Phillips’ run in Cleveland comes to close

By MIKE McLAIN Tribune Chronicle

BEREA — One door in Michael Phillips’ dream of playing in the NFL was closed Sunday, but in his thinking the lock hasn’t been fastened.

Phillips, a 2003 Warren G. Harding High School graduate, wasn’t among the select few tryout players that the Browns invited back for the start of training camp in late July. Phillips, a defensive back at the University of Pittsburgh the last four seasons, joined 53 other tryout players during a three-day rookie minicamp last weekend.

“It was a great opportunity to be in front of a lot of scouts,” Phillips said. “I think it opened some doors for a lot of things to happen. I have to keep working and go from there.”

Phillips has no intention of ending his dream. He’ll confer with his representation at the DeBartolo Co. and see if he can get a chance with another team.

“I’ll have to talk to my agent and look at the rosters of other teams and what they really need,” he said.

Phillips was a standout at quarterback and cornerback for the Raiders. He alternated time at quarterback with Mike Kokal and was a fulltime starter on defense.

Phillips was moved to safety at Pitt and became an integral part of the defense. He was fourth in tackles last season with 53 (26 solos and 27 assists), including two for losses totaling 9 yards. He intercepted one pass and broke up three other passes.

The Browns are in need of help in the secondary, but cornerback is a more pressing need than safety. Returning safety starters Sean Jones and Brodney Pool are defensive strengths. They’re backed up by the versatile Mike Adams, and Gary Baxter, who’s trying to return after tearing both patella tendons in October of 2006, is switching from cornerback to safety. In addition, Nick Sorensen, who became a special teams standout after being signed midway through last season, can play safety.

The situation at cornerback became shaky when 2007 starter Leigh Bodden was traded to the Detroit Lions, along with a third-round draft choice, in exchange for defensive lineman Shaun Rogers. Second-year veterans Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald are in line to start, with Daven Holly in place as the third corner. Kenny Wright is on the roster, but he’s dealing with legal issues stemming from an arrest for possession of marijuana and leading police officers on a foot chase.

’’They said I did real well, but unfortunately they took some corners and didn’t take any safeties,î Phillips said shortly after a practice on Sunday. ’’They said they have depth at safety.î

Phillips felt that he performed well in the three practices conducted before the cuts were announced. Coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Phil Savage announced the names of the players that were asked back Saturday night at a team meeting. The players that were cut remained in camp for a Sunday practice before heading home in the afternoon.

Phillips didn’t get a chance to talk individually with Crennel or Savage, but he had a short conversation with defensive coordinator Mel Tucker.

’’He said I did a good job and thanked me for coming,î Phillips said. ’’He said that I can play and to never quit. Unfortunately, there was a bad situation in numbers here.î

One possible destination for Phillips is Chicago. He and his agent weighed offers from the Browns and Bears before deciding on the Browns.

’’When I talked to my agent, we felt like the Browns were the better situation,î he said. ’’Things didn’t work out the way we thought.î

Rookie minicamps aren’t the easiest way to get a foot in the door of the NFL. Some invitees are legitimate prospects that have a chance to get noticed and possibly make it to training camp. Others are long-range shots that are given a look as a favor to a college coach.

’’There are so many people walking around, and they really can’t evaluate you the whole time,î Phillips said. ’’You can only get so many reps when you have 21 defensive backs there.î

Phillips, who’s listed at 5-foot-10 and 196 pounds, has the athletic skills and football intelligence needed to play on the next level. Better yet, he has resiliency and desire.

mmclain@tribune-chronicle.com.