Tag: Brian DaBoll

Giants’ Tommy DeVito is over last year’s hype, focused solely on football

New York Giants QB Tommy DeVito had fun with all the hype last season but this time around, he’s focused solely on football.

Last year, New York Giants rookie free agent quarterback Tommy DeVito was thrust into the team’s starting role due to injuries to Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor.

As a local New Jersey product, he took full advantage of his opportunity and, along with his colorful family and friends, managed to capture the imagination of Giant fans and add some interest in an otherwise dreadful season.

This week, DeVito was named the Giants’ starter for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium.

This time around, DeVito knows what to expect and so do the fans.

“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,” he said on Wednesday.

“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.”

DeVito said he was not surprised by the team’s decision to elevate him from the depths of the roster (where he had not taken a single snap this season) over two healthy quarterbacks (Jones and Drew Lock) into the starting role.

“I was open for all outcomes. It’s kind of something that I’ve been preparing for since last year,” DeVito told reporters. “You always say, ‘Stay ready, even though you’re quarterback three. Stay ready, you never know.’ And it’s kind of similar to last year, you never know. But continuing to work throughout this whole season so far, learn, practice, just make the most of it, so that way when the opportunity comes, you’ll be ready for it.”

DeVito went 3-3 as a starter and injected some life into the Giants’ stale offense, but at the same time, made his share of rookie mistakes. He was asked what has changed since we last saw him.

“A lot mentally. Trying to avoid more negative plays than I was. Sometimes taking some sacks where I could have found a way to get the ball out or just make a better decision. So really just the growth from year one to year two of watching a lot more film of myself, of other people and just getting some more ideas for when I’m out there,” he said.

This new chapter likely won’t focus as much on the sideshow of chicken cutlets and Sopranos references but more on football.

DeVito has a better cast around him this time with a revamped offensive line and rookie Malik Nabers at wide receiver, so we shall see if he’s truly worthy of another shot at the job.

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Giants are humiliating Daniel Jones with QB4 role

The New York Giants have put Daniel Jones in an embarrassing spot by keeping him around and demoting him to the QB4 role behind Tim Boyle.

The manner in which the New York Giants are treating quarterback Daniel Jones these days is simply unjust — and unprofessional.

Jones was ousted from his starting position this week in favor of third-string quarterback Tommy DeVito and is now listed as the team’s fourth quarterback.

The Giants are dry-docking Jones on their roster behind DeVito, Drew Lock (who is also being mistreated), and newly-signed Tim Boyle not only because of his underperformance but for financial reasons.

Jones has a $23 million injury clause that will kick in should he get injured. The Giants are doing everything they can to keep him off the field for the rest of the season.

As we stated on Wednesday, what is the purpose of keeping him around? To humiliate him? They should do what the Las Vegas Raiders did two years ago with Derek Carr and send him home.

Instead, Jones is doing all of the things he would normally do such as attending meetings and participating in practice. He is doing this with the knowledge that he will never take another snap in a New York Giants uniform again.

Is this any way to treat a player who bore the brunt of the massive mismanagement the past six years?

No matter what you think of Jones, he deserves better.

“Daniel’s been a pro,” head coach Brian Daboll said on Wednesday. “He’s been a good teammate for us. Again, this is the role that he has right now for us and I’m glad he’s part of our team.

“He’ll be out here working. We’ve had, again, private meetings. Not the easiest thing, and I understand that, but he’ll be out here, and he’ll be working.”

Sure. Daboll said the team makes its personnel decisions on Fridays. We’ll see where Jones, who is not expected to be active nor be listed as the team’s emergency quarterback this Sunday, ends up.

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ESPN analyst lists Steelers as favorites to sign Daniel Jones in 2025

Could Daniel Jones find a fresh start in Pittsburgh? One ESPN analyst sees the Steelers as a top landing spot if the Giants move on in 2025.

Pittsburgh is slowly becoming a quarterback rehab center, where struggling signal callers leave their worries, and former teams, behind to become a much more confident QB. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields looked far more comfortable with the Steelers than they did with the Broncos and Bears, respectively, and now it appears one ESPN analyst believes Pittsburgh could add one more name to this list come the 2025 offseason.

QB Daniel Jones of the New York Giants has seemingly fallen out of the team’s aspirations for their long-term future, with backup QB Tommy DeVito being named the team’s starter by Head Coach Brian Daboll.

ESPN analyst Ben Solak fully expects the Giants to cut Jones in 2025 and touched on potential landing spots for the QB, shooting down the New York Jets as suitors while hyping up Pittsburgh’s odds: “I’m also keeping my eyes on the Steelers (current running favorite), Titans and Browns.”

If the Pittsburgh Steelers are unable to keep Fields or Wilson past 2024, could Jones provide a much-needed bridge in 2025 while the team searches for their future signal caller?

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Giants’ Drew Lock calls being passed over an ‘interesting situation’

New York Giants QB Drew Lock is “upset” after being passed over for the starting role, calling the entire situation “interesting.”

This past offseason, New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen misread the room and was left empty-handed when disgruntled quarterback Tyrod Taylor jumped ship to the New York Jets.

Schoen had been convinced Taylor would return despite losing his job due to injury in 2023, as we saw on “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants.”

With Schoen caught off guard by Taylor’s departure, he went out and signed quarterback Drew Lock to a one-year, $5 million deal.

Lock was viewed as an insurance policy in the event Daniel Jones (knee) was unable to start the season. When it became apparent DJ would return, Lock assumed the backup role knowing that an opportunity to start could come down the line.

To date, that moment has not arrived.

The Giants benched Jones earlier this week but instead of handing the keys over to Lock, they promoted Tommy DeVito from QB3 to QB1 after 10 straight games as a healthy scratch.

The decision left many perplexed, including Lock.

“If you get to be the backup all year and the time comes and you end up still being a backup, you’re upset,” Lock told reporters on Wednesday. “Definitely disappointed.”

Lock says he will remain professional and avoid tearing up the locker room due to his frustration, but admits the entire situation is “interesting.”

“Again, that’s a question I might still have for myself,” Lock said when asked why he was QB2 all season and not starting now. “It was expressed to me that I was going to be the two. I don’t know, it’s an interesting situation. Not much I can really say about it.

“There’s a ton of emotions involved in all of it. I would say, this is still a business. I want more jobs after this year.”

The best way to stay relevant and generate free agent interest is by putting good film on tape but for the time being, that’s not going to happen. However, it also doesn’t mean Lock’s New York window is closed because head coach Brian Daboll refused to commit to DeVito beyond Week 12, which in and of itself is curious.

Maybe the Giants start Lock in Week 13. Or who knows, maybe they leapfrog him again and go with the recently signed Tim Boyle. Anything seems possible at this point.

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Giants’ Brian Daboll won’t commit to Tommy DeVito for remainder of season

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll won’t commit to Tommy DeVito as the starting quarterback beyond Week 12.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll made a bold decision this week, benching quarterback Daniel Jones and elevating Tommy DeVito from QB3 to QB1.

The reasoning, Daboll said, is that DeVito gives the Giants their best chance to win. He reached that conclusion after watching two seasons worth of film over the course of the team’s bye week.

Given that certainty, DeVito should be entrenched as the starting quarterback over the final seven games of the season, right?

Well… Not so fast.

Although Daboll insists DeVito gives the Giants their best chance to win, he won’t commit to the quarterback beyond a Week 12 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“I’m not going to (say) what’s going to be. I’m going to focus on this week with Tampa. I’m going to try to do the best job we can to get (DeVito) ready to play so he can go out there and perform at the highest level he can,” Daboll told reporters. “Look, we’ll do what we think is best for this week.

“Part of that is Tommy being the quarterback and some of the things that he prefers or doesn’t prefer. But again, there’s new pieces around him from when he played last year. He’s got some new skill guys, some new offensive linemen, so we’ll do what we think is best for the offense.”

The locker room has already reacted negatively to Jones being benched, so starting a quarterback carousel might not be the best move for Daboll & Co. Skipping over Drew Lock was already curious enough, so you’d assume the regime was firm in their commitment to DeVito. But apparently, that’s not the case.

There’s a strange level of uncertainty after making such an impactful quarterback decision. And now Daboll is essentially saying it’s a week-by-week thing?

Just more curious personnel decisions coming out of 1925 Giants Drive.

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Giants vs. Buccaneers: 3 causes for concern in Week 12

The New York Giants square off in a Sunday afternoon battle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12. Here are three causes for concern.

The New York Giants will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium with hopes of creating a spark out of the bye week.

That spark will have to come via the Giants’ new QB1, Tommy DeVito, or as most Giants fans know him, “Tommy Cutlets.”

This, of course, comes following the decision by the Giants earlier this week to bench Daniel Jones and start DeVito instead of Drew Lock, who they signed in the offseason for $5 million. He has served as the backup quarterback all season.

The Giants come in well-rested off the bye week sporting a five-game losing streak after their embarrassing loss to the Carolina Panthers in Munich, Germany.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers come in with a four-game losing streak all of which have come against teams that are currently .500 or better.

While most fans are probably rooting for losses at this point for 2025 NFL draft positioning, the Giants are hoping to get back in the win column, especially Brian Daboll, who may be coaching for his job.

Here are three causes for concern ahead of the Week 12 matchup.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The return of Mike Evans

Wide receiver Mike Evans is trending toward a return on Sunday after being out with a hamstring injury since Week 7. Evans, one of the league’s best and most underrated receivers, will present a major challenge for the Giants’ secondary — in particular, Deonte Banks, who has struggled mightily in his sophomore season.

The Bucs come into Week 12 with the second-best completion percentage in the league and will go up against a Giants’ defense that ranks 30th in opponents’ completion percentage. If Evans can go, it would give Tampa Bay an added boost in this game.

Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bucs may be better than their record

As previously mentioned, the Bucs come in with a four-game losing streak. All six losses this season have come against teams that enter Week 12 with a record of .500 or better.

The Bucs also had some impressive victories this year. Three of their four wins have come against against the Washington Commanders (7-4), Philadelphia Eagles (8-2), and Detroit Lions (9-1).

In fact, the Bucs’ only game against an opponent under .500 was against the New Orleans Saints.

The Giants will be the worst opponent (record-wise) the Bucs have had on their schedule so far this season.

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The Bucs rushing attack

The Bucs are averaging 5.0 yards per carry this season, which ranks fifth in the league and could be a recipe for disaster considering the Giants have struggled against the run all season long.

The Giants are giving up a league-worst 5.3 yards per carry heading into Week 12.

The Bucs rush the ball at just over 41 percent of their plays. However, given the mismatch in this category, the Giants can expect a heavy dose of the Tampa Bay rushing attack on Sunday.

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Giants’ Brian Daboll knows not everyone supports his decisions

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll is fully aware that his decisions are currently being questioned by some of his players.

Being a head coach in the NFL these days is not an easy job. In fact, it’s one where the stress level is very high and the survival rate is very low.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll is learning that firsthand. In his third season on the job, Daboll’s regular-season record is 17-26-1 (2-8 this season), and his seat is beginning to get hot despite reassurances from ownership.

This week, Daboll had to finally make the decision to bench starting quarterback Daniel Jones, a move that was not a surprise given how the Giants’ season has unfolded.

Jones is basically done as a Giant and that may not sit well with some of his teammates. Jones is the longest-tenured player on the Giants roster along with wide receiver Darius Slayton and defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, who were also selected by the Giants in the 2019 NFL draft.

Lawrence said publicly that he feels Jones is the best quarterback on the team, calling Jones his ‘best friend’.

“(Daboll) just said it was a hard decision,” Lawrence said. “I’m sure it’s hard. He’s the QB1. To me, the best quarterback on the team. But they see things differently. I guess that’s all that matters.”

On Wednesday, Daboll spoke about the backlash over Jones’ benching.

“I got a lot of respect for Dex. Dex has been a teammate of Daniel’s for a while. There’s a pretty good relationship with there,” he told reporters. “Look, everybody’s not going to agree with the decision, and I understand that. We make the decision we feel is best and then we move forward and get ready to go for practice here.”

Daboll is certain there is no friction between him and Lawrence but understands why he feels the way he does.

“Dex and I have a good relationship, and I respect Dex a great deal. We were just talking a little while ago, not about that. But again, everybody’s going to have certain opinions. I got a lot of respect for all our players,” he said. “I think we’re focused, we’ll be focused, and do what we need to do to play our best against Tampa.”

Losing the locker room is a death knell for a head coach. Daboll was asked if he expects to lose the locker room if the team thinks he’s starting someone who’s ‘not as good’ as another option.

“No, I got a lot of confidence in our locker room. We got a close-knit group,” he said. “Obviously, not where we want to be with the record, but I have a lot of confidence in the players and the coaches and the chemistry that we have.”

The Giants have seven games remaining in this season. Jones is likely done even though the team hasn’t said as much. That decision will come on Friday.

Daboll is in a tough spot, though. If he continues to lose, he could be fired. If he wins too many games down the stretch, he could lessen the Giants’ chance at a top quarterback in next April’s draft.

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Should Giants send Daniel Jones home for remainder of season?

The New York Giants should send Daniel Jones home for the season as they have no intention of putting him on the field ever again.

The New York Giants have benched Daniel Jones, effectively ending his career with the team and they do not plan to put him back on the field under any circumstances.

Head coach Brian Daboll announced the move on Monday which included the elevation of Tommy DeVito from No. 3 emergency quarterback to the starting role and the announcement that Dew Lock would continue as the primary backup.

On Tuesday, the team signed veteran backup Tim Boyle to the practice squad. It is assumed that Boyle will now become the Giants’ No. 3 and/or emergency quarterback going forward.

That leads to the question: What do they do with Jones?

Dan Duggan of The Athletic might have the answer — send him home as there is no upside in keeping him around.

The best thing for all involved is for Daniel Jones to leave the Giants now. They are obviously completely done with him, so there’s no point in having him show up every day for seven weeks and go through the motions.

It’s what Raiders and Derek Carr did in a similar situation in 2022 (granted that was only for two weeks). Jones can focus on preparing for his future, while the Giants can limit potential distractions and eliminate any injury risk.

The Raiders sent Derek Carr packing early with a “non-injury-related, personal” designation. The Giants could follow suit.

To be clear, Jones would still be on the team. He would just no longer be physically present. He still gets paid his full salary and counts towards the salary cap.

It’s a quiet way to sunset him with dignity and class. Let’s hope the Giants can get at least this part of Jones’ career right.

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Mark Schlereth on Daniel Jones benching: ‘This is why the Giants suck’

Mark Schlereth slammed the New York Giants for their handling of the QB situation, saying they “suck” and calling them a “clown show.”

The New York Giants are once again the laughingstock of the NFL and their demotion of quarterback Daniel Jones hasn’t gone over like they had hoped.

Players are angry and confused with the decision, while experts and analysts from around the league continue to criticize general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll’s handling of the situation.

In the mind of retired NFL offensive lineman and current FS1 analyst Mark Schlereth, this is just another example of a failing franchise.

“This is why the Giants suck,” he said on Tuesday. “Drew Lock has been your backup quarterback for the entirety of the season, right? He was the guy, if Daniel Jones was going to get hurt, he was the guy that was going in. He was good enough to do that for you for the entirety of this season.

“But as soon as you decide to bench Daniel Jones, you decide to go with the sideshow, Tommy Cutlets. Because why? Because your fan base will be excited?”

Schlereth also believes the decision to leapfrog Drew Lock in favor of Tommy DeVito, which some believe was done for financial reasons, will repel free agent players in the future.

“Like, to me, this is the biggest issue. You’re a bad franchise. You need to attract free agents to come to your franchise,” he said. “If I’m a free agent player, and all things being equal from a money standpoint, I look at this clown show versus some other team… I’m not going to the Giants. That’s a clown show.

“That guy worked all year to be the backup to get his opportunity. He signed there to have an opportunity because he knew Daniel Jones was questionable and at the 11th hour you decide, ‘no, we’re going to go with (DeVito).'”

Of course, Schlereth didn’t actually say “DeVito.” Instead, he mimicked circus music with a background overlay to really hammer home how much of an embarrassment the Giants have become.

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Giants player blasts ‘weak’ demotion of Daniel Jones, calls it ‘trash’

Cracks are forming and New York Giants players are talking with one claiming the demotion of QB Daniel Jones was “trash” and “weak as —-.”

Cracks are beginning to form in the New York Giants’ foundation and players are starting to get a little loud.

On Tuesday, it was reported that general manager Joe Schoen is not well-liked among some players in the Giants’ locker room, particularly after his handling of cornerback Nick McCloud’s release.

There have also been some eyebrow-raising social media interactions with certain players “liking” comments made by ex-Giants running back Saquon Barkley and a curious comment made by wide receiver Darius Slayton, which he attempted to explain away.

While those issues are subtle, defensive captain Dexter Lawrence was anything but when asked about the benching of quarterback Daniel Jones.

“A little bit of confusion,” Lawrence said, via The Athletic. “(Brian Daboll) just said it was a hard decision. I’m sure it’s hard. He’s the QB1. To me, the best quarterback on the team. But they see things differently. I guess that’s all that matters.

“Teams lose games, not just one player, and I think that should be understood.”

Lawrence is not the only person who feels that way. An anonymous offensive player spoke with NFL insider Jordan Schultz and sounded off on the demotion of Jones.

“We’re not idiots. They did it because of money. So be it. But Daniel has been all class, never complained, and is now being completely disregarded. The team record is bad. You can point fingers everywhere,” the player said. “To try to blame him is trash, and making him third string is weak as (expletive).”

Schultz added that several other players have also expressed their “disappointment” in the decision.

The ship hasn’t sunk but it’s certainly taking on water. Once players begin to gripe — especially team captains — it’s nearly impossible to reel things back in.

Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are on the verge of losing the locker room and if that happens, there’s nothing co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch will be able to do to save them — even if that would be their preference.

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