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The most important number Cleannord Saintil knows is not the one on his jersey, the one for the catches he's made or the one for his seasons as a pro.

It is the one on his phone.

It is the first three digits that show up on caller ID when his mom calls. When his former coach calls. Heck, when a reporter he's never met calls.

Two-three-nine.

Saintil writes Southwest Florida's area code on his wrist before every game he plays for the San Jose SaberCats. He puts it in black ink on white tape and lets it sink in.

"I represent more than myself up here," the Naples High product said. "I want everybody back home to know I'll never forget them. They helped me get here."

He hopes Saturday will serve as another reminder. He hopes to be on the sideline with the SaberCats when they play the Colorado Crush in San Jose, a Divisional Round playoff game the fans back home can watch since it's being televised by ESPN at 3 p.m.

But Saintil isn't sure if he'll be there to show that he wears his heart on his wrist. He said he wouldn't learn until Saturday morning if he'd be one of the 20 players to dress for the SaberCats, who own the top seed in the American Conference after winning the West Division title.

The SaberCats, like other Arena Football League teams, aren't required to submit an active roster until one hour before kickoff. Saintil is among 23 players on the official roster; he has played in five of San Jose's 16 games, with a strong showing in the regular-season finale.

Either way, he'll take it in stride.

Saintil, who plays wide receiver, linebacker and special teams, knows he's still a rookie. He has to earn his keep.

"I'm not sure if I'm gonna play or not," Saintil said. "If I don't, there's always next week."

Maybe another one after that, too. San Jose, which is shooting for its third championship since entering the AFL in 1995, needs only two wins -- both would be at home -- in the American Conference playoffs to reach Arena Bowl XXI in New Orleans on July 29.

Saintil would sure love to end his rookie season on a winning note. After all, he's used to it.

Consider back at Naples High in 2001, when the Golden Eagles stormed to the Class 5A state championship. Saintil starred as a receiver on the team.

Go back even further, to Saintil's days as a Pop Warner standout. He helped lead the Naples Gators to the national title in 1998 by playing wherever the coaches put him -- running back, defensive back, linebacker, even nose guard.

Which brings us to his role on the SaberCats and the number of positions he has played. One of the great receivers in Middle Tennessee State history, Saintil said he sometimes feels as if he's back in the youth leagues.

"Man," he said, "they've got me playing everywhere. I'm just trying to make plays any way possible and just trying to have a good time."

He has done plenty of both when given the chance. His biggest problem, it seems, is also his biggest blessing -- that he plays for one of the league's most successful franchises.

But Darren Arbet, who has coached the SaberCats the last nine seasons, said he is happy with Saintil's progress. It just takes some time.

"I think he's done a tremendous job," Arbet said of Saintil, who has 16 catches for 181 yards and seven TDs and has also made eight tackles on defense and special teams. "It means a lot being able to say you've played in five games as a rookie for a team that has been so good for so long. It's hard to break into the lineup right away, but I think the sky is the limit for this kid."

Reassurance was provided in the final game of the regular season, a 73-46 victory over Las Vegas that clinched the No. 1 seed. Saintil made three catches for 31 yards and a touchdown and also had 3.5 tackles to go with a fumble recovery.

To be sure, it is the fumble recovery -- and the return of it -- that sticks out. And that is as much for the way it ended as the way it began.

Saintil broke into some high-stepping action at the end of the 34-yard touchdown return. He called it his little tribute to a certain North Fort Myers product.

"I had to do some Deion Sanders," Saintil said. "You know, it's the 239."

Everyone does. After all, it's right there on his wrist.