Rob Gronkowski is floored at Abdul Carter\u2019s daring request.<\/p>\n
The former Penn State pass rusher, whom the Giants took No. 3 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, was in pursuit of Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor\u2019s No. 56 jersey to wear for his rookie season.<\/p>\n
The bold ask rubbed Gronkowski the wrong way.<\/p>\n
Abdul Carter speaks to reporters at a news conference at the NFL football team\u2019s training center in East Rutherford, N.J., Friday, April 25, 2025. AP<\/p>\n
\u201cWas he serious asking for LT\u2019s number?\u201d the four-time Super Bowl champ said on a recent episode of the \u201cDudes on Dudes\u201d podcast he hosts with former Patriots teammate Julian Edelman. \u201cYeah 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\u2019s crazy just asking for LT\u2019s number. And I\u2019m glad that LT shut him down like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gronkowski is referring to Taylor telling The Post\u2019s Steve Serby<\/a> that Carter should use a different number.<\/p>\n \u201cI know he would love to wear that number, but hey, I think it\u2019s retired,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cGet another number, I don\u2019t care if it\u2019s double zero, and then make it famous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was such an LT response. Go make your own freaking number kid,\u201d Edelman continued on the podcast. \u201cCan we read the room? And it\u2019s not even the room, it\u2019s the football galaxy. The fact that he even asked, that\u2019s crazy to me. Maybe he\u2019ll go make another one. And people say oh the [No.] 11, the 11 thing. But they give everyone 11 at Penn State but no one ever puts on the 56.\u201d<\/p>\n Rob Gronkowski shares his thoughts over Abdul Carter wanting Lawrence Taylor\u2019s Giants jersey. X @DudesonDudesPod<\/p>\n Carter didn\u2019t take the rejection too hard.<\/p>\n \u201cThe worst thing he could say was NO!! My stance don\u2019t change, LT is the\u00a0[goat emoji]\u00a0nothing but respect\u2026,\u201d\u00a0Carter tweeted a day following Taylor\u2019s decision<\/a>. \u201cThis just gonna make me work even harder!! I love it.\u201d<\/p>\n Carter wore No. 11 at Penn State, the same number worn by former Nittany Lions linebackers LaVar Arrington and Micah Parsons.<\/p>\n New York Giants great Lawrence Taylor reacts after he rings the bell before the start of the first quarter of the Giants and Washington Commanders game in East Rutherford, N.J. Bill Kostroun\/New York Post<\/p>\n The Giants\u2019 No. 11 initially wasn\u2019t available since it is retired for former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Phil Simms, but the former Giant later said he was open to the idea of un-retiring his number<\/a> for Carter or the team\u2019s other first-round pick, Jaxson Dart.<\/p>\n \u201cI told some of my friends and people around me, \u2018I\u2019d let him have it in a second. Can you just help it a little or make it better?\u2019\u201d Simms quipped on FanDuel TV. \u201cI think it would be a lot of fun. It wouldn\u2019t bother me.\u201d<\/p>\n Carter jumped at the opportunity, posting on X<\/a> \u201cIt would be an HONOR,\u201d while tagging Simms with the horns hand emoji.<\/p>\n Former New York Giants quarterbacks Phil Simms, Jeff Hostetler, and Eli Manning are honored on the field during the second quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on September 10, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Getty Images<\/p>\n Quarterback Phil Simms #11 of the New York Giants passes the ball in the game between the Detroit Lions vs the New York Giants at Giants Stadium on October 16, 1988. Getty Images<\/p>\n