Tonight's game against the Arizona Cardinals offers Brandon Banks his last shot to impress the Redskins and sneak onto their roster. He's had his moments in the preseason, including a long touchdown return in the Redskins' blowout of the Bills, but he's also had his struggles, fumbling a punt in last week's win over the Jets. Ryan O'Halloran of Comcast SportsNet believes Banks and seventh-round pick Terrence Austin are competing for one spot on the roster.
↵But as with most athletes, we really have taken for granted just how far Banks has gone to even get to this point. I'm not talking about the fact that he's 5'7'' or the fact that no NFL team drafted him. I'm talking about his struggles off the field, detailed brilliantly by Rich Campbell of the Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star in this feature article.
↵As Campbell notes, nine months ago, Banks was arrested on domestic battery charges. He felt his NFL career was doomed, and even lost a lot of hope. Thanks to his agent and a mid-May decision by Redskins GM Bruce Allen, though, Banks got his shot, and he's close to making the most of it. Whether he makes the team or not, you have to appreciate his determination, even if you do not appreciate what he did to get himself in this spot in the first place.
↵D.C. loves redemption stories, after all.
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