A question about "The Blind Side"...?

I am german. I asked for The Blind Side some weeks ago. Tell me if you remember. I have two questions: 1. At the end of the movie you can see the real Michael Oher, right? and 2. I watched it in english so I could hardly understand this: Why does she (Sandra Bullock) say she may have to thank Lawrence Taylor (the guy with the tackle who breaks the leg right in the beginning of the film)? I don�t understand what he has to do with it?