molinari on Mar 4, 2012 | Reply
I hope that Cliff Avril can be signed at a salary that is fair to his talents and yet allows the Lions to acquire additional talent.
I do not want to see Cliff in any other uniform. He is our guy. We drafted him. We have cheered for him. We have watched him develop. He is a Lion. Give the man a fair salary.
Cliff, stay with us. It is never just about the logo on the helmet. Its about the individual men who wear the uniform. Believe it or not, you guys do matter to us.
We want you to wear our uniform and play for us.
By Justin Clark on Mar 4, 2012 | Reply
I do believe that Cliff deserves his payday and the man definitely has earned it! Sometimes tough decisions have to be made. I believe that he wanted a better deal last year and they told him to step up, and he certainly did improve and step up. I think Cliff has the drive and determination to succeed without Suh. So I think we should attempt to make a fair deal, but if Cliff is asking for too much then we should let him break the bank else where. Basing it off talent alone and putting my true feelings and loyalty aside, I would let Cliff walk and tag Tulloch, tender levy, and sammie, and restructure megatron’s deal(save cap) and trade cory williams for a pick, ask kvb and nate b to take pay cuts(or trade/release them.) In the draft/free angency I’d do this…
*draft*
1.best ot avail-backus is coming off injury and dude is getting old lol.
2.best center avail-raiola is a good leader, but he’s undersized and gets overbe powered frequently.
3.best guard avail-sims seems solid, but peterman is average at best.
4.best cb avail-need some new blood/talent there bad!
5.best safety avail-amari needs to step up. And delmas keeps getting banged up.
6.big strong de prospect-someone to groom due to Cliff walking.
(If we got maybe a couple more picks I’d draft best tackling lb avail and a fast+power back that’s been healthy.)
*In free angency & udfa*
1.pick up a solid corner(an uprade over eric wright to compete for the 2nd cb spot with the fourth rd rookie or even push chris houston out.)
2.pick up another rb to compete and let mo mo go.
3.pick up another lb to compete with levy and durant.
4.pick up big leg kicker to compete with hanson.
5.pick up strong rt prospect to compete with gosder.
*go lions*
By steven anthony on Mar 4, 2012 | Reply
I hope that all the players realize that they are on the verge a Greatness if they stick with the team, heck If I was cliff, id take what they could afford if it meant getting more help in!!!!! why cant everyone just be paid the same…lol
By juice5114 on Mar 4, 2012 | Reply
roll out cliffy if u dont want to be here and help ur team…u will fail elswhere tho better keeep you semiproductive butt here
By STEVEF on Mar 4, 2012 | Reply
we need Tulloch more than any other Free Agent…
By john on Mar 4, 2012 | Reply
It’s possible that both Tulloch and Avril are just a little overrated: don’t get me wrong, they’re both bonafide talents, but they ARE undersized. One thing is for sure, I wouldn’t let Stanton go: he’s got a lot of untapped potential. Plus, he’s smarter than most people realize, and he’s mobile (and very determined), unlike overrated, but Scot Lenahan-adored, Shaun Hill.
.
By Matt on Mar 4, 2012 | Reply
I say place the tag on Avril so the Lions can buy some time in terms of working out a long-term deal.
If the Lions decide to go this route, it will be a good character test for Avril. ca lionfan, I agree 100%. If the Lions tag Avril and pay him $10.6 mil, and he plays poorly and/or does not work as hard as he is capable, then he should be let go. However, I think we can all agree that Avril is one heck of a talent, and if he continues to work hard and give it his all with $10.6 mil, then work out a long term deal ASAP. I would love for Avril to stay. Great pass rusher, valuable player on defense, incredible upside. Go Lions.
By slightlyopt on Mar 5, 2012 | Reply
Just for the record, I like Avril and would like to keep him. Once the owner and the team are spending to the max of the cap, you can’t really call them “cheap” or “greedy” at least when talking about particular negotiations like this one with Cliff. When the players want to get the most money possible and is willing to leave an up and coming team to get it, then you should let him go. I don’t know what the Lions are offering Avril but if they are offering him a good (maybe not great) contract and he still wants to leave then I would start thinking “greed” might be a more fitting description of the player. I know the players have short careers and are trying to make as much as they can, but I have a hard time when they’re offered 8 million/year and are holding out to get 10. Most people make less than a million and a half dollars in a “lifetime” of work. So come on, just take the 8 million/year (5+ average peoples lifetime incomes), and lets get to the SB.
By Detroit Lions Junkie on May 18, 2012 | Reply
I don’t care about around the league, I just hope Avril gets in here!