From Newsday comes a story that reveals that former Canes safety Kenny Phillips will wear No. 21 this year to honor the late, great Sean Taylor, who wore that number for the Washington Redskins. Phillips wore No. 1 for the Canes but will wear No. 21 for the New York Giants. Here is the Newsday lead:

The comparisons are inevitable. They grew up in the same area, went to the same college, played the same position. Yet Kenny Phillips, the Giants' first-round draft pick from the University of Miami, never met the late Sean Taylor.

That hasn't stopped him from paying tribute to the former Redskins safety who was shot and killed in a botched burglary last year.

Phillips made three phone calls to the Giants between the time he was drafted in late April and Friday's start of rookie minicamp, hoping to be issued the No. 21 jersey that Taylor wore in his final seasons with the Redskins. When he showed up for the camp, he learned that his persistence paid off. Phillips was issued the number that most recently belonged to Tiki Barber, the recently retired all-time leading rusher in franchise history. Phillips wore No. 1 in college.

"Even in high school, I had pictures of him in my locker," Phillips said of Taylor. "I watch film on him and he was just an exceptional athlete. The plays he made were crazy. I just wanted to pay my respects by having his number and trying to live up to that."