Colin Cowherd rips Abdul Carter over Lawrence Taylor jersey number request

Abdul Carter is one swing away from a strikeout. After the New York Giants drafted him, Carter asked Lawrence Taylor if he could wear his retired No. 56. Taylor denied his request, urging Carter to create his own legacy.

Instead of simply taking an available number, Carter once again attempted to don a Giants’ legend’s retired number. This time, it was Phil Simms, who wore No. 11 — the same number Carter wore at Penn State.

Simms had publicly said he’d be willing to un-retire his jersey but his family reportedly talked him out of it. With Carter still looking for a jersey number, FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd provided some brutally honest advice.

“He apparently asked to wear Lawrence Taylor’s jersey No. 56. That is so ridiculous,” Cowherd said. “That is like going to the Yankees and saying, ‘Can I wear No. 2?’ That’s like going to the Lakers, ‘Can I wear No. 32?’

“… Here’s the thing in life, all you young players, row your own boat. Make your own legacy. How about you learn to carry a veteran’s bag before you take his jersey? This screams of entitlement. It screams of lack of self awareness.”

In fairness, Carter isn’t your average rookie. He was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and is expected to be a star at the next level. He certainly was at Penn State, where he was a unanimous All-American and the 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Nonetheless, Cowherd isn’t buying it. The Herd host continued his tirade by ranting about the problems with young people today.

“The second thing that drives me nuts is this idea that nothing was great until you arrived,” Cowherd said. “There’s a reason they built statues for people and retired jerseys because Lawrence Taylor today would walk on the field and easily be the best defensive player in the league… Don’t be asking for retired guys’ jerseys.”

Others aren’t ruling out the idea that Abdul Carter could one day take the title for best defensive player in the league. Ahead of the draft, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein provided an in-depth analysis of Carter’s potential at the next level.

“Carter has the urgency and athletic talent to bombard the stat sheet. He’s always first out and first into contact after the snap but can dart into gaps or around blocks as a penetrator,” Zierlein wrote. “Carter’s explosiveness, hunger and body control should have him on track to become a highly productive 3-4 rush linebacker with Pro Bowl talent.”