What uniform number will New York Giants rookie edge rusher Abdul Carter wear this year? Well, we know it won’t be Nos. 56 or 11 as they are retired for Lawrence Taylor and Phil Simms, respectively, and neither legend has granted Carter permission.
Carter will have to choose another number. He wore No. 11 at Penn State and bandied about taking Taylor’s number, but the NFL icon told him he had to make his own legacy.
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During a recent episode of the Dudes on Dudes podcast, two former New England Patriots champions, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman, agreed it was egregious of Carter to even ask for a retired number.
The precedent was set, however, last year when the Giants and the family of Ray Flaherty granted top pick Malik Nabers their permission to wear Flaherty’s retired No. 1 jersey.
“Was he serious asking for LT’s number?” Gronkowski said. “Yeah, you were a high draft pick, but LT is an absolute legend… The best to do it. One of the best defenders of all time. Like, you gotta prove yourself.
“That’s crazy. Just asking for LT’s number. And I’m glad that LT shut him down like that.”
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Edelman was in agreement.
“That was such a LT response. ‘Go make your own freaking number, kid.'”
The matter appears to be closed at the moment. Carter will have to find a new number to wear here with the Giants.
We’ll find out soon as the Giants will hold their rookie minicamp next weekend.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Two ex-Patriots slam Abdul Carter for Lawrence Taylor number request