Jordan Phillips is an emotional football player. With the Buffalo Bills, he has gained notoriety as someone who tries to pump up his teammates and the crowd during key moments of a game.
So it should come as no surprise that Phillips, a defensive tackle, has been eyeing Sunday’s game between the Bills (4-7) and Miami Dolphins (5-6) at Hard Rock Stadium. That game, the first of two this year between Buffalo and Miami, is sure to be an emotional moment for Phillips, who was released by the Dolphins Oct. 2.
During a session with members of the Buffalo media this week, Phillips said he is looking forward to facing the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of the University of Oklahoma.
“Most people that leave Miami, that’s really when their career gets started,” Phillips said after Wednesday’s practice. “Things have definitely turned around since I’ve been here. Fans love me. My teammates love me.”
Leading up to his release, Phillips was demonstrably upset on the Miami sideline after being taken out of a 38-7 blowout loss to the New England Patriots on Sept. 30.
After receiving the news he had been cut, Phillips, went on Instagram to express himself, claiming that the release from South Beach had him feeling “free at last, free at last.” While Phillips made a point to say he had no ill will towards his former teammates, he “couldn’t be happier to be out of there.”
And Jordan Phillips appears happy he’s out of Miami, via his IG story. pic.twitter.com/zZny0cNRkR
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) October 2, 2018
The Bills quickly pounced, claiming Phillips off waivers, and he has made an impact on a deep and talented Buffalo defensive line. As a reserve defensive tackle, Phillips has appeared in seven games, making 11 tackles with two passes defended for the Bills.
During the question-and-answer session, Phillips was asked about how important it was for him to have his focus on the game with the Dolphins, more than his desire to get revenge and prove Miami wrong for cutting him.
“I don’t care anything about professionalism, to be completely honest with you, going into this game,” Phillips said. “Everything’s going to be handled in between the sidelines. Once we’re inside those white lines, anything goes.”
Displaying feelings of resentment over being cut two months ago, Phillips didn’t single out one particular Dolphin, but said he would use Sunday’s game as his way of exacting his revenge.
”Whoever has something coming to them is going to get it on Sunday,” he said.