FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Brandon Moore, overshadowed for years by fellow offensive linemen on the New York Jets, is starting to get the recognition he deserves.
Wednesday was quite a day for the unassuming right guard. Rex Ryan called Moore the best guard in the NFL. (That phone ringing in Mike Tannenbaum's office was Moore's agent, wanting to renegotiate.) The compliment came in reference to Moore's looming battle Sunday with Detroit Lions rookie DT Ndamukong Suh.
"That's going to be a great matchup, to see thing young man, who I think is extremely talented, against the best guard in football in Brandon Moore," Ryan said.
Moore and LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson were lights-out against the Green Bay Packers. Ryan said they were "absolutely outstanding ... Those were as good a game as I've seen an offensive lineman have in a long time."
Later in the day, Peter King of Sports Illustrated released his mid-season All-Pro team, and Moore was named as one of the lineman.
Moore will have a tall order in Detroit, where he will block the leading candidate for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Suh, the second overall pick in the 2010 draft, has 6.5 sacks, one interception and one TD return.
"He's strong, athletic, able to make plays down field," Moore said. "You can tell he's trying to figure it all out. That comes with experience, but you see the power and the ability to get pressure on the quarterback and finish plays."
RT Damien Woody, who will see some of Suh, said it's "rare for a defensive tackle to come into the league and play at that kind of level." Woody likened Suh to former Tampa Bay Bucs DT Warren Sapp in terms of immediate impact on the league. Kind of what the Jets envisioned for Dewayne Robertson, but that's another story.
The Jets can take comfort in knowing they have Moore there to block Suh. In seven games, Moore has yet to allow a sack and he has committed only one penalty. Just about perfect.