It isn’t the identical.
“Yeah, I think just the opportunity I had last year to be able to play in games was all the difference it was to now,” Tommy DeVito mentioned. “I have a year under my belt. I’ve played in preseason games, practice and real games, so it’s a little different this time around.”
This time round is the second time round for DeVito, who fairly abruptly has vaulted from the No. 3 quarterback on the roster to the Giants starter for Sunday’s recreation with the Buccaneers.
The plug was lastly pulled on Daniel Jones, which was not a stunning improvement.
That DeVito was the selection of head coach Brian Daboll, forward of backup Drew Lock, was not the anticipated end result.
“I wouldn’t say surprised, I was open for all outcomes,” DeVito mentioned. “It’s kind of something that I’ve been preparing for since last year. You always say, ‘Stay ready, even though you’re quarterback three. Stay ready, you never know.’”
Identical to that, DeVito took the first-team snaps throughout Wednesday’s apply and held court docket contained in the locker room for a big media throng.
DeVito went 3-3 in six consecutive begins final season as an undrafted rookie, filling in after Jones after which Tyrod Taylor have been injured.
It was a whirlwind few months for the Cedar Grove, N.J., native, a time full of Italian hand gestures and memes and signings at pizza joints and a few moments of excellent soccer.
He was a cute story.
Now he has seven video games to play for the Giants, who’re 2-8, and this can be a big alternative for him to show he belongs to remain on the roster in 2025.
“Last year was a good story and all, it was kind of like how it happened, but all the fun and games outside, it was fun, it was last year, I’m kind of over that,” DeVito mentioned. “I’m sticking to football now, not that I wasn’t before, but really focused on that, the external stuff will be on pause. I already had talks with everybody around me, my inner circle, it is going to stay very tight and make sure that everything is about productions on Sunday.”
Daboll will tweak the offense to focus on what DeVito does greatest.
“He’s got good leadership about him,” Daboll mentioned. “I think he’s a year into the system where he understands things even more. He’s done a good job since he’s been here, really since we had him last year, and we’ll work as hard as we can with him so he can be as ready to go.”
There isn’t a doubt DeVito brings a unique vitality.
Jones is the superior athlete, greater and stronger. DeVito carries himself with a Jersey perspective, a way that he belongs.
“Different personality, different kind of guy, different thought process,” vast receiver Darius Slayton mentioned. “He’s got some attitude, some swagger to him, so I expect him to play well, and I think he will.”
DeVito, 26, embraces the temperament he takes with him to the sphere.
At occasions, it rubbed off on his teammates final season — although his perception in himself usually couldn’t offset his inexperience, which led to unfavorable performs and too many sacks taken.
This second time round, his confidence stays part of who he’s.
“Yeah, I think I bring a certain confidence, energy, swag, whatever you call it, to the team, to the people around me,” DeVito mentioned. “I think I’ve kind of always had that growing up from when I was even younger, so I kind of just bring that energy. It’s all about really enjoying it for me. It’s like, it is a children’s game, obviously there’s a lot more money and a lot more stakes into it, but at the same time, if you don’t enjoy going out there, you don’t play with the same kind of passion that you would if you did. So really just trying to keep everybody’s high spirits up, enjoy it, and just bring energy when I’m out there.”
