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

Simon, the CFL害羞草研究所檚 all-time leading receiver, couldn害羞草研究所檛 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害羞草研究所檛 expect his tenure in B.C to end this way.

On Friday, the Lions announced they and the veteran defensive back had 害羞草研究所渕utually decided害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所渕utual害羞草研究所� was technically true. However, what the Lions offered in terms of a contract and potential playing time were a slap in the face.

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

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

害羞草研究所淚f you want to say 害羞草研究所榤utual害羞草研究所� I guess so in that sense 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 mutual I wasn害羞草研究所檛 going to settle for something like that. They weren害羞草研究所檛 going to budge, they weren害羞草研究所檛 going to give me a legitimate shot to compete.害羞草研究所�

Lions head coach/GM Wally Buono didn害羞草研究所檛 fault Phillips for his reaction. But Buono reiterated it害羞草研究所檚 his job to make tough decisions to try to improve his team.

害羞草研究所淲e wanted Ryan to be a part of our football club,害羞草研究所� said Buono. 害羞草研究所淲e wanted him to be a part of our locker-room.

害羞草研究所淲e wanted him to be a part of our team going forward. The role then had to change. Unfortunately we couldn害羞草研究所檛 agree.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淵ou feel like you put your blood, sweat and tears into something 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 hard not to take it somewhat personal,害羞草研究所� said Phillips. 害羞草研究所淚 could have easily gone: 害羞草研究所榊ou know what? My heart is in B.C. 害羞草研究所� I害羞草研究所檒l just settle for whatever.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淏ut you害羞草研究所檝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?害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所� the only instance over his 12 seasons where he missed time.

害羞草研究所淚 wouldn害羞草研究所檛 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?害羞草研究所� said Phillips. 害羞草研究所淚 can understand (the decision) if my best years were three, four, five years behind me.害羞草研究所�

The Lions, who lost to Calgary in last year害羞草研究所檚 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.

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

The Lions don害羞草研究所檛 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害羞草研究所� front office.

害羞草研究所淲hat we offered Geroy or Ryan is not something we usually offer players (at their age),害羞草研究所� said Buono. 害羞草研究所淯sually with a player like that you say: 害羞草研究所榃e害羞草研究所檙e going in a different direction,害羞草研究所� and life goes on.

害羞草研究所淏ut I felt because of Ryan害羞草研究所檚 great contribution to the club, his longevity, that I had to sit down and discuss with him this role, this possibility.害羞草研究所�

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

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

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 happy about my decision, but it害羞草研究所檚 still sad and disheartening at the same time because I害羞草研究所檝e been a part of a team and an organization, and my family has as well, for the past 12 years.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檝e become a free agent Tuesday. B.C. also signed Canadian defensive lineman Dylan Ainsworth and announced the retirement of offensive lineman Tim O害羞草研究所橬eill, an 11-year veteran.

害羞草研究所�-

Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press