This was the long-awaited field debut of Abdul Carter, the New York Giants’ first-round draft pick. He put on that new uniform for the first time at rookie minicamp, which kicked off Friday. Carter was all smiles as he proudly wore the number 51 jersey after being chosen third overall in last month’s NFL draft. This is a big move in his career.
Carter wanted to wear Lawrence Taylor’s legendary No. 56 at first. This number is legendary of all greatness in Giants history. In a conversation with Taylor, he considered the weight of that legacy and ultimately recognized that forging his own identity was essential.
“He has to be the player that he is,” – Taylor
Carter flirted with the possibility of wearing Phil Simms’ retired No. 11, showing respect for the franchise’s storied past. He opted for the better route and went with No. 51. This number is indicative of an exciting and creative combination of cultural and musical forces that Taylor and Simms put together.
In a playful moment during the minicamp, Carter joked about his new number on social media, saying, “Damn at this point imma be out there with just my last name on my jersey, no number. … Jkjk, It’s all Love. Just wanna play Football!” This final, tongue-in-cheek comment conveys in a fun way his enthusiasm and readiness to jump into this new phase.
Carter’s path to the NFL has been historic. After spending his first two years at Penn State playing off-ball linebacker, he finally made the move to edge rusher. His phenomenal production led to a historic senior season where he tallied 12 sacks.
Now that he’s fully embarked on a professional career, Carter is intent on finding his own way and establishing himself as his own player in the Giants’ organization. Donning No. 51, as a public show of his dedication to respecting the history of the franchise. Simultaneously, he wants to establish a future that is very much his own.
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