Exonerated football player gets signed by UFL team

It's been a long road that Brian Banks has been following in his quest to become an NFL player.  Banks — who went from high school football standout to falsely-accused suspect to prison inmate — has now signed a pro football contract with the Las Vegas Locos of the United Football League.  The team announced the move with a beaming Banks at a press conference Wednesday.

Falsely accused of rape at age 16, the high school linebacker spent five years in prison and another five years on probation before he was exonerated in May after his accuser recanted her story.

Banks, who lost 50 pounds and almost all hope for a pro football career while he sat in a prison cell, received interest from  several pro teams when he was released — including Pete Carroll who received a verbal commitment from Banks 10 years earlier when he was the coach at USC.  Carroll invited his old prospect up to his Seattle Seahawks camp to workout.  Other NFL teams interested in giving Banks his shot were the Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins.

The 27-year old rookie attended some summer minicamps and the list of suitors was impressive — but 10 years of hardship had taken its toll.  Banks went back to Los Angeles and kept working out and waited.

The consensus among Carroll's people was that Banks exceeded all expectations considering the circumstances.

"Size-wise, strength-wise, and all that kind of stuff, he's in the right kind of profile," said Carroll.

Banks went away without an NFL contract but signing with the UFL is a step in the right direction. There is talk in Seattle of Banks hooking up with an NFL practice squad in midseason.

"Does he look like a ballplayer? Yes. Does he move well? Yes. Is there a chance? Absolutely," said Seahawks linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr.. "I liked the first impression he left."

It's impossible to root against this guy.