Former Lions defensive back Phillips cherishes wall of fame nod

Former Lions defensive back Phillips cherishes wall of fame nod GEMMA KARSTENS-SMITH SURREY, B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS PUBLISHED 2 HOURS AGO Open this photo in gallery: B.C. Lions defensive back Ryan Phillips, left, intercepts a pass intended for Saskatchewan Roughriders' Weston Dressler in Vancouver in 2009. DARRYL DYCK/THE CANADIAN PRESS COMMENTS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. Ryan Phillips shed some tears when he learned his name was being added to the B.C. Lions’ wall of fame. The former defensive back was stunned to learn his name would soon be enshrined alongside players he holds in high regard, from legendary kicker Lui Passaglia and CFL Hall of Fame quarterback Dave Dickenson to record-setting receiver Geroy Simon and history making linebacker Solomon Elimimian. “Those guys have been the best in the CFL,” said Phillips, now B.C.’s secondary coach and pass game coordinator. “So being in that category, for me, is nothing short of everything that you strive for as a player. “You’ve got individual goals, and that’s just the reality, right? You want to win championships, but you also want to achieve greatness as a player. So for me, this is everything.” Phillips knows the emotions could bubble up again on Saturday when he and former Lions quarterback Travis Lulay have their names added to the wall. His mom and sons — 20-year-old Ryan and 13-year-old Braylen — will be on hand for the ceremony, taking place during B.C.’s game against the league-leading Montreal Alouettes. Being a Lions lifer is not a position Phillips expected to find himself in 21 years ago when he attended his first free agent workout with the team. B.C. was coming off its 2004 Grey Cup win and the Eastern Washington alum knew he wasn’t a lock for the squad. “When I see these guys, I’m like, ‘Man, these guys can run and these guys can do things at a very high level,’” he said. “But then, when you see yourself starting to make a few plays, you’re like, ‘OK, I can actually compete and I can actually play.’” A quarterback named Buck Pierce was at that workout, too, and took notice of Phillips. Both made the team and spent the next several months learning the CFL. “That year, getting to know Ryan, you could tell right away there was something different about him,” said Pierce, now the Lions’ head coach. “I think just how he progressed every day and obviously his athletic ability … He…