If one grew up in or around the Big Apple, there’s a good chance they have a keen sense of theater.
Tommy DeVito certainly does.
In what could have been his final curtain call on the New York stage, the quarterback completed 17 of 20 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns as the Giants defeated the visiting New England Patriots 42-10 on Thursday night to complete a 3-0 NFL preseason.
So why might DeVito’s performance just be an audition for other clubs? Because the Giants signed veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in the offseason and traded up to select Jaxson Dart with a first-round draft pick. That means DeVito could be the one looking for a new gig when rosters are pared down Tuesday to the 53-man limit.
For an understudy, DeVito has had a good run. As a rookie in 2023, while still living with his parents in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, the former Don Bosco Prep standout led the Giants to three consecutive victories after injuries to Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor.
In his second start, against Washington, the quarterback known as “Tommy Cutlets” for his affinity for his mother’s chicken recipe, threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Giants to a 31-19 win despite being sacked nine times.
He celebrated by extending his hand and pinching his fingers together, a familiar gesture for Italian Americans.
A legend — or more appropriately, a cult hero — was born.
“I kind of thought it was just the old Italians,” DeVito said at the time of the hand gesture, which earned him the NFL’s celebration of the year award. “When they talk, they start doing this. It’s just a little credit to them.”
Winston has dubbed the Giants’ backup quarterbacks the “Three Amigos,” and they celebrated Thursday’s win with the veteran’s own “eating Ws” signal. The moment was captured on video and shared by the team on its X account with the caption, “no notes.”
Noticeably absent was the aloof Wilson, who figures to be the Giants’ starter. That led some fans to wonder on social media if the Giants would be better off keeping the “Three Amigos” and recasting without Wilson.
“One note: Cut the only QB that isn’t in this video,” one fan wrote.
That’s extremely unlikely.
But there is a case to be made for DeVito, who is more familiar with coach Brian Daboll’s system than any other quarterback on the roster, having appeared in 12 games with eight starts. Winston would also carry greater trade value for another team looking for someone who could step in as a starter or fill the role of experienced backup.
“There’s decisions to be made and we’ll make those decisions, but I know it’s weighing probably on a lot of guys. It always does every year,” Daboll said. “Again, you have some empathy toward that, but you’ve got to do what’s best for your team.”
Whether DeVito stays on Broadway or not, he showed with Thursday’s performance that he deserves a role somewhere.