Giants' Rodgers-Cromartie relinquishes jersey number so rookie can honor idol

New York Giants rookie safety Landon Collins will sport No. 21 on his jersey this season thanks to the generosity of teammate Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

The latter, a seven-year veteran who joined the Giants in 2014, initially asked Collins for compensation for the number, but changed his mind when he learned why the digits are so important to the rookie.

Rodgers told Art Stapleton of The Record he chose to give away No. 21 for free when he found out about Collins's desire to honor his idol, late Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor.

At Alabama, Collins wore No. 26 - the same number Taylor wore in college. Taylor wore No. 21 in four seasons with the Redskins before his death in 2007.

Rodgers-Cromartie will move on from No. 21 to No. 41, his fifth number as a pro. He told Stapleton the only number that has any meaning for him is No. 45, which is Giants fullback Henry Hynoski's number.