Can quarterback reprise ‘DeVito-Mania’?
Tommy DeVito got the nod over Drew Lock to replace Daniel Jones as the New York Giants starting quarterback largely because of the “spark” DeVito gave the team in 2023 when his play and personality as an undrafted rookie free agent created ‘Devito-Mania’, Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Monday.
“After evaluating a bunch of things and looking at a lot of tape, and being around Tommy last year where he created a little bit of a spark for us, that’s the reason why we’re going with Tommy,” Daboll said when he confirmed the quarterback switch during a Monday Zoom call. “We’re obviously not playing the way any of us want to play. And that’s on all of us, but felt like this was a decision that we needed to make here and try to spark things, change things up.”
Which begs the question:
Can DeVito do it again? Can he re-create ‘DeVito-Mania’ and give the Giants and their frustrated fan base something to feel good about over the season’s final seven games?
A magical stretch
DeVito is a local New Jersey legend, a hero at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., just a stone’s throw from MetLife Stadium.
There were 14 quarterbacks selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. After a mostly non-descript five-year collegiate career at Syracuse and Illinois, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound DeVito was not one of them.
He landed an opportunity with the Giants as an undrafted player, with the only other serious suitor believed to have been the New England Patriots.
DeVito looked shaky throughout the spring. Even when he made the team, he was never actually expected to play. But when both Jones and backup Tyrod Taylor went down, he was forced into action.
When DeVito had to replace Taylor in the second quarter of a Week 8 game against the New York Jets, it looked disastrous. Daboll would barely let DeVito do more than hand off as he went just 2 of 7 passing for -1 yards as the Giants lost in overtime, 13-10.
The Giants were pummeled in DeVito’s first two NFL starts. They lost 30-6 to the Las Vegas Raiders and 49-17 to the Dallas Cowboys.
Then? Magic.
Three straight victories, including a game against the Green Bay Packers in which Devito completed 17 of 21 passes and led a late scoring drive for a game-winning Randy Bullock field goal as time expired.
DeVito was a phenomenon. A kid living at home with his parents while quarterbacking the Giants. A local hero with fans waiting in long lines for his autograph. The ‘Tommy Cutlets’ nickname was born, and sandwiches were named after him.
It ended when the Giants lost his next two starts and Tyrod Taylor was reinstalled at quarterback.
Now, the Giants are hoping for Part 2.
“We’ve been with Tommy here for a little bit. He’s done a nice job, I would say, throughout practices here. But also, we have something to lean on by going back and watching him operate some of our stuff from last year,” Daboll said. “I’m excited to see what Tommy brings to the table.
“Tommy has been improving since he’s been here. Again, have confidence in Drew as well. Just felt like this was the right move to make.”
Jones will be QB3
Daboll said that Jones will be the third quarterback, with Drew Lock remaining as the active backup. That means Jones will only play if DeVito and Lock are physically unable to.
Why didn’t Lock, who had been the No. 2 quarterback all season, get the nod?
“I got a lot of confidence in Drew, the way he’s handled himself since he’s been here. And he handled this well, too, being a professional,” Daboll said. “This is no indication on Drew whatsoever. He’s been excellent for us. It was more about what I felt Tommy gave us.”
As for Jones, Daboll said that he expected the 2019 No. 6 overall pick to stay with the team. When the Raiders pulled Derek Carr from their lineup under similar circumstances — with an injury guarantee involved — a few years back, Carr packed up and went home.
“He’s here,” Daboll said. “We had a talk right before the meeting today. Never easy. Got a lot of respect for how he goes about his business.”
The injury guarantee
Daboll deflected when asked if Jones’ $23 million injury guarantee for next season played into the decision. We know, of course, that it is a factor. Daboll, though, deflected.
“The coaches and I met, let’s say, every day last week almost and into the weekend. And we evaluate the performance of the players,” Daboll said. “And we made a decision based off that to go with Tommy.”
It is logical to concluded that Jones’ time with the Giants will be done after this season. That, though, is another thing Daboll would not delve into.
“We’re just focused here on this week and the decision that we made to get these guys ready to go,” Daboll said. “That’s where our focus is.”
