Professional football career Lawrence Phillips

1 professional football career

1.1 st. louis rams
1.2 miami dolphins
1.3 nfl europe
1.4 san francisco 49ers
1.5 afl , cfl

professional football career
st. louis rams

at 1996 nfl draft, teams had decide if phillips talent worth risk, considering character issues. based solely on football talent, considered top five, perhaps number 1 pick. expected selected new baltimore ravens fourth pick fill vacant running position. however, baltimore decided select best available player regardless of position, , fourth pick selected offensive tackle jonathan ogden. during draft, espn analyst joe theismann stated in regard phillips: s called him best player in draft. in end, phillips drafted sixth overall st. louis rams. rams thought highly of phillips on same day of draft, traded predecessor, future hall of famer jerome bettis, pittsburgh steelers. on july 29, 1996, phillips signed three-year, $5.625-million contract. received no signing bonus, salaries $1.5 million in 1996, $1.875 million in 1997 , $2.25 million in 1998. also, had chance receive guaranteed money in future if met conditions. chaos created @ nebraska continued in st. louis; in less 2 years rams, spent 23 days in jail.

in 1996 phillips had played 15 games 11 starts. carried ball 193 times 632 yards 4 touchdowns. in 1997, phillips surpassed entire 1996 total in 10 games , 9 starts, rushing 634 yards. however, on november 20, rams abruptly released him. according reports @ time, rams team officials told press coach dick vermeil had told phillips being demoted second string due inconsistent performance , inability stay out of trouble. phillips stormed out of rams facility , missed day s meeting , practice. rams lost patience him , decided cut ties him. teary-eyed vermeil @ time called phillips potentially best running had ever coached. in 2016 documentary running life: lawrence phillips story, vermeil revealed phillips collapsed on field during pre-game warmup 10th (and final) game 1996 rams. trainers revealed had alcohol on breath, , told vermeil d smelled alcohol on breath on number of previous occasions. d been known stay in bars until 4 a.m. on night before games. following monday, vermeil called phillips office , told him cutting him. while vermeil known having little tolerance off-the-field misconduct, knew phillips talented player , gave him numerous chances stay on straight path. did say, though, if given chance on again, have kept phillips on roster. in same film, vermeil revealed reached out friend, miami dolphins head coach jimmy johnson, give phillips chance dolphins.

miami dolphins

phillips moved on miami dolphins 2 games, rushing 44 yards on 18 carries 2.4 yard-per-carry average. dolphins released him after pleaded no contest assaulting woman in plantation, florida nightclub.

nfl europe

phillips missed 1998 season before attempting comeback in 1999; set nfl europe offensive records barcelona dragons (1,021 yards , 14 tds) , attracted interest several nfl teams.

san francisco 49ers

phillips returned stateside san francisco 49ers in fall of 1999. 49ers interviewed him several times before seemingly being assured had put past difficulties behind him, though general manager bill walsh told him 49ers not hesitate cut him if stepped out of line. in contention starting job before pulling hamstring in training camp. additionally, blocking left desired. beaten out starting slot charlie garner. did, however, become 49ers primary kick returner.

although phillips stayed out of trouble off field, on-field performance of greater concern 49ers. blocking skills suspect never in game on passing downs. concerns validated during monday night football game against arizona cardinals, when cornerback aeneas williams rushed in on blitz , phillips failed pick up. williams ended knocking steve young unconscious on play hard, clean, hit. young suffered prove career-ending concussion; did not play again rest of season , forced retire. in same game, phillips ran 68-yard touchdown put game away 24–10, outrunning williams end zone. nonetheless, missed block on williams led 49ers question work ethic.

by november, 49ers had lost patience phillips. according coach steve mariucci, phillips had begun losing interest in season, point finding reasons , ways why shouldn t practice. however, situation came head in run-up 49ers game against new orleans saints. phillips refused practice @ on november 10 , 12, , openly mocked coaching directives. mariucci called meeting staff, @ phillips position coach, tom rathman (coincidentally, fellow cornhusker), told mariucci @ wit s end phillips. rathman threatened stay in san francisco if phillips made trip. night, 49ers handed phillips three-game suspension conduct detrimental team.

walsh said after phillips suspended not envision phillips playing down 49ers. on november 16, mariucci announced 49ers cut ties phillips @ first opportunity. in making announcement, mariucci said reason 49ers did not release phillips right away entire signing bonus have counted against team s salary cap 1999, tying of cap room. finally, on november 23, 1999, 49ers waived him.

afl , cfl

in 2001, phillips signed florida bobcats of arena football league. however, before playing down them, released after leaving team without telling coach.

phillips moved on canadian football league. had difficulty getting canadian work visa due criminal record, cleared join montreal alouettes. showed signs of old form, notching 1,022 yards, 13 touchdowns , spot on cfl eastern all-star team while helping lead them 90th grey cup. however, showed signs of lapsing old habits off field. walked out on team @ least once during season, , agent severed ties him twice.

phillips briefly held out of training camp before 2003 season due salary dispute. on may 1, shortly after return, alouettes released him not meeting team s minimum behavioural standards. later emerged d been charged sexual assault. phillips signed calgary stampeders (rushing 486 yards on 107 carries , 1 td), again released, arguing head coach jim barker.