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Former inmate exonerated in rape case joins pro football team
Brian Banks' professional football dream is one step closer to coming true.
A decade ago, Banks was a football standout at Long Beach Polytechnic High School in California and had been offered a scholarship to play at the University of Southern California.
Then he was accused of rape. Fearing a potentially long sentence, he followed the advice of his attorney and pleaded no contest to assaulting a classmate.
But he maintained his innocence throughout nearly six years of imprisonment, subsequent probation and registration as a sex offender.
And, according to the California Innocence Project, the woman later admitted that Banks had not kidnapped or raped her during a consensual encounter.
A judge in California tossed out his conviction in May.
On Thursday, Banks, 26, had his first practice with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League, a four-team minor league circuit. He hopes to be on the field Wednesday in the Locos home opener against the Virginia Destroyers.
“There was a point in my life where I literally had to put football aside to survive in prison. I came home in 2007, went to junior college, and then had to wear a GPS tracking device and I could not play football. But I never lost faith, and I never lost that passion for it,” Banks said at a press conference on Thursday.
Locomotives coach and general manager Jim Fassel says Banks, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound linebacker, has the character to excel at professional football.
"I can only imagine the toughness he has had to show over the last however many years. For him to clearly set his goals and go after them, he’s mentally tough. He has all the characteristics you want of someone on your team," Fassel, a former NFL coach, said at the press conference Thursday.
Banks worked out with NFL teams earlier this year and they told him what he needs to do to make it to the sport's top level. Then he got the call from the Locomotives.
“This has been an amazing journey,” he said Thursday. "This is big, a giant step to my overall pursuit of playing in the NFL. I think this is the best way to gain experience. I thank God for the opportunity.”
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The man hating lеѕbоѕ won't allow one of their lying 'sisters" to be punished. Remember that the man hating lеѕbоѕ claim that deep down all men are rаріѕtѕ.
Scott
Not getting much lately, are you Scott? A wee bit too much anger....
What a stupid comment, Scott.
Livingston
The only hatred seen here is coming from you. Your comment has nothing to do with the article.
If Scott is referring to the feminists then his remark has everything to do with this article. It is the policies that they push for that allow women to get away with this. This is cause and effect. You can't look at the effect and ignore the cause if you hope for a problem to be corrected. This isn't just 1 isolated incident but a trend.
What feminists?
What feminists is he referring to?
I am female, and there is no justification in the world for what this woman did...and no female in their right mind would condone this behavior, as it minimizes the women who actually are victimized...once again, his comment about "stylish women deleters" was wholly nonsensical, and had nothing to do with what feminists really stand for: women's rights.
What this woman did WASN'T right, and no true "feminist" would condone it.
Period.
Is that what all the girls who won't sleep with you say? That they're lesbian? hahahahaha!
So much hate when you should be rejoicing
So much hate !!! You should be rejoicing
There should be more young men like Banks in the NFL rather than some of the thugs that currently sully the sport.
What do you mean IF? CLEARLY it was UNTRUE!!!
Sad. Wasted 6 years of his life for nothing.
I hope Brian achieves all his dreams. The woman that lied should be sent to prison and feel what Brian felt for 6 years. Good luck Brian!!!!
Agreed!
completely agree..
She should do 6 years
Hopefully everything works out well for Brian. He deserves it!
ABSOLUTELY she should be in prison right now! i wish him all the best. He is a much better example than the other real criminals in the NFL. Heck, The Dallas Cowboys wouldn't even be able to field a team in the '80s if it were not for parole and work release!
Most NFL huddles are a known consortium of felons...
The accuser should be made to serve the same prison sentence that he had. See how she likes her life being messed with. Good luck Brian, it's a shame that 6 years were stolen from you, but all you can do now is look forward!
I don't think he should be called an "ex-inmate". He was wrongfully accused and will be fully exhonorated. It's disrespectul, Brad Lendon.
this ignorant woman should be thrown in jail for double the time. 12 years sounds good to me.
not only did she lie about it... the black HO sued the school for several million and won...
"black HO"? How do you know her race, and why is that relevant?
I read she is white
She's black & was dating this guy when this all happend.
Really. I had read she was a "minority". Hmmm, actually then you're right, that would make her white.
Ignorance, race didn't even occur to me, why should it?
Look at her picture for cryin out loud. Black Ho is spot on.
Udontknow f all
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Put her away...
Not only will the woman not face any sort of penalty for the story, but she also isn't required to pay back the $1.5M that she got in the subsequent lawsuit. American justice system at its finest!
Yes, she should have to pay that all back, better yet: give it to HIM!
How many pro footballers are future inmates?