1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to the latest edition of the Giants Huttle Podcast, 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:07,039 Speaker 1: presented by Citizens, the official bank of the New York Giants. 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 1: Tommy DeVito has taken not only the New York, New 4 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: Jersey metropolitan area by storm, but the nation as well. 5 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 1: After his Monday night performance against the Packers. Is the 6 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:19,319 Speaker 1: Giants are riding a three game winning streak, So let's 7 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: dig deeper into the Tommy DeVito story. We're now joined 8 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: by a man who has trained him since he was 9 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,319 Speaker 1: six years old. He's the owner of Clark Sports, serves 10 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: as a private QB coach who has trained signal callers 11 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: on various levels over the past two decades, none other 12 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: than Leon Clark. Leon, you got Lance Meadow here on 13 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: Giants dot Com. Greatly appreciate the time, Hope Paul as well. 14 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 2: How's everything on your end? 15 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:42,840 Speaker 3: Everything is great. 16 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 4: I just have running around trying to get here and 17 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 4: just find a quiet space in the building this so 18 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 4: I can do this. So everything seems to be good 19 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 4: right now, So awesome. Thanks for having me on. 20 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 2: Not a problem, my pleasure. 21 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: I appreciate you juggling multiple things around this time of 22 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: the year, and this has been Leon. Let's start off 23 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: some week for you because you also work, if I 24 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:05,119 Speaker 1: have my facts correct, with Titans quarterback Will Levis, who 25 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: led that great comeback against the Miami Dolphins on Monday 26 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:12,480 Speaker 1: Night football, while simultaneously Tommy DeVito putting on a show 27 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: at East Ruther for New Jersey. So, from a personal standpoint, 28 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 1: what have the last few days been like for you? 29 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 4: It's been great. You know, Tommy and both Will are 30 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 4: very professional. They're hard workers. They were working together back 31 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 4: I want to say, maybe twenty sixteen at the time 32 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 4: when Tommy was going into the lead eleven, and they 33 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 4: spent a great deal of time working with each other. 34 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 3: And you know, to see them playing at that level, 35 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 3: you know. 36 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 4: Doing and just it just it's a testament to their 37 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:47,040 Speaker 4: hard work and it's not a wonder to me at all. 38 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: So Leon, let's go back in the day. From what 39 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: I understand, Tommy DeVito is six years old. His father 40 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: cracks you down and says you to train my son. 41 00:01:58,560 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 2: Heart. 42 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: One of my questions, how rare is it for you 43 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 1: to be working with a six year old And what 44 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: was your initial reaction when someone that young wanted it 45 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,239 Speaker 1: already to be molded into a quarterback? 46 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 3: You know, Initially. 47 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 4: Most people don't know this, but when Tommy, when I 48 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 4: first met Tommy and his father, he actually came in. 49 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 3: To learn how to run. 50 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:27,639 Speaker 4: Tommy wasn't the most you know, he wasn't the most 51 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 4: fastest kid, or he didn't have the greatest running form, 52 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 4: and it was really just getting him to just be 53 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 4: a better athlete. You know, he always had the ability 54 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 4: to throw the ball. At the time, he actually never 55 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 4: played quarterback. He didn't even go out for the used 56 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 4: football team. And it was over that time we built 57 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 4: a great relationship and one day I remember his father 58 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 4: saying to me. He was like, hey, you know, I 59 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 4: really want Tommy to go out and play football. You know, 60 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 4: I want him to go out for the quarterback position. 61 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 3: We were talking. 62 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 4: I said, look, I'll train him. He's like, yeah, you 63 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 4: can train him. I say, yeah, let's go. Let's train him. 64 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 4: So it was unique because you know, at the time, 65 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 4: I training quarterbacks, but I've never trained a six year 66 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,839 Speaker 4: old before, right, So you can imagine a kid who's six, right, 67 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 4: he doesn't know what to expect, right, he doesn't know 68 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:10,799 Speaker 4: the ends, the out, the. 69 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 3: Rules of the game. 70 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 4: So it was a lot that was put into Tommy 71 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 4: and I got to say that it was a long 72 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 4: and a long road and journey to get there. 73 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: How much though, when you're working with him at six, 74 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 1: do you see the raw talent that you can essentially 75 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: mold into somebody that at that point or down the road, 76 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 1: can be a productive signal caller? 77 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 3: You know what? 78 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 4: I think that's where development comes into play. You know, 79 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 4: I always say I'm not a cherry picker. I'm the 80 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 4: one who likes to do the work. And like I said, 81 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 4: tell me he was unique because I felt like here 82 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 4: was a kid that no one had touched. I could 83 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 4: mold him right. And you know, I'm a dreamer as well. 84 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 4: In my mind, Tommy is like my son and I want. 85 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 3: To give him the best. 86 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 4: So it was really building his base, the lower half, 87 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 4: you know, getting him to understand coverage. And you know, 88 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 4: I remember his dad saying to me, you know he 89 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 4: came and he was watching the training sessions like he's. 90 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 3: In one t offense. 91 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 4: Why did he teach him to look off coverage and move, say, 92 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 4: he's in dulus. But I knew if I was behind 93 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 4: this one day, where he could be. You know, I 94 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 4: wasn't worried about his size. I wasn't worrying him he 95 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:26,679 Speaker 4: would get to where he is today. 96 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: Well, on that topic, since it is rare that you 97 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 1: mentioned that you work with a six year old when 98 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: you look back, how beneficial leon was it that you 99 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 1: got your hands on somebody like Tommy DeVito that early 100 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: in the process to start teaching him about principles that 101 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: normally maybe you don't discuss with somebody until they're in 102 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 1: middle school or high school. 103 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 3: Right. 104 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 4: Well, at that age, being six years old, you know, 105 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 4: there's a lot of information. 106 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 3: You know, you're talking about my knowledge and what I 107 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 3: had trying to comprise it put. 108 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,039 Speaker 4: All that together for six years old, So six year old, 109 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 4: so a lot of it was just piecemeal. It was, 110 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 4: you know, over time, over time, over time, getting him 111 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 4: to just you know, be able to do the little 112 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 4: things right. And I remember saying to his dad, I said, 113 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 4: he's going to be so technically sound that he'll be 114 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 4: able to play in any offense. And that was kind 115 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 4: of the whole premise of this, was like, learn the 116 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 4: little things right. He's always a lot of people always 117 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 4: talk about Tommy's quick release, his fast release, you know, 118 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 4: and that was something that's the trademark of what we do, 119 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 4: just really getting him to be compact, getting his shoulders 120 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 4: in his hip square to the target, being able to 121 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 4: finish the throw with his wrists. He's the big time, 122 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 4: you know, when it comes to the risk, he uses 123 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 4: the risk. He's really able to generate that velocity. And 124 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 4: so all these things took time. It didn't happen in 125 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,280 Speaker 4: one day, and it was important to make sure that 126 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 4: he was spoon fed in this manner because you know, 127 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 4: a lot of times parents want immediate success, right, They 128 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 4: want to see, you know, a return on the investment, right. 129 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 4: And so for Tommy, it was very innocent and it 130 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 4: allowed him to grow and us, for us to grow together, 131 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:09,719 Speaker 4: you know along the way. 132 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 1: From what I understand, he was also a passionate baseball 133 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: player at a very young age and continue to play. 134 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 1: And as you can attest to, there's a very different 135 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 1: skill set throwing motion for a baseball player versus a quarterback. 136 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,919 Speaker 1: How did you walk that fine line as he tried 137 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 1: to balance both sports. 138 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 4: So one of the things we had talked about over 139 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 4: time was, you know, we knew by the time he 140 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 4: got to Cooperstown that was going to be it for him. 141 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 3: Right. 142 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 4: It was just like, look, we got because listen, I 143 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,039 Speaker 4: was doing the work and it's kind of like, you know, 144 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:44,679 Speaker 4: Dad will take them off, break it all right, Leon 145 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:46,920 Speaker 4: to fix it right, And it was just constant and 146 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 4: back and forth. 147 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 3: I'm like, look, man, this is just too much, you know. 148 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 4: But I can tell you that in that time, in 149 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 4: that process, it was really about saying. 150 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 3: Okay, what are we going to do for the future. 151 00:06:58,400 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 4: Right? 152 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 3: Is he playing baseball? Is he playing football? Right? 153 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 4: He's going to have to commit one and a lot 154 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 4: of what was the standard and teaching of just throwing 155 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 4: the football. For me, it was different teaching him to 156 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 4: throw in a different man, right, not using thesemall mechanics, 157 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 4: and trying to merge that in with what he was 158 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 4: doing in football. 159 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 3: And so from year to year it was constant. 160 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 4: Like I said, it was the back and forth until 161 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 4: he got to the fifth grade and it was just like, Okay, 162 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 4: that's it, We're just going to focus on football. And 163 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 4: that allowed me to just have more consistency with him, 164 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 4: building in the offseason up to the point where we 165 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 4: got him ready for the season. 166 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 1: I'm glad you brought up the dynamics of your working 167 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 1: relationship with him, because he went on to don Bosco Prep, 168 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: then Syracuse Illinois. Now with the Giants, what's been your 169 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: level of communication Leon along the way, because you have 170 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: a very unique position where you're his private quarterback coach, 171 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: but he also has a quarterback coach on his team, 172 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: a head coach, offensive coordinator, and you basically have to 173 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: find your lane. So how does that operation work? 174 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 3: You know? Simple? 175 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 4: Tommy knows I love them, and I always say, you 176 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 4: know what, I'm not out there with you in the flesh, 177 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,239 Speaker 4: but I'm out there with you right And I always 178 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 4: say when you see him, you see me, and vice versa, 179 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 4: and I think you know, when you're in that situation 180 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 4: as a private quarterback coach, you have to understand that 181 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 4: you know the terminology. 182 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 3: And what they use with a quarterback coach. 183 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 4: Let's just say, Syrahcuse Illinois may not be the same 184 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:37,599 Speaker 4: thing you use, but nonetheless you don't try to overstep 185 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 4: what they're teaching them. 186 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 3: You just try to fine tune the things so it 187 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 3: works best for the team. 188 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 4: And as I said, you know, the biggest thing that 189 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 4: you know, coaches have praised me on is that Tommy 190 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 4: has always been well coached, and that's something that I 191 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 4: pride myself in and I look at Tommy and I 192 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 4: think about just the adjustments he's made going from. 193 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 3: High school don Bosco. 194 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 4: You know, at the time Greg Told was there, he 195 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 4: actually Tommy gave Told his last championship right and just 196 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 4: taking Tommy even because even before then he was playing 197 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 4: for Seedargrove youth football team, and I knew, hey, look, 198 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,079 Speaker 4: if we're going to make this jump and go to. 199 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:23,680 Speaker 3: Don Bosco, he needs some. 200 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 4: Time to develop in a Pop Warner league that's going 201 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 4: to have athletes similar to what's going to be at Bosco. 202 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 4: So then he left ceedar Grove and went to the 203 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 4: Montclair Kobras and that allowed him to play with those 204 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 4: better athletes, right, athletes that had aspirations to play at 205 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 4: a Don Bosco Primis Catholic and show forth. And then 206 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 4: at that time, you know, once he got there at Bosco, 207 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 4: he fit in very well. He was always a hard worker. 208 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:55,959 Speaker 4: It wasn't new to him. He gelled with his teammates. 209 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 4: And then we took him from that that and again 210 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:02,439 Speaker 4: a lot of work has gone into this. We took 211 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 4: him from that point and got him into the Elite 212 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 4: eleven and a lot of those guys. I know Trent, 213 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 4: I know Brian, and they were able to evaluate him 214 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 4: the way I wanted him to be evaluated, and he 215 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 4: became an All American, you know. And it was actually 216 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:19,680 Speaker 4: my second time out at Oregon because year prior I 217 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 4: had Jared Guarantano and I'd worked with him also he 218 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 4: was another kid that was at the Academy, and so 219 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 4: now it was back again for a second tour, and 220 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 4: Tommy just had a wealth of knowledge and information from 221 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 4: me being there the previous year, and then from there 222 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 4: he just he went out, he did his thing, and 223 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 4: and then we came back and you know, we made 224 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 4: some calls and we got him into the All American Games. 225 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 4: So I've been there at every stage, you know, of 226 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:51,439 Speaker 4: his development, and he's he's, like I said, he's had 227 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 4: a tremendous success. 228 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,679 Speaker 3: And I think that it just shows. 229 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 4: That when you have a quarterback coach who does it 230 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 4: the right way, it can work well for teams, whether 231 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 4: it's high school, where there's college, or whether it's at 232 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 4: the pros. 233 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 5: You're ready for a change. Payday comes early with citizens, 234 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,319 Speaker 5: so go to that retreat. Knew you move to the country. 235 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 5: Now you're raising goats and launching a lifestyle brand. Are 236 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 5: you ready for all that life brings? 237 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 1: The huddle is brought to you by Citizens, the official 238 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: bank of the New York Giants. 239 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 2: From game day to everyday, Citizens is made. 240 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:29,440 Speaker 1: Ready for Giants fans with insights, guidance, and solutions. Learn 241 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: more at Citizens bank dot com. So how much Leon 242 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 1: interaction wise, though, do you have with those coaches so 243 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: that you know what to focus on with him during 244 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: the off season? So, for example, would you talk with 245 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: Mike Teel, who was his offensive coordinator, former NFL quarterback 246 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: at Don Bosco, the Syracuse coaching staff, or even the 247 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: Giants coaching staff now as he gets into the off season, 248 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 1: because you know, because of the CBA rules, they're limited 249 00:11:57,880 --> 00:11:59,319 Speaker 1: in terms of what level of. 250 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,079 Speaker 3: Interaction they can correct. 251 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 4: So you know, would I would have zooms with Dino, 252 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 4: He and I would talk. Most of that focus was 253 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 4: placed on trying to implement more of a pro style 254 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 4: friendly offense for Tommy at the time. You know, Tommy 255 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 4: was doing very well in particularly in twenty nineteen through 256 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 4: nineteen touchdown passes, five interceptions, and so a lot of 257 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 4: that was getting him ready and just trying to find 258 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 4: a personnel. 259 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 3: That could fit his abilities. And so. 260 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 4: I remember his final year at Syracuse when they decided 261 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 4: to go with straighter and Tommy was there. Back to 262 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 4: your question, I advised him to. 263 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:43,960 Speaker 3: Leave. 264 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 4: And one of the things about that was I knew 265 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,719 Speaker 4: that based on what the direction they were going, it 266 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 4: wouldn't have fit his skill set. But like anybody would 267 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 4: or for a friend or son or father, you want 268 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:57,680 Speaker 4: to make sure that if I'm going to make that 269 00:12:57,760 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 4: call to say, hey you need to leave, I need 270 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 4: a mate. 271 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 3: Sure I have a place for you. 272 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 4: So, you know, I knew some people around, and I 273 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,079 Speaker 4: reached out to a buddy, you know, and I had 274 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 4: to be careful myself because he hadn't put hisself in 275 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 4: the transfer portal at that time. So I reached out 276 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 4: to a buddy and he actually knew who I was 277 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:17,320 Speaker 4: talking about, and he said, man, we'd love to have him. 278 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 4: And I just said, hey, you know, what's your personnel? 279 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 4: He said, hey, love, you're eleven or twelve. And I said, 280 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 4: all right, okay, all right, how's your running backs? And 281 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 4: he said, look, we got two pro style running backs. 282 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 4: And I said this is great because at that time 283 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 4: tom was taking a beating at Syracuse. No not to 284 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:35,199 Speaker 4: them is just part of the game, right, And I said, 285 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 4: this would be great for him to actually run the 286 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 4: play actions the things he'd been doing since he's been young, right, 287 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 4: and get back to those basics and allow him an 288 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 4: opportunity to be able to be productive. And you know, 289 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 4: I did my homework on Brett. I knew some people 290 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 4: who knew him, and they were just telling me. And 291 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 4: I looked at his resume show he was with the Giants, 292 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 4: with the Patriots, and I said, this was perfect, right, 293 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 4: And going back to the beginning, the plan was, hey, 294 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 4: look your little kid, you got five teams here. You'll 295 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 4: get a shot, right, even if you don't get drafted. 296 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 4: So I think everything worked out well for Tommy. 297 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 1: And of course Leon's talking about Brett Dielama for our 298 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: listeners and viewers to understand head coach at Elois, who 299 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: was previously here with the Giants, how much Leon, of 300 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: what you just laid out is essentially when it comes 301 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 1: to the quarterback, as much as we can sit here 302 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 1: and analyze skill set, features, characteristics, it really comes down 303 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: to environments and how that has been such a big 304 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: part of Tommy's storyline. Is you just talked about finding 305 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 1: the right college and even with the Giants, deciding to 306 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 1: go to them as an undrafted free agent. 307 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 3: Right. 308 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 4: Well, one of the things, what you know, prior to 309 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 4: meeting Brett, you know, I remember Tommy, his father, and 310 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 4: we were talking. 311 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 3: He said, you know, what should I ask him? 312 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 4: And I said to him, I said, first thing you 313 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 4: ask him is what do you see in my son? 314 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 3: And he said that's a great question. 315 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 1: Right. 316 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 4: So, when you know Brett's sitting there the office, a 317 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 4: line coach here, Tommy's father say I'm in the middle 318 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 4: of Tommy's next to me, and he and he poses 319 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 4: the question. He says, hey, what you see And Brett 320 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 4: just had a very good answer. He got straight to 321 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 4: the point. He talked about Tommy. He talked about his ability. 322 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 4: And I looked at Tommy and I just gave him 323 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 4: the headline like this dude knows what he's talking about, right, 324 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 4: this is this is a good fit. 325 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 3: So I think Tommy had to buy in. 326 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 4: One of the things is I always say I will 327 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 4: help you, you know, but I looked at Tommy and say, 328 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 4: I will not make the decisions for you. I'm always here, 329 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 4: but I will not make that decision. 330 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 3: You have to make it. 331 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 4: I'll give you options, I'll do my best, but you 332 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 4: have to make the decision now. 333 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 3: And I think he made the right decay. 334 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 4: But back to that that that environment again, I knew 335 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 4: being around a coach like Brett mill Bilma. He had 336 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 4: the level of experience of being in the pros. He 337 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 4: knew what it was like, he knew the success he 338 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 4: knew the failures. 339 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 3: You know. 340 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 4: One of the things I looked at coach when he 341 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 4: set a cross from me and he was talking. So 342 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 4: I said, so, you coach situational football. He said, Leon, 343 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 4: exactly right, situational football. 344 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 3: And that was. 345 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 4: Huge because Tommy didn't have a much experience with situational 346 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 4: football when he was at Syracuse and that allowed him 347 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 4: to really grow and grab the depth of knowledge and 348 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 4: wealth that I think that's helping him now with New 349 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:18,040 Speaker 4: York Giants. 350 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: I want to piggyback off of your last last point 351 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:24,200 Speaker 1: in terms of where he's grown the most, because from 352 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: what I've read, Mike Teel, who is a former NFL quarterback, 353 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 1: had a pro style offense at don Bosco and it 354 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: gave him a lot of flexibility to make tweaks at 355 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: the line of scrimmage. So how much has the mental 356 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: side of things grown and reached new heights from the 357 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: time he was in high school to now essentially what 358 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 1: the Giants are asking him to do. And you know, 359 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 1: the mental side is maybe the most critical aspect of 360 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: playing the quarterback position. 361 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 3: Right. Well, Mike did an excellent job. 362 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 4: I remember I saw him on quite a few ocasions 363 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 4: at Don Bosco, and he was the first really to 364 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 4: just you know, because as a private quarterback coach, I 365 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:05,400 Speaker 4: can script and I can try to do a lot 366 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 4: of things, but at the end of the day, it's 367 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 4: not fast football, right, And so Mike was able to 368 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 4: see Tommy's ability and trust like, hey, this guy can 369 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 4: really play, and just have Tommy do some of the 370 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 4: things that he was going to do and needed to 371 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 4: do once he got to the next level. 372 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 3: So Mike tremendously. 373 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,640 Speaker 4: He definitely paid a part, played a part in Tommy's 374 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:32,200 Speaker 4: and his ability to gather that information right play calls, 375 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 4: you know, going into the huddle. You know, as Syracuse 376 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:37,880 Speaker 4: it was no huddle, right, So there were some things 377 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 4: that he weren't he wasn't familiar with. But in high 378 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:42,160 Speaker 4: school Tommy was you know, they were a huddle team. 379 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:42,400 Speaker 2: Right. 380 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 4: So even now watching him with the Giants and seeing 381 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 4: his progress and just from game to game, just watching 382 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 4: how he gets in and out of the huddle, how 383 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:55,159 Speaker 4: he gets guys aligned, how is he going through his 384 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 4: pre and post snap read, throwing the ball with efficiency, 385 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:03,160 Speaker 4: you know, throwing the accurately on time, all these things 386 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 4: playing to the mental aspect that you know, we talked 387 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 4: about his quick release. Well, you know a lot of 388 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:10,439 Speaker 4: guys have elongated releases because they're trying to process what 389 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,399 Speaker 4: they see. If you watch Tommy, he's bing bing bing 390 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:14,760 Speaker 4: bing bing right because he sees it. He knows where 391 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 4: he's going. And that was conversations I had with with 392 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 4: Dino Babers. He was like, Leon, I have to tell 393 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 4: him sometime Tommy sometimes slow it down. He's like Leon, 394 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 4: it's like he sees it before it has happening. And 395 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 4: I just tell him that's just been his development, you know. 396 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 4: And so as long as Tommy continues to improve, you're 397 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 4: just going to see him getting better mentally. 398 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,200 Speaker 1: We'll talking with Leon Clark, Tommy DeVito's private QB coach, 399 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: owner of Clark Sports. He's been training qbs for well 400 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 1: over two decades. I think what jumped out to me 401 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: Leon about the game against the Packers Monday night, especially 402 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,679 Speaker 1: given how many sacks not just Tommy has taken, but 403 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 1: all Giants quarterbacks this season sixty nine, he didn't take 404 00:18:55,119 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: one sack, and his legs played such a big role, 405 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 1: it seemed, in terms of extending plays and putting pressure 406 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:03,400 Speaker 1: on the Green Bay defense. 407 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 3: How much is that. 408 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: An indication of how much he's adjusted and evolved in 409 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: a small period of time with the Giants in reading 410 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:15,199 Speaker 1: the defense and reacting to what you're talking about that 411 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 1: needs to be processed so quickly. 412 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,200 Speaker 4: Well, one of the things I you know, I'll add 413 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 4: to that is, you know, when you are the when 414 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:25,679 Speaker 4: you're coming in and you're not the starter, you're the 415 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 4: team is not used to you. 416 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 3: They're not used to your clock. 417 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 4: You have a different clock than they do because their starters, right, 418 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 4: you know, everybody rallies around you. 419 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 3: They kind of pull. 420 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 4: Together and it's a little tight, right because they're just 421 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:37,959 Speaker 4: trying to make sure that they do their job, but 422 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 4: also that you do your job. And I think that 423 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 4: growth again, You've watched him get better and his team 424 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:46,439 Speaker 4: has allowed him to actually be who he is and 425 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 4: play and you can see everyone now is doing their job, 426 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 4: which is awesome, but seeing him and recognizing the pressure 427 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:58,639 Speaker 4: the stonds and being able to keep his feet moving 428 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 4: and extend the place right and having that awares. I 429 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 4: tell my guys all the time they're seeing one to 430 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 4: eighty right, don't get right now in terms of their 431 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:08,399 Speaker 4: focus and their visions. See the film wh eight and 432 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 4: know your perferles are and know where your exits are. 433 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 4: And so he's done a good job of being able 434 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,719 Speaker 4: to climb the pocket, move in some of those what 435 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 4: I call safe zones, and just be able to get 436 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:20,199 Speaker 4: the ball out efficiently, inaccurately. 437 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 1: He also clearly has a very calm demeanor. Even though 438 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: he's a local guy. It doesn't seem like he gets 439 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,400 Speaker 1: too high. He doesn't get too Lolow where does that 440 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:34,120 Speaker 1: come from, Leon? And how critical is that when you're 441 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:35,479 Speaker 1: playing the quarterback position? 442 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 2: Really on any level? 443 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 4: I think it comes from starting from the beginning, the 444 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:44,399 Speaker 4: very beginning. He's confidence because he's been doing it for 445 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:48,640 Speaker 4: so long. Right, you know who I am. I'm a perfectionist. 446 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,919 Speaker 4: So Tommy will tell you, like look, Leon, will have 447 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 4: you do something twenty thirty times the same exact thing. 448 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 4: Do it again, right, And that was much of the 449 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 4: way he was groomed. It was like, look, you know, 450 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:02,840 Speaker 4: everyone's going to critique you. They're going to have something 451 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 4: to say, but you be your your critic. You critique yourself, right. 452 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 4: Understand that at the end of the day, if it's 453 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:12,879 Speaker 4: not to your liking, you know, then it's it's not 454 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 4: the best. And so Tommy really looks and goes about 455 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:21,680 Speaker 4: it in that way, in that professional manner that while 456 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 4: he's out there and he's doing and he's when he's playing, 457 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 4: he's really allowing himself to, you know, grow right. Sometimes 458 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:33,439 Speaker 4: you can stifle that growth, right and be afraid to 459 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 4: make the mistakes earlier on it was kind of like 460 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 4: let him throw the ball, you know, and I don't 461 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 4: think that you know that was done intentionally, but you 462 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,159 Speaker 4: have to be able to protect yourself, you know, and 463 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 4: fans don't sometimes they don't understand that, right, you make 464 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 4: the wrong check, you know, guys not you know, he's 465 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:52,520 Speaker 4: not covered, or a guy's coming through, you know, where 466 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:54,360 Speaker 4: there's the A gap, B gap, you know, and now 467 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:55,480 Speaker 4: the quarterbacks out right. 468 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:59,040 Speaker 3: So there's a lot that I've seen with him. There's 469 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:00,920 Speaker 3: a lot that that. 470 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 4: He's continuing to get better with and we'll see how 471 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 4: he finishes the rest of the season, but his mental 472 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 4: preparation and what he's done so far has been impressive 473 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:11,879 Speaker 4: in a short time. 474 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:15,920 Speaker 5: You love turf, You're good at it, so you start 475 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 5: a turf biz business grows, your savings grow, become the 476 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 5: most celebrated name in turf. Are you ready for. 477 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:24,880 Speaker 6: All that life brings? 478 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 2: Giants? Fans love a winner. 479 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: It's why they love Citizens named the twenty twenty two 480 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:32,919 Speaker 1: best bank in the US by the Banker as the 481 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,160 Speaker 1: official bank of the Giants and sponsor of the huddle, 482 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 1: Citizens is made ready for Giants fans of Big Blue. 483 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: Learn more at citizensbank dot com. Lee and I want 484 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: to circle back to that great dialogue that you had 485 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: about sitting down with Illinois coaching staff and advising his 486 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 1: father and Tommy what you need to hear from the 487 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 1: coaching staff. I'm curious he went undrafted, which now when 488 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 1: you look at what he's been doing, I guess is 489 00:22:57,480 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: a bit surprising, but maybe an example that, of course, 490 00:22:59,880 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: the draft is an inexact science that you can attest to. 491 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:04,080 Speaker 2: What was your. 492 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 1: Level of dialogue and involvement when the draft passes now 493 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 1: he has the choice to survey the field, look at 494 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:16,120 Speaker 1: offers about maybe guiding him towards the Giants or another 495 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 1: team based on the feel of the environment. 496 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:21,439 Speaker 4: It's kind of similar to when he went into the 497 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:24,280 Speaker 4: transfer portal, right, that was this first time really experiencing 498 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:25,360 Speaker 4: free agency. Right. 499 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 3: There are numerous teams that reached. 500 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,399 Speaker 4: Out to Tommy and said, hey, you know, we're interested 501 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 4: in you, you know, or again I think it was 502 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 4: West Virginia. Now, like I said, I have a good 503 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 4: network and I reached out and some of those teams 504 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 4: set off right and you know, it was back to, hey, 505 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 4: this is the one team. This is the team right here, 506 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 4: and it worked out. I think sometimes, you know, it's 507 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 4: not a lack of talent why you don't get drafted. 508 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 3: Sometimes it's timing. Right. 509 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 4: If you go back to twenty nineteen, he threw nineteen 510 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 4: touchdown passes five interceptions. You know, his draft grade would 511 00:23:58,240 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 4: have been much higher than probably what it would have 512 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 4: been right in twenty three. So, you know, I think 513 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 4: opportunities sometimes come in the weirdest way. But you know, 514 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 4: how we see it now is that you know, we 515 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 4: don't cry over what wasn't. 516 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:16,159 Speaker 3: You know, we know that what we have now and 517 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:16,640 Speaker 3: that and we. 518 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 4: Embrace that and we run with it, you know, and 519 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:21,800 Speaker 4: we meet the challenges that are there. And Tommy's done 520 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:24,920 Speaker 4: a good job of being a professional and accepting where 521 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 4: he is right now. 522 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 1: I know, you never hope that two quarterbacks in front 523 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 1: of you get hurt as a teammate, You're never wishing 524 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 1: for that to happen. But we can't overlook the fact 525 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: that Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor did go down and 526 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:39,920 Speaker 1: that presented the opportunity. I guess what I'm getting at 527 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:42,439 Speaker 1: is leon when you think back, how much of a 528 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 1: blessing in disguise was it that he ended up with 529 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:47,959 Speaker 1: the Giants, not because he's a local guy, but because 530 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 1: of the pathway that we're looking at right now. And 531 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:55,919 Speaker 1: also Brian Dable his presence developing quarterbacks, working with Josh Allen, 532 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:58,639 Speaker 1: and Josh Allen wasn't a guy that came from a 533 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 1: big time program, came from why had some accuracy issues 534 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 1: and look. 535 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:03,800 Speaker 2: At what he became of. 536 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: I'm not saying Tommy and him are identical, but how 537 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 1: who he's around and what led to the ultimate opportunity 538 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:13,640 Speaker 1: to start turned out to be extremely beneficial in the. 539 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 4: Long run, right well, I think the coaching staff there 540 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,680 Speaker 4: at one, I think they're doing an excellent job. Unfortunately, 541 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:23,199 Speaker 4: you'd have two guys that went down prior to Tommy 542 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:26,240 Speaker 4: coming in and getting the job. But it's important again 543 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 4: to have that your coaches believe in you, and I 544 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,920 Speaker 4: think they do. And you saw that over the time. 545 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 4: You know, he's been with them with the spring and 546 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 4: so you know, even having his family, they're having his 547 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:43,800 Speaker 4: friends around him, the community locally, you know, and as 548 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 4: well as abroad. You know, some of his friends from 549 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 4: that he's played with around the country, you know, really 550 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:52,760 Speaker 4: support him. That that's momentum. That's what you want right 551 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:54,880 Speaker 4: when you're there. It's like, hey, you know, I want 552 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:58,080 Speaker 4: to state championship here. What more could I ask for? 553 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 3: You know? It just it drives him. 554 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 4: I think he's enthusiastic about the opportunity. 555 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:07,880 Speaker 3: And I think that as long as he can continue to. 556 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 4: You know, live where you know, right down the road 557 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:14,879 Speaker 4: and get access to the facility, you know, I think 558 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:17,960 Speaker 4: that that's going to do well for him because you 559 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 4: know he's he's a hard worker. I know he will 560 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:23,960 Speaker 4: spend a lot of time in that facility so if 561 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:26,400 Speaker 4: he does leave late, his house is not too far 562 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:27,160 Speaker 4: So that's great. 563 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:30,560 Speaker 1: Hey, convenience is a big part of life. I think 564 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 1: we could all address to that. So I can't blame 565 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:35,239 Speaker 1: him under the circumstances. Now, you just brought up the 566 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:38,400 Speaker 1: family aspect, and they've become stars in their own right 567 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:42,520 Speaker 1: because of their presence and the tailgates and the Tommy cutlets. 568 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 2: What do you make of all of this? 569 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:46,480 Speaker 1: Leon, Because I mean, if you know his father, going 570 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:48,600 Speaker 1: back to on he was six years old, and anyone 571 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 1: can perhaps read into the family dynamics, I think you're 572 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 1: cleterally well qualified to do that. 573 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:58,439 Speaker 4: So I can tell you this. So Tommy doesn't say it, 574 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 4: but he actually cooks. So tom he does cook really, 575 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 4: you know, you facetimed me. 576 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 3: He'd be in. 577 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 4: Uh, what is it, Wegman's or whatever the store is, 578 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 4: the supermarket and he'd be there buying fish or buying 579 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:11,640 Speaker 4: this and be like, what do I get? 580 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:12,560 Speaker 3: How I'm gonna cook it? 581 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:14,479 Speaker 4: How I'm gonna do So Tommy is a he's a 582 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:17,159 Speaker 4: personality in himself right. But I can tell you this. 583 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 4: Walking in that house, you know, whether I use a 584 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 4: little code to get in or I just go through 585 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 4: the back door of the kitchen is and I walk in. 586 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 3: It is real. There's always some chicken cutlets there. I am. 587 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,560 Speaker 4: I kid you not, there's always some chicken cutlets right there. 588 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 4: I don't eat me anymore, but I used to dive 589 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:36,119 Speaker 4: in there and just grab a few myself. You know, 590 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 4: I'm more vegetarian based. So but the family is their 591 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:43,600 Speaker 4: quality people. His brother Max, you know, I was a 592 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 4: sponsor for his confirmation, and you know, it's it's family. 593 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:50,040 Speaker 3: It's family. Anytime you go there, it's always a good time. 594 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 3: It's never known, it's always yes. So uh, it's it's 595 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:56,159 Speaker 3: just great. It's just great for them. It's you know, 596 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:57,119 Speaker 3: to just see. 597 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,520 Speaker 4: The work that Tommy and I putting together and seeing 598 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:02,439 Speaker 4: it come to fruition and trusting me, you know, with 599 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:02,880 Speaker 4: their son. 600 00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:04,680 Speaker 3: It's it's very important. 601 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:06,200 Speaker 4: Right, you know, you don't know, they don't know, and 602 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:09,960 Speaker 4: you know you're going based on what I said, right, 603 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:14,160 Speaker 4: But now you see it and you're like, Scott's pretty good, right, 604 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 4: So you know everything worked out. 605 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 1: They must give you a hard time as a vegetarian 606 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:23,600 Speaker 1: if you pass on all of those meat opportunities and dishes. 607 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:28,879 Speaker 6: No, well, you know, what whether it's ts MA or 608 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:33,000 Speaker 6: some other loco or whatever, they'll do up like post 609 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:35,640 Speaker 6: or or something for me or sound like let's see 610 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:36,399 Speaker 6: as always. 611 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:38,280 Speaker 3: We got you to sald we got you this. 612 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 4: So you know, I'm the light eater out out the bunch. 613 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:44,240 Speaker 4: But you know, it's always a good time. It's always 614 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:47,080 Speaker 4: festive when you go over there, and you're never short 615 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:47,840 Speaker 4: of a drink or two. 616 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 3: So that's that's cool, all right. 617 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:52,240 Speaker 1: So at least they cater to your needs and they're open. 618 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:54,200 Speaker 1: From that standpoint, that's good to you. So here's the 619 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 1: biggest question of all right. So we saw Monday night football, 620 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 1: his father front and center with his agent. Where's the 621 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:06,200 Speaker 1: Fedora Leon? When's your upcoming appearance coming here? We got 622 00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 1: four games left. You got to capitalize and take advantage. 623 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 4: Uh, you know what, I'm sure I'll get to one. 624 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:17,040 Speaker 4: I'm sure everybody. I'm sure everybody in the stands will 625 00:29:17,040 --> 00:29:19,360 Speaker 4: probably recognize me at some point, being with the family. 626 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:22,080 Speaker 4: I mean, they're you know, the fan fear is real, right, 627 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:25,440 Speaker 4: It's it's it's party, party, party. But it's good though. 628 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:29,880 Speaker 4: You know in the past it wasn't always you know, uh, 629 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 4: something to smile about. You know, and that in the 630 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 4: ups and downs. You know, Tommy had the injuries, you know, 631 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:40,680 Speaker 4: he had the uh, the physical beatings, you know, the 632 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 4: mental you know, uh, you know. I remember being on 633 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 4: the field with him, and you know, and I looked at. 634 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 3: Him saying, aren't you tired? Aren't you tired? 635 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:50,600 Speaker 4: Like you know what I mean, like let's go like 636 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:53,200 Speaker 4: you know, let's let's let's just get to this next level. 637 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:57,320 Speaker 3: And he had just came home and we were out there. 638 00:29:57,360 --> 00:29:59,640 Speaker 4: We had to resistant band and we're working on just 639 00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:01,480 Speaker 4: being put pressure on that leg again. 640 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:02,880 Speaker 3: And he's just a fighter. 641 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,360 Speaker 4: So you know, when I see them enjoying themselves and 642 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:06,560 Speaker 4: celebrating the way they. 643 00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:08,760 Speaker 3: Do, I'm not like that. That's not me. 644 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 4: I'm more reserved, you know, behind the scenes, you know 645 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:12,480 Speaker 4: what I mean. 646 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 3: But you know, I let the works speak for itself. 647 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:18,160 Speaker 4: But you know, I I you know, however they choose 648 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 4: to celebrate, you know, you know, God bless him. 649 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:21,640 Speaker 2: Well. 650 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 1: I think you bring a bit interesting point, Leon, and 651 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:26,680 Speaker 1: I want to add this to the conversation before I 652 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:29,560 Speaker 1: wrap up here. You talked about just now the adversity 653 00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 1: that he's had to deal with. He loses his starting 654 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:35,480 Speaker 1: job at Syracuse. The injuries and you know, the offensive 655 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:38,200 Speaker 1: line hasn't been smooth sailing for the Giants when he 656 00:30:38,240 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 1: first took over the starting job. How much do you 657 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 1: think that's prepared him for some of the challenges that 658 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 1: have arisen this season and really keeps him even keel 659 00:30:49,560 --> 00:30:52,960 Speaker 1: because he knows you can't treat every week as if 660 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:56,240 Speaker 1: it's a huge accomplishment when next week, all of a sudden, 661 00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:59,040 Speaker 1: the NFL could provide an instantaneous wake up call. 662 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 3: You know, I think that does prepare him. 663 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,480 Speaker 4: But more importantly, I think what it does allow him 664 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:11,720 Speaker 4: to do is trust his teammates. You know, going through 665 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:17,200 Speaker 4: adversity and knowing who's there for you. That's it's so important, 666 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:20,520 Speaker 4: right because you know you'll have ten people there, right, 667 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:22,600 Speaker 4: and it's great, one's great. 668 00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:26,160 Speaker 3: Right, but then it's like no one's coming. You know, 669 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:29,160 Speaker 3: you're hurt. You know you're not getting the same phone calls. 670 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:32,080 Speaker 4: You know, or you know, the line there and you're 671 00:31:32,120 --> 00:31:34,560 Speaker 4: in one of those games where they're not blocking, well, right. 672 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:35,239 Speaker 3: Are you getting up? 673 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:39,360 Speaker 4: And you know are you you know, you know, drawing 674 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:41,800 Speaker 4: at the line and you know, tell him do your job. 675 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:43,760 Speaker 4: Do you're signing or you're just the guy like, hey, 676 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:46,480 Speaker 4: you know what, it's okay, It's one of those days, right. 677 00:31:46,560 --> 00:31:52,280 Speaker 4: So I think he's he's been well prepared for this, 678 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:56,880 Speaker 4: the adversity of it, and his teammates and and all 679 00:31:56,920 --> 00:31:59,480 Speaker 4: the coaches and as well as you know, you know, 680 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:04,480 Speaker 4: his parents watching him, you know, go through that. You know, 681 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:07,240 Speaker 4: at the end of the day, I didn't give birth to Tommy, 682 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:08,960 Speaker 4: you know what I mean. And so you know, as 683 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:11,000 Speaker 4: a mother and father to watch him go through that 684 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 4: and just see how that those experiences have brought him 685 00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:16,600 Speaker 4: where he is today and has helped him. 686 00:32:16,920 --> 00:32:19,240 Speaker 3: I think it's allowed him to build. 687 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:22,680 Speaker 4: That camaraderie and trust his teammates even more despite what 688 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:25,479 Speaker 4: they go through. And I think the way they're playing 689 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:27,960 Speaker 4: now is because they know that, you know what, we 690 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:30,760 Speaker 4: lost Daniel Jones, we lost Tyrod Taylor. 691 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:33,720 Speaker 3: We got this young man. You know, injuries happen. 692 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:37,120 Speaker 4: You've had guys get injured and come back, but you've 693 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 4: seen them full in jail together and that's important. That's 694 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:42,920 Speaker 4: what you want, and that's how you build the team. 695 00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:47,840 Speaker 4: That's how you build a nucleus of guys that can 696 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:49,080 Speaker 4: help you win a championship. 697 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 2: And that's been extremely noticeable what you just said. 698 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:55,600 Speaker 1: And as a quick follow up, Leon, when you see 699 00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:59,040 Speaker 1: what the team has done rallying around him, I'm with you. 700 00:32:59,160 --> 00:33:03,120 Speaker 2: I mean, that's a big part of team bonding, team building. 701 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:05,320 Speaker 1: And you know you just mentioned you're essentially a part 702 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 1: of the Devido family because you go back to when 703 00:33:07,680 --> 00:33:08,640 Speaker 1: he was six years old. 704 00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:09,960 Speaker 2: You know his personality. 705 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:13,000 Speaker 1: I don't want to say it was surprising, but what's 706 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:16,200 Speaker 1: impressed you the most when you see a locker room 707 00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 1: that's gone through two quarterbacks very quickly. I mean, remember 708 00:33:21,160 --> 00:33:23,520 Speaker 1: we're only talking about four starts, Leon, that Tommy is 709 00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 1: made that quickly saying we buy into this guy, we 710 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:32,240 Speaker 1: believe in this guy, and we'll sacrifice our bodies for 711 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:35,080 Speaker 1: this guy. That's a very rare occurrence, I would say 712 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:36,800 Speaker 1: in the game of football overall. 713 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:40,360 Speaker 4: You know it's by the fault, you know, but I 714 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:42,840 Speaker 4: will say that it's leadership, and that starts with Dayball. 715 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 3: That starts with the head coach. 716 00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:46,880 Speaker 4: You know, it was his choice too, as well as 717 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:49,040 Speaker 4: the GM to have Tommy on. 718 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:52,240 Speaker 3: That roster, you know, So I think it starts with them. 719 00:33:52,360 --> 00:33:54,760 Speaker 4: You know, they they believed in him, right, and so 720 00:33:54,920 --> 00:33:58,400 Speaker 4: now he's you know, he's he's in there as the starter, 721 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:00,920 Speaker 4: and those guys have respond added well to him. 722 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:03,840 Speaker 3: And I think, you know, this is why you haven't seen. 723 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 4: The guys disproto, you haven't seen the breakdowns in the 724 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:11,520 Speaker 4: locker room, is because they're a family, you know, and 725 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:13,600 Speaker 4: coach has done a great job of keeping those guys 726 00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:15,719 Speaker 4: together despite the injuries, right. 727 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:18,240 Speaker 3: They found the way to win. 728 00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:21,000 Speaker 4: Games right, and that says a lot about the coach, 729 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:24,000 Speaker 4: regardless of what anyone thinks about wins and losses. At 730 00:34:24,040 --> 00:34:26,000 Speaker 4: the end of the day, it goes back to building 731 00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:29,319 Speaker 4: that nucleus, right, and you know who's going to be 732 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:31,920 Speaker 4: here next year, who's not. And you know what, but 733 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:34,120 Speaker 4: it doesn't matter. You know, we're here right now and 734 00:34:34,120 --> 00:34:36,800 Speaker 4: they're living in the moment and so that's why they're winning. 735 00:34:36,880 --> 00:34:37,960 Speaker 4: So you got to give it to him. 736 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:39,960 Speaker 2: And it's quite the moment. 737 00:34:40,160 --> 00:34:43,520 Speaker 1: Is Tommy DeVito and company taking the nation, not just 738 00:34:43,560 --> 00:34:46,279 Speaker 1: the New York, New Jersey metropolitan area by storm. He 739 00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:49,640 Speaker 1: is Leon Clark, Tommy DeVito's private QB coach, going back 740 00:34:49,680 --> 00:34:52,080 Speaker 1: to when he was six years old, owner of Clark Sports, 741 00:34:52,160 --> 00:34:54,640 Speaker 1: and he's worked with a variety of different qbs for 742 00:34:54,680 --> 00:34:58,200 Speaker 1: over two decades, including Titan Signacoler Will Levice who had 743 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:02,640 Speaker 1: himself one week as well Leon absolute Blast. Greatly appreciate 744 00:35:02,680 --> 00:35:04,760 Speaker 1: the time of the inside. Thanks so much for joining. 745 00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:07,960 Speaker 3: Me all right. Thank you have a great time you will. 746 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:10,320 Speaker 3: Thanks for having me on my pleasure. 747 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:12,520 Speaker 1: This is the latest edition of the Giants Total Podcast, 748 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:15,720 Speaker 1: presented by Citizens, the official bank of the New York Giants. 749 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:17,799 Speaker 1: You can check it out on giants dot com, the 750 00:35:17,880 --> 00:35:20,520 Speaker 1: mobile app, and your favorite podcast platforms.