*Michael Oher’s story of rising from a life of homelessness to being an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick made for a great movie with “The Blind Side.”
While the film netted Sandra Bullock a Golden Globe award and Oscar, Oher says “The Blind Side” it didn’t do much for his career in the pros. So much so that he says he’s been downgraded because of the hit movie.
In an interview with ESPN, Oher, who now plays for the Carolina Panthers, addressed the movie and its impact on him when responding to whether a minicamp incident between him and defensive end Kony Ealy resulted in him having 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.”
“This stuff, calling me a bust, people saying if I can play or not…that has nothing to do with football,” he continued. “It’s something else off the field. That’s why I don’t like that movie.”
Released in 2009, “The Blind Side” starred Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy, the woman who, along with her family, helped turn Oher’s life around with getting him into football and on the path to being an All-American left tackle at Ole Miss that ultimately ended up in the NFL. In addition, the film, which grossed more than $300 million., featured Tim McGraw as Tuohy’s husband Sean and Quinton Aaron as Oher.
Since it’s release, “The Blind Side” has attracted many fans, who were inspired by Oher’s story. Nevertheless, the athlete feels the film has done more harm than good for him professionally.
“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.”
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