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http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/p...is-to-roll-dice-on-lawrence-phillips-and-lost
Rams traded Jerome Bettis to roll dice on Lawrence Phillips ... and lost
Nick Wagoner/ESPN Staff Writer
The Rams took Lawrence Phillips sixth overall in 1996, by 1997 they had cut him for poor behavior. Otto Greule Jr./Allsport/Getty Images
Breaking down one of the riskiest draft moves by the Los Angeles Rams over the past 25 years:
Round/overall selection: First round, No. 6 overall selection in the 1996 NFL draft
Did the risk pay off? Not even a little bit. Phillips entered that draft with plenty of talent but even more baggage after a misdemeanor assault of an ex-girlfriend left him on a year of probation. Entranced by Phillips' gaudy numbers from Nebraska, the Rams spent the sixth pick on him. Making matters worse, they dealt future Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis to the Pittsburgh Steelers to hand Phillips the job.
In less than two full seasons with the Rams, Phillips violated his probation, which landed him in prison, was fined about 50 times for missing or being late to team meetings or failing to make weight and was arrested three times. Rams coach Dick Vermeil cut him in 1997 after he missed yet another team meeting.
Even when Phillips played, he didn't produce, finishing his short time with the Rams with 1,265 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 3.4 yards per carry in 20 games. Earlier this year, Phillips was found dead in a California prison at the age of 40. Phillips was serving a 31-year sentence for driving his car into three teenagers and assaulting an ex-girlfriend and was facing a murder charge for the death of his cellmate at the time of his death.
Was there a safer move? The Rams had two first-round choices in that draft and wanted to bolster their offense with both of them. The team was prepared to take Michigan running back Tim Biakabutuka with the sixth pick under the assumption that Phillips would be gone before their pick. Biakabutuka went two picks later to Carolina.
But the real prize at the position should have been the most obvious. Ohio State's Eddie George was the Heisman Trophy winner and went No. 14 to the Houston Oilers. The Rams doubled down on their misfires with the No. 18 pick, selecting receiver Eddie Kennison over Marvin Harrison, who went one pick later to Indianapolis.
Rams traded Jerome Bettis to roll dice on Lawrence Phillips ... and lost
Nick Wagoner/ESPN Staff Writer
The Rams took Lawrence Phillips sixth overall in 1996, by 1997 they had cut him for poor behavior. Otto Greule Jr./Allsport/Getty Images
Breaking down one of the riskiest draft moves by the Los Angeles Rams over the past 25 years:
Round/overall selection: First round, No. 6 overall selection in the 1996 NFL draft
Did the risk pay off? Not even a little bit. Phillips entered that draft with plenty of talent but even more baggage after a misdemeanor assault of an ex-girlfriend left him on a year of probation. Entranced by Phillips' gaudy numbers from Nebraska, the Rams spent the sixth pick on him. Making matters worse, they dealt future Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis to the Pittsburgh Steelers to hand Phillips the job.
In less than two full seasons with the Rams, Phillips violated his probation, which landed him in prison, was fined about 50 times for missing or being late to team meetings or failing to make weight and was arrested three times. Rams coach Dick Vermeil cut him in 1997 after he missed yet another team meeting.
Even when Phillips played, he didn't produce, finishing his short time with the Rams with 1,265 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 3.4 yards per carry in 20 games. Earlier this year, Phillips was found dead in a California prison at the age of 40. Phillips was serving a 31-year sentence for driving his car into three teenagers and assaulting an ex-girlfriend and was facing a murder charge for the death of his cellmate at the time of his death.
Was there a safer move? The Rams had two first-round choices in that draft and wanted to bolster their offense with both of them. The team was prepared to take Michigan running back Tim Biakabutuka with the sixth pick under the assumption that Phillips would be gone before their pick. Biakabutuka went two picks later to Carolina.
But the real prize at the position should have been the most obvious. Ohio State's Eddie George was the Heisman Trophy winner and went No. 14 to the Houston Oilers. The Rams doubled down on their misfires with the No. 18 pick, selecting receiver Eddie Kennison over Marvin Harrison, who went one pick later to Indianapolis.
