Abdul Carter’s first choice for his New York Giants’ jersey number was 56. But Lawrence Taylor, a Giants icon who previously wore that now-retired number, was not comfortable with the idea. Carter’s No.

As you’ll recall, Carter — perhaps because of youthful naivete — previously angled for Nos. 11 and 56, which are retired by the Giants for legends Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor (probably the NFL’s best defensive player ever). Simms and Taylor both wisely said no.