Detroit Lions Playing a Dangerous Game with Cliff Avril

Don't mistake Cliff Avril's calm demeanor in regards to his lack of contract for weakness or a lack of concern.

The Detroit Lions and Avril are reportedly as much as $2 million a year apart, which for a four-year contract means about $8 million and change.

That's not small, especially with money recently shelled out to Calvin Johnson and more going to Matt Stafford soon enough. NFL.com's Albert Breer also mentions several other players, including Louis Delmas and Corey Williams entering contract years and Ndamukong Suh down the road.

Breer also reports that, unlike some players, Avril is taking the long view. This is a business and he's not taking it personally.

That's both good and bad.

Many players take contract disputes personally. They say they don't but then pitch fits and say they are "disrespected" and "angry."

Matt Forte is a perfect example—at once wanting to be a Bear for life and insulted by what the franchise has done.

I get it. I was insulted on his behalf when they signed Bush. However, contract negotiations are like an incredibly high-stakes game of poker. The Bears went all in and when Forte matched, he also flinched. Twitched. Showed his hand wasn't all that strong.

Avril is the cooler customer, James Bond in Casino Royale. He peers over his cards at the Lions and calmly sips his Vesper Martini.

This is good. He's not being hotheaded, he's probably fairly reasonable to deal with, and he won't go off if you underbid him because he knows that's part of the process. He knows there is a whole team and he can't have all the money, not if he wants to win.

And he does want to win.

That's bad because he knows his own worth and that he still retains some leverage.

Let's be honest. Kyle Vanden Bosch is a very good player. He's just one guy, though, and whom do you put across from him if Avril is out?

Lawrence Jackson? He's a decent player but has underachieved his whole career and been hurt since he's been with the Lions. Jackson is unreliable.

Willie Young? Again, OK player, hurt last year and really more of a bench contributor.

Everrette Brown? Sure, he had some decent success in Carolina but not enough to stay and was inactive almost all of last season with the Chargers.

And I like Ronnell Lewis, but he's a bit of a project this year and more of a long-term solution.

Do the Lions shift a linebacker over or a defensive tackle? Sign a street free agent?

No, Avril is calm because he knows what he means to this team. He knows the Lions are in a tough spot. I don't believe Avril will hold out, but it's hard to get a read right now. He's not showing his cards, not making threats. He looks like he's just waiting, but he's playing, and playing well.

As is often the case in life, it's not the loudmouths who should scare you.

It's the quiet ones.

He knows that in many ways, not being on the field hurts the Lions more than it does him.