Michael Oher defends former Carolina Panthers GM Dave Gettleman

It's been four years since tackle Michael Oher suited up for the Baltimore Ravens, after spending his first five seasons with the team switching from left tackle to right tackle on a yearly basis. While Oher was overall solid and did everything the coaches asked him to do, some suggest he was never worthy of being the Ravens 23rd overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Green Bay Packers selected Clay Matthews three picks after the Ravens selected Oher. Nevertheless, he helped anchor Baltimore's offensive line to four straight playoff appearances from 2009-2012, and was the starting right tackle for Super Bowl 47.

Oher left the Ravens after the 2013 campaign and signed with the Tennessee Titans on a 4-year, $20 million contract, but he would only last one season with the team as he was placed on injured reserve in December of 2014. Oher was released during the offseason and was picked up by the Carolina Panthers on a 2-year, $7 million contract. General manager Dave Gettleman stated right away that Oher would be their starting left tackle.

A year later and after signing a 3-year, $21.6 million extension, Oher was placed on injured reserve with a concussion last November. With Gettleman now fired from the Panthers on Monday, former players like Josh Norman, Steve Smith Sr. and DeAngelo Williams took to social media and applauded the firing of their former general manager. Smith tweeted that he knew how Gettleman felt, referencing his own release after the 2013 season. Williams called Gettleman a "snake." However, there is now one player, a current Panther, who has taken to Instagram to defend his now former boss: Michael Oher.

Below is Oher's statement:

“While on the plane headed to see Concussion specialist Mickey Collins, I learned that GM Dave Gettleman has been dismissed. This is news that I hated to hear...In this business you don't build personal relationships but I can honestly say I had one with Mr. G. He is the only person Besides R.V and Dr. Heyer who has constantly checked on my well being, condition and state of mind in the time that I've been suffering from my injury. Guy really cares about you as a person just not the player, also he is always interested in how your family is as well. Hated to hear that news but I know he'll be fine...and for the people who were happy and had something to do with it downstairs, Karma's a MF!!."

While some might applaud guys like Smith, Williams and Norman for expressing joy in someone's failures, it's good to hear Oher come out and bring up the good that Gettleman did for a player. Oher has been in concussion protocol since September of last year and he will report to Panthers training camp, per league source telling ESPN.

What do you guys think of Oher's response to Gettleman's firing?