Giants legend Lawrence Taylor continues to downplay the off-field issues that plagued him both during and after his career.
In an interview on Thursday, Taylor said he does not dwell on his 2010 arrest for soliciting an underage prostitute.
“It is what it is, I’m not going to keep going over that thing,” Taylor said on ESPN’s SportsCenter. “Of course it has. There are less opportunities, but I can’t worry about that, I’m fortunate enough to have gotten some of the opportunities that I’ve had over the years. I’m not going to sit here and go on welfare, right now it’s all about living life and getting back into the swing of things.”
Taylor was sentenced to six years probation in March 2011 and was forced to register as a low-level sex offender. The Hall of Fame linebacker did not deny that he has not been a model citizen but also failed to apologize for his actions.
“I’m very fortunate that throughout my years I’ve always harmed myself, I’ve never harmed anyone else,” Taylor said. “I figure you look at it and all you can do is move forward. That’s what I do, I move forward, I don’t even worry about it. I just keep going.”
During his playing career, Taylor was almost as famous for his tumultuous drug-fueled life off the field as he was for the mammoth feats he achieved on it. Taylor admitted that he would never have been able to be the player he was in the 1980’s if he had to deal with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s strict conduct policy that is in place today.
“I would have to do one of two things [to play today],” Taylor said. “I would either have to change my outlook and attitude or look for another job.
“I used to always believe, and back in those days, it was somewhat true, that what you did on Monday through Saturday doesn’t make a difference, it’s what you do on Sunday, that’s what it’s all about. The times have changed and the things that we could get away with years ago, like going out drinking and going to strip clubs and causing havoc, you have to try and keep yourself under the radar now. Back in the day, we were larger than life.”
Taylor was one of the most-feared linebackers and pass-rushers in the NFL even though the league not recording sacks until 1982, one year after his debut. The Giants great thinks that he could break the single-season sack record (22.5 held by Michael Strahan), if he played alongside Big Blue’s current vaunted pass rush.
“I am so fascinated by Tuck and JPP and Umenyiora, I love to watch those guys play, they bring it,” Taylor said. “With those guys, put me with that line. I don’t know [how many sacks] I would have, but it would be a good number. I would hope I would [break the sacks record].”
Taylor also put a target on a current player’s back, and staying true to form it was one of the Giants’ biggest rivals.
“I would love to go against Tom Brady because he stands tall in the pocket, he’s very confident, he’s a man’s man. He’s a solid player and I like guys like that.”
asulla-heffinger@nypost.com