Tony Banks (American football)
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | April 5, 1973 San Diego, California | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 229 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | San Diego (CA) Hoover | ||||||||||||
| College: | Michigan State | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1996 / Round: 2 / Pick: 42 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com | |||||||||||||
Anthony Lamar Banks (born April 5, 1973) is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the NFL. As part of the Baltimore Ravens, he helped the team win Super Bowl XXXV over the New York Giants.
High school years[]
Banks attended Hoover High School in San Diego, California, and was a letterman in football, basketball, and baseball.
Post high school and college years[]
Banks played right field for the Minnesota Twins' Class A team in Ft. Myers, Florida, before enrolling at San Diego Mesa College in San Diego. He played there two years before transferring to Michigan State University. Banks places among the all-time record holders at Michigan State. He ranks sixth in passing completion percentage, tenth in career passing yards, and tenth in passing touchdowns. Banks was the first quarterback selected in the 1996 NFL Draft.
In the October 2010 issue of Sports Illustrated, former NFL agent Josh Luchs claimed he paid Banks 'several hundred dollars a month' while Banks was at Michigan State, a violation of NCAA eligibility rules.[1]
College statistics[]
| Passing | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | GP | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yards | TDs | Int |
| 1994 | Michigan State | 11 | 145 | 238 | 60.9 | 2,040 | 11 | 6 |
| 1995 | Michigan State | 9 | 156 | 258 | 60.5 | 2,089 | 9 | 15 |
| College Totals | 20 | 301 | 496 | 60.7 | 4,129 | 20 | 21 | |
Professional career[]
St. Louis Rams[]
Tony Banks was drafted in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams as the first quarterback selected in that year's draft. He soon found himself the starter as a rookie. Banks recorded significant yardage and touchdowns but would also end up setting a record for fumbles that first season, with 21. Due to high expectations, based on his physical gifts, as well as off-field controversy,[2][3] Banks soon found himself the target of criticism from the St. Louis fans and media.[citation needed] After three seasons with the Rams, the team signed Trent Green and then traded Banks to the Ravens for two draft picks.[4]
Baltimore Ravens[]
Banks accumulated the best statistics of his career with the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens started Scott Mitchell and Stoney Case early in 1999, but neither worked out, so the team turned to Banks. In 1999, he threw a career-high 17 TDs next to only 8 interceptions. He also mustered 2,136 passing yards. Banks played well in early 2000, but his fumbles and INTs cost the team two games in October. Feeling the offense needed a spark after failing to score a touchdown over an entire month, the team replaced him with backup Trent Dilfer, who would remain the starter through the team's Super Bowl XXXV win. He finished 2000 with 8 touchdowns and 8 interceptions and was released in the off-season.
Dallas Cowboys[]
Leading into the 2001 season, Banks was signed by the Dallas Cowboys to replace the recently released and later retired Troy Aikman; however, on August 15, 2001, Banks was abruptly released by the Cowboys who chose instead to go with rookie Quincy Carter.
Washington Redskins[]
Later that year, Tony Banks signed with the Washington Redskins during Marty Schottenheimer's one-year tenure as head coach. While with the Redskins, he became the first quarterback to follow an 0-5 start with 5 straight wins.[5] He was released after the season.
Houston Texans[]
Tony Banks signed with the Houston Texans. He was the second-string quarterback for the Houston Texans behind David Carr. During his four-year tenure with the team, Banks received minimal playing time. On February 28, 2006, Banks was released by the Texans. He never returned to the NFL.
References[]
- ^ "Josh Luchs says he paid players". ESPN. October 13, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ http://articles.courant.com/1998-10-11/sports/9810110172_1_rams-quarterback-tony-banks-tight-end-troy-drayton-trans-world-dome
- ^ https://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-had-some-characters-at-qb/article_85bcf4f1-d5c0-56a0-ad61-36cc45edd877.html
- ^ "ESPN".
- ^ "Five losses to five wins: five reasons". tribunedigital-baltimoresun. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
External links[]
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · ESPN · Yahoo! Sports · SI.com · Pro Football Reference
- 1973 births
- Living people
- American football quarterbacks
- Baltimore Ravens players
- Dallas Cowboys players
- Michigan State Spartans football players
- St. Louis Rams players
- Houston Texans players
- San Diego Mesa Olympians football players
- Washington Redskins players
- Sportspeople from San Diego
- Players of American football from California
- African-American players of American football