What A Waste Of Talent (Lawrence Phillips)

[Mel B.]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/14562908/former-nebraska-cornhuskers-star-lawrence-phillips-found-dead-jail-cell

Lawrence Phillips, the former Nebraska football star who was facing a murder charge, was found dead Wednesday morning in his California prison.

Authorities at Kern Valley State Prison said they are investigating the death as a suspected suicide. The prison staff was conducting security checks shortly after midnight local time Wednesday when they found Phillips, 40, unresponsive in his cell, according to a release from the prison. Phillips was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 90 minutes late.

Phillips was on trial for the alleged murder of his former cellmate at the prison. If convicted, he could have faced the death penalty.

He has been in prison since October 2008, where he was serving a 31-year sentence on various charges including inflicting bodily harm including domestic violence, corporal injury to a spouse, false imprisonment and vehicle theft.

Phillips played running back for Nebraska in the 1990s before a brief stint in the NFL. His pro career was cut short by a series of off-field incidents and legal issues.

[Sophia23]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...dead-jail-cell

Lawrence Phillips, the former Nebraska football star who was facing a murder charge, was found dead Wednesday morning in his California prison.

Authorities at Kern Valley State Prison said they are investigating the death as a suspected suicide. The prison staff was conducting security checks shortly after midnight local time Wednesday when they found Phillips, 40, unresponsive in his cell, according to a release from the prison. Phillips was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 90 minutes late.

Phillips was on trial for the alleged murder of his former cellmate at the prison. If convicted, he could have faced the death penalty.

He has been in prison since October 2008, where he was serving a 31-year sentence on various charges including inflicting bodily harm including domestic violence, corporal injury to a spouse, false imprisonment and vehicle theft.

Phillips played running back for Nebraska in the 1990s before a brief stint in the NFL. His pro career was cut short by a series of off-field incidents and legal issues.

That is too bad. From what I had read earlier, it seemed he didn't really excel once he reached the NFL. I'll admit I don't remember him. Sounds like he took some wrong turns in life though....

[baphamet]

That is too bad. From what I had read earlier, it seemed he didn't really excel once he reached the NFL. I'll admit I don't remember him. Sounds like he took some wrong turns in life though....

as a Nebraska football fan i remember him quite well......

he was our primary running back (ahman green was also in the rotation) when the huskers won back to back national championships in the mid 90's

Phillips was trouble even back then when he climbed up the third story balcony of his girl friends apartment and dragged her down the stairs like a rag doll.

the guy was awesome on the field better than ahman green who had a decent NFL career with the packers, he had real potential to be something great in the NFL.

he's the ryan leaf of running backs only worse IMO

[Sophia23]

as a Nebraska football fan i remember him quite well......

he was our primary running back (ahman green was also in the rotation) when the huskers won back to back national championships in the mid 90's

Phillips was trouble even back then when he climbed up the third story balcony of his girl friends apartment and dragged her down the stairs like a rag doll.

the guy was awesome on the field better than ahman green who had a decent NFL career with the packers, he had real potential to be something great in the NFL.

he's the ryan leaf of running backs only worse IMO

I guess I get the "waste of talent" then ... I thought I recognized the name when I first was reading the article yesterday, but couldn't place him, decided I didn't remember him. I know Ryan Leaf didn't amount to much in the NFL, then had his own personal troubles that ended in Jail .... What is it about Heisman trophy finalists or winners that we expect so much of them in the NFL, and so many of them fail when the hit the pros?

[HUMCALC]

If I remember correctly DAL took him over Randy Moss, and he was out of the league in about a year

[Mel B.]

I guess I get the "waste of talent" then ... I thought I recognized the name when I first was reading the article yesterday, but couldn't place him, decided I didn't remember him. I know Ryan Leaf didn't amount to much in the NFL, then had his own personal troubles that ended in Jail .... What is it about Heisman trophy finalists or winners that we expect so much of them in the NFL, and so many of them fail when the hit the pros?

To me, most aren't NFL-caliber and are just products of good college programs. Phillips though was one that was NFL-caliber but he was just a bad person that could never 'get right' and the signs were there starting in college.

[Mel B.]

If I remember correctly DAL took him over Randy Moss, and he was out of the league in about a year

Nah he was drafted by the St. Louis Rams who then shipped Bettis to the Steelers.