Tag: tommy devito

Township of Cedar Grove awards Giants’ Tommy DeVito keys to the city

In a special ceremony held on Monday night in the Township of Cedar Grove, New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito was honored with the keys to the city.

“I’ll continue to be the ambassador and everything (I) need to be for this town,” DeVito said. “Anything you guys will ever need, let me know and I’ll be here for you.”

Born in Livingston, New Jersey, DeVito grew up in Cedar Grove and attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School before heading off to Syracuse for college. He transferred to Illinois in 2022 and signed with the Giants after going undrafted in 2023.

With both Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor injured last season, DeVito unexpectedly stepped in and a legend was born.

Tommy Cutlets, as he came to be known, appeared in eight games with six starts, compiling a 3-3 record while completing 64 percent of his passes for 1,101 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions. He added an additional 195 yards and one touchdown on the ground.

DeVito led the Giants to three consecutive wins against the Washington Commanders, New England Patriots, and Green Bay Packers from Week 11 through Week 14, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive at the time.

During that streak, DeVito’s Italian-themed celebration became a hit across the country and he grew in fame, even being talked about on various late-night shows.

Read all the best Giants coverage at NorthJersey.com and Giants Wire.



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Joe Schoen on alleged buyer’s remorse over Daniel Jones: ‘Not true’

In early March, Rich Eisen stirred the pot by sharing some rumors that had been whispered in his ear suggesting the New York Giants and general manager Joe Schoen had buyer’s remorse after giving quarterback Daniel Jones a long-term contract.

“The Giants are absolutely done with Daniel Jones,” Eisen said on The Rich Eisen Show. “Done. Might have to play him this year but that ain’t it. . . The words I heard at the Combine multiple times were ‘buyer’s remorse.’”

Eisen later cautioned that he could be “way off” on what he was hearing.

“I may be way off and this may be patently unfair,” he added.

On Thursday during his pre-draft press conference, Schoen agreed that Eisen was way off and that his shared rumor was patently false.

“I’m still confident in Daniel — the way he’s wired (and) what he showed in 2022,” Schoen told reporters. “There’s stuff out there all the time that’s not true and you really can’t let it bother you.

“I’ve got a good relationship with Daniel and we communicate all the time. Again, he’s here all the time. . . We’ve got a good relationship and we communicate well. If he has an issue or he hears something or (there’s) something that I need to talk to him about, we do that often.”

Asked point-blank to rebuff the Eisen “report,” Schoen spelled it out bluntly.

“That was not true,” he said.

Schoen also admitted that he’s under no pressure to select a quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft, whether in the first round or later down the line. After signing veteran Drew Lock in free agency to back up Jones, Schoen said he’d be confident going into the regular season with the quarterback room that’s already been established within the building.

“I think with Drew’s experience. . .  with Daniel’s experience and what Tommy (DeVito) did last year,” Schoen said, “I think we could go into the season with the three that we have and I’d be comfortable with that.”

Schoen’s expectations remain that Jones will return in time for training camp and start under center come Week 1.

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NFL Network doesn’t offer favorable ranking for Giants’ three QBs

The New York Giants were forced to shuffle through three quarterbacks in 2023 — Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor, and Tommy DeVito.

All three were injured at some point, with Jones suffering a serious neck injury followed by a torn ACL in Week 9. Taylor stepped in to replace him but was promptly sent to the hospital with a rib injury that proceeded to cost him several weeks.

DeVito was the healthiest of the trio but even he got banged up in multiple games and was forced to the sideline.

On the field, things were equally negative. Save for a thrilling three-game stretch under DeVito, the Giants’ quarterback play was uninspiring to put it modestly.

Just how bad were they? NFL Network’s Nick Shook recently ranked all 66 quarterbacks who started at least one game in 2023 and none of the Giants finished above 32nd.

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I’m convinced it isn’t possible for Taylor to make it through a season without an unusual amount of adversity being plopped on his plate. This time around, injury forced him out of the lineup and cleared the way for Tommy DeVito’s short-lived run, but in typical Taylor fashion, he worked his way back to the field and proved why he was signed to be Daniel Jones’ backup. Taylor wasn’t remarkably effective in any area, but he was steady, so much so that his Giants dominated Philadelphia in a season-ending win over the defending NFC champs. That’s what Taylor provides at this stage of his career: reliably average-or-slightly-better production that will keep an offense afloat in a time of need.

Taylor is and has always been a hard-luck quarterback. You just have to feel for him. If it weren’t for bad luck he’d have no luck at all.

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The Tommy Cutlets era was fun while it lasted. The kid from New Jersey easily proved to be a sympathetic figure, a rookie living with his parents who suddenly found himself leading the Giants through a dark period. His play stunned many, at least after he got past an ugly debut in which the team actively avoided asking him to throw. He channeled some magic in front of a national television audience and padded his checking account with some quick endorsement deals, but as is often the case with reserve signal-callers, the magic eventually ran out. He’ll continue to be a fun underlying character to track in the years ahead, although I don’t think we’ll ever find ourselves swimming in the ocean of buzz that surrounded New York around Thanksgiving again.

The DeVito era was fun. It was really the only fun the Giants experienced this season outside of their Week 18 beatdown of the Philadelphia Eagles, which was a long time coming.

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Fresh off signing a four-year, $160 million deal, Jones was supposed to own 2023. Instead, it owned him. The injury bug returned with a vengeance, forcing Jones to miss all but six games, and in the games he played, he rarely had a chance while operating behind a crumbling offensive line. He threw six interceptions, fumbled four times and had just one bright moment in a furious comeback win over the Cardinals in Arizona. Otherwise, 2023 was a lost year for Jones, who will try to pick himself up and prove he can be the guy worth $40 million per year for the Giants.

2023 was an absolute worst-case scenario for Jones. There’s no way around it and now he faces what could be his final year in blue.

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Giants’ Tommy DeVito, Tiki Barber appear in Pizza Hut commercial

The New York Giants didn’t play in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday night but shortly before kickoff, they did make their presence felt.

Pizza Hut released a brand new ad campaign to showcase their Hot Honey Pizza and Wings and they chose Giants rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito and actress Antonia Gentry as their “power couple” spokespeople.

Retired Giants great Tiki Barber also got in on the action a bit.

Check it out:

DeVito rose to fame this season after quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor suffered multiple injuries. He took over and led the Giants on a three-game winning streak, also taking the country by storm during that time.

Although DeVito’s flame burned hot and fast, it was enough for him to secure several endorsement deals and promotional opportunities. His Italian-inspired celebration also won him the Bug Light Celebration of the Year at the NFL Honors Award Show last week.

DeVito, who is still under contract (non-guaranteed), is expected back with the team in 2024.

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New York Giants’ Tommy DeVito wins Celebration of the Year Award

The New York Giants got barely a mention at the NFL Honors in Las Vegas on Thursday night but may have stolen the show anyway.

Rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito was recognized for his role in the “Bud Light Easy to Celebrate Moment of the Year.”

DeVito started a mini-craze with his hand gesture after making a big play this season. The gesture is a tribute to his Italian-American heritage. The craze caught on with his teammates and fans and brought some fun to an otherwise dismal year that saw the Giants finish 6-11.

The award was not DeVito’s only turn in the spotlight on the night. NFL Honors host Kennan Michael-Key did a skit with DeVito playing on the rookie quarterback’s name, which is the same as actor Joe Pesci’s character in the Martin Scorsese classic film, GoodFellas. 

Classic.

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Tommy DeVito wants Giants to call the Brink’s truck for Saquon Barkley

The New York Giants have another key decision to make this offseason in regards to star running back Saquon Barkley’s future.

Do they slap the franchise tag on him again if the two parties can’t agree on a contract extension or do they let the fan favorite test the free agent waters?

Quarterback Tommy DeVito, who made a splash this season by leading the Giants to three consecutive wins and putting them back in the playoff picture (albeit temporarily), was asked in a recent interview what his pitch would be to Saquon and the Giants to continue their relationship.

“That is my man,” DeVito told Complex. “I want the best for him in any way situation. I want them to call the Brink’s truck and come drop off the cash at the front door. Now I hope is for the Giants cause I want him to be in the backfield with me and all my team because I think he is the best teammate in the NFL, the best teammate I’ve had around.

“Obviously, I’ve played one year in the league but I’ve played a lot of football. He’s the best teammate that I’ve ever been around in my life. Hands down for sure.”

Naturally, it will come down to the numbers. The Giants have approximately $35-38 million in available cap space this offseason and have a long laundry list of needs to address. Barkley is just one of those ‘to-do’ items.

“Now, I hope it’s with the Giants,” continued DeVito. “But if not, somebody call the bank because the bank is coming because this man needs to get paid. You’re my man, you’re my man for real. Now you can come run it back and we can get right. But at the same time, I want you to get your paper, you know what I mean?”

Barkley responded by saying, “Great answer, my dog.”

The period to place the franchise tag on a player begins on Feb. 20 and runs through March 5. Free agency begins March 13.

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Giants’ Tommy DeVito discusses sudden, unexpected rise to fame

The New York Giants began the 2023 NFL season with high hopes. They were coming off their first playoff appearance in six years and thought they would take the next step up the NFC hierarchy.

But the football gods had different ideas. The team reverted back to their old ways, losing several key players to long-term injuries, including their top two quarterbacks, Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor.

That thrust an unlikely local hero into the spotlight. Tommy DeVito, an undrafted local free agent who played his college football at Illinois and Syracuse, stepped in and created a mini-hysteria in the same way Jeremy Lin did with the Knicks a few years back.

DeVito appeared in nine games for the Giants this season, starting six, and had a 3-3 record as a starter. He played fairly well for an unknown and was even named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his play in the Giants’ 24-22 Week 14 Monday night victory over the Green Bay Packers.

DeVito’s story is a colorful one, smothered in local Jersey flavor and leveraging his family and their Italian-American heritage.

He admittedly still lives at home (his parent’s house) and his mother still does his laundry and cooks him dinner. He credits much of his quick rise to fame to the people he has around him.

“It was good, but it was good because I have a small circle,” DeVito told FOX News Digital.

“My family, my friends, my teammates really helped guide me through it all. Obviously, I’ve never been a part of something as crazy as this happened, especially with how fast it happened. Marketing team, agents, they did a great job handling a lot of that.

“Me living at home was a big aspect, especially right now. They were really able to take a lot off my shoulders, and that aspect really just let me focus on football and enjoying that time and really be able to enjoy that experience and not feel like it was overwhelming in any way, shape or form.”

The young man who would soon after be nicknamed “Tommy Cutlets” after his favorite sandwich, will be back with the Giants next season and is under no illusions. He had his 15 minutes of fame, so to speak, but still sees himself as an ascending player and will keep working to improve.

“Obviously, it helps to have (Saquon Barkley) in the back here, which allowed (him) to take a lot of the load off,” he said. “Everything was a positive. I enjoyed it. I just continue … to work and be ready for the next opportunity.”

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MVP, Rookie of the Year and more

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If not for Lawrence, linebacker Bobby Okereke may have been named the team MVP. Instead, he earns the Giants Wire Defensive Player of the Year after recording 149 tackles (92 solo, 11 for a loss), four forced fumbles, six QB hits, 2.5 sacks, 10 passes defensed, and two interceptions.

Others receiving votes: S Xavier McKinney (1), LB Kayvon Thibodeaux (1)

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Giants' biggest needs headed into the offseason

The New York Giants finished 6-11 on the season and failed to follow up on their 2022 playoff performance leaving behind questions of whether or not they are headed in the right direction.

The Giants had breakdowns and failures in just about every unit and now must seriously evaluate what needs to be addressed and in what order.

Here are the Giants’ five biggest needs heading into the offseason.

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Studs and duds from New York Giants’ Week 18 win vs. Eagles

The New York Giants closed out the regular season with a wildly unexpected drubbing of the Philadelphia Eagles — something they hadn’t done to such a degree since 2012.

The game was over by halftime with the Giants leading 24-0 and the Eagles waiving the white flag. Head coach Nick Sirianni began pulling his starters, acknowledging they could no longer compete with Big Blue.

Although the game itself meant nothing to the Giants in terms of playoff seeding, it was significant in the sense that it ended Philly’s dominant reign.

Here is a look at some of the studs and duds (and studly duds) from the Week 18 victory.

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Headed into free agency, safety Xavier McKinney put on a show against the Eagles. He was all over the field, recording five tackles (three solo), three passes defensed, and two interceptions. His first INT was a thing of beauty as he toe-tapped the line and somehow managed to keep his feet in.

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There weren’t many negatives for the Giants on the day so filling out the “duds” section requires some creativity. Unfortunately for Tommy DeVito, that means his short and non-productive stint in the game lands him here. He completed two passes for 14 yards, took a sack, and left the game limping only to briefly return later.

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Veteran linebacker Bobby Okereke may have started the season slowly, but he sure finished strong. Like McKinney, he was all over the field on Sunday and made an impact in a multitude of ways. He finished the game with eight tackles (five solo, one for a loss), one pass defensed, one QB hit, and one sack.

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It’s difficult to criticize a player due to injury but rookie wide receiver Jalin Hyatt saw his season come to an unceremonious end for that exact season. He capped things off with one reception for five yards and made no impact whatsoever. Hyatt did have one chance on a deep ball but wasn’t able to win the contested catch.

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Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson flashed repeatedly over the final weeks of the season and that includes Sunday’s win over the Eagles. The second-year soon-to-be star hauled in five receptions for 85 yards, many of those coming after the catch. He likely would have put up better numbers but the Giants desperately tried to get Sterling Shepard involved late.

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With injuries mounting in the secondary, Wink Martindale turned to rookie cornerback Tre Hawkins for the first time in quite a while. The result was not what the Giants had hoped as Hawkins struggled, missing a couple of tackles and then surrendering a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

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It was a strange day for Tyrod Taylor, who exited the game on two separate occasions due to different injuries. But with DeVito also banged up, he ended up toughing it out and finishing with 297 yards passing, 38 yards rushing, one touchdown, one interception, and one fumble. He also repeatedly held the ball too long, leading to some unnecessary hits.

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  • RB Saquon Barkley
  • WR Gunner Olszewski
  • P Jamie Gillan
  • S Dane Belton

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