 On draft day , Phillips made good on his promise not to draft Taylor and the Saints instead selected Heisman Trophy @-@ winning halfback George Rogers with the first pick , leaving the Giants with the decision of whether to select Taylor . To the raucous approval of the crowd in attendance at the draft ( which was held in New York City ) , the Giants selected him . Privately , Taylor was hesitant about playing for New York as he had hoped to be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys , and was unimpressed with a tour of Giants Stadium he was taken on , after the draft . Publicly , however , he expressed excitement about the opportunity to play in the city . Taylor changed his stance after he was drafted as Harry Carson made a point to reach out to him , and Taylor said he " talked to some players and coaches " and " got things straightened out . " One of the factors that the Giants said they considered in selecting Taylor was his solid reputation . " He was the cleanest player in the draft . By that I mean there was no rap on him " , said head coach Ray Perkins . " Great potential as a linebacker , a fine young man , free of injuries . " Taylor chose to wear number 56 because he was a fan of Cowboys linebacker Thomas Henderson . As it would turn out , Taylor would have the longer and more successful career while Rogers , although successful in his own right with several 1 @,@ 000 @-@ yard rushing seasons and two Pro Bowl selections , was injury @-@ prone and forced to retire following the 1987 season with the Washington Redskins . 
