Tommy DeVito Handles Demotion Like a Pro

To say that New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito wasn't disappointed in learning that head coach Brian Daboll elected to go with veteran Tyrod Taylor for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams wouldn't be true.

But don't expect the 25-year-old DeVito to pout and complain about the decision or to stir up politics to undermine the locker room, either.

"I'm going to continue to be a good teammate," the Cedar Grove, New Jersey native said Wednesday after the team concluded a walkthrough practice.

"Obviously, it's a coaches' decision. I have no say or anything in that, but I’m going to continue to be a good teammate, go out and compete."

DeVito, who, like Taylor, learned about the decision Tuesday night, was benched at halftime of the Giants' 33-25 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Although he and Taylor had some similar numbers, Taylor proved to be a little more successful in moving the ball, enough that Daboll, who was looking for a spark due to the change, decided to stick with the veteran over the rookie.

DeVito endeared himself to Giants fans everywhere, from his Jersey roots to living at home with his parents. His pride in his Italian heritage and the pinch hand gesture he first debuted after he led the team to a touchdown in one of his earlier games became viral.

And his love of his mother's homemade chicken cutlets with vodka sauce led the way for delis across Northern New Jersey creating Tommy DeVito specials and his "Tommy Cutlets" moniker, which he has since filed to trademark.

Along the way, DeVito won three games in a row for the Giants, including an impressive victory over the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football, which increased his popularity. However, losses to the Saints the following week and the struggles against the Eagles in the first 30 minutes of that game on Christmas day brought the Devito hype train crashing down to earth.

"There were two plays to me that stood out," DeVito said, recalling what plays he would like to have back from the hat Eagles game in which he finished 9 of 16 for 55 yards. "I ended up getting down to a check down--that was kind of a scramble throw away. Then I think two third downs that if I could've went back, maybe would've did something a little different."

DeVito, who received the good news about being the starter when Taylor came off injured reserve before the game against the Packers, said there are no hard feelings between him and Taylor.

"We know where we're at," he said of his relationship with Taylor. "This kind of happened a couple of weeks ago when it was vice versa when it was me, but we still respect each other, we're here, we're teammates to each other, and that's that.

And just as Taylor vowed to be ready in case his number was called, so too did DeVito.

"Yeah, it's going to be the same thing I was doing however many weeks ago I was prior to when I got my first start, so same deal," he said, adding that he stayed even-keeled when he got the news. "Process will stay the same, and then just stick to my routine."

DeVito likely hasn't seen his last snap in a Giants uniform. He's under contract for next season and might very well have done enough to work himself into the discussion as a QB2, what with Taylor set to be an unrestricted free agent and with incumbent Daniel Jones recovering from a torn ACL.

"I don't know what the future holds, let alone tomorrow. I'm just going to continue to be here, be in the moment. Just try to give my all and be my best every day," he said.

DeVito, who said he's proud of what he's shown so far in his stint as an NFL quarterback, has not lost any confidence in himself or his abilities.

"That I belong in the NFL," he said when asked what he learned about himself on this journey. "I mean, just to go out and to prove that to myself. To the younger me, to the me that was training to be here to this point."

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