On Wednesday, it was revealed that the New York Giants could be unretiring Ray Flaherty’s No.1 for rookie Malik Nabers.
The Giants, after all, did the proper factor and obtained permission from the Flaherty household earlier than making the transfer and announcement.
Nabers is happy to sport his new quantity with pleasure whereas honoring the Giants legend and NFL Corridor of Famer.
Nonetheless, the choice has been met with a lot criticism from the followers and members of the media alike. It has solid folks into two solely separate camps and created a debate on whether or not such a call is justified.
Nabers’ fellow extensive receiver, Wan’Dale Robinson, has a possible resolution that will fulfill either side.
Wan’Dale Robinson had a good suggestion yesterday once I talked to him about Malik Nabers getting No. 1. Among the gamers kicked across the concept and thought it will be cool to get permission to place an additional patch on jerseys to honor the previous participant if a quantity was taken out of…
— Artwork Stapleton (@art_stapleton) August 30, 2024
Robinson’s concept is actually an fascinating option to convey retired jersey numbers again and make them accessible for present gamers whereas additionally honoring the participant who the quantity was initially retired for.
Robinson’s concept would additionally must be inside the NFL’s strict uniform guidelines.
Because the offseason progressed, it was clear Nabers wouldn’t be carrying No. 9 within the common season, which belongs to kicker Graham Gano. The NFL just lately loosened up their jersey quantity guidelines lately, giving extensive receivers the chance to put on single-digit numbers.
Though the Giants did unretire a quantity beforehand in 1961, it doubtless wasn’t recognized by a lot of right this moment’s followers that bringing a quantity out of retirement was even doable.
Nevertheless, with the Giants and Nabers bringing the No.1 out of retirement, will probably be fascinating to see if that is an outlier or if that is going to begin a development for different groups.
The truth is, that as time presses ahead, solely so many numbers can be found. Both groups will finally have to begin issuing triple digits or unretire numbers for gamers to put on.
