Enough with practice squad; time to get real

Gary Banks gets it. He’s 28 years of age and has yet to play a down, catch a pass or make a tackle in the NFL. This is his time, his inning. There’s a place for him now. It’s doubtful the window of opportunity will open wider than it has at this moment. He knows it. So do the Chargers. It’s all up to Gary Banks. No one else. He either makes it or he doesn’t. Coaches select players they best believe can help them win. Coaches are weird that way. If they didn’t like him, he wouldn’t still be here, but you still have to contribute in real games. Banks is a wide receiver who, after signing with San Diego as an undrafted free agent in 2008 following a three-year stint in the Cubs’ minor league organization and four years of college football at Troy, has spent the past two seasons on the Chargers’ practice squad. The Chargers were jammed at wideout. Only an injury epidemic at the position was going to place him on the 53-man roster. But now that Kassim Osgood is chasing his dre...