The saga of former Penn State and new New York Giants EDGE Abdul Carter finding a number has come to an end. The solution for Carter is simply splitting the difference.
Carter is set to honor his past wearing the No. 11 at Penn State with his admiration of Lawrence Taylor and his number 56 to wear the No. 51.
For Carter, whose stock rose after a dominant junior season where he shifted from linebacker to the edge. Carter led the nation with 24 tackles for losses, 12 sacks and according to Pro Football Focus, was second nationally with 66 pressures.
Carter’s number journey began before the draft as he showed his admiration for Taylor. Once Carter was drafted by New York, Carter requested to Taylor to wear his No. 56.
Taylor denied the request.
“He has to be the player that he is,” Taylor told ESPN in a phone conversation. “He can’t be another Lawrence Taylor. Well, he may be better than a Lawrence Taylor, who knows. But he has to make his mark. It’s up to him.”
“And I’m hoping that he’s not thinking that, ‘Oh, I got shot down by LT. No, it isn’t like that, man.’ It’s, ‘Hey, I’m with you!’ I mean, I’m the guy that it takes two. I’m going to be two steps behind you and make sure you don’t fall.”
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Following Taylor’s rejection, Phil Simms – whose No. 11 is retired by the Giants, was asked on FanDuel TV’s Cousin Sal’s Winning Weekend podcast if Carter could have his number. Simms seemed okay with Carter wearing the No. 11 but left a caveat that it would have to be a “family decision.”
Simms eventually let Gary Myers of the New York Daily News that he was “outvoted” by his family.
With Carter settling on No. 51, the number was previously worn by Azeez Ojulari, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent this offseason.
