Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor both turn down Giants No. 3 pick Abdul Carter’s request for their jersey numbers

Carter’s next choice was his old number at Penn State, No. 11. Unfortunately, that was the number worn by Simms during his 15-year career in New York, in which he won two Super Bowls and retired as the franchise’s all-time leading passer. Only Eli Manning has since surpassed him.

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Unlike Taylor, Simms actually expressed an openness to the idea on Friday, saying he had no problem if either Carter or No. 25 overall pick Jaxson Dart, the team’s quarterback of the future, wanted it. However, he also said his inner circle might not approve:

“I told some of my friends and people around me, I said. ‘I’d let him have it in a second.’ I said, ‘Can you just help it a little and make it better, or whatever?’ I think it would be a lot of fun. It wouldn’t bother me.

“If they really want it — but, my wife, I don’t know if my family’s said anything. The boys didn’t say anything. But my agent, ‘Don’t you dare give up that jersey number!’ Well, first off, I don’t think Abdul Carter’s gonna ask for it. But if he would have, if it was up to me, I probably would give it to him.”

The latter part of that quote wound up being rather important, as veteran journalist Gary Myers, whose “Once a Giant” book covered both Simms and Taylor on the Giants’ 1986 Super Bowl team, reported later Friday that Simms told him he was outvoted by his family and Carter would need a new number.

Again, Carter took the news with good humor.