Banks expressed his regret for his vulgar comments on Instagram Live
Deonte Banks, the first-round draft pick of the New York Giants, issued an apology on Monday for his profane rant against the Washington Commanders on Instagram Live. Banks, who grew up in Maryland and played college football at the University of Maryland, was upset that the Commanders passed on him in the NFL draft and selected cornerback Emmanuel Forbes instead.
Banks said he let his emotions get the best of him after the Giants’ 31-19 win over the Commanders on Sunday, in which he had three tackles and helped limit Commanders’ star receiver Terry McLaurin to five catches for 43 yards. Banks went on a tirade against the Commanders, saying they should have picked him at No. 16 and that he would make them pay for their mistake twice a year for the rest of his career.
“I just want to apologize to the Commanders organization, the fans, and the NFL for my actions yesterday,” Banks said in a statement. “I was caught up in the heat of the moment and I said some things that I regret. I have nothing but respect for the Commanders and their players, especially Emmanuel Forbes, who is a great player and a great person. I hope to learn from this and grow as a player and a person.”
Banks has been a bright spot for the struggling Giants
The Giants, who are 3-8 and have little chance of making the playoffs, have not had much to celebrate this season, but Banks has been one of the few bright spots. The No. 24 overall pick has started every game for the Giants and has shown flashes of being a lockdown cornerback in the league. He has 42 tackles, one interception, and nine passes defended so far.
Banks has been particularly impressive against the Commanders, who are his division rivals and his hometown team. In their first meeting in Week 2, Banks recorded his first NFL interception and helped the Giants secure a 27-24 win. In their second meeting on Sunday, Banks was part of a Giants defense that forced four turnovers and held the Commanders to 19 points.
Banks said he was motivated by the fact that the Commanders overlooked him in the draft and chose Forbes, who has struggled in his rookie season. Forbes has a lower player grade on Pro Football Focus than Banks and has missed three games due to injury. Banks said he felt disrespected by the Commanders and wanted to prove them wrong.
“I always play with a chip on my shoulder, but especially against the Commanders,” Banks said. “They were my favorite team growing up and I thought they would draft me. I was hurt when they didn’t and I wanted to show them what they missed out on. But I went too far with my trash talk and I’m sorry for that.”
Banks hopes to move on from the incident and focus on his game
Banks said he hopes to move on from the incident and focus on his game. He said he has received support from his teammates and coaches, who have praised his performance and his potential. He said he wants to be a leader for the Giants and a role model for the fans.
“I’m a young player and I’m still learning how to handle myself in this league,” Banks said. “I have a lot of passion and a lot of pride, but I also have a lot of respect for the game and the people who play it. I don’t want to be known as a trash talker, I want to be known as a great player. I’m going to work hard to improve my game and my character and help the Giants win.”
Banks and the Giants will face the Philadelphia Eagles next week, another division rival and another team that passed on Banks in the draft. Banks said he will be ready to play and will let his game do the talking.
“I’m looking forward to the next game and the next challenge,” Banks said. “I’m not going to let this incident define me or distract me. I’m going to play with the same intensity and the same confidence, but with more respect and more class. I’m going to show everyone what I can do on the field and off the field.”
