"Martin Mayhew didn't use the franchise tag in his first three off-seasons as Detroit Lions general manager, and defensive end Cliff Avril doesn't want him to start now.

"I definitely don't want to be franchised," Avril said today, during a visit to the Super Bowl. "I mean, I've been in Detroit for four years, and I wouldn't mind being there for another couple more years or whatnot. The franchise tag kind of makes it a yearly thing, and you want security. You want to know you're going to be there for a couple years so your family can get comfortable."

Avril will be an unrestricted free agent next month and one of the top pass rushers available if he and the Lions don't agree on a long-term contract beforehand."