ALLEN PARK -- Detroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril might be in contract limbo, but the unrestricted free agent knows which team he wants to play for in 2012.

Avril spoke with MLive.com today and expressed his desire to re-sign with Detroit, disappointment with the new "selfish" label some fans have given him, plus gave a brief update on contract negotiations with the Lions:

Q: How much do you want to remain in Detroit?

A: I definitely want to be a part of it. I've been a part of the worst possible season, being 0-16, and to win 10 games this past season and be a part of that, you see where the team is headed. To keep moving up and be part of why the team is successful is definitely a major thing to me.

Q: How good can this defense be in the future?

A: The defense can be awesome. We have a lot of young guys on the team, especially up front. All of us are 25-or-under, except for Kyle (Vanden Bosch), obviously. We have a lot of young guys on the team. To do the things we did last year, and as long as guys want to keep improving, I think the sky is the limit. Matthew Stafford and Megatron (Calvin Johnson); having all these weapons and keeping them all together and fine tuning them everyday, the sky is the limit for the team.

Q: We've all read a lot of things about you over the past few weeks. What is the message you would like to get out there to Lions fans?

A: I want to be with Detroit. I want to be a part of the reason why we're winning. Also, people have to understand it is a business. When you're not producing, they definitely let you go. When you're producing, you should be compensated. That's what a lot of people fail to realize. As far as being a football player, being with the city of Detroit and on the team, I definitely want to be here. We just have to come to some type of agreement eventually.

Q: Does it surprise you that some have labeled you "selfish" when you've never been selfish in your career?

A: Yeah, it's surprising, but it comes with it. People love you when you're doing so well, but when things don't go the way they think it should go, they title you all kind of different things. I've seen it with players on the defensive line. (Ndamukong) Suh, for example. They love him, then they hate him, then they love him again. It's just a part of the business. I kind of understand it. I've never been on the negative part of it in my career, but I guess there is a first for everything.

Q: I'm sure you're hoping to get past this point sooner than later, right?

A: Definitely. The longer it lasts, the more people start to come up with their own idea of what's going on, and obviously the player is always at fault for some reason. I definitely want to get something done soon. It's going pretty slow right now, but it is what it is. It's a long offseason. It just began. We'll just wait and see how it goes.

Q: Could you see yourself wearing anything but a Lions uniform next season?

A: Would it be hard to dress up in another uniform since I've been with the Lions for a while? Yes, it would. It would definitely be hard, but people have to understand, and I have to understand, that it's a business. It's a possibility, but I definitely want to be with the Lions.