Giants legend Lawrence Taylor denied allowing Abdul Carter to wear his retired No. 56, and the rookie pass rusher is using it as motivation.

The New York Giants' No. 3 pick Abdul Carter tested the waters after being drafted by sharing that he would be interested in sporting No. 56 on his new team. The only problem is that No. 56 is retired by the Giants organization for Lawrence Taylor. Carter expressed that Taylor is a player he looks up to as a fellow defensive star.

Carter then implied on Friday afternoon that he was talking to the Giants about his options. He was asked about “a couple of numbers that are already retired that you would probably be eyeing”: Phil Simms’ retired No. 11 and Taylor’s No. 56.