NFL bust Lawrence Phillips details life in prison

THE downfall of Lawrence Phillips may be one of the most drastic in NFL history — and now he’s given an insight to what life is like on the inside.

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 13: Lawrence Phillips #21 of the St. Louis Rams looks on against the Carolina Panthers at Ericsson Stadium on October 13, 1996 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers defeated the Rams 45-13. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

THE downfall of Lawrence Phillips may be one of the most drastic in NFL history — and now he’s given an insight to what life is like on the inside.

The star running back at Nebraska who got into trouble in 1994-95 was somewhat forced to enter the NFL Draft in 1996 — earlier than he may have wanted.

Phillips was the No. 6 overall pick and turned out to be one of the worst draft busts of all time.

He got in legal trouble with the Rams and didn’t last two seasons, finishing out 1997 in Miami. He spent a year in the Canadian Football League before trying to come back to the NFL with the 49ers in 1999, but was such a pain in the locker room that he played in just eight games.

Failed attempts in the CFL and AFL didn’t work either, and in August 2005, Phillips was arrested on allegations of running his car into three teenagers while being wanted on allegations of assault on his girlfriend.

Both of those got him 31 years in prison.

In addition, Phillips, 39, is a suspect in the murder of cellmate Damion Soward.

Now letters that Phillips wrote to former coaches have been obtained by USA Today and made public.

Some of what he describes has been harrowing. In them, Phillips writes to Tony Zane, who was his coach at Baldwin Park High School in Southern California, and Ty Pagone, a retired vice principal and former football coach at Baldwin Park High.

Lawrence Phillips pictured in 1996 while at the St. Louis Rams.

Here are some of the choice excerpts from Phillips’ own words:

Jan 14, 2014

Dear Coach Zane,

How are you doing? I’m doing well. As you might have noticed on the envelope, I have been moved from the cell I was in. I spent some days in the hole for refusing to room with a gang member. They have now took my privileges, which include yard (exercise), canteen, vendor packages, and all personal property for 180 days. I will of course appeal this decision as I was refusing to room with gang members after already having had incidents with gang members.

May 29, 2014

Dear Coach Pagone,

We are still today on lock down due to some stabbings and assaults between black and white inmates. It has been ongoing for sometime.

I am glad to hear Marie’s wedding was great. Usually an open bar leads to a lot of dancing.

I do not have a cell mate. All of these dudes want to use drugs and (illegible) weapons in the cell. I’m in the process of applying for single-cell status. I will let you know how that goes.

June 15, 2014 (To coach Pagone):

We have been in lock down about 80% of the time. You would be surprised at what these altercations are about! Nonsense! But when your world is this small all one has to care about is nonsense. That is why I do not want any of these idiots in the cell with me.

All they want to do is the drugs, make knives and make alcohol. Then they say when they get out they will not come back. I tell them of course you will. You are doing the same thing that got you locked up. Of course they do not want to hear that. It is like speaking to a brick wall.

Now I understand how people must have felt talking to me. So needless to say I have zero friends inside here. Not one person is in line with my way of thinking.

Sept 14, 2014 (To “Coach D”):

Well, there is nothing new happening here. We are still locked down. One of the guards was assaulted so it may be awhile. Coach D, this place is a jungle. Trouble everywhere. One must swallow his pride constantly or one will always be in the hole. But we must deal with the situation we put ourselves in.