Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

The wait is over; the Lions have their franchise player back.

Cliff Avril reported to camp this morning and signed the $10.6 million tender he is due under the franchise tag.

The whole situation seems to have been a bigger point of contention between fans that it was with Avril or the Lions organization. Avril didn’t report out of anger, although he would have preferred a long term deal to playing under a one-year franchise tender, and the Lions voiced no concern over Avril missing the first part of camp.

Lawrence Jackson and Willie Young will get fewer reps now that Avril is in camp but the Lions will have their full defensive end rotation in place.

Jarett Dillard

December 11, 2011; Jacksonville FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jarett Dillard (87) stiff arms Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber (20) during the first half at Jacksonville EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

SLR Says:

Jarett Dillard has some competition in his attempt to make the final 53-man roster. He has to beat out Stefan Logan, Maurice Stovall, and a host of other recently signed free agent wide receivers for that fifth and final spot on the roster. Currently, Logan and Stovall have the upper hand because they have played in the Lions’ system and are familiar with the playbook already; however, Dillard will be competing for the fifth wide receiver roster spot and will most likely never see game reps at the position. Dillard will be used as backup insurance and, most importantly, as a special teams ace—if he makes the roster. He is ineligible for the practice squad and is most likely going to be cut unless he can beat out Logan and Stovall.

What the experts have to say:

NFLDraftScout.com:

Draft Scout Snapshot: DS Rating on 8/24/08: #25 WR, #197/750 Overall, Projected Rnd: 6
2007: 12 GP; 12 GS; Rec: 79-1057-13.4-14; 1 Sol-1 TT; Consensus all C-USA pick and honorable mention All America by Sports Illustrated after leading the Owls with 79 catches for 1,057 yards and 14 touchdowns …. His totals for yards and touchdowns are second only to his sophomore year totals, while his total for catches ranks third… Led C-USA receivers with his 14 TDs in addition to his average of 7.5 catches per conference game…. Pre-season All-American in several publications, and the pre-season Texas College Player of the Year in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. One of just four second-team Water Camp All-Americans (Colt Brennan of Hawaii, Ray Rice of Rutgers and Michael Hart of Michigan were the others) who were invited to attent the Camp Foundation’s All-American weekend in January….2006: 13 GP; 13 GS; Rush: 2-5-2.5-0; Rec: 91-1247-13.7-21; KR: 1-33-33-0; Re-wrote the Rice record book for wide receivers while sprinting past the field of more recognized candidates to become a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award….First Team All American by ESPN.com…Second-team All American by The Walter Camp Foundation, AP, The Sporting News and SI.com….First end at Rice to earn All American honors since Buddy Dial in 1958 and the first Owl overall to earn such honors since guard Charles Torello in 1997…Consensus All C-USA Pick after earned All Freshman honors…Rice’s first finalist for a major individual post-season award since Trevor Cobb won the Doak Walker Award in 1991. Broke the NCAA record for consecutive games with a TD catch in a season when he caught a 1-yard toss from Joel Armstrong in the New Orleans Bowl. It gave him TD catches in all 13 games this year and 15 straight overall (second longest overall streak in NCAA history…Had shared the NCAA season mark of 12 straight games with Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald…Fitzgerald holds the overall record with an 18-game streak….had 21 touchdown catches this year to shatter the old Rice season mark of nine, while also setting a C-USA record as well…became the first Owl to top 1,000 yards in receiving (1,247) and also broke the school season mark for catches (91)….21 TDs also set a Rice record for touchdowns, as did his 120 points scored….ranked fourth in the nation with an average of 9.7 points a game…2005: 11 GP; 8 GS; Rush: 1-(-7)-(-7)-0; Rec: 35-524-15-5; Played in all 11 games with eight starts at wide receiver… Had 35 catches for 524 yards and five touchdowns to earn all-Conference USA freshman honors… The 35 catches were the most by any Owl during Ken Hatfield’s 12 seasons as the Rice coach…2004: Redshirt.

Post-Draft Outlook: A closer look at the Jaguars’ picks: Round 5/144, Jarett Dillard, WR, 5-10, 187, Rice…Dillard was picked a round behind Mike Thomas, but he might have a stronger chance to make an impact with the Jaguars’ receiving corps. He’s more than two inches taller than Thomas and excels at weaving and darting through tight areas. He has exceptional leaping ability to get the ball at its high point. He led the nation with 20 touchdown catches as a senior, starting all 12 games. He’s the only player in league history to produce three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. – by The Sports Xchange

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Derek Dimke

April 23, 2011; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini holder Tim Russell (86) and kicker Derek Dimke (13) watch Dimke

SLR Says:

Unless Jason Hanson is injured during the preseason, Derek Dimke does not stand a chance at making the final roster. However, Dimke would be a great addition to the practice squad as insurance in case Hanson gets hurt during the regular season. Dimke was a very efficient kicker from inside 50-yards in college and could be groomed to be Hanson’s permanent replacement if the Lions see value in him during the preseason. Expect to hear Dimke’s name kicked around a lot this fall in regards to roster moves.

What the experts have to say:

NFLDraftScout.com:

12/31/11 – Scouting the Illinois special teams: Kicker Derek Dimke’s one hiccup all season was costly. He missed a 42-yarder that would have tied the Penn State game as time expired. It was his only miss in nine tries. Dimke made all 32 of his extra point attempts. Punter Justin DuVernois averaged 38.3 yards a kick, but has had problems handling snaps. Ryan Lankford replaced him against Minnesota. – The Sports Xchange

12/05/11 – 2011 ALL-BIG TEN FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION (COACHES): Derek Dimke has been selected All-Big Ten Honorable Mention for the 2011 college football season as voted on by the conference coaches. Dimke has missed just one kick all season, hitting 8-of-9 field goals and 32-of-32 extra points. He’s currently the Illinois career leader in field goal and extra point accuracy, hitting 37-of-43 field gals (.861) and all 87 of his extra points as an Illini. – Illinois football

12/05/11 – 2011 ALL-BIG TEN FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION (MEDIA): Derek Dimke has been selected All-Big Ten Honorable Mention for the 2011 college football season as voted on by the conference media. Dimke has missed just one kick all season, hitting 8-of-9 field goals and 32-of-32 extra points. He’s currently the Illinois career leader in field goal and extra point accuracy, hitting 37-of-43 field gals (.861) and all 87 of his extra points as an Illini. – Illinois football

09/29/11 – For the first time since 1992, Illinois won back-to-back games by three points or less. Such close games emphasize the excellence of senior kicker Derek Dimke. He’s perfect on six field-goal tries and 15 extra points this season. Dimke is the most accurate field-goal kicker in Illini history (35 of 40) and ranks fourth among active kickers nationally. – The Sports Xchange

09/26/11 – BIG TEN WEEK 4 SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Derek Dimke, Illinois, Sr., K, Rockford, Ill./Boylan…Was a perfect 3-for-3 on his field goal attempts in Illinois’ three-point win over Western Michigan…Converted on attempts from 39, 35 and 21, with the final kick giving the Illini the game-winning points…Claims his first weekly award this season and the third of his career. – Big Ten football

NFL.com:

OVERVIEW

Dimke was a three-year starter with average size for a kicker and just average leg strength, but he has been accurate enough throughout his career that he will get a shot at the next level. He is not affected by pressure or weather, and he has been a consistent performer. It will be tough for a team to justify a draft pick on him, but look for Dimke to be competing in a camp this August.

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS Dimke is an accurate kicker who is also a kickoff option. He was only 10-for-12 on field goal attempts in his senior year, making one kick from 49 yards out. He isn’t knocking down NFL doors as a guy who will make kicks from more than 50 yards, but he is reliable from shorter distances and has shown enough to deserve a shot.
WEAKNESSES Dimke is not a strong kicker and didn’t attempt any kicks of 50 yards or more in his senior year. A big miss in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against UCLA won’t do anything to help his prospects, but leg strength isn’t Dimke’s calling card, so accuracy within 30-39 yards is key for him.

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