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That's what those who played against the wide receiver said. Those who played with him called him the ultimate teammate, the consummate football player.

"Wayne means a lot to this organization, he means a lot to me," Chad Pennington said. "He caught my first touchdown pass as a rookie out in Oakland. He's the epitome of how you want to play this game -- with energy, with passion, with heart. This guy would go across the middle and just get banged around like a pinball machine and still come up with the ball."

And to Jets fans, like the 77,197 who packed the Meadowlands Sunday afternoon, Chrebet was one of their favorites to ever don a Jets jersey. They cheered for him again, like they did for 11 years when he wore No. 80 and made third down catch after third down catch.

"I was completely overwhelmed today," Chrebet said. "I didn't know what to expect and when I walked out there and heard that, it broke me down to be able to come back and say good-bye the way I wanted to."

Joined by his parents, wife and two sons on the field, Chrebet, 34, was honored by the Jets in a halftime ceremony.

"I had hoped and prayed that I'd get one more chance to walk out of that tunnel and you guys have made it a moment I'd never forget," Chrebet said to the fans.

As part of the ceremony, former Jets player Greg Buttle, Ray Lucas and Boomer Esiason, as well as Pennington and Laveranues Coles spoke about Chrebet as part of the tribute.

The Jets also showed some highlights of Chrebet's career, although the former Hofstra standout, didn't want to see it.

"I didn't watch that or the highlights," he said. "It would have broke me down. I'll see it later on when they send me a tape of it."

A longshot to play in the NFL out of college, Chrebet played his entire 11-year career with the Jets after walking on. He ranks second all-time in Jets history behind Hall of Famer Don Maynard in receptions and set an NFL record for receptions by a wide receiver in his first two seasons.

"On third down, you knew the ball was going to No. 80, the opponent knew it was going to No. 80 and he would still come up with it," Pennington said.

However, Chrebet's career was cut short by a series of concussions, more than he wants to talk about, more than he can remember. He formally announced his retirement June 2, 2006.

Chrebet said he would play injured, probably with a few concussions because he didn't want to be knocked out of the starting lineup by the next big thing at wide receiver.

"You take one play off, someone takes your spot, they make a play and it could be over," he said, referring to Wally Pip, the first baseman who was replaced by Yankees legend Lou Gehrig.

Chrebet said the affects of multiple concussions are lasting. It also means he's unable to take his children, sons Lukas and Cade, on roller coasters or workout in certain ways.

"Sometimes you don't want to get out of bed, sometimes the sky is blue and everything smells good," he said. "There's no rhyme or reason to it. You just hope for the good days."

"In the morning you know what kind of day it's going to be," he added.

And how did he feel Sunday morning?

"I didn't get much sleep last night," he said. "When I woke up, the kids came in and they were all excited. Today was a perfect, perfect day."

Chrebet said he enjoys his life after football, getting a chance to be with his family and two young sons, owning a bar across from Hofstra University and the Jets training facility.

He has no interest in coaching football ("The hours are too long for me") and hasn't ruled out football for his boys.

"I think I'm going to get them do whatever they want to do and let that play its course," Chrebet said. "They want to play soccer now, they like to play soccer. I didn't play tackle football until I was 15, that's when I was ready, I'll let them find their way."