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Brandon Moore Formally Retires In Emotional News Conference

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Brandon Moore had his official retirement news conference in Florham Park, N.J., on Friday.

From the beginning of the conference to the end, emotions ran high at the Jets' facility.

"You don't realize how wound up this profession makes you," Moore said. "You're worried about performing so well, consistently, with all the preparation and time that goes into it -- what that does to your mental, your physical, your emotional."

The former Jets offensive lineman called it a career in early August. He agreed to a one-year deal with the Cowboys on August 7 and would have been reunited with Dallas offensive coordinator Bill Callahan, who served as Jets offensive line coach from 2008-11. Shortly after signing the contract, he announced his retirement from football.

"I feel like a chapter has closed," the 33-year-old told the Jets' official website. "I don't like saying 'retiring.' I like saying I just don't play football anymore. But I'm just excited about whatever the next step is. Heck, I didn't know putting my hand in the dirt as a 13-year-old would bring me right here."

The casual fan will remember Moore as the big guy on the receiving end of Mark Sanchez's infamous "Buttfumble." But for Jets fans, Moore was an O-line mainstay who spent his entire 10-year career with Gang Green and started all 16 games in eight straight seasons.

"In my opinion, Brandon will go down as the best guard in the history of the Jets," Jets coach Rex Ryan said. "And if not, he'd certainly be in that conversation. What he is, he was the ultimate competitor -- tough, durable, just a great player. We could just point and say, 'We're going right here, behind Brandon Moore and Damien Woody.'

"That's what I remember about Brandon. He was obviously a special guy."

Moore, 33, signed with the Jets in 2002 as an unrestricted free agent. He was selected to the Pro Bowl under Callahan's tutelage in 2011.

"I look at it now and I had the time of my life as a Jet," Moore said. "I'm proud to be a Jet. I enjoyed my time here. Today, I am a bigger Jets fan than I was when I ran out on Sundays in full uniform."

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