By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

OWINGS MILLS, Md.(AP) -- Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael
Oher is enjoying the kind of rookie season that might require
Hollywood to make a sequel to a soon-to-be-released movie about
his life.

Drafted with the 23rd overall pick out of Mississippi, Oher has
started every game for the Ravens (4-3). The 6-foot-4,
310-pounder played right tackle for the first four games, then
replaced an injured Jared Gaither at left tackle for two weeks
before returning to the right side last Sunday against Denver.

"To come in here and play at a high level, that's always
impressive. I don't care where you went to school," center Matt
Birk said Wednesday. "There's a mental and physical adjustment
playing in the NFL. Physically, he's extremely gifted. And he
plays with a great passion."

Oher has performed exceptionally well, but the path he took to
get to the pros would be Hollywood-worthy even if he failed to
get off the bench in Baltimore.

Oher's odyssey was detailed in the best seller "The Blind Side"
by Michael Lewis. Oher received little attention from his
parents and eventually became homeless. Leigh Anne and Sean
Tuohy took the teenager into their Memphis home, eventually
adopted him and provided him with a means of getting through
high school to qualify for college.

Oher became a four-year starter and All-American at Mississippi.
A movie based on the book, featuring Sandra Bullock as Leigh
Anne Tuohy, will open in theaters later this month.

"I am never ashamed of where I came from. Where I came from, a
lot of people don't make it out," Oher said. "I think it has
made me a tougher person, a better player."

Oher hasn't seen the movie, but anticipates his opinion of the
film won't differ much from his take on the book.

"I read it, and some things in the book I didn't like and stuff
like that," he said. "But in the end of the day, it all happened
and it's one of those things you have got to live with - and
just keep growing every day."

Which is exactly what the 23-year-old Oher is doing on the
football field.

"I have great respect for Mike. I don't know his whole story,
but I certainly know I respect him, just the way he comes in
here every day," Birk, 33, said. "A lot of times you see guys
come in this league as if they're entitled and all that; Mike
comes to work and is a gentleman. We have a lot of fun. He jokes
around with me because I'm slightly older than he is. He's just
a joy to have around."

Guard Chris Chester, who lines up next to Oher on the right
side, said, "He's ahead of the curve, definitely, but I think
that's just a tribute to Mike's maturity, his talent and his
ability. He's done a great job of beginning to realize his
potential."

Despite being the subject of a book, the focus in a major movie
and the butt of many jokes in the locker room, Oher remains the
quiet, businesslike player he was when the Ravens drafted him in
April.

"He seems to be handling everything fine," Birk said. "He can be
classified as a good rookie, a guy that works hard, keeps his
mouth shut and is getting better. Obviously he's contributing
and is a big reason for some of the success that we've had."

The release of the movie probably won't inflate Oher's humble
opinion of himself.

"I think I will be the same," Oher said. "People don't recognize
me now and I don't think they will in the next month."