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Barkley's dad will wear Jet jersey

Giants' back gave father Namath No. 12 to wear Sunday

A few years ago, Saquon Barkley bought a Joe Namath jersey as a gift for his dad. Alibay Barkley is a big Jets fan — he even has a tattoo of the team’s logo — and he and Saquon would often watch Jets games while Saquon was growing up.

On Sunday, when Barkley and the Giants face the Jets, his father plans to wear that jersey.

“That’s hard, right?” Saquon Barkley said. “I knew this situation was going to come up one day. It’s going to be a little fun competition in the Barkley house.”

Barkley said he was OK with his father sporting the opposing team’s colors, both inked on his arm and worn on his back.

“He’s been a Jets fan his whole life,” Barkley explained. “Is he going to root for the Jets? Yes. But he’s going to root for the Giants and his son at the same time. He gets the best of both worlds. Watches the team he grew up rooting for and gets to watch his son live his dream.”

As for his own allegiances, Saquon Barkley said he is true Blue. He acknowledged that the game against the Jets means a lot to the fans, but for the players, he said, it has little significance.

“It matters,” he said, “because it’s the next game on the schedule.”

Barkley was a star at Penn State University and the Giants used the second-overall pick to select the running back.

Barkley has rushed for 401 yards and two TDs this season.

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