The Brian Banks Tour Continues

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been following the Brian Banks saga pretty closely. If you’ve missed it, Banks was one of the most highly recruited high school players in America almost a decade ago. He was supposed to be the type of 5-star, blue chip recruit that could be an instant difference maker for a college program, except that he never got the chance to do so.

Instead, he was accused of raping one of his friends. After being given some of the worst legal advice in the history of law, he plead no contest and spent 5 years in jail. He’s been out on parole for a few years now, but the terms of his parole required that he wear a tracking device on his leg, which in turn prevented him from playing football.

That was all until a few weeks ago, when the California court exonerated Banks and said he was wrongfully imprisoned. The girl who had once accused Banks, now claims the story was a lie. Banks has lost almost a decade of his life because of a false accusation.

Hanley posted an article on here last week when it was announced that the Seahawks were giving Banks a tryout. That tryout only partly happened. Banks was supposed to participate in a team workout that didn’t happen because the Seahawks had too much contact in their OTA practices. Instead, Banks was given a private tryout, and showed enough to be invited back for the team’s final minicamp that begins on Tuesday.

While we might be waiting for Tuesday to get here, Banks isn’t waiting at all. He had a tryout with the San Diego Chargers this week, and is now on his way to Kansas City. The Chargers decided not to offer him a spot on the 90 man roster and invite him to camp. That’s not all that surprising since it’s been so long since he’s played football. If the Chiefs also decline, Banks may head to San Francisco next. He’s been invited, but (at least according to ESPN) hasn’t made plans to visit them yet.

Instead, I expect him back in Seattle on Tuesday for a 3 day tryout with the actual team. If he impresses, then the team will give him a chance. If not, then Banks will probably end up in Canada in fall, and perhaps with the new USFL in the spring. If he can’t catch on with an NFL team this fall, either of those other roads will be good for him. He clearly needs to re-learn football and get his body back into football shape.

But ultimately, I think Banks will play in the NFL. If not in 2012, then almost certainly in 2013. Banks has a prototypical body for an NFL linebacker. At some point, he will get his chance.