VANCOUVER 香蕉视频直播� Ryan Phillips would always tell his younger B.C. Lions teammates that if Geroy Simon was expendable, they all were.
Simon, the CFL香蕉视频直播檚 all-time leading receiver, couldn香蕉视频直播檛 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 didn香蕉视频直播檛 expect his tenure in B.C to end this way.
On Friday, the Lions announced they and the veteran defensive back had 香蕉视频直播渕utually decided香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播渕utual香蕉视频直播� was technically true. However, what the Lions offered in terms of a contract and potential playing time were a slap in the face.
香蕉视频直播淭he starting point was nowhere near worth the value of someone of my calibre,香蕉视频直播� said Phillips, who joined B.C. in 2005. 香蕉视频直播淭he pay cut was outrageous.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 one thing to restructure and it香蕉视频直播檚 another thing to pay cut all the way. You don香蕉视频直播檛 ask a 12-year vet with my resume to go back to making third-year type money. That香蕉视频直播檚 just kind of insulting, let alone the role of being behind some guys that haven香蕉视频直播檛 done anything.
香蕉视频直播淚f you want to say 香蕉视频直播榤utual香蕉视频直播� I guess so in that sense 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 mutual I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 going to settle for something like that. They weren香蕉视频直播檛 going to budge, they weren香蕉视频直播檛 going to give me a legitimate shot to compete.香蕉视频直播�
Lions head coach/GM Wally Buono didn香蕉视频直播檛 fault Phillips for his reaction. But Buono reiterated it香蕉视频直播檚 his job to make tough decisions to try to improve his team.
香蕉视频直播淲e wanted Ryan to be a part of our football club,香蕉视频直播� said Buono. 香蕉视频直播淲e wanted him to be a part of our locker-room.
香蕉视频直播淲e wanted him to be a part of our team going forward. The role then had to change. Unfortunately we couldn香蕉视频直播檛 agree.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淵ou feel like you put your blood, sweat and tears into something 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 hard not to take it somewhat personal,香蕉视频直播� said Phillips. 香蕉视频直播淚 could have easily gone: 香蕉视频直播榊ou know what? My heart is in B.C. 香蕉视频直播� I香蕉视频直播檒l just settle for whatever.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淏ut you香蕉视频直播檝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?香蕉视频直播�
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 香蕉视频直播� the only instance over his 12 seasons where he missed time.
香蕉视频直播淚 wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 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?香蕉视频直播� said Phillips. 香蕉视频直播淚 can understand (the decision) if my best years were three, four, five years behind me.香蕉视频直播�
The Lions, who lost to Calgary in last year香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淭his is not something I look forward to doing and this is not something the club took lightly,香蕉视频直播� Buono said of waving goodbye to the four-time CFL all-star. 香蕉视频直播淲hen the person gives 12 years of their life 香蕉视频直播� I felt it was at least worthwhile to sit down and have a conversation and see if we couldn香蕉视频直播檛 get into a slightly different relationship.香蕉视频直播�
The Lions don香蕉视频直播檛 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 Lions香蕉视频直播� front office.
香蕉视频直播淲hat we offered Geroy or Ryan is not something we usually offer players (at their age),香蕉视频直播� said Buono. 香蕉视频直播淯sually with a player like that you say: 香蕉视频直播榃e香蕉视频直播檙e going in a different direction,香蕉视频直播� and life goes on.
香蕉视频直播淏ut I felt because of Ryan香蕉视频直播檚 great contribution to the club, his longevity, that I had to sit down and discuss with him this role, this possibility.香蕉视频直播�
Phillips turned that down flatly and is now looking for a new CFL home.
香蕉视频直播淚 want to be a part of a team that has a chance of winning,香蕉视频直播� said Phillips. 香蕉视频直播淚 want to be a part of team I can be a value and an asset to. A team that香蕉视频直播檚 going to appreciate what I bring to the table, plus the intangibles.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 happy about my decision, but it香蕉视频直播檚 still sad and disheartening at the same time because I香蕉视频直播檝e been a part of a team and an organization, and my family has as well, for the past 12 years.香蕉视频直播�
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 could香蕉视频直播檝e become a free agent Tuesday. B.C. also signed Canadian defensive lineman Dylan Ainsworth and announced the retirement of offensive lineman Tim O香蕉视频直播橬eill, an 11-year veteran.
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Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
