Former Rams’ coach Dick Vermeil gave him a chance. Many people throughout Lawrence Phillips’ life have given him chances, but this time he’s run out of lifelines. Phillips was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in prison.
Phillips was convicted in 2006 of seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon. He has been jailed since August 2005, when he drove onto a field near Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and his car struck three boys, ages 14 and 15, and a 19-year-old man, who suffered cuts and bruises. Phillips was allegedly upset after losing a pickup football game to the youths and accused them of stealing some of his possessions.
The St. Louis Rams released Phillips for insubordination in 1997. He signed with the Miami Dolphins, but was later released. In 1999 in NFL Europe, he set league records for rushing and touchdowns with the Barcelona Dragons. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers later that year, but was released for missing a practice. He also has played in the Canadian Football League.