Cliff Avril โ€œDefinitelyโ€ Thinks He Can Resume Career, But Okay If Itโ€™s Over

On Wednesday, Seahawks DE Cliff Avril mentioned during an interview with KIRO-AM in Seattle that heโ€™s โ€œgetting betterโ€ in regards to his neck injury and the main goal for him moving forward is to just be able to play with his kids.

โ€œIโ€™m getting better,โ€ Avril said, via Gregg Bell of the News Tribune. โ€œWell, 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.

โ€œThatโ€™s the main goal for me. Not necessarily getting back to football, but just quality of life, right?โ€

Avril did, however, say that he doesnโ€™t want to close the door on potentially resuming his football career and he โ€œdefinitelyโ€ thinks he can work his way back.

โ€œAs I continue to just keep chopping away, I donโ€™t want to just close the door on (playing again),โ€ Avril said. โ€œSo I definitely think I can get back on the field. If itโ€™s possible, I will.

โ€œBut if not, Iโ€™m OK with that. As long as I am able to be a dad and being able to run around with my kids. Thatโ€™s number one for me right now.โ€

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.

โ€œI believe so,โ€ Avril said when asked if he will ever play football again. โ€œRight now itโ€™s all about recovery. I had surgery Iโ€™m in the process of recovering. Itโ€™s a long process, a long journey. When I get to the end of that, then Iโ€™ll figure out whatโ€™s next.โ€

Avril added that he wants to show he can return from this and resume his pro football career.

โ€œI mean, itโ€™s something I love to do. Itโ€™s what Iโ€™ve been doing forever and, just as a competitor, I want to show that I can come back if itโ€™s possible, you know?โ€ Avril said. โ€œYou do see all the injuries. You want the game from a different perspective when youโ€™re on the sideline. And those thoughts do definitely pop into my head of โ€˜Should I come back or not?โ€™ But again, right now itโ€™s all about recovery.โ€

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 โ€œhard time playing football again.โ€

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. Heโ€™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.

Weโ€™ll have more regarding Avril as the news is available.

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