Banks: 'I've succeeded;' inspires fans despite cut

Jim Corbett | USA TODAY Sports

One day after being cut by the Atlanta Falcons, Brian Banks already is focused on what's next: a documentary film, offers to turn his story into a movie and the book he hopes to write about his unbroken spirit.

The 28-year-old linebacker lost 10 years of his football prime to a wrongful rape conviction. He was exonerated last year after he and a private investigator secretly taped his accuser, former classmate Wanetta Gibson, recanting her accusation.

"This is the beginning for me in life,'' Banks told USA TODAY Sports on Saturday. "Football was a dream, an opportunity once taken from me; something I thought I'd never be able to do again.

Banks thanked Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Mike Smith for giving him the chance to recapture a dream that once seemed long lost.

"After five years in prison, five years on parole and a total of 10 years of being in hell, I can look back on it all and say I played in four NFL games. It's incredible," he said. "From the perspective of everything I went through to have played in four NFL games, it was one of the best experiences of my life.''

His positive outlook in saying, "I've succeeded'' despite being cut is the latest example of what Banks calls his unbroken spirit.

Banks' Twitter account exploded by 5,000 new followers since Friday, and he's received more than 1,000 messages from fans thanking him for his inspiration.

Now, it's time to re-dedicate himself to helping gain more exonerations for the California Innocence Project, which assisted in getting his conviction overturned in May 2012.

"I've been so consumed with trying to make this team these last few months. But now I'm heading back to California, diving back in with the California Innocence Project towards helping get some guys who deserve to be home with their families as my way of giving back,'' Banks said.

"My freedom was being out there on that field, being in those four preseason games – being back on a football field was my sign that I actually in fact have gotten my freedom back.''

Banks treasures the friendships developed with Dimitroff, Smith, quarterback Matt Ryan, tight end Tony Gonzalez and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, who became a mentor.

"I've made a family of friends -- this experience is one I'll take with me forever,'' Banks said. "It was hard for Thomas and coach Smith to deliver the news.

"They were collectively proud of me for the hard work I put in and thankful that they got a chance to be a part of my story, he said. "Coach Smith said he was honored to have met me. Likewise -- part of me will always be an Atlanta Falcon. They're family forever.''

There also was mention of an unspecified job offer from Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

The logistics have yet to be discussed.

In the meantime, Banks, who assisted the California Justice Project in getting two exonerations and is working on a third for those wrongfully accused, is filming a documentary on his life with Academy Award-winning film maker Michele Farinola, who received an Oscar for "Undefeated,'' a coming-of-age film about a Memphis, Tenn. high school football team.

"I'm working on a huge, amazing documentary with Michele,'' Banks said.

"Even before Michele came on board, I sat in a jail cell and said, 'I need to document my life.' I picked up a camera, talked to it every single day during the time the California Innocence Project was making my appeal for exoneration. I had over two years of footage.''

Although Banks wouldn't mind if the phone rings with an offer from another team, football won't define him.

"I'm not tying myself to one dream,'' Banks says. "Football is just one part of me. It's not the be-all, end all."

"To come from where I came from and to make it to training camp and play four NFL preseason games with the Atlanta Falcons, I completed the mission regardless of how long. ... I have no complaints. I've succeeded.''