On Wednesday, Seahawks DE Cliff Avril mentioned during an interview with KIRO-AM in Seattle that he’s “getting better” in regards to his neck injury and the main goal for him moving forward is to just be able to play with his kids.
“I’m getting better,” Avril said, via Gregg Bell of the News Tribune. “Well, first and foremost, I mean, my health is most important, right? So for me, I just want to get back to feeling good, right? I just want to get back to being able to move around and hopefully be able to get outside and play basketball with my kids, and different things like that.
“That’s the main goal for me. Not necessarily getting back to football, but just quality of life, right?”
Avril did, however, say that he doesn’t want to close the door on potentially resuming his football career and he “definitely” thinks he can work his way back.
“As I continue to just keep chopping away, I don’t want to just close the door on (playing again),” Avril said. “So I definitely think I can get back on the field. If it’s possible, I will.
“But if not, I’m OK with that. As long as I am able to be a dad and being able to run around with my kids. That’s number one for me right now.”
Earlier in the week, Aril told Steve Wyche of the NFL Network that he believes he can continue his NFL career, despite the serious neck injury he suffered this past season.
“I believe so,” Avril said when asked if he will ever play football again. “Right now it’s all about recovery. I had surgery I’m in the process of recovering. It’s a long process, a long journey. When I get to the end of that, then I’ll figure out what’s next.”
Avril added that he wants to show he can return from this and resume his pro football career.
“I mean, it’s something I love to do. It’s what I’ve been doing forever and, just as a competitor, I want to show that I can come back if it’s possible, you know?” Avril said. “You do see all the injuries. You want the game from a different perspective when you’re on the sideline. And those thoughts do definitely pop into my head of ‘Should I come back or not?’ But again, right now it’s all about recovery.”
A few weeks ago, Seahawks HC Pete Carroll said during a radio interview (per Bob Condotta) that Avril and S Kam Chancellor will have a “hard time playing football again.”
Although Carroll did indicate that the decision to return will be up to Avril and Chancellor.
Avril, 31, is a former third-round pick of the Lions back in 2008. He spent five years in Detroit before signing on with the Seahawks in 2013. He’s currently in the fourth year of his five-year, $35.5 million contract that included $16 million guaranteed and stands to make base salaries of $4.5 million and $7 million over the next two years of the agreement.
In 2017, Avril appeared in four games and recorded two tackles and one sack for the Seahawks.
We’ll have more regarding Avril as the news is available.
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