Posts tagged: brian banks

Banks To Visit Vikings At End Of The Week

June 11, 2012, by 19 comments

A few days back, we passed along the information that linebacker Brian Banks is somebody of interest to the Vikings (and everybody else that follows football) this offseason.

After being exonerated of rape charges that took a decade of his young life, Banks has become quite the celebrity and many are hopeful he will become the feel-good storyline of this season, regardless of where he lands.

According to Sam Farmer of the L.A. Times, Banks will attend a minicamp with the Seattle Seahawks this week.  If he leaves Seattle without a contract, then he is scheduled to visit the Vikings at the end of this week.

The Vikings could be the perfect match for Banks should they choose to offer him a contract.  They are a young team looking to improve but, at the same time, expecting some growing pains.  Plus, they could use some depth at linebacker.

Banks could have the inspired type of play, the will to succeed, that coaches will love in training camp despite the certain obstacles he will have to hurdle in order to succeed in the NFL after such a long time away from the game.

We’ll be sure to keep an eye on this storyline and let you know of any progress as far as the Vikings are concerned.

Brian Banks Is On The Vikings Radar

June 9, 2012, by 4 comments

After being falsely accused of rape, linebacker Brian Banks is trying to break back into football after an incredibly trying 10 years.  Banks has drawn interest from a number of teams and we can now put the Vikings in that category.

Reports have surfaced, citing Banks’ lawyer as the source, that the Vikings would like to bring Banks in for a tryout to see what he has.

Banks is now 26 and had once made a verbal commitment to attend USC after being highly recruited, but the accusations derailed his life and his football career.  The accuser, Wanetta Gibson, recently recanted her accusations revealing a plot to gain a financial settlement from the school district that both her and Banks attended.

“I think that any team that gives me an opportunity would be really impressed with what I can do despite all of what I’ve been through these past 10 years,” Banks told Ann Curry of Today in May.

Banks has an uphill battle to catch on with an NFL team, but he has certainly caught the attention of football fans (and morning news audiences) and has been a unique, interesting, and inspiring storyline to follow this offseason.