Michael Oher, Baltimore Raven, Takes Issue With 'The Blindside'

Since the 2009 movie The Blindside, based on the Michael Lewis book, Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Michael Oher, 26, has had to battle the perceptions that he is slow-witted and almost childlike.

The Blindside shows Oher, who was taken in as a foster child by a well-to-do family, as unable to pickup football during his early efforts at the sport. It’s an aspect of the film he takes great umbrage at, and a chief reason why he doesn't like the movie. "The movie showed me not doing something so well that got me here, something I’ve always understood,” Oher told BaltimoreRavens.com. “Everything else is good, but them showing me not knowing how to play football, that’s what upsets me the most.”

With Oher's team reaching and ultimately winning Super Bowl XLVII, those perceptions of Oher are being reintroduced, but this time on a worldwide scale. “He’s nothing like that,” said left guard Kelechi Osemele, 23. “I can’t even imagine Mike being like the guy that they portrayed on the movie.”

Center Matt Birk, 36, said that Oher is one of the hardest working players on the team. “Once in a while I’ll beat him into the office and I’ll be like, ‘Hey Mike, you’re slipping man. I got ya today,’” Birk said. “It really bugs him. Mike busts his tail and that’s why he’s so successful. It’s easy to root for a guy like that.”

The movie also portrays Oher as being very soft, a gentle giant almost. According to teammates, that's also not true. “In the movie, he’s so nice and everything. Not saying he’s mean, but it was just a bit too soft,” said left tackle Bryant McKinnie, 33. “He has a very dry sarcasm to the point where sometimes you’re not sure if he’s joking or he’s being serious.”

Oher realizes that casual fans will be rooting for him based on the image of him from the movie and book, which is fine by him. “Continue to cheer for me,” he said. “I understand there are a lot of people I’ve inspired across the world. I’m trying to embrace that a lot better than I have in the past.”