Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Giants' Sterling Shepard switching to No. 3 after rule change

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 5/11/21

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady won't be too happy about this development.

Following an official NFL rule change that allows wide receivers, tight ends, linebackers and defensive backs to wear single-digit numbers starting with the upcoming season, New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard has taken to Instagram to announce he's switching from No. 87 to No. 3:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sterling Shepard (@sterlingshepard)

As Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper noted, Shepard wore No. 3 while playing for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Giants selected the receiver in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Previously, Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook contemplated changing his number but didn't because he would have reportedly spent around $1.5 million purchasing the unsold inventory of jerseys per a league mandate for the 2021 campaign. Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com tweeted that's not an issue for Shepard:

And guess what: just checked with Giants and Sterling Shepard's number change to 3 is OFFICIAL.

It's happening. The buyout of the inventory was not as costly as perhaps was anticipated, per source.

So Shep's confirmation of his jersey change is, well, confirmed by the team.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) May 11, 2021

Ahead of this year's draft, the previously mentioned Brady lashed out at the new rule and is allegedly not the only person inside NFL circles who believes this will cause problems for players during games this fall. It does, however, seem like Brady and everyone else will have to get used to the change for the foreseeable future.

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