D-backs’ Hall on job offer to Brian Banks: ‘It’s the right thing to do’
Jun 1, 2012, 12:05 AM | Updated: 1:22 am
You’ve probably heard the story of Brian Banks, a former
prep football star who spent time in prison due to a rape
charge that was proven to be a lie.
The last 10 years of his life have been spent either in
prison or on parole wearing an ankle bracelet, so needless
to say his NFL dreams were put on hold — if not aside all
together.
Now exonerated, the 26-year-old is hoping to catch on with
an NFL team, having already scheduled tryouts with the
Seahawks and possibly Chiefs and Dolphins.
Should the NFL not offer a place for him, though, the
Diamondbacks will. Team president Derrick Hall has extended a
job
offer to Banks, a move he told Arizona Sports 620’s
Doug and Wolf came easy to him.
“When I heard that it was reversed and that the truth came
out last week,” Hall said. “I remember seeing this on the
news in the morning, and I walked in and told my wife, you
know, I was emotional and I said I can’t believe this,
we’ve got to help this young man out.”
Hall said he contacted Banks through a private email
(which has since become public knowledge) not for public
relations purposes, but because he thinks Banks can be an
asset to the D-backs’ organization.
What Banks would do for the team is up in the air, but
Hall isn’t concerned about finding a spot for him just
yet.
“I can tell you from the interviews I saw, he’s a very
smart, articulate, good looking kid,” Hall said. “I think
there’s so much that he could do.”
Hall talked about him being a fit in sales, marketing or
game operations, with the point being wherever he’d end
up, the team would be better off having him around.
“Whatever the case may be, this young man deserves a fresh
start,” Hall said, noting that Banks has handled this
situation without anger or bitterness. “It’s just awful
what he’s been through and what his family has been
through.”
Of course, Hall said he hopes Banks’ NFL dreams come true.
But if not, he has no regrets about getting involved in
trying to help.
“It’s the right thing to do,” he said.
