Brian Banks signs with the Atlanta Falcons

By Brian McIntyre | Shutdown Corner
 

The Brian Banks story is moving closer towards a Hollywood-style ending as Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com reports the exonerated linebacker has signed with the Atlanta Falcons.

Brian Banks has been signed by the Falcons (Doug Farrar)

Banks, 27, spent five years in prison and five years on parole after being wrongly accused and convicted of raping a female classmate at Poly Tech High School in Long Beach, California.

At the time of his arrest and subsequent incarceration, Banks was a blue-chip linebacker recruit who had a verbal commitment to USC. Following his exoneration of those charges, Banks' story reached Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, who was USC's head coach when Banks was being recruited. Carroll offered Banks an opportunity to try out for the Seahawks.

"I didn't even know if I was going to have a number, a jersey…I didn't know what to expect when I first got here," Banks said after his workout with the Seahawks. "I got to my locker and saw there was a jersey in it — number 43. And I just wanted to take a picture of it just for myself. It's just amazing to see my name on the back of it. It's an honor to be taken serious and to be given this opportunity."

Banks did not receive a contract offer from the Seahawks, but was put through the paces by linebackers coach Ken Norton, Jr.

"Well, you know, he's a little behind -- he might be a little rusty," Norton, Jr. said after the practice. "But there's the foundation. Does he look like a ballplayer? Yes. Does he move well? Yes. Is there a chance? Absolutely. The idea is, can he line up, and can he chase the ball? It's about making a first impression, and I liked the first impression he left."

Banks continued to work with trainer Travelle Gaines and had workouts with the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. The San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins also expressed in Banks, but no NFL offers were made last season. Banks ultimately joined the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League, but that league folded after a few weeks of their regular season and the linebacker still has not received a paycheck.

Last month, Banks was featured on CBS' "60 Minutes" program and said that he was in negotiations with several NFL teams about the upcoming season. While a spot on the 53-man roster of what recently-signed defensive end Osi Umenyiora called "the most-talented team" in the league may appear to be a long shot, the Falcons only have five linebackers under contract for the 2013 season.

Banks' pursuit of a roster or practice squad begins when the Falcons open up their off-season program on April 22.

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