VANCOUVER 91裸聊视频� Ryan Phillips would always tell his younger B.C. Lions teammates that if Geroy Simon was expendable, they all were.
Simon, the CFL91裸聊视频檚 all-time leading receiver, couldn91裸聊视频檛 agree on contract extension with B.C. before the 2013 season. So after 12 years on the West Coast, Simon was dealt to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Phillips knew his day would also eventually come. But the 34-year-old didn91裸聊视频檛 expect his tenure in B.C to end this way.
On Friday, the Lions announced they and the veteran defensive back had 91裸聊视频渕utually decided91裸聊视频� to part ways, cutting Phillips loose after 12 seasons and just four days before the start of CFL free agency.
The Seattle native said in a telephone interview with The Canadian Press the term 91裸聊视频渕utual91裸聊视频� was technically true. However, what the Lions offered in terms of a contract and potential playing time were a slap in the face.
91裸聊视频淭he starting point was nowhere near worth the value of someone of my calibre,91裸聊视频� said Phillips, who joined B.C. in 2005. 91裸聊视频淭he pay cut was outrageous.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 one thing to restructure and it91裸聊视频檚 another thing to pay cut all the way. You don91裸聊视频檛 ask a 12-year vet with my resume to go back to making third-year type money. That91裸聊视频檚 just kind of insulting, let alone the role of being behind some guys that haven91裸聊视频檛 done anything.
91裸聊视频淚f you want to say 91裸聊视频榤utual91裸聊视频� I guess so in that sense 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 mutual I wasn91裸聊视频檛 going to settle for something like that. They weren91裸聊视频檛 going to budge, they weren91裸聊视频檛 going to give me a legitimate shot to compete.91裸聊视频�
Lions head coach/GM Wally Buono didn91裸聊视频檛 fault Phillips for his reaction. But Buono reiterated it91裸聊视频檚 his job to make tough decisions to try to improve his team.
91裸聊视频淲e wanted Ryan to be a part of our football club,91裸聊视频� said Buono. 91裸聊视频淲e wanted him to be a part of our locker-room.
91裸聊视频淲e wanted him to be a part of our team going forward. The role then had to change. Unfortunately we couldn91裸聊视频檛 agree.91裸聊视频�
Phillips played 212 regular-season games with the Lions, helping them win the Grey Cup in 2006 and 2011. He leaves B.C. with 47 interceptions and six touchdowns to go along with 478 tackles.
91裸聊视频淵ou feel like you put your blood, sweat and tears into something 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 hard not to take it somewhat personal,91裸聊视频� said Phillips. 91裸聊视频淚 could have easily gone: 91裸聊视频榊ou know what? My heart is in B.C. 91裸聊视频� I91裸聊视频檒l just settle for whatever.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淏ut you91裸聊视频檝e got to take the emotion out and say from a professional standpoint, as an athlete, as a competitor, what is benefiting you and benefiting the family?91裸聊视频�
Phillips appeared in all 18 games for the Lions in 2016, registering one interception, his lowest total since 2008, and 30 defensive tackles. But the year before he tied for the league lead in interceptions with six despite missing four games to injury 91裸聊视频� the only instance over his 12 seasons where he missed time.
91裸聊视频淚 wouldn91裸聊视频檛 say I need this as motivation, but if you want to say it puts a little bit more kick in the step then why not?91裸聊视频� said Phillips. 91裸聊视频淚 can understand (the decision) if my best years were three, four, five years behind me.91裸聊视频�
The Lions, who lost to Calgary in last year91裸聊视频檚 West Division final after a bounce-back 12-6 campaign, finished last in the CFL in 2016 with nine interceptions. Part of that came down to major injuries to three key contributors but Buono consistently said throughout the year his defensive backfield needed to be better.
91裸聊视频淭his is not something I look forward to doing and this is not something the club took lightly,91裸聊视频� Buono said of waving goodbye to the four-time CFL all-star. 91裸聊视频淲hen the person gives 12 years of their life 91裸聊视频� I felt it was at least worthwhile to sit down and have a conversation and see if we couldn91裸聊视频檛 get into a slightly different relationship.91裸聊视频�
The Lions don91裸聊视频檛 often re-sign veteran players, let alone ones in their mid-30s. But Buono agreed the situation was similar to Simon, who retired after winning the Grey Cup with Saskatchewan and is now a member of the Lions91裸聊视频� front office.
91裸聊视频淲hat we offered Geroy or Ryan is not something we usually offer players (at their age),91裸聊视频� said Buono. 91裸聊视频淯sually with a player like that you say: 91裸聊视频榃e91裸聊视频檙e going in a different direction,91裸聊视频� and life goes on.
91裸聊视频淏ut I felt because of Ryan91裸聊视频檚 great contribution to the club, his longevity, that I had to sit down and discuss with him this role, this possibility.91裸聊视频�
Phillips turned that down flatly and is now looking for a new CFL home.
91裸聊视频淚 want to be a part of a team that has a chance of winning,91裸聊视频� said Phillips. 91裸聊视频淚 want to be a part of team I can be a value and an asset to. A team that91裸聊视频檚 going to appreciate what I bring to the table, plus the intangibles.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 happy about my decision, but it91裸聊视频檚 still sad and disheartening at the same time because I91裸聊视频檝e been a part of a team and an organization, and my family has as well, for the past 12 years.91裸聊视频�
Notes: The Lions announced Friday defensive back T.J. Lee, who missed all but four games last season because of an Achilles injury, has signed a contract for 2017. Lee could91裸聊视频檝e become a free agent Tuesday. B.C. also signed Canadian defensive lineman Dylan Ainsworth and announced the retirement of offensive lineman Tim O91裸聊视频橬eill, an 11-year veteran.
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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
