Newly-signed San Francisco 49ers quarterback Matt Barkley was having trouble deciding on a jersey number. What better way to connect with the Niner Faithful than to have them help you decide via Twitter? Barkley posted a poll asking fans which number he should wear with his new team. The choices were between numbers 5, 7, 9, and the always necessary "other" option.
Any thoughts on which number I should try and snag with the @49ers?
— Matthew Barkley (@MattBarkley) March 10, 2017
Obviously, these numbers are available for Barkley to choose from or else he would not be listing them as options. It's not like numbers 8 or 16 were on the poll.
We know the first thought that popped into your head when you saw the choices: "Number 5?! That's punter Bradley Pinion's number!"
Wait...that wasn't your first thought? Well, regarding that, two players from different groups (offense, defense, and special teams) of the team are allowed to wear the same number prior to the start of the regular season. For example, both Pinion and quarterback Christian Ponder wore number 5 during training camp and exhibition play last year.
Back on point, the number that really sticks out from the choices is 7. That's the number that former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is now a free agent, wore with the team since being drafted in 2011. The 49ers seem more than willing to offer that number as an option to Barkley, making it seem like they have officially moved on. In fact, of the four quarterbacks on the roster last season, Kaepernick's locker nameplate is the only one missing.
What's even more interesting is that fans appear to have moved on as well. Out of the more than 24,000 fans who voted in Barkley's poll, which is now closed, an overwhelming 47-percent picked 7 as their choice for his new jersey number – making it the top result.
Of course, 7 is the number that Barkley wore in college when he was a star quarterback at the University of Southern California. Obviously, that's why the number is being considered by the quarterback.
So hold on to your Kaepernick jerseys. With some tape and a marker, you may be able to convert them to Barkley jerseys. You know, if you absolutely need a jersey of a current player.
Since being drafted in 2013, Barkley has worn the number 2 with Philadelphia, 9 with Arizona, and 12 with Chicago.