Chase Blackburn
Chase Blackburn (left) and Mark Herzlich (
)
ALBANY — He has already been approached about turning his story into a book or a movie, the improbable tale of this particular middle linebacker emerging as a Super Bowl champion.
No doubt, the Mark Herzlich story is compelling and worth retelling but in this case it’s Chase Blackburn who has been asked to bring his wild 2011 ride to the big screen.
“Oh yeah, I’ve been approached a couple of times. I never really looked too much into it right now, I’m concentrating on football,’’ Blackburn told The Post at Giants training camp. “It’s not what I’m here to do right now. I’m here to play football and hopefully be a starting middle linebacker.’’
But, say he was interested, who might play him in the movie?
“[Tight ends coach] Mike Pope calls me Johnny Depp so I guess Johnny Depp will play me,’’ Blackburn said, laughing.
It’s all good for Blackburn, but for how long? He’s a popular and proud player with a career already in bonus-mode, considering he was undrafted out of Akron, earned his living on special teams and at 29 is entering his eighth season with the Giants.
At this time last year he was unemployed, deemed expendable with four rookie linebackers on the roster. Blackburn was all set to teach middle school math and get on with his life in Ohio when the Giants, absolutely desperate at linebacker after Herzlich badly sprained an ankle in a dreadful loss in New Orleans, called him 11 games into a season going nowhere.
The rest is movie-caliber drama: interception in his first game back against Aaron Rodgers, the rejuvenation of the entire defense and the ultimate topper of getting the only turnover of Super Bowl XLVI, outfighting all-world tight end Rob Gronkowski deep downfield for an interception off Tom Brady.
It was by all accounts a great story, but it’s not even the best story at his position. Herzlich, roaring back on the scene in his second year, is a cancer survivor and plays with a titanium rod in his left leg to offset the damage of Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.
Herzlich’s tale was the subject of a “60 Minutes’’ feature and when the Giants last year took a shot on him it garnered national attention.
Based on his veteran status and the immense contribution he made during the Super Bowl run, Blackburn arrived at camp as the starting middle linebacker. Herzlich is coming on strong in the best battle of the summer. When Herzlich is mentioned as a sentimental favorite, Blackburn blanches.
“Yeah, so am I, in some people’s eyes,’’ Blackburn said. “Everyone has a story, no one made it into this league easily. Honestly, me coming back off the couch last year was a story. Me being an undrafted free agent as a rookie, just like Mark was, I had a story there. Our stories are similar. Obviously he’s had to overcome some things with the disease and everything, more power to him. That’s unbelievable. But everyone has a story.’’
There’s a feeling of inevitability here, that it is a matter of time, that Herzlich’s youth and talent can’t be held back. Blackburn has the experience and no one knows defensive coordinator Perry Fewell’s system better. Herzlich is the more explosive athlete.
“Well, I feel like I’m pretty athletic, I feel I’m just fine out there,’’ counters Blackburn. “Obviously I try to use my knowledge to help me, but I don’t think that’s the only tool I have working for me.”
“Honestly I feel like we’re both smart players, we have the same kind of athletic attributes, feel like we’re pretty much the same type of player.’’ Herzlich, polished beyond his years (24) as his health struggle transformed him into a spokesman and inspiration, said he and Blackburn are “great friends off the field, we’ve obviously great friends on the field, too.’’
Reminded that Blackburn’s rise last season came after the Giants summoned him off the couch, Herzlich said: “First of all, I don’t think he was on the couch the whole time. Yeah, he played well when he got in and he had a couple of great plays in the Super Bowl and me trying to get that starting spot is not demeaning towards what Chase did last year at all.’’
Informed that Blackburn has been approached to do a movie about his life, Herzlich smiled and said: “My movie’s going to sell better than his, though.’’