Phillips jailed on domestic battery charge Jermaine Phillips was arrested early Sunday for allegedly strangling his wife in a domestic altercation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said in an arrest report. Phillips was charged with domestic battery by strangulation and arrested at 4:50 a.m. He was being held in a Hillsborough County jail with no bail set, according to the sheriff's office jail record. Phillips, 30, was asleep at his home in Tampa when his wife approached him about a woman's phone number on his cell phone, the sheriff's office said. They had an argument around 4:35 a.m. that moved into the living room, the sheriff's office report states. In the living room, Phillips allegedly grabbed his wife of nearly one year around the neck, which impeded her breathing, the sheriff's office arrest report states. After the incident, his wife said she was going to walk the dog and left the home, the report states. When deputies arrived, Phillips admitted after being read his Miranda rights to using his right hand to push his wife in the neck, the report states. "The Buccaneers are aware of the serious charges against Jermaine Phillips and will monitor the situation closely," team director of public relations Jeff Kamis said. Phillips was a fifth-round pick of the Bucs in 2002. He replaced John Lynch as the Bucs' starting strong safety in 2004 and held that position through the 2008 season, but injuries cut short his '04 and '05 seasons. Phillips was pegged to replace Derrick Brooks as the Bucs' weakside linebacker in 2009, but a thumb injury ended his season after just two games, opening the way for Geno Hayes to take over that spot. Phillips is the third Bucs player to run afoul of the law in recent months. Cornerback Aqib Talib was arrested and charged with battery on a cab driver in August, and offensive lineman Marcus Johnson was arrested on a DUI charge in October. Johnson was released the next day, but Talib remains with the team. Fellow safety Tanard Jackson, meanwhile, was suspended for four games at the start of the year for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. The Tampa Tribune 11 January 2010