There is an axiom that is often used where you shoot for perfection and obtain excellence. That may accurately describe the number journey for former Penn State star and New York Giants No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter.
Carter made waves last week by seeking permission to wear Lawrence Taylor’s No. 56 number.
Taylor rejected the request but softened it.
“He has to be the player that he is,” Taylor said. “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.”
The good news is the number that Carter wore at Penn State might be open.
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Former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, whose No. 11 is retired, appeared on FanDuel TV’s Cousin Sal’s Winning Weekend and was asked if the number would be open if rookies Carter or former Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart requested it.
“I will let him have it in a second, can you just help it a little and make it better?” Simms quipped. Simms continued recognizing the honor of the retired number, and recognized Carter would most likely ask for it.
It didn’t take long for Carter to react on X saying, “It would be an honor.”
The onus now appears to be in Simms court whether his remarks were genuine. If not, Carter will still be shopping for another number in New York.
