Cliff Avril Cut by Seahawks After Failing Physical; Suffered Neck Injury in 2017

The Seattle Seahawks released defensive end Cliff Avril with a failed physical designation Friday.

Avril bid farewell to Seattle on Instagram:

"Thank you 12s for making the last 5 years in Seattle so amazing! Your cheers on Sundays are unmatched, and you guys are by far the best fans in the NFL! Most importantly, I appreciate and value the lifelong friendships I've made. You all have supported my family, my foundation (the Cliff Avril Family Foundation), and I throughout my entire tenure, and I could not have asked for more! THANK YOU to the entire Seahawk organization as well as my teammates. You all made me a Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl Champ! I am forever grateful. THANK YOU!"

Avril, 32, landed on injured reserve in October after he suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts.

In January, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said he thought Avril would "have a hard time playing football again" because of the severe nature of his injury, according to the Seattle Times' Bob Condotta.

However, Avril appeared on KIRO-AM later that month and maintained that, if he's able to work his way back to 100 percent, he could pursue another opportunity.

"As I continue to just keep chopping away, I don't want to just close the door on [playing again]," he said, according to the News Tribune's Gregg Bell. "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 No. 1 for me right now."

Avril, who was selected in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft, has stitched together a solid decade of work that's been split between the Seahawks and Detroit Lions.

After racking up 39.5 sacks over his first five NFL seasons in Detroit, Avril moved to the Pacific Northwest and logged 34.5 sacks—including 11.5 during a Pro Bowl campaign in 2016.

The Super Bowl 48 champion is also one of 13 players who registered at least 74 sacks from 2008 to 2017.