Posted: 01:51 PM ET May 30, 2012
By Josh Katzowitz | NFL BloggerBrian Banks, a former high school football star who committed to play at USC, has spent the past 10 years as a convicted felon after pleading guilty to kidnapping and rape in 2002.
In a shocking twist last week, though, a judge threw out the conviction and freed him from captivity after Banks' former accuser admitted that she had lied about the accusation that he had raped her.
Now, Banks wants to reignite his football dream and hopes to have a chance to play in the NFL. According to ESPN.com's Rick Reilly, Banks will get that shot after all as the Chiefs, Redskins, Dolphins and Seahawks have been in contact to offer him tryouts.
Which obviously makes Banks ecstatic. But is it possible for Banks, who spent the past decade not playing football, to perform well enough to make an NFL team? I remember we were skeptical of Plaxico Burress' claims that he was good enough to return to the NFL after prison -- and surprisingly, he was -- but Banks spent about twice as long in prison than Burress (on the other hand, Burress also was about eight years older than Banks when he got his chance).
And considering Banks was locked up for five years and has spent the past five years on probation with an electronic bracelet around his ankle, how hard really could he have been training?
"I'll make 'em happy," Banks told Reilly. "After all I've been through these last 10 years, I can still do some things that will impress you."
Banks said he's been training hard for the past eight months. The 6-foot-2, 245-pounder says he can dead-lift 545 pounds, jump 55 inches flat-footed and run a 4.6 40. Here's hoping Banks, who's handled himself so well throughout this seemingly unfair process, makes the best of his newfound chance at success.
"I know my story makes people angry at first," Banks said. "That's where I was, too, at first. But where would it have gotten me to stay mad for 10 years? It's like when you're a little kid and you cry about having to clean your room. You can cry and cry, but it doesn't get your room cleaned."
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