FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- D'Brickashaw Ferguson has a 10-inch vertical scar in the middle of his chest. He hasn't discussed it publicly in years, probably not since his rookie year in 2006, but he chose to address it Thursday at his retirement news conference at One Jets Drive.
To celebrate the end of his career, Ferguson went back to the beginning -- before football. As a 9-year-old, he underwent open-heart surgery, a life-changing event on so many levels.
"This all started because a young boy who had to have open-heart surgery desperately wanted to prove his toughness -- not only to himself but everybody -- by playing football," he told a packed auditorium.