RENTON, Wash. -- The tryout candidate wearing No. 43 in white got yelled at when he screwed up, praised when he did something correct and treated just like the rest of the 80 or so Seattle Seahawks players on the field Wednesday.
Being exactly like the peers around him never felt so rewarding to Brian Banks.
"It was more overwhelming than I thought," Banks said. "I had high hopes and dreams of being out here today and just to finally be out here, to have this helmet on, to have this name on the back of this jersey, to be a part of this team for a day it's more than I could ever imagine."
Banks wasn't sure what to expect Wednesday morning when he boarded a shuttle bus from his hotel to the Seahawks practice facility for his first day taking part in minicamp.
When he walked into the palatial locker room, Banks found a locker specifically for him, with a No. 43 practice jersey hanging on a hook and a new Seahawks helmet waiting to be pulled on.
"I wanted to take a picture for myself. It was just amazing to see my name on the back of it," Banks said. "It's an honor. It's an honor to be taken seriously and get this opportunity."
Late last month, Banks was still in the hopeful stage that his conviction for rape and kidnapping a decade ago would be overturned by a California court. In a strange turn of events, the woman later recanted her claim and offered to help Banks clear his name after he was out of prison, a process that led to his conviction being overturned and his record cleared.
His conviction was thrown out in late May, exonerating Banks after he served more than five years in prison and was on probation.
That was the start of a whirlwind last three weeks for Banks. He's become a celebrity and spokesman for the California Innocence Project, while also trying to return to the sport he loved as a kid and potentially ignite an NFL career.
Banks, a linebacker, had a workout for the San Diego Chargers last Friday and another for Kansas City on Tuesday before flying to Seattle for the final two days with the Seahawks.
"The flights have been probably what I've enjoyed a lot, but something to get used to, the change of time and time zones," said Banks, who had not been on a plane for more than 15 years until last week's flight to Seattle. "But for the most part every time I get to the field I'm always refreshed and ready to go."
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
