Lawrence Taylor Calls Out Abdul Carter, Issues Warning to Giants Rookie Amid Struggles

Amid early struggles for New York Giants rookie Abdul Carter, the No. 3 overall pick was called out by a franchise legend.

Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor discussed Carter's struggles and issued a warning to the yougn player.

"Wake up," Taylor told the New York Post (h/t Giants Wire's John Fennelly). "This is what you worked for, this is where you want to be, so now you're there... Let's wake up."

"Don't let your teammates down over bulls--t! If you can't tell your coach what's going on and why you can't be at practice, then it's bulls--t."

Carter's on-field performance has been a bit of a letdown so far, as he's logged 31 total tackles and 1.5 sacks, but the real concern has been off the field.

Carter was benched to start the Giants' Week 11 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, and it was later revealed that he had missed a team walk-through because he was asleep in the Giants' facilities.

He was once again benched for the start of Monday's matchup against the New England Patriots, this time for "missing all/part of a team responsibility," per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.

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Giants general manager Joe Schoen downplayed the benching, saying that Carter "understands the magnitude of his actions and also understands what it means to be a pro."

While Taylor called out Carter, he also called upon veterans Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns to hold the rookie accountable.

"Those two guys need to talk to No. 51 and get him straight  and say, 'Hey, you gotta get your priorities right.' Simple as that. I don't know what else to say to him. But he's gotta get his priorities right," Taylor told the Post. "There's no reason not to hustle, there's no reason not to be at practice, there's no reason not to play your ass off when you're out there if you're trying to make a name for yourself, as I was.

"If his teammates are having a problem, then you got a problem. If the coaches are having a problem, then you got a problem. You were the third pick in the whole draft. You're supposed to be better than this."

Carter was one of the most highly touted prospects coming into this year's draft, but so far, he's been mostly disappointing. But while Carter has made some mistakes early on, Lawrence thinks Carter has a bright future if he figures things out.

"He's just gotta get his stuff together," Taylor said. "And if he gets his stuff together, New York will love him... You make history on what you do on that field, not off that field."