Did Cliff Avril Leave Detroit On Bad Terms?
By: Terry Foster
It would be nice if your old boss called you if you left your job. But don't expect a phone call, especially if you leave for a rival.
That is the situation former Lions defensive end Cliff Avril is in. He left the Lions for the Seattle Seahawks for two years, $15 million. He then complained that he did not hear from Lions head coach Jim Schwartz, General Manager Martin Mayhew or defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham.
"It is what it is," Avril said.
Sorry. That is called business. There is no loyalty in sports and you are not owed a phone call when you leave. That is the case in real life also. I left the Detroit Free Press for a position with the Detroit News when I was in my late 20's. I had a great relationship with everybody at the Free Press and I thought our friendship would continue after I left.
It didn't. I saw an old editor the night I left and tried to say hello to him. He walked right passed me and did not say a word. He barely said a word to me for years. My real friends kept in contact. My work friends did not. That's life. A lot of friendships are based on where you work, who you work for and what club you belong to.
Once you change things change. So if somebody is friendly with you because you work at the same place, is that a real friend? It might be. But you won't really find out until you leave.
Avril will find out who his real pals are with the Lions and who were just in a working relationship.
