Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman slam Giants rookie Abdul Carter for asking to wear legend's retired number
From time to time, high-value NFL Draft picks will ask permission from former team legends to wear their numbers if they're retired. But that didn't work out for one recent first-round draft pick.
Last week, the New York Giants selected Penn State prospect Abdul Carter third overall to help bolster their pass rushing game.
Carter, a superstar with the Nittany Lions, wanted to wear No. 56 with the Giants. That number has been retired in honor of Hall-of-Famer Lawrence Taylor.
So, the incoming rookie asked Taylor for permission to wear his number. Taylor rejected that request.
That request was mocked on the 'Dudes on Dudes' podcast, hosted by former New England Patriots stars Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.
The two Super Bowl winners were shocked that Carter would even consider asking for the number of the Giants legend.
'Was he serious asking for LT's number?,' Gronkowski remarked. 'Yeah, 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's crazy. Just asking for LT's number. And I'm glad that LT shut him down like that.'
Edelman agreed: 'That was such a LT response. "Go make your own freaking number, kid."'
The receiver continued: 'Can we read a room? And it's not even the room, it's the football galaxy. The fact that he even asked, that's crazy to me. Maybe he'll go make another one.
'And people say, oh, the 11 thing. But they give everyone 11 at Penn State. No one ever puts on the 56.'
The number 11 at Penn State is a heralded number that has been worn only five times since 1997. Notable wearers of that jersey in that period include LaVar Arrington, NaVorro Bowman, Micah Parsons, and Carter.
So Carter considered wearing the No. 11 in the NFL as well.
But he hit a roadblock there too. No. 11 has also been retired in honor of former quarterback Phil Simms.
While Simms said that he'd be fine with Carter wearing the number, Simms' family reportedly out-voted him.
Carter joked about his predicament with a post to X: 'Damn at this point imma be out there with just my last name on my jersey, no number.'
He added some laughing emojis before concluding, 'Jkjk, It's all Love. Just wanna play Football!'
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