New York Post

Banks dumps WFAN

- By RYAN GLASSPIEGE­L

Carl Banks has resigned from his role on WFAN’s midday show with Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata after a Kayvon Thibodeaux segment got contentiou­s last week.

The hosts criticized Thibodeaux for his motor, while Banks chided them that they had an “unhealthy obsession” as fans in finding flaws with players.

“If it’s not your job to find out what the kid does right, then it should not be your job to call him a bust,” Banks said.

At that point, 20 minutes into the conversati­on, Licata said that he had “heard enough” and ended the call.

A source told The Post that WFAN management tried to smooth things over with Banks but that his mind was made up.

Licata and Tierney addressed Banks’ resignatio­n on the air Wednesday.

“Usually in this spot, we have Carl Banks on. Last week we had a testy debate with Carl. Right on the air afterwards, I came on and apologized for the way that it ended, kind of cutting the call short there after 20 minutes,” Licata said. “I also called him during the week, and also apologized. He said all was good. But Carl just doesn’t want to do the spot anymore, so we move on.”

Tierney, who has known Banks for more than a decade as he covers St. John’s basketball games and Banks is a huge fan of the program, chimed in.

“Listen, things are gonna happen in this medium when you bring a lot of passion to a topic,” Tierney said.

Tierney also said he called Banks on Tuesday.

“We chatted for about 15 minutes,” he said. “I wanted to reiterate that I’ve known him for a long time. I don’t like the perception, certainly for me as a person, us as a show, that we’re ever in the business of doing good people wrong. That’s not our M.O. Carl’s a great guy.”

Longtime New York sports reporter Gary Myers tweeted Wednesday that Banks resigned because he was “completely disrespect­ed” by the program.

Banks was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Giants. He is the Giants’ color commentato­r on their radio broadcasts.

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