Feb 27, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State defensive lineman Abdul Carter (DL44) throughout the 2025 NFL Scouting Mix on the Indiana Conference Middle. Necessary Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photographs
It’s in all probability time for Abdul Carter to simply choose a traditional defensive finish quantity.
The New York Giants’ third-overall NFL Draft choose initially requested Lawrence Taylor for the legendary No. 56—and was rejected.
In line with ESPN, Carter had requested the Giants in regards to the potential of sporting the retired No. 56. By means of intermediaries, Taylor, the Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer, rejected Carter’s request. Nevertheless, Taylor’s longtime agent labored out a telephone name with Drew Rosenhaus, Carter’s agent, and the legendary defensive lineman expressed respect for the request however wished Carter to create his personal legacy with the Giants.
“He needs to be the participant that he’s,” Taylor advised ESPN in a telephone dialog. “He can’t be one other Lawrence Taylor. Properly, he could also be higher than a Lawrence Taylor, who is aware of. However he has to make his mark. It’s as much as him.”
Carter appeared appreciative simply to have the telephone name, and posted on social media that Taylor remains to be the best of all time, and that the rejection will simply make him work even tougher.
The primary level of Taylor’s message to the rookie was to cement his personal story with the Giants in a quantity that was not No. 56. Nevertheless, Carter wasn’t taking no for a solution, reaching out to Phil Simms in regards to the retired No. 11—the quantity that he wore throughout his profitable profession at Penn State.
On a current podcast, Simms mentioned that if Carter have been to ask for the No. 11, he would in all probability let him put on it. Nevertheless, longtime Giants author Gary Myers reported on Friday night that the quantity wouldn’t be popping out of retirement, as Carter’s request was rejected after the Simms household outvoted the legendary quarterback—leaving Carter again to the drafting board to search out his personal quantity.
Once more, Carter took the information in stride straight to social media, joking that he must play out his rookie season in a clean jersey with simply his final title on the again.
Carter loved a legendary school soccer profession of his personal at Penn State. He adopted within the massive footwear of Micah Parsons, rocking the No. 11—sometimes reserved for standout Nittany Lions.
At this level, it’s time for Carter to get within the lab and establish a jersey quantity that he’s comfy turning into his personal. Throughout the identical week, he was rejected by two of New York’s largest soccer legends.
Simply choose your personal jersey quantity and transfer on with rookie minicamp.