Brian Banks' story hitting big screen could spark card interest

It's a film based on a true story, and while you might not remember his name there are football cards with this tale, too.

He's Brian Banks and a film of the same name arrives in theaters tonight. It's a story of a high school football star who went to prison for a crime he didn't commit and then what happened to get his life back.

Banks' only pro football credits on his resume -- on the backs of his only cards -- are a single tackle with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the defunct United Football League, which folded before Banks could complete a season. He got a shot in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons in 2013 and his only football cards arrived that same year under some unusual circumstances.

While it's perhaps unusual to see a lesser league noted on the back of an NFL card, the biography on his cards in a trio of 2013 Topps releases also isn't the norm.

"After spending five years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Banks saw his conviction overturned on May 24, 2012, when his accuser admitted fabricating allegations," reads the card. "Brian tried out for several NFL teams before signing with the Falcons the following April. The former high school star completed the team's entire offseason program, showing the same determination that he'd used to restore his good name."

Another oddity here? He appears on a base card only in the 2013 Topps factory set and he isn't in Hobby packs. I don't remember this move being publicly announced by Topps (and doubt it was), but the first version of card No. 373 that year? Aaron Hernandez.

Banks' card total stands at 29 cards. The 2013 Topps factory set version, its Orange parallel only in hobby sets, seven cards in the Topps Mini version (base, Gold, Black and four printing plates) and then 20 cards in 2013 Topps Chrome. Ultimately all of these cards look the same and he never got a later shot at cardboard as his playing career lasted through training camp and four preseason games before it was over.

In 2013 he joined the NFL's Department of Operations where he worked for some time before leaving to pursue work as a public speaker.

Brian Banks is in theaters tonight and you can view the trailer below.

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