Randy Phillips waits for medical OK to practice with Lions

Allen Park -- Former Miami (Fla.) safety Randy Phillips was a bystander during the Lions' three-day rookie minicamp over the weekend. He stood on the sidelines in uniform with a helmet but didn't participate in drills. And while he was initially listed among the undrafted free agents to sign with the Lions on the team's Web site, he is not yet under contract.

That's because Phillips failed his physical last week prior to the start of the rookie orientation camp, his agent, Tony Fleming, confirmed. But Phillips, who underwent surgery in to January to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, is expect to sign with the Lions once he's cleared medically with the shoulder.

"He's with us right now, and he's not able to practice right now," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Saturday, declining to get into specifics. "So we'll just see where that goes."

Phillips, who played through the shoulder injury last season and missed most of 2008 with a torn ACL, was the Hurricanes' fourth-leading tackler last season and tied for the team lead with two interceptions despite missing three games.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound safety had several offers to join other NFL teams last week after going undrafted. But the Lions' uncertainty at the strong safety position and Phillips' ties to Lions secondary coach Tim Walton, who was his defensive coordinator and position coach for three years at Miami, played a role in his decision.

"I think it's a great opportunity to get back with him because he's the one that saw the most in me when he was here," Phillips told the Palm Beach Post. "We had a great relationship. I'm excited about getting up there and working with him. ...

"They're a young team looking to get better. They're going to put the best guys on the field. I'm eager to walk into that situation and give it my all. I know I can be a starter in the NFL. I just got to stay healthy."



(detnews.com)