In a weird and a controversy move the Ottawa Redblacks released defensive end and special teamer Justin Phillips. Phillips who was a first round pick of the Calgary Stampeders in 2007. Phillips played from 2007-2013 for the Stampeders and requested trade in 2014 to the new expansion Ottawa Redblacks to play for his hometown team. The request was granted but was cut shot due to a shoulder injury that Phillips never fully recovered.
The controversy was how Phillips was released. Scott Mitchell of the Calgary Sun reported that the Redblacks released Phillips with no word from Ottawa yet. Abut a day went by and still no word from Ottawa that Phillips was released, was Mitchell’s report wrong?
Hearing the #RedBlacks are releasing former Stamps DE Justin Phillips. Soon-to-be 31-year-old played 5 games last season.
— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) February 18, 2016
Well it wasn’t wrong and Phillips was angry how Ottawa released him. He is a local kid and did so much for the Redblacks and the Ottawa community. Phillips had tweeted that he was set to have shoulder surgery next week after he was released, but Phillips wanted to let Ottawa know he was/is still healthy as he played the east final and Grey Cup game.
Finding out I was released via Twitter a week b4 finally getting shoulder surgery after playing east final/grey cup with a dislocation #Ouch
— Justin Phillips (@JPhil44) February 19, 2016
This isn’t the first time Ottawa and Marcel Desjardins have been in the media for the wrong reasons (Shawn Lemon). Phillips will be 31 soon and still has some gas in the tank. It will be interesting to see if any other CFL team will sign Phillips.
Why Phillips wasn’t notified is behind me but the Redblacks are a professional sports team and need to act like one. Phillips did a lot for the community and at least he deserved to know before finding out on twitter that he was released.
The 30-year-old defensive end was at Canadian Tire Centre Thursday night, watching the Senators play. He got a text telling him to check out Twitter, where Postmedia’s Scott Mitchell suggested Phillips had been released.
Does this controversy along with Shawn Lemon’s scare players away from signing with Ottawa due to Marcel Desjardins and his treatment of players once they’re gone. Well buckle up CFL fans if the 2016 off-season is like the season we have a good one coming up.
Other notes:
In other Redblacks news Ottawa also announced that they released American linebacker Travis Brown. Brown like Phillips was released due to shoulder injuries.
The Redblacks also announced the signing of Canadian defensive back Ryan Hinds who played for Edmonton last yer.
