52 Facts About Lawrence Phillips

Lawrence Lamond Phillips was an American gridiron football running back who played in the National Football League for three seasons.

Lawrence Phillips won the 1995 Orange Bowl and the 1996 Fiesta Bowl with Nebraska, leading to him being selected sixth overall in the 1996 NFL Draft by the St Louis Rams.

Lawrence Phillips last played professionally in the Canadian Football League for two seasons with the Montreal Alouettes and Calgary Stampeders.

Lawrence Phillips was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and later moved to California, where he grew up in foster homes.

Lawrence Phillips attended West Covina High School in West Covina, California for his freshman and sophomore years.

Lawrence Phillips was a varsity starter both on offense as a running back and defense as an outside linebacker.

Lawrence Phillips then attended Baldwin Park High School in Baldwin Park, California for his junior and senior years, and his team won a CIF championship his junior season, which attracted the attention of colleges, including the University of Nebraska.

In 1993, his freshman year at Nebraska, Lawrence Phillips gradually worked his way up the player ranks.

All but one of Lawrence Phillips' carries came in the fourth quarter, during which he scored on a 12-yard touchdown run.

Lawrence Phillips tied a school record by rushing for 100 yards or more in 11 straight games in 1994 despite frequently playing against eight or nine-man defensive fronts.

Less than two weeks after Lawrence Phillips helped Nebraska win the 1994 championship, he pleaded not guilty to charges of assault, vandalism, and disturbing the peace.

The charges came from a March 1994 incident, in which Lawrence Phillips was accused of grabbing a 21-year-old college student "around the neck".

Lawrence Phillips entered a pretrial diversion program earlier, but was charged on November 18,1994, after failing to complete the requirements of the program.

Shortly before the start of the next season, Lawrence Phillips' eligibility was in question for receiving a $100 lunch from a sports agent during the 1994 season.

Hours after the team returned from East Lansing on September 10,1995, Lawrence Phillips broke into backup quarterback Scott Frost's apartment by climbing the outside of the building to the third floor and entering through some sliding doors.

Lawrence Phillips then assaulted his ex-girlfriend, basketball player Kate McEwen.

Lawrence Phillips dragged McEwen out of the apartment by the hair and down three flights of stairs before smashing her head into a mailbox.

Lawrence Phillips was arrested, and eventually suspended by head coach Tom Osborne.

Osborne defended the decision, saying that abandoning Lawrence Phillips might do more harm than good, stating the best way to help Lawrence Phillips was within the structured environment of the football program.

At the 1996 NFL Draft, teams had to decide if Lawrence Phillips' talent was worth the risk, considering his character issues.

Lawrence Phillips was widely expected to be selected by the new Baltimore Ravens with the fourth pick to fill their vacant running back position.

Lawrence Phillips was drafted in the first round with the sixth overall pick by the St Louis Rams.

On July 29,1996, Lawrence Phillips signed a three-year, $5.625-million contract.

Lawrence Phillips received no signing bonus, but his salaries were $1.5 million in 1996, $1.875 million in 1997 and $2.25 million in 1998.

In 1996, Lawrence Phillips played in 15 games with 11 starts.

Lawrence Phillips carried the ball 193 times for 632 yards and 4 touchdowns.

In 1997, Lawrence Phillips surpassed his entire 1996 total in only 10 games and nine starts, rushing for 634 yards.

Lawrence Phillips stormed out of the Rams' facility and missed that day's meeting and practice.

Lawrence Phillips was known to stay in bars until 4 am on the night before games.

Lawrence Phillips did say, though, that if given the chance to do it over again, he would have kept Phillips on the roster.

Lawrence Phillips lasted two games in Miami, rushing for 44 yards on 18 carries for a 2.4 yard-per-carry average.

Lawrence Phillips missed the 1998 season before attempting a comeback in 1999; he set NFL Europe offensive records with the Barcelona Dragons and attracted interest from several NFL teams.

Lawrence Phillips returned stateside with the San Francisco 49ers in the fall of 1999.

Lawrence Phillips was in contention for the starting job before pulling a hamstring in training camp.

Lawrence Phillips was beaten out for the starting slot by Charlie Garner.

Lawrence Phillips did become the 49ers' primary kick returner.

Lawrence Phillips's blocking skills were so suspect that he was almost never in the game on passing downs.

Walsh said soon after Lawrence Phillips was suspended that he could not envision Lawrence Phillips playing another down for the 49ers.

In 2001, Lawrence Phillips signed with the Florida Bobcats of the Arena Football League.

Lawrence Phillips then moved on to the Canadian Football League.

Lawrence Phillips had some difficulty getting a Canadian work visa due to his criminal record, but was eventually cleared to join the Montreal Alouettes.

Lawrence Phillips showed signs of his old form, notching 1,022 yards, 13 touchdowns, and a spot on the CFL Eastern All-Star Team while helping lead them to the 90th Grey Cup.

Lawrence Phillips walked out on the team at least once during the season, and his agent severed ties with him twice.

Lawrence Phillips briefly held out of training camp before the 2003 season due to a salary dispute.

Lawrence Phillips signed with the Calgary Stampeders, but was again released, for arguing with head coach Jim Barker.

At the time of the arrest, Lawrence Phillips was wanted by the San Diego Police Department in connection with two alleged domestic abuse incidents involving a former girlfriend, who claimed that Lawrence Phillips choked her to the point of unconsciousness.

In March 2006, Lawrence Phillips was ordered to stand trial on charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon stemming from the August 21,2005 incident.

On December 18,2009, Lawrence Phillips was sentenced to 25 years in prison on the 2009 convictions, to run consecutive to the 2008 sentence, for a total of 31 years.

Soward, who was serving a sentence of 82 years to life for a murder conviction, was choked to death, and Lawrence Phillips was regarded as the prime suspect in the case.

Lawrence Phillips was awaiting trial in segregated custody when he was found unresponsive in his cell by correctional officers around midnight on January 12,2016.

Lawrence Phillips had a do not resuscitate note taped to his chest.

Lawrence Phillips was buried two days later at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.