PNG grad, Broncos’ D-coordinator Phillips back at work after hard hit
Published 5:00 pm Monday, October 31, 2016
- Wade Phillips
After taking his second hard hit on a sideline this calendar year, Denver Broncos coordinator Wade Phillips returned to work Monday, but not at the recommendation of his head coach.
Gary Kubiak said the 1965 Port Neches-Groves graduate was sitting in the back area of a press conference with a big smile on his face. “He’s sore, but he’s feeling good, and back at it,” Kubiak told the team’s website.
The team reported that Phillips, 69, was released from a Denver-area hospital Sunday after San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon inadvertently ran into Phillips on an interception return by Denver’s Bradley Roby. The accident occurred during the second quarter of Denver’s 27-19 victory.
“He just got the heck knocked out of him,” Kubiak said. “It looked like the back of his head hit the ground pretty hard. Just a scary situation.”
The team reported Gordon apologized for the hit.
Phillips was said to be responsive while being treated on the sideline. He was shown holding a “No. 1” hand signal as he was carted from the Broncos’ stadium.
The Broncos are reportedly considering moving Phillips to the coaching booth for future games.
“We’ll see how Wade’s feeling,” Kubiak told the team website. “From what I’m seeing today, he’s himself today, and the fact that he’s battling with me today when I’m trying to get him to go home and get some rest makes me know he’s back to his old self. So we’ll see how he’s doing.”
Phillips was also run over during an AFC divisional playoff against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Denver on Jan. 17. Phillips, who seemed to try and defend himself from that hit while standing farther back from the thick white line, got right up after Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant ran into him and was not hospitalized.
“I’m fine. I just hope [Bryant is] OK,” Phillips joked to The News the next night.
Denver won that game en route to winning the Super Bowl.
Phillips was standing much closer to the sideline when Gordon failed to slow down and run into him.
Phillips’ latest hit came five days before the Mid-County Madness game between PNG and Nederland kicks off in Port Neches. The Bum Phillips Bowl Trophy, named after Wade’s late father and NFL coach, will be awarded for the third year in a row.
Wade Phillips was the honoree of a Homecoming Roast sponsored by The News in June.
I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews
About I.C. Murrell
I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
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