VANCOUVER 含羞草研究社� Ryan Phillips would always tell his younger B.C. Lions teammates that if Geroy Simon was expendable, they all were.

Simon, the CFL含羞草研究社檚 all-time leading receiver, couldn含羞草研究社檛 agree on contract extension with B.C. before the 2013 season. So after 12 years on the West Coast, Simon was dealt to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Phillips knew his day would also eventually come. But the 34-year-old didn含羞草研究社檛 expect his tenure in B.C to end this way.

On Friday, the Lions announced they and the veteran defensive back had 含羞草研究社渕utually decided含羞草研究社� to part ways, cutting Phillips loose after 12 seasons and just four days before the start of CFL free agency.

The Seattle native said in a telephone interview with The Canadian Press the term 含羞草研究社渕utual含羞草研究社� was technically true. However, what the Lions offered in terms of a contract and potential playing time were a slap in the face.

含羞草研究社淭he starting point was nowhere near worth the value of someone of my calibre,含羞草研究社� said Phillips, who joined B.C. in 2005. 含羞草研究社淭he pay cut was outrageous.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 one thing to restructure and it含羞草研究社檚 another thing to pay cut all the way. You don含羞草研究社檛 ask a 12-year vet with my resume to go back to making third-year type money. That含羞草研究社檚 just kind of insulting, let alone the role of being behind some guys that haven含羞草研究社檛 done anything.

含羞草研究社淚f you want to say 含羞草研究社榤utual含羞草研究社� I guess so in that sense 含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 mutual I wasn含羞草研究社檛 going to settle for something like that. They weren含羞草研究社檛 going to budge, they weren含羞草研究社檛 going to give me a legitimate shot to compete.含羞草研究社�

Lions head coach/GM Wally Buono didn含羞草研究社檛 fault Phillips for his reaction. But Buono reiterated it含羞草研究社檚 his job to make tough decisions to try to improve his team.

含羞草研究社淲e wanted Ryan to be a part of our football club,含羞草研究社� said Buono. 含羞草研究社淲e wanted him to be a part of our locker-room.

含羞草研究社淲e wanted him to be a part of our team going forward. The role then had to change. Unfortunately we couldn含羞草研究社檛 agree.含羞草研究社�

Phillips played 212 regular-season games with the Lions, helping them win the Grey Cup in 2006 and 2011. He leaves B.C. with 47 interceptions and six touchdowns to go along with 478 tackles.

含羞草研究社淵ou feel like you put your blood, sweat and tears into something 含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 hard not to take it somewhat personal,含羞草研究社� said Phillips. 含羞草研究社淚 could have easily gone: 含羞草研究社榊ou know what? My heart is in B.C. 含羞草研究社� I含羞草研究社檒l just settle for whatever.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淏ut you含羞草研究社檝e got to take the emotion out and say from a professional standpoint, as an athlete, as a competitor, what is benefiting you and benefiting the family?含羞草研究社�

Phillips appeared in all 18 games for the Lions in 2016, registering one interception, his lowest total since 2008, and 30 defensive tackles. But the year before he tied for the league lead in interceptions with six despite missing four games to injury 含羞草研究社� the only instance over his 12 seasons where he missed time.

含羞草研究社淚 wouldn含羞草研究社檛 say I need this as motivation, but if you want to say it puts a little bit more kick in the step then why not?含羞草研究社� said Phillips. 含羞草研究社淚 can understand (the decision) if my best years were three, four, five years behind me.含羞草研究社�

The Lions, who lost to Calgary in last year含羞草研究社檚 West Division final after a bounce-back 12-6 campaign, finished last in the CFL in 2016 with nine interceptions. Part of that came down to major injuries to three key contributors but Buono consistently said throughout the year his defensive backfield needed to be better.

含羞草研究社淭his is not something I look forward to doing and this is not something the club took lightly,含羞草研究社� Buono said of waving goodbye to the four-time CFL all-star. 含羞草研究社淲hen the person gives 12 years of their life 含羞草研究社� I felt it was at least worthwhile to sit down and have a conversation and see if we couldn含羞草研究社檛 get into a slightly different relationship.含羞草研究社�

The Lions don含羞草研究社檛 often re-sign veteran players, let alone ones in their mid-30s. But Buono agreed the situation was similar to Simon, who retired after winning the Grey Cup with Saskatchewan and is now a member of the Lions含羞草研究社� front office.

含羞草研究社淲hat we offered Geroy or Ryan is not something we usually offer players (at their age),含羞草研究社� said Buono. 含羞草研究社淯sually with a player like that you say: 含羞草研究社榃e含羞草研究社檙e going in a different direction,含羞草研究社� and life goes on.

含羞草研究社淏ut I felt because of Ryan含羞草研究社檚 great contribution to the club, his longevity, that I had to sit down and discuss with him this role, this possibility.含羞草研究社�

Phillips turned that down flatly and is now looking for a new CFL home.

含羞草研究社淚 want to be a part of a team that has a chance of winning,含羞草研究社� said Phillips. 含羞草研究社淚 want to be a part of team I can be a value and an asset to. A team that含羞草研究社檚 going to appreciate what I bring to the table, plus the intangibles.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 happy about my decision, but it含羞草研究社檚 still sad and disheartening at the same time because I含羞草研究社檝e been a part of a team and an organization, and my family has as well, for the past 12 years.含羞草研究社�

Notes: The Lions announced Friday defensive back T.J. Lee, who missed all but four games last season because of an Achilles injury, has signed a contract for 2017. Lee could含羞草研究社檝e become a free agent Tuesday. B.C. also signed Canadian defensive lineman Dylan Ainsworth and announced the retirement of offensive lineman Tim O含羞草研究社橬eill, an 11-year veteran.

含羞草研究社�-

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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press