GM Martin Mayhew's state of the Lions

ALLEN PARK, Mich. Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew doesnt do many interviews. He meets with the media maybe a half-dozen times a year at most. Wednesday was one of those days, his latest state-of-the-team talk, just before the start of a mandatory mini-camp practice. Mayhew was asked a variety of questions, ranging from contract negotiations with defensive end Cliff Avril and coach Jim Schwartz to whether he might try to add another running back or defensive back before the season. Here are the highlights of his interview: On whats the hold-up in getting Avril to sign either his one-year franchise tender or a long-term deal: Theres a lot of dialogue that goes on. I think Toms (Lions president Tom Lewand) doing an outstanding job with that. (Avrils agent) Brian Macklers doing an outstanding job. I think Cliff has been very level-headed in his thought process. I said from the very beginning, our goal is to have a long-term deal done with Cliff Avril. I dont think the balls in anybodys court. I think the balls in everybodys court. Were trying to get a long-term deal done. On the status of Schwartzs contract negotiations and whether its expected to get finished before the season: Im not really going to comment on that." On how having a coach going into the final year of his contract might impact the locker room: Im not going to comment on that. On why he would comment on Avrils contract negotiations and not Schwartzs? I think thats pretty obvious. We have ongoing negotiations with a number of players frequently, all the time. Thats something thats always commented on. On how the team is improved: I think the continuity that we have going for us is one of the special things that a lot of the good teams and franchises have. You look around the league, some of the model franchises really have improved themselves by maintaining that continuity, keeping their coaching staff in place, just building upon what they did the previous year, like the Patriots, the Steelers, Ravens, some of those teams. I think thats been really big for us. I think the maturity of our football team going into this season (is big). Now were at a point where Matthew Staffords not a young player anymore. Ndamukong Suhs not a young player anymore. These guys are veterans in the prime of their career. I think thats really important. Obviously, our draft (was key). Riley Reiffs going to help our offensive line out. I think Ryan Broyles is going to be a big part of our offense going forward. Bill Bentley, all the guys that we drafted have a defined role here. We have a plan for all those guys. I think those guys are going to help us as well. On his latest words of wisdom for players whove gotten into off-field trouble: I dont know how much wisdom was involved in it, but definitely gave those guys some advice. I think that will stay between us. We had some talks. I talked to all those guys. Its all been said, youre disappointed, frustrated with those things. But there have been a lot of really good players in this league whove had some early bumps in the road. Were hopeful that those guys will end up being those types of players. On expectations for the franchise getting higher: I think the key thing is to continue to perform at a high level to get to the playoffs consistently. Then the chips fall wherever the chips fall. Its hard to win a championship. Things have to line up for you the right way. "We expect to do that eventually, but we just want to keep being there, keep knocking on the door consistently. On his comfort level with the current stable of running backs Jahvid Best (concussions), Mikel Leshoure (Achilles tendon) and Kevin Smith (injury-prone) and whether they need to sign or trade for someone else: I like the group of guys that we have. Jahvid has been outstanding. His speed, quickness, he looks great. Mikels still recovering from his injury. Kevin Smith has looked good this off-season, but hes also been injured (in recent years). That group of guys, if theyre healthy, which is a really big if, is an outstanding group of players. But the injury questions with all three of them are of concern. We talked about adding a guy during the off-season, but the more I saw of those guys, the more I saw of Keiland Williams, Joique Bell, those guys have had a good off-season, I want to see how it plays out before we go a different direction. On expectations for defensive tackle Nick Fairley: I have very high expectations for Nick. Hes had an outstanding off-season out here on the field, not so good off the field (two arrests). But hes been outstanding in practice. Hes worked his butt off. Hes in great condition. Hes done some things on tape, just out here running around, that make you run the tape back and go Who is that? "He has tremendous, tremendous talent level. Hopefully, he can fulfill that. On possibly trying to add another safety: Its kind of like the running backs. I kind of wanted to see the young guys, Ricardo Silva, Alonzo Lawrence and some of those guys. We decided to wait on that. Well continue the dialogue with some veteran guys, but were also watching these guys right now. On who might emerge and have a breakout season like Avril did last year? Nick Fairley has been very impressive out here in practice. Willie Young has been outstanding. Jahvid has really caught my eye. Im leaving guys out. There are a number of young guys on this team that could really have breakout years. On talking to the players about the 1991 Washington Redskins, a Super Bowl championship team in which Mayhew started at cornerback: I talked to some of these guys about the fact that was a team that took ownership. They werent waiting on the head coach to do something or the GM to do something. Those guys took ownership of that football team. Im talking about the Russ Grimms and the Wilbur Marshalls, players like that, Darrell Green, Charles Mann. "That team went as far as it did because the players held each other accountable and we had great leadership on that team. Thats going to be pretty important to us going forward."