If you’re anything like us, you absolutely loved The Blind Side, the true story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family.
Not only was the film inspiring, it also had an A-list cast including Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw. And while the movie became a major hit in theaters, it wasn’t all that beneficial when it came to Michael Oher’s career. In fact, the Carolina Panthers player says due to the film, he’s been downgraded.
The subject came up when Oher was asked if a minicamp tiff between him and defensive end Kony Ealy showed he has to prove his worth after struggling the past two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans.
“I’m not trying to prove anything,” Oher told ESPN. “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.”
He continued, “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.”
The film portrays the story of how Bullock’s character and her family got Oher into football and ultimately Ole Miss, where he became an All-American left tackle, later on in 2009, becoming a first-round draft pick by the Ravens.
“That’s taken away from my football,” said Oher. “That’s why people criticize me. That’s why people look at me every single play.”
Oher may slam the film altogether, but America sure seemed to love it. The Blind Side grossed more than $300 million. Bullock took home an Oscar and a Golden Globe award for her performance. We understand the impact the film has had on his dream but we can’t help but be thankful for his positive story and the millions of lives it has touched.
