Rookies better pick numbers carefully.
Joe thought one of the more galling, tone deaf, disconnected-with-reality moves he had heard about in years was last spring when Giants rookie edge rusher Abdul Carter had the nerve to call up Lawrence Taylor and ask if he could unretire LT’s number and wear No. 56.
Rightly, LT, perhaps the greatest defensive player in the history of the game, told Carter to get lost and make history with his own number.
Man, you have to have some balls to think you’ve got the street cred to wear No. 56 in Giants blue.
Well, Joe hasn’t heard of any Bucs rookie trying such a stunt, but if some rookie is pawing through Bucs jerseys and gets too close to No. 13 or No. 54, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht will likely holler at the naïve rookie, “Get your mitts off that jersey!”
Appearing on “Up and Adams” yesterday, hosted by the #NFLMedia it-girl Kay Adams, she said she’s noticed Bucs jersey numbers beginning to trickle out on social media for the rookies, but she hasn’t seen anyone strutting around with No. 13 or No. 54.
Licht told Adams she’s unlikely to see that number worn by a Bucs player for at least the near future.
“I’m going to say those are off limits right now,” Licht said.
Bravo!
Now the Bucs have retired numbers and semi-retired numbers. Lee Roy Selmon (63), Warren Sapp (99) and Derrick Brooks (55) are the only three officially retired numbers for the Bucs.
But there are others that have been put on ice. You don’t see anyone wearing Mike Alstott’s number (40), or Ronde Barber’s (20) or John Lynch (47).
So it seems, at least for the time being, David’s No. 54 and Evans’ No. 13 will be put in mothballs for the foreseeable future.
Buccaneers GM Jason Licht confirms that, as of now, #13 and #54 are "off limits" for new players@jasonrlicht | @Buccaneers | @MikeEvans13_ | @LavonteDavid54 | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/ia5rcj0n3h
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 7, 2026