Linebacker Brian Banks' NFL career rescue hits minor bump in Falcons cut

Brian Banks' bid to build an NFL career after serving five years in prison for a crime he did not commit hit a roadblock when he was cut by Atlanta.

The free agent linebacker, 28, signed on March 3 by the Falcons, was among 11 players released by the club as they trimmed their roster in advance of the 2013 season.

The Falcons could still try to sign him to their practice squad, although those places go to younger players the team want to develop.

Banks said he was just happy to have a chance to chase his NFL dream. "I've been fully consumed in making this team, trying to catch up on all those years I missed in football," he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper. "It was definitely challenging but, overall, I enjoyed myself immensely."

Having such an opportunity seemed impossible in 2002, when Banks, then a 17-year-old high school football star was accused by a classmate of rape.

Despite the absence of DNA evidence, he said his lawyer convinced him to plead no-contest to charges of forcible rape and kidnapping. He was sentenced to the maximum five years. Released from state prison in 2007, Banks had to register as a sex offender and wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.