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          New York Jets

          A Bronx tale: Saquon Barkley and his childhood Jets crush

          • Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterMar 2, 2018, 12:00 PM
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              Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can follow him via Twitter @RichCimini.
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          INDIANAPOLIS -- Saquon Barkley was born in the Bronx and rooted for the New York Jets. Curtis Martin was his favorite player on the team. Barkley's father, Alibay, has a red Jets tattoo on his left forearm.

          So Barkley should be drafted by the Jets, right? It's destiny.

          "I was a New York Jets fan growing up," the former Penn State running back said Thursday at the NFL scouting combine. "My dad said I used to sit there at a very young age and watch football with him and tell him, 'I'm going to play for that team one day.' "

          The Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos might have something to say about that. They're picking ahead of the Jets in the draft, and the odds of him falling to the Jets (No. 6) appear slim, especially with the Browns holding the first and fourth picks.

          It's hard to believe a talent-starved team would pass twice on a generational talent such as Barkley. Then again, we're talking about the Browns, so you never know.

          For the record, Barkley said his Jets fandom has faded. With the draft approaching, he's "kind of neutral" when it comes to rooting interest. He said he'd embrace any opportunity, even if he's picked by the winless Browns. That, he said, would provide the chance to create a legacy.

          Barkley was quite impressive in his media session. Later, he dazzled at the bench press, recording 29 reps at 225 pounds. Is there anything he can't do?

          "I'm very confident in myself," said Barkley, whose family moved to an Allentown, Pennsylvania, suburb in 2001. "Whether the ball is on the 99-yard line or the 1-yard line, I'm going to find a way to get into the end zone. I can do it all. I can go over the top or I can beat you with speed. I can beat you with some wiggle or I can run through you."

          The Jets have a solid back in Bilal Powell, but it would be hard to bypass Barkley, who would immediately improve the Jets' 28th-ranked offense with his dynamic presence. Of the 12 running backs picked in the top 10 in the past 15 years, 11 went to teams that increased their win total in the back's first season.

          Barkley can be that type of difference-maker.