EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Two weeks ago, someone asked New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito about his hand gestures.
you know it. A pinched finger. You can tell at a glance that you’re Italian. It doesn’t have much of a name, but you’ll know it when you see it. This has been the talk of New York ever since DeVito took the reins of the Giants.
“Everybody’s doing it at this point. I don’t know,” the New Jersey native said of the small phenomenon he started. “I’m fine with that. It’s just the vibe.”
The gesture became part of DeVito’s ever-growing legend. When it comes to atmosphere, he’s changing the vibe of New York. The Giants suddenly transformed from a team on the brink of collapse to a team with hope. DeVito has a big responsibility.
In the month since he became the Giants’ starting pitcher, he has become a fan favorite. An almost overnight sensation, he’s a local kid who played at Don Bosco Prep and now dons his hometown team’s uniform, helping keep their glimmering hopes of making the playoffs alive. Even in a losing situation, he took over a 2-7 team, he has won the hearts of Giants fans and proven to be a winner on the field as well.
The crazy thing is that DeVito’s story probably wasn’t supposed to be a story at all. At least not this year. He was an undrafted rookie and was not scheduled to play this season. The starter was Daniel Jones. Tyrod Taylor was the backup. DeVito was not part of the plan.
The only time he was thrust into the spotlight was because both quarterbacks were injured. When Taylor returns from injured reserve, DeVito will return to the bench. However, that’s not what the Giants decided to do. After leading a winning streak en route to a Week 13 bye, the Giants elected to keep DeVito.
And under the lights at MetLife Stadium on Monday night, DeVito made it look like a very wise decision. The quarterback led the Giants to a 24-22 come-from-behind victory over the Green Bay Packers, leading a spectacular late-game march to set up Randy Bullock’s game-winning field goal and defeat New York. I pushed it to 5-8. On the edge of playoff contention.
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Wink Martindale’s defense deserves credit for forcing two turnovers on Jordan Love and confounding the Packers’ young quarterback for the entire game, but Monday night was all about DeVitomania. . The world couldn’t get enough of stories about her strutting in her jersey, pinching her fingers, and how DeVito lived in her house and her mother made “Tommy cutlets” for dinner. DeVito’s agent, Sean Stellato, also weighed in on this story.
But the bigger story was DeVito’s play on the field. He did everything he needed to do to win, starting by staying upright.
After starting the first three games and getting sacked 20 times, DeVito and the Giants came up with a better plan for him to keep playing. It worked wonders, as DeVito wasn’t sacked once on Monday. He also didn’t throw any interceptions or turnovers in three straight games. He completed 17 of 21 passes for 158 yards on a break play for a spectacular touchdown pass to Isiah Hodgins.
“I didn’t know he could run like that,” running back Saquon Barkley said of DeVito, who gained 71 yards on the ground and added 10 carries. “That throw he threw to Isaiah in the back of the end zone, the catch was great, but he rolled to his right and threw a dart, he’s a hell of a player. He’s the real deal.”
DeVito proved it on his final drive. Late in the fourth quarter, after a freak Barkley fumble and a Packers touchdown gave Green Bay a 22-21 lead, DeVito drove the Giants down the field with 1:33 left and Bullock made the game-winning field goal. I tried.
Ahead of that final series, Giants coach Brian Daboll said he knew he didn’t need to worry or say much about his rookie quarterback.
“‘I’m going to show you some of your favorite plays. Go out there and beat the crap out of that son of a bitch,'” Daboll recalled telling DeVito.
In the huddle, DeVito kept it simple.
“Let’s go win the game,” DeVito said. “The attacker is our responsibility.”
After gaining 21 yards on three quick passes, DeVito connected with Wan’Dale Robinson down the right sideline for a 32-yard gain. DeVito completed a 4-of-4 drive for 53 yards.
“In the locker room he’s smiling and joking about everything, but every time he steps on the field it’s like he’s a cold-blooded killer,” said Robinson, who finished with six catches for 79 yards on Monday. Told. “I think that’s what you want in a quarterback. I mean, he’s focused and just let everyone know that this is going to be ours.”
After a few runs by Barkley and the Giants in field goal range, DeVito headed to the sideline and stood with Daboll to watch the kick. The coach told DeVito he wasn’t going to watch the game, but he later changed his mind. As soon as the ball passes the uprights, The two jumped into each other’s arms.
DeVito remained on the field with his teammates after the victory, raising his right arm in celebration and greeting fans who were still celebrating the win. Finger-pinching gestures were common in the locker room as the team celebrated its first consecutive wins of the season.
“He earned the right to play today and he earned the right to play next week,” Daboll said. “That kid did a great job.”
(Tommy DeVito Photo: Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
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