Lions' DE Cliff Avril will play under Franchise Tag. - Northern Michigan's News Leader

Lions' DE Cliff Avril will play under Franchise Tag.

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Cliff Avril says negotiations on a long-term contract with the Detroit Lions have ended.

Avril says he wasn't mad when he knew Monday that a deal wasn't going to get done before the 4 p.m. EDT deadline.

He will stay in Detroit as a franchise-tagged defensive end for at least one more season with a $10.6 million, one-year contract.

The 26-year-old Avril was hoping to be rewarded with a multiyear contract for being a consistent play maker for an improving team. He had career highs with 11 sacks, six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries last year to help the Lions snap their 11-season postseason drought.