Running back Lawrence Phillips declared himself the best player in the CFL before playing a single game when he joined the Alouettes in 2002 after kicking around the NFL.
He didn't say a whole lot after that, as he refused to talk to journalists for the rest of his time here.
Phillips was a gamble and his 1,000 years plus yards he rushed that season helped propel the Alouettes to a Grey Cup championship.
But Phillips had some sort of temper issue which led him to beat on women with some frequency.
The Arkansas-born Phillips grew up in a variety of foster homes in California and attended Nebraska, looking like the likely winner of the Heisman Trophy for best college football player.
In 1995, at the age of 19 or 20, he beat up his ex-girlfriend Kate McEwen, who played basketball for the same university.
He dragged her down the stairs but was not kicked off the team.
This didn't help his draft rankings but he was still chosen sixth overall by the St. Louis Rams.
He stormed off the team and was released after a season due to discipline issues.
He then played for the Miami Dolphins, Barcelona Dragons and the San Francisco 49ers.
He signed up for the Florida Bobcats but was released before playing after taking off without telling the coach.
The Alouettes needed to get a special ministerial visa to allow Phillips into the country due to his criminal record, one of which included two no contest please to violence against women as well as three other arrests, one of which required 23 days in jail for violating probation on drunk driving charges.
He said he would take anger management courses in Montreal.
Phillips must have enjoyed the Montreal party scene because he was up to his old obnoxious tricks on the Als, walking out on the team and splitting repeatedly with his own agent.
Nonetheless his season was strong as he scored 13 touchdowns and earned a spot on the All Star team with his 1,022 running yards.
Coach Don Matthews famously chose him over longtime legend Mike Pringle, a decision that would haunt the Alouettes as Pringle went on to win the Grey Cup against the Alouette the next Season.
Philllips wouldn't talk to media, so other players were asked about him.
What did his teammates say about this lunatic?
That stuff might have been a slight exaggeration:
Phillips was released before the 2003 season.
His insane insane behaviour was cited as the reason. His injured knees didn't help.
Phillips was later charged with sexual assault in Montreal and had to return to face the charges in Dec. 2003.
He played a little with Calgary and was shooting his mouth off again, saying that the Stampeders would win by just giving him the ball 25 times a game.
"If coach want to win, just give me the ball 25 times."
A teammate asked what the rest of the team should do in the plays he is not involved in. "Just kneel. That's when I get my rest."
Phillips was out of football after that but not out of trouble.
He drove his car into three teenagers in Aug 2005 after an argument at a pick up football game in Los Angeles. He also beat on a former girlfriend twice and choked her badly. He was also suspected in another case of beating on a woman.
The justice system had enough of Phillips and gave him 31 years in prison.
His cell mate, murderer Damion Soward, 37, was found strangled dead last spring and Phillips was charged with killing him.
If nothing else Phillips was apparently a good penpal with excellent penmanship, as several of his letters were published online following the accusation.
Finally Phillips was found dead in his cell, likely dying of suicide.
He didn't say a whole lot after that, as he refused to talk to journalists for the rest of his time here.
Phillips was a gamble and his 1,000 years plus yards he rushed that season helped propel the Alouettes to a Grey Cup championship.
The Arkansas-born Phillips grew up in a variety of foster homes in California and attended Nebraska, looking like the likely winner of the Heisman Trophy for best college football player.
In 1995, at the age of 19 or 20, he beat up his ex-girlfriend Kate McEwen, who played basketball for the same university.
He dragged her down the stairs but was not kicked off the team.
This didn't help his draft rankings but he was still chosen sixth overall by the St. Louis Rams.
He stormed off the team and was released after a season due to discipline issues.
He then played for the Miami Dolphins, Barcelona Dragons and the San Francisco 49ers.
He signed up for the Florida Bobcats but was released before playing after taking off without telling the coach.
The Alouettes needed to get a special ministerial visa to allow Phillips into the country due to his criminal record, one of which included two no contest please to violence against women as well as three other arrests, one of which required 23 days in jail for violating probation on drunk driving charges.
He said he would take anger management courses in Montreal.
Phillips must have enjoyed the Montreal party scene because he was up to his old obnoxious tricks on the Als, walking out on the team and splitting repeatedly with his own agent.
Nonetheless his season was strong as he scored 13 touchdowns and earned a spot on the All Star team with his 1,022 running yards.
Coach Don Matthews famously chose him over longtime legend Mike Pringle, a decision that would haunt the Alouettes as Pringle went on to win the Grey Cup against the Alouette the next Season.
Philllips wouldn't talk to media, so other players were asked about him.
What did his teammates say about this lunatic?
- His teammate Brian Chiu said that Phillips was a "great guy,"
- "He's been an ideal teammate. He's very positive. He's unselfish. He doesn't demand the ball. Which is different for a runningback. And I've been through some runningback sagas in my time," said teammate Ben Cahoon.
- Teammate Thomas Haskins said "I was amazed how, the day before a game, he doesn't go out of his room. He'll order room service. I had to go shopping to get out of the room and leave him alone. That's the sign of a focused guy."
- "He's attentive in meetings, he asks questions and is a solid player who has fit in beautifully with the things we do. As a football player, he's a joy." said offensice co-ordinator Jim Barker.
That stuff might have been a slight exaggeration:
Phillips was released before the 2003 season.
His insane insane behaviour was cited as the reason. His injured knees didn't help.
Phillips was later charged with sexual assault in Montreal and had to return to face the charges in Dec. 2003.
He played a little with Calgary and was shooting his mouth off again, saying that the Stampeders would win by just giving him the ball 25 times a game.
"If coach want to win, just give me the ball 25 times."
A teammate asked what the rest of the team should do in the plays he is not involved in. "Just kneel. That's when I get my rest."
Phillips was out of football after that but not out of trouble.
He drove his car into three teenagers in Aug 2005 after an argument at a pick up football game in Los Angeles. He also beat on a former girlfriend twice and choked her badly. He was also suspected in another case of beating on a woman.
The justice system had enough of Phillips and gave him 31 years in prison.
His cell mate, murderer Damion Soward, 37, was found strangled dead last spring and Phillips was charged with killing him.
If nothing else Phillips was apparently a good penpal with excellent penmanship, as several of his letters were published online following the accusation.
Finally Phillips was found dead in his cell, likely dying of suicide.
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