Ex-NFL RB Lawrence Phillips found dead in prison cell

Lawrence Phillips, a former first-round NFL running back, was found dead Wednesday at Kern Valley State Prison in California.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation released a statement announcing Phillips' death at age 40. He was found unresponsive in his cell early Wednesday morning and transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The death is being investigated as a suspected suicide, according to prison officials.

Phillips was facing the possible death penalty in the alleged murder of his former cellmate last April at the prison in Delano, Calif.

Phillips was serving a sentence of 31 years for the 2006 conviction of running his car into a group of teenagers and the 2009 conviction for assaulting an ex-girlfriend.

Because of the first-degree murder charge, Phillips was in an Administrative Segregation Unit in a cell by himself at the time of his death.

Phillips was a star running back at Nebraska who was drafted sixth overall in 1996 by the St. Louis Rams. He became more known for failed second chances after many legal run-ins at Nebraska and in the NFL.

Phillips played in just 35 games over four years with the Rams, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.