If this were the NFL of even 2020, Kayvon Thibodeaux’s jersey number wouldn’t be an issue, because he would be restricted to wearing a number higher than 40, the actual subset based on whether he identified as a defensive lineman or a linebacker (as an edge rusher, likely the latter).
With the 2021 rule change allowing linebackers to wear any number between 1 and 59, though, Thibodeaux could, in theory, continue to rock the number 5 he had at Oregon.
One problem, though: that currently belongs to Graham Gano, who wears it for his own personal reasons. Not going to stop Thibodaux from trying, though, as he said as soon as he officially became a Giants draft pick.
“(No. 5) is something I'm pursuing. Obviously (Gano) is a vet and he's put the work in, and he's got five kids, so you know there's a whole lot of negotiating that's going to have to happen before anything shakes,” Thibodeaux said Friday.
There’s a reason No. 5 is important to Kayvon, too, though.
“You guys won't believe this, alright, but I'm a big believer in God. And it's a testament to it, so I got a tattoo, and the tattoo is five stripes, five tally bars; one, two, three, four and five on the cross, and when I got it was because I had five friends that I knew I was going to become successful with,” he said. “But when I really thought about it was more the five of us, so I didn't really have a purpose. But this was three years ago. And now I've been picked, selected as the fifth pick in the NFL Draft to the New York Giants. So to me, it's just a testament of God and everything and the legacy that He bestowed me with just fell in line.”
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Apparently, Gano is a tough negotiator, knowing that Thibodeaux is about to sign a rookie contract worth well more than any he’s ever signed as a kicker.
“It's funny, you guys, just know, this is real now, we're talking real numbers. When you tell somebody 250, I don't know what 250 means. You forget all the zeros behind it,” Thibodeaux laughed. “Things are a lot different now. But yeah, he's a great guy and we obviously are going to build a relationship, and I'm going to be able to really get into it and we're going to talk about it.”
No matter whether it’s 5, or 55 (as was suggested by one reporter, although it is currently held by linebacker Jihad Ward), or any other number, though, Kayvon knows the laundry is superficial.
“(No. 55) doesn't sound as good as 5,” he said, “but hey, the number don't make the player, the player makes the number.”
Just ask the guy one up from 55, or Kayvon’s mentor at 92, or WFAN’s own at 21 and 58.
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