Michael Oher says 'The Blind Side' has ruined his football career
By JOHN DORN
Many would think that The Blind Side, the movie depicting NFL lineman Michael Oher's rise from poverty to the NFL, would have helped build him up and overcome adversity over the course of the career. According to the player himself, though, the effect has been just the opposite.
After five years with the Baltimore Ravens, from 2009 through 2013, Oher joined the Tennessee Titans last season. It was the first year he failed to play in all 16 games, and he was cut just one season into a five-year contract. He's currently slated to start at left tackle for Carolina this season, but his campaign is already off to a rocky start after a minicamp fight with teammate Kony Ealy on Wednesday.
According to Oher, the brawl was instigated after comments about himself in regards to the Disney film. Via ESPN.com (h/t Deadspin):
"I'm not trying to prove anything,'' Oher said. "People look at me, and they take things away from me because of a movie. They don't really see the skills and the kind of player I am. That's why I get downgraded so much, because of something off the field.
"This stuff, calling me a bust, people saying if I can play or not ... that has nothing to do with football. It's something else off the field. That's why I don't like that movie.''
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"That's taken away from my football,'' Oher said. "That's why people criticize me. That's why people look at me every single play.''
Coming off a few rocky NFL seasons performance-wise, Oher is looking to right the ship in Carolina. Unfortunately, he can't seem to shake his association with the movie -- and with the way his pro career is heading, it's unlikely he ever will.
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