With the leagues best rusher the last two or three years standing on the sidelines, why would the even sign this guy in the first place? Sure he's a good, but Pringle is no slouch either. Just another idiotic move by Don Mathews, which brings me to another question. Why do teams keep hiring that guy? Montreal won't miss a beat because of this. they're too good.(CP) - Lawrence Phillips is missing in action again.
The Montreal Alouettes suspended the CFL's leading rusher Monday after he left the team Sunday morning and skipped practice without explanation. Phillips' only contact with the club came Monday morning, when he complained of knee pain in a brief phone call to an Alouettes trainer. General manager Jim Popp suspended Phillips when he missed the team's 5 p.m. EDT flight Monday to B.C., where they play the Lions on Wednesday.
"I really don't know anything," Popp said from Montreal. "I haven't spoken to him, no one from our organization has except for our trainer.
"He called our trainer this morning complaining his knee was bothering him. That's no reason why he hasn't been there for the last couple of days. If it is, he surely hasn't told us."
Andy Silverman, Phillips' agent, shed some light on the situation late Monday, saying his client was unhappy with both the medical treatment he was getting and his contract situation.
"He's real banged up, his knees are bad," Silverman told TSN. "He left (Sunday) on two problems. The medical care he's getting wasn't good enough it wasn't helping. They don't have certain things a normal training room would have.
"Secondly there are things going on behind the scenes with contract negotiations. Basically, he's the No. 1 back in the CFL, he's the best running back the CFL has ever seen and he wants to get paid for it. He doesn't want to break the bank."
Phillips apparently was still in Montreal when he called the trainer, Popp said.
The CFL's leading rusher with 594 yards, Phillips is best known for his much-publicized off-field problems during his time in the NFL. The Als brought him to the CFL in attempt to rehabilitate his career.
Phillips has now walked away from the team twice.
During the first week of training camp, he left the team after accusing Popp and coach Don Matthews of dishonesty in their dealings with him. He later returned and won the starting job from popular incumbent Mike Pringle.
Montreal (8-0) plays the B.C. Lions (3-5) Wednesday (TSN, 10:30 p.m. EDT). Matthews has planned for the game without Phillips, leaving the running duties to Ryan Terry and Eric Lapointe. Pringle is out for the season after knee surgery.
Popp wouldn't close the door on having Phillips play in the game, although he called it "doubtful."
"We can take him off the suspended list at any time," said Popp. "No hard feelings about this, he's been great ever since he came here. We just wish we knew what was going on. Right now, it's just not a question we have all the answers to.
"We'll sit and talk as an organization on what we need to do (when he contacts them)."
While a star tailback at the University of Nebraska, Phillips pleaded no contest to domestic violence in a confrontation with a girlfriend. Still, Phillips was selected in the first round of the 1996 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams.
He played 25 games for St. Louis before being released for insubordination in 1997. His 19 months with the team were marked by three arrests and 23 days in jail for violating his probation after a drunk-driving arrest in California.
Phillips signed with Miami later in the '97 season, but was released after pleading no contest to hitting a woman in a nightclub.
Phillips appeared to be on the way back in 1999 with NFL Europe's Barcelona Dragons. He ran for 1,021 yards and scored 14 touchdowns - both league records - and was voted the league's top offensive player.
He then signed with San Francisco, but was released during the '99 season for missing practice.
Happy? Because a man is obviously having troubles in his life? Sorry, but I can't be like that.Happy?
Originally posted by Dapotayto
Philips is AWOL because of one reason. His paycheque. His salary as the league's best running back is $43,000 per annum which after taxes and expenses (like cleats, training gear etc. which the CFL boys pay themselves!) works out to exactly fcuk all. All that and he gets to live in Quebec too. Mike Pringle's salary for being the leagues SECOND best runner and now a backup is $250,000/year. Go figure why Philips ain't there. It ain't fcuking worth it.
I can't stand all these pro-athletes that want to re-negotiate as soon as they start playing well, and doing what they are paid to do
Originally posted by Dapotayto
Really, if that's the case HOS then you must have severe hypertension. Perhaps you should consider regular blood pressure tests. Loyalty in sports has not existed since Grunge music rocked the world and I seriously hope you have moved on since then.
...it's garbage if you think players are the only greedy/unloyal people in sports.
Not to get on a Hockey rant, but then you get guys like Iginla(sp) in Calgary who has ONE great year and demands 7.5 Mill. He's nothing but a glorified Kamloops Blazer. (a bit strong )play for the money you signed for then re-negotiate after you put up the big numbers at the end of the season.
Originally posted by Dapotayto
HOS, I agree wholeheartedly with you. Pearl Jam Rocks.Now Regarding Philips: Dude, he makes $40k/yr. Almost everyone except practice roster guys make more. I don't want to be whining on his behalf but I sure as fcuk wouldn't stick around for that kind of money.