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.ย
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.
Carterโs 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.ย
Taylor denied the request.
โHe has to be the player that he is,โ Taylor told ESPN in a phone conversation. โHe canโt be another Lawrence Taylor. Well, he may be better than a Lawrence Taylor, who knows. But he has to make his mark. Itโs up to him.โ
โAnd Iโm hoping that heโs not thinking that, โOh, I got shot down by LT. No, it isnโt like that, man.โ Itโs, โHey, Iโm with you!โ I mean, Iโm the guy that it takes two. Iโm going to be two steps behind you and make sure you donโt fall.โ
Following Taylorโs rejection, Phil Simms – whose No. 11 is retired by the Giants, was asked on FanDuel TVโs Cousin Salโs Winning Weekend podcastย 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 โfamily decision.โย
Simms eventually let Gary Myers of the New York Daily News that he was โoutvotedโ 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.
