If you’ve ever wanted someone to make a movie about your life, think again. One star thinks it’s actually one of the worst things that has ever happened to him.
Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Michael Oher, subject of 2009 Academy Award-winning movie “The Blind Side,” thinks the movie hurts the perception of his NFL career.
“I’m not trying to prove anything,” Oher told reporters after a scrap broke out at Panthers minicamp Wednesday, according to 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. It’s something else off the field. That’s why I don’t like that movie.”
It’s an interesting argument from Oher, the Baltimore Ravens’ No. 23 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. He’s been a relatively effective left tackle in the NFL, even winning a Super Bowl in 2012 protecting quarterback Joe Flacco’s blind side. But injuries have derailed his play the past two seasons, and he’s now onto his third team in three years after playing for the Tennessee Titans last season.
It sounds like Oher is suffering from a classic case of overhype, something even the best products — athletes or otherwise — all suffer from. Of course, the best remedy for that is to go in with low expectations. Based on Oher’s two-year, $7 million contract with the Panthers, it seems the team is proceeding with that very low-risk, high reward approach.
And hey, maybe if things go well we can have a “Blind Side” sequel by 2016.
Thumbnail photo via Nelson Chenault/USA TODAY Sports Images
