Moore leaves field for Bucs' booth

By themselves, the frightening punctured lung and painful kidney stones Dave Moore suffered last season might not have been enough to make him end his NFL career.

By JOANNE KORTH
Published June 8, 2007

Moore played 190 regular-season games for the Bucs from 1992-2001 and 2004-06. Only linebacker Derrick Brooks has played more games in a Bucs uniform.
	[Times photo: Kevin White (2001)]

TAMPA - By themselves, the frightening punctured lung and painful kidney stones Dave Moore suffered last season might not have been enough to make him end his NFL career.

A radio gig sealed it.

Moore, who played a franchise-record 13 seasons with the Bucs during a 15-year career, announced his retirement Thursday to become the color analyst on the Buccaneers Radio Network. Moore replaces Hardy Nickerson, who left for a linebackers coaching position with the Bears.

"I can still do what I love to do, and that's be around football, " said Moore, who joins play-by-play announcer Gene Deckerhoff in the Bucs' booth.

"The kind of player I've always been, I had to pay attention to the details. I was always undersized, and I had to be very good at technique and learning defenses and anticipating what was going on around me. Hopefully I can take that and give something to the people that are listening, why things happen and what to look for."

Moore played 190 regular-season games for the Bucs from 1992-2001 and 2004-06. Only linebacker Derrick Brooks has played more games in a Bucs uniform 192.

He ranks third all time among Bucs tight ends with 184 receptions for 1, 805 yards, and his 24 receiving touchdowns rank fourth in franchise history. He finished his career with 207 receptions for 2, 028 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Moore might have retired as the franchise leader in games played were it not for a punctured lung sustained during the 2006 season opener that forced him to miss three games. And last season, Moore played the Thanksgiving Day game at Dallas with a stent inserted above his bladder because of kidney stones.

Even so, he wasn't certain he wanted to retire until presented the chance to move to the broadcast booth.

"After 15 years, there comes a point when (you ask), 'Do you walk away or do you limp away?' " said Moore, 37. "Physically, I feel good. An opportunity presented itself, and, weighing all things, it's that time."

Moore's final game was a career highlight: his only Pro Bowl appearance. The Bucs' long-snapper the past three seasons, Moore was a late addition to the NFC roster as a "needs" player.

A tight end from Pittsburgh, Moore was drafted by Miami in the seventh round in 1992. He played one game for the Dolphins before signing with the Bucs later that season.

When coach Jon Gruden arrived in 2002, Moore was released. He was gone when the Bucs won Super Bowl XXXVII, playing two seasons in Buffalo before returning in 2004.

Feds join Vick drama

SURRY, Va. - Federal law enforcement officials descended on a home owned by Michael Vick armed with a search warrant that suggests they're taking over an investigation into the Falcons quarterback's possible involvement in dogfighting.

Surry County officials had secured a search warrant in late May, but the warrant never was executed because Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald G. Poindexter said he had issues with the way it was worded. That warrant expired Thursday.

DOLPHINS: Daunte Culpepper wants to choose his next team, so he's asked to be released. Culpepper, who serves as his own agent, made the request a day after the Dolphins completed a trade with the Chiefs for quarterback Trent Green.

DISABLED PLAYERS: Congress will hear testimony June 26 from retired players who contend the pension plan of the league and union is insufficient, especially for disabled ex-players.

[Last modified June 7, 2007, 23:02:05]