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Lawrence Taylor pleads not guilty to rape charge

Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor this morning pleaded not guilty to charges that he had sex with a 16-year-old girl.

The former NFL star smiled as he arrived at a Rockland County courthouse on Tuesday for arraignment on charges that include third-degree rape. He is also charged with patronizing a prostitute and endangering a child.

The 51-year-old Taylor pleaded not guilty through his lawyer.

Later, as he walked out of the courthouse, a reporter asked him if he would comment, in which he bizarrely replied, No. Grow Up.

But minutes earlier, before the hearing began, Taylor seemed more at ease, even cracking jokes.

In one instance he asked an AP reporter sitting near him in the coirtroom if he was there to cover the plea hearing, when he was told yes, Taylor quipped, It must be a slow news day.

He got the most chuckles when prosecutors rolled in with a cartload of files cases for the day. I hope thats not all for me. I wasnt even in town that long, he said aloud in the packed courtroom.

Taylor allegedly paid the girl $300 for their May 6 encounter in a hotel room in suburban Montebello.

Court papers in a federal case against the girls alleged pimp say Taylor admitted to sex acts with the girl but was told she was 19. He is free on $75,000 bail.

Prosecutors also asked that an order of protection against the victim continue.