Brian Banks [PHOTO]: Exonerated Football Player Wrongfully Imprisoned for Rape Signs to Atlanta Falcons
After spending five years in prison and 5 years on probation, Brian Banks has been exonerated and just signed to the Atlanta Falcons at the age of 27 years old. In 2002, Brian was 17 years old. A friend accused him of rape and kidnapping. He was ranked 11th nationwide as middle linebacker and preparing to attend the University of Southern California.
He waited a year to stand trial and pleaded no contest to avoid a possible 41-year sentence, despite a lack of DNA evidence. This plea deal landed Banks behind bars for 5 years. When he was 22 years old in 2007, Brian was released from prison and placed on probation. He had to register as a sex offender, wear a GPS tracking device around his ankle and could not live within 2,000 feet of any park or school.
Then one day, he received a friend request on Facebook from the woman who had wrongfully accused him.
"She was hoping that we could allow bygones to be bygones," Banks told "60 Minutes."
Banks and a private detective were able to tape a retraction upon meeting with the accuser in which she stated, "No, he did not rape me." This evidence was presented in his exoneration case and the same judge who sentenced him to jail freed him from his turmoil.
After signing his contract, the new NFL player said,
"I can't believe this is happening. It's surreal. Aside from getting my life back and my freedom back, this is the biggest accomplishment of my life. But it is also just the beginning."
Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said, "We're putting together our roster and this isn't a charity case. This is a great, feel-good story, but it's also one that we believe that he has a chance to come in there and compete."
Now that he is signed to the team, he has to prove his worth to receive a spot on the 53-man roster.
"I don't expect any handouts or favoritism," Banks said. "I'm here to work like everybody else. The result of my hard work will be whatever they deem necessary. All I can do is do my best."
"There's still a long distance to go. He understands that. We understand that," Dimitroff said. "Given his character and his makeup and what he's gone through ... I think that speaks volumes to his perseverance and his drive to continue to learn and grow."