In book, Ravens rookie says 'I could take Freeney'

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The 9-0 Colts head to Baltimore this week to take on the Ravens.

The Ravens have been getting a lot of attention from Hollywood because the life of their first-round draft pick Michael Oher is the topic of a new motion picture that comes out this weekend. The movie is called The Blind Side and stars Sandra Bullock .

The movie is based on a book called The Blind Side: Evolution of the Game about Oher’s impoverished upbringing and how a rich family took him in and helped lead him on the right path. The book has another storyline as well describing the evolution of the left tackle position over the years as the guy who protects the quarterback's blind side.

It all started with the arrival of Lawrence Taylor in the 1980s and his ability to get to the quarterback.

Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney said, "LT (Lawrence Taylor) changed the game. He probably originated the tomahawk chop coming down from the backside, stripping running backs going from sideline to sideline, playing relentless on every play."

Freeney is one of the most feared defensive players in the NFL. He grew up a Giants fan, idolizing Taylor.

Freeney added, "From day one, it all started in Super Bowl (XXI) when the Giants won, first real game ever. Since then, kind of a love affair with the guy who hits the QB, always been that way."

The book begins with how LT changed the game and ends with Freeney.

It reads, "He (Freeney) is one of the most feared pass rushing defensive ends in the NFL and maybe the fastest the NFL had ever seen...He rocked the order of the football universe when he went by Jonathan Ogden and sacked the Ravens quarterback not once but twice. No one went by Jonathan Ogden, but Freeney had."

Freeney remembered that game.

"I played against him one time before that. I think it was actually my rookie season, I mean, I came in on third down situations and I got in my stance and looked up and there was this giant," recalled Freeney. "I remember going against him I tried to bull rush him and he picked me up and threw me about five yards. So I was like, wow. Next time I saw him, I guess a couple of years later, and I always remembered playing against Jonathan with his whole legacy and what he's done and the great player he was. The stage was set and I definitely had to go out there and perform well."

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The book also relates how Oher, at the time a star left tackle at Ole Miss, said “I could take Dwight Freeney right now."

Of course that got back to Freeney in 2006 and the last line of the book reads, “You tell Michael Oher I'll be waiting for him.”

Well, his wait might almost be over when he and the Colts travel to Baltimore. He'll see Oher at the line. Oher has started every game either at right tackle or left. Freeney is hoping Oher will be on the left side this week.

Freeney said of the meeting, "I'll definitely be ready to play that game. He called me out in a book so I have to step up. Got all my friends, family got everybody reading the book. He's calling me out sophomore, junior year in college. I might just mention something during the game and I don't talk.”

But no matter who he faces Sunday, Freeney's ready.

"It doesn't matter who it is and when I come, obviously, from the first snap to the last snap, I'm coming every play. For me, it's no different."

He might not have made the movie, but don't worry, he'll make his own Hollywood ending.

"This is the first time really of me really hearing that I was even mentioned in the book. For me, I'm not annoyed. I don't have to be in the movie."

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