1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,720 Speaker 1: It's time to get inside the Giants. 2 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 2: Huts Giants Dont co like it? 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: On My Giants Give Me Some Joy, part of the 4 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: Giants Podcast Network's. 5 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 2: Welcome to the latest edition of the Giants Huttle podcast, 6 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 2: presented by Citizens, the official bank of the New York Giants. 7 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,119 Speaker 2: Tommy DeVito is preparing for his first career start in 8 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 2: Philadelphia on Christmas, a location that hasn't been too kind 9 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,319 Speaker 2: to Big Blue in recent history. But Tommy knows a 10 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 2: thing or two about rivalries in hostile territory, going back 11 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 2: to his high school days in New Jersey, where he 12 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 2: played for don Bosco Prep, we are now joined by 13 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 2: the man who served as his offensive coordinator for his 14 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 2: junior and senior years of high school. He is a 15 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 2: don Bosco Prep product himself. He then went on to 16 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 2: play for Rutgers and in the NFL none other than 17 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 2: former NFL quarterback Mike Teal. Mikey got Lance Meadow here 18 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 2: on Giants dot Com. Hope all as well appreciate the time. 19 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 2: How's everything on your end? 20 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: Everything's great, Thanks for having me, Lance, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays. 21 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 1: Excited about the chance to talk a little football and 22 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: Tommy DeVito with you. 23 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 2: Today, absolutely, and same to you. And I want to 24 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,759 Speaker 2: start with the rivalry Mike that I just hinted at, 25 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 2: because interestingly, Tommy DeVito spoke with reporters earlier in the 26 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,839 Speaker 2: week and he was asked, can you remember any place 27 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 2: that jumps out to you where the crowd wasn't too 28 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 2: kind or that you would label it pretty difficult for 29 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 2: the quarterback? And he said, sure, my high school days. 30 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 2: If you ever attended a Don Bosco Prep Bergen Catholic game, 31 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 2: that certainly fits that bill. You can relate to that 32 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 2: as both a player and a coach. How much does 33 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 2: that perhaps compare to what you think he's going to 34 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 2: be thrust into the fire with in Philadelphia come Monday. 35 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 1: From a hostility standpoint, it'll be very similar. I think 36 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: the biggest difference just you know, between high school and 37 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: college and the NFL is just a noise level. 38 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 2: Right. 39 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: You're not in a huge stadium in front of eighty 40 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: five thousand people, But when you walk on to campus 41 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: at Burgen Catholic, when you play on the road, you know, 42 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: as a Don Bosco guy, there's just a feel and 43 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: an aura about being there and they don't like you. 44 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: You don't like them, you know, very similar to what 45 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:11,679 Speaker 1: the Giants and Eagles have. I'm sure never never was 46 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: able to be a part of that, but you look 47 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: at it from afar and it's what you play the game, 48 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 1: It's why you play the game. Those those are the 49 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: rivalries that make it fun, whether it's a high school rivalry, 50 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: a college rivalry, or you know in the league. The 51 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 1: opportunity to go into someone else's stadium and hopefully find 52 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: a way to win and then come home with a 53 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: win after beating a rival on the road, there's nothing 54 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 1: better than that. 55 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 2: Interestingly, I think Giants fans got a taste of that 56 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:43,079 Speaker 2: Don Bosco Prep Bergen Catholic rivalry this past weekend when 57 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 2: the Giants played the Saints. And I'm going to bring 58 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 2: another name up that you're very familiar with, Darren Rizzy, 59 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 2: who's the Saints special teams coordinator. He was the Rutgers 60 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 2: special teams coordinator, Mike when you played there. So during 61 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 2: pregame warmups, he's sporting a Bergen Catholic T shirt. To 62 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 2: maybe rub it in a little bit to Tommy DeVito, 63 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 2: I'm curious when you went to Rutgers, how much did 64 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 2: you and Darren talk about the rivalry even amongst yourselves. 65 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 1: A bunch a lot. You know, if you're a Bosco 66 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: guy or if you're a Burgen guy, there's not much 67 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 1: more important in the football world than that game, right 68 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: If you don't win a game all year, but you 69 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: beat those guys, you can consider it, you know, some 70 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: sort of success. So between Darren, there were a couple 71 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: of teammates of mine down there, a guy by the 72 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: name of Sam Johnson who played tight end for us. 73 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 1: He was a Burgen Catholic guy. At the time, I 74 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: was the only Bosco guy, and Bosco kind of had 75 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 1: it rolling when I was there. They had won like 76 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: five five straight state championships, like two national titles, so 77 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: so I definitely had some bragging rights. But it's definitely 78 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 1: something that you joke about. And you know, I remember 79 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: with Darren Rizzy we had a little side bet. You know, 80 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: the loser had to wear the sweatshirt for the week, 81 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: and you know, in the facility to meetings and stuff 82 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: like that. So you know, it's funny how it carries 83 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: over and you see the same thing going on in 84 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: the locker room. You know, in the NFL, it's pretty cool. 85 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 2: Well, I'm glad you went into that because fans obviously 86 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 2: get very worked up and emotional with some of the 87 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 2: things that go on beyond the ex's It ows Mike, 88 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 2: as you can attest to, and I know from hearing 89 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 2: from a number of Giants fans on our various shows, 90 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 2: they weren't too fond of what Darren Rizzy did before 91 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 2: the game. But how much is that? Pretty much something 92 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 2: that's right out of his character based on what you've 93 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 2: been exposed to over the years that you were underneath 94 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 2: him as a player and a coach. 95 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: Anytime a burg And guy has a chance to take 96 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: a jab at a Bosco guy, they're going to do it. 97 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 1: But the same goes for the Bosco guy when when 98 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: Bosco has an opportunity to take a jab at the 99 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: Bergen at the Burgen guy, they'll do it too. And 100 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: I've known Darren for a long time, I've known Tommy 101 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: for a long time obviously too, and it's it's something 102 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: that if you're part of that rivalry, you get it 103 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: and you laugh about it now and it's funny. And 104 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 1: I hate to admit this, but some of my best 105 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: friends in life now are Burgen grads. So you know, 106 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 1: at some point you kind of get over that hump 107 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: and listen when we play on you know that Friday 108 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: night in Ramsey when Bosco plays burg and you know, 109 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 1: I'm still rooting for Bosco every single time, but the 110 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: Burgen guys are okay. So it's fun to see that 111 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,479 Speaker 1: it continues on and you're able to kind of have 112 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 1: fun with it. 113 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 2: That's what rival resol about, as you hit on right 114 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 2: off the top. Not that the Giants and Eagles may 115 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 2: have fun with one another once obviously they get on 116 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 2: the field on Christmas. So let's jump into your experience 117 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 2: with Tommy DeVito. You're an assistant coach at Rutgers for 118 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 2: the twenty fourteen to fifteen season. You then head back 119 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 2: to your other alma mater, DoD Bosco Prep in twenty fifteen. 120 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 2: Tommy's a rising senior. What were your first impressions, Mike, 121 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 2: of Tommy DeVito when you took over as an offensive 122 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,600 Speaker 2: coordinator and you started to map out what you were 123 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 2: hoping to accomplish on that side of the ball. 124 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, so it was interesting. I didn't really know much 125 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:57,040 Speaker 1: about Tommy. He hadn't played much before I got up there. 126 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 1: I just had heard through some of the assistants that 127 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: were on the staff that there was a young quarterback 128 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 1: who was really talented, could throw it really well. He 129 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: played a little bit at the end of his sophomore year, 130 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 1: so I was able to watch a little bit of 131 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: game film on him, and you know it got a 132 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 1: little bit of a feel for him. But when he 133 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:15,840 Speaker 1: sat down, you know, first conversation I had with him 134 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: was about kind of the people that I've been around, 135 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: you know, guys in the NFL like Greg Knapp, who 136 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 1: is one of the best quarterback guys you know, may 137 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: and rest in peace, that I've ever been around. You know, 138 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: a guy like Mike Martz in Chicago, Billy O'Brien in 139 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 1: New England. You know, just talking to Tommy and kind 140 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 1: of going through my experiences and the people that I've 141 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 1: been able to be exposed to and learn from, and 142 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 1: and listen to him talk about how he wants to be, 143 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 1: you know, a Division one quarterback, how he wants to 144 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 1: you know, be the leader of the team, you know, 145 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: all those things as young high school kid. I just 146 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: thought he was extremely impressive very early on, before we 147 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: even got on the field. The physical stuff was was 148 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: obviously there, and you know, he wouldn't have played in 149 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: college and b where he is now without that. But 150 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 1: the mental part I thought was extremely impressive for being 151 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 1: such a young kid. 152 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 2: I want to expand on the mental part because from 153 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 2: what I understand, Mike, you ran as close to a 154 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 2: pro style offense as I think you're going to find 155 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 2: at high school and that pretty much benefited Tommy in 156 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: the long run, based on what he followed through in 157 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,559 Speaker 2: his path. Why were you so confident that he could 158 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 2: run what you were perhaps exposed to on the college 159 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 2: and NFL levels. 160 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: Well, I think a coach, Ralph Frigent was at Rutgers 161 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: the year I was there. He was the offensive coordinator, 162 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: and he taught me about teaching the quarterback and giving 163 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: them as much as they were able to handle. So 164 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: I figured with Tommy, we were putting in a brand 165 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:45,119 Speaker 1: new system, so there was going to be a learning curve. 166 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 1: But how fast or how much would he be able 167 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: to retain? And then how much would we be able 168 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: to actually do on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon. 169 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: And that was kind of through the summertime and through 170 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: training camp. You install the base stuff and then you 171 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: start to really kind of you know, press it a 172 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: little bit and you start to throw a lot at him. 173 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: You know he's not going to handle it all, and 174 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: you don't want him to handle it all, but you 175 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: want to see how he reacts, and you want to 176 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: see if he makes a mistake on one concept or 177 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:14,000 Speaker 1: one play call and then doesn't make that same mistake again. 178 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: I think that was the thing with Tommy. He made 179 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 1: plenty of mistakes, but everyone's supposed to make mistakes. He 180 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 1: didn't make the same mistake twice very often, if at all, 181 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: and I think especially as a quarterback. And then you 182 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 1: saw it as you know, he came off the bench 183 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: with the Giants. Backups don't get any reps in the league, 184 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: Like that's just the way it is. So you've got 185 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: to be able to mentally kind of draw it up 186 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 1: in your mind and then try to go out and 187 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 1: physically emulate it and do it. And you know, he 188 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: did fairly well for not getting any reps. And then 189 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:41,680 Speaker 1: he started to get some reps and started to be 190 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 1: the starter, and you've seen he's gotten better every single 191 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: time he's been out there, which is kind of what 192 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,439 Speaker 1: happened every single day of his junior and senior year. 193 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: He got better every time he went out on the field. 194 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: I think that's really what's separated him from a lot 195 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:57,320 Speaker 1: of guys. You love turf, you're good at it, so 196 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: you start a turf biz business grows, savings grow, become 197 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 1: the most celebrated name in dfs. 198 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:09,680 Speaker 2: Are you ready for all that life brings? The huddle 199 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 2: is brought to you by Citizens, the official bank of 200 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 2: the New York Giants. From game day to everyday, Citizens 201 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 2: is made ready for Giants fans with insights, guidance, and solutions. 202 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 2: Learn more at citizensbank dot com. Mike, I think you 203 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 2: bring up a very interesting point, and I want to 204 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 2: tie in the two because as a former NFL quarterback, 205 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 2: what you just hit on, it's all mental reps when 206 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 2: you're second and third string on the depth chart. How 207 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 2: big is this opportunity for him? What he's been thrust 208 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 2: And not that you ever wish that teammates get hurt, 209 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 2: but it did take Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor to 210 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 2: go down for him to be thrown into it. And 211 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 2: what do you think the Giants are looking at right 212 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 2: now as they evaluate him for not just about twenty 213 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 2: twenty three, but what perhaps his role could be beyond this. 214 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: I think the NFL is all about opportunity, right if 215 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: you're able to get to the league, whether you're on 216 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: a practice squad, whether you're in a mini camp or 217 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 1: a training camp, you're you're talented. You know, there's so 218 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: much that goes into that with being in the right 219 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: place at the right time, having an opportunity to develop. 220 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: And I think for Tommy, uh, you know, you look 221 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: at just a story. I've read some different articles where 222 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: he might have had other opportunities to go to some 223 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 1: different places as a free agent, you know, either before 224 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: training camp or you know after after training camp, and 225 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: he and he chose to stick with the Giants because 226 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 1: of the situation, because of the coaching staff, you know, 227 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 1: and a guy like him, as he continues to get reps, 228 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 1: you know, the opportunity for him is you know, listen, 229 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 1: we know Daniel Jones signed a huge contract and then 230 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 1: he's been the starter and he'll probably be the starter, 231 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: you know, going forward. But what Tommy I think is 232 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:49,199 Speaker 1: really doing for himself is he's extending his career, whether 233 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:51,320 Speaker 1: it's a backup, you know, a back up with the 234 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 1: Giants or an opportunity to go be a starter somewhere else. 235 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 1: The NFL and offensive coaches and gms and head coaches 236 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 1: want quarterbacks that can go in and execute and run 237 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 1: a system when they need someone to go and do 238 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 1: it right. The backup is the least known guy on 239 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 1: the field until he's the guy that's in there making 240 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 1: plays and goes one of two ways. Either you crash 241 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,320 Speaker 1: and burn, or you have some success and you're able 242 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 1: to get some momentum going. And for Tommy, I think 243 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: he's able. He's been able to have some success. He's 244 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: been able to do some stuff, and he's gotten better 245 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:24,320 Speaker 1: week after week as a young player, which I'm sure 246 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: the coaching staff is, you know, excited about, you know, 247 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 1: for him, and I think you know, that should be 248 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:32,559 Speaker 1: exciting for fans of Tommy and you know, Tommy himself 249 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,439 Speaker 1: because he's gotten better and he's taking advantage of the 250 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: opportunity that he's got right now. And who knows where 251 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: that leaves him, you know, in the next you know year, 252 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 1: two years, three years from now. But he's extended his 253 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: career because he's shown he's been able. 254 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:48,319 Speaker 2: To play, like speaking of that game of chess, you 255 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 2: look at what he helped the Giants do during the 256 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 2: three game winning streaks specifically against the Packers, and utilized 257 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 2: his legs and that was something that we had not 258 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 2: seen volume wise when he ran for seventy one yards, 259 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 2: didn't take as many sacks, and then the Saints game 260 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 2: may have not gone as smoothly, but hey, that's life 261 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:06,199 Speaker 2: in the NFL, as you can attest to. I guess 262 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 2: what I'm getting at is how much is the coaching 263 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 2: staff being able to dig into the film and saying, Okay, 264 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:15,839 Speaker 2: he had success against Green Bay, New Orleans throws him 265 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 2: different things and they can evaluate how that game of 266 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 2: chess is playing out on an individual basis as opposed 267 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 2: to just within the confines of the team here. 268 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 1: I think that's the challenge as a coaching staff that 269 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: they're that they're working through because there's a lot of 270 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,280 Speaker 1: moving pieces in the offensive side of the wall. You know. 271 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: Part of it is every time Tommy Devido gets under center, 272 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 1: he's seeing something at some point you know, within a series, 273 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 1: I guaranteed within a series that he's never seen before 274 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 1: that wasn't on tape that you know, he doesn't have 275 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:50,200 Speaker 1: that long standing mental rep to you know, just know, 276 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: all right, that's that's this coverage or that's a version 277 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: of this coverage. He's figuring it out for the first time. 278 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: So as an offensive staff, you're trying to you're trying 279 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 1: to scheme things up as well as you can to 280 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,679 Speaker 1: kind of make sure that his first second progressions are 281 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:05,680 Speaker 1: there and then if not, you can get him to 282 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: check the ball down or get on the move. What 283 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: I think they did a great job with him in 284 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: the Packers game, to your point, is they got him 285 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: running a little bit right. If you can create space 286 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: and you can create just a little bit of a 287 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 1: delay in the defensive ends and the pass rushers in 288 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 1: the NFL, you know, whether it's run or pass, it's 289 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 1: going to help you. And I think they had a 290 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: lot of success because of that. You know, then you 291 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 1: go to New Orleans and right you're playing down there 292 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 1: on the road and the defense that starts to kind 293 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 1: of figure it out a little bit. But like you said, 294 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 1: it's it's part of being in the NFL. But for 295 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 1: him again seeing things, the more you see things, the 296 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: better he's going to be. And then as a coaching staff, 297 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 1: you're trying to, you know, draw stuff up that that 298 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: he's comfortable with, that he does well, because you know, 299 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 1: every quarterback on that roster does something different and does 300 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 1: something better than the other. So as a coach, your 301 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 1: your job is to make sure you're trying to give 302 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:57,439 Speaker 1: your whoever's out there the best chance to win, and 303 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: I think they've done a pretty good job of that 304 00:13:58,960 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 1: so far. 305 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 2: You were drafted in two thousand and nine by the 306 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:06,160 Speaker 2: Seahawks after a very successful run at Rutgers. For our 307 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 2: viewers and our listeners might to understand, given Tommy wasn't drafted, 308 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 2: Tommy wasn't a big time quarterback coming into this year's 309 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:18,439 Speaker 2: cluster of players at that position in the NFL. What 310 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 2: is the type of jump that he's made in this 311 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 2: small period of time, Considering, as you mentioned, it was 312 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 2: the third string quarterback for the majority of the year, 313 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 2: And if you asked the Giants in an ideal world, 314 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 2: they didn't wish that Daniel Jones went down. They just 315 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 2: invested a large sum of money in him. They wanted 316 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 2: to continue to see him evaluate. So just to try 317 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:41,480 Speaker 2: to wrap your head around what has happened and transpired 318 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 2: so quickly in a short period of time. 319 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:48,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, I really don't think people on the outside understand 320 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,160 Speaker 1: the jumps that Tommy has taken in such a short time, 321 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: because the last time he probably got meaningful reps was 322 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 1: the last preseason game, you know, back in August, and 323 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: you go, you know, three and a half month and again, listen, 324 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 1: it's your job right as an NFL football player, to 325 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 1: be ready when your opportunity comes. So I'm sure he's 326 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: going through the practice script after practice with another practice 327 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: squad receiver or with some of the other receivers that 328 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 1: are looking for more work, and he's throwing the concepts 329 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: and doing all that, but you can't simulate actually being 330 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: the guy and getting the reps. And I think the 331 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: jump that he's made week after week is just shown that. 332 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: I think two things. One that he's obviously got the 333 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: physical talent and the mental capacity to be able to 334 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: process and then go out and play. Because he's starting 335 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: to play faster, he's not taking as many sacks like 336 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: he did. You know the first time he played, I 337 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: think it was against Washington. You know, there were seven 338 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: eight nine, what I have in many sacks and there 339 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 1: were really only two or three that should have been sacks. 340 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: He was just standing back there holding the ball. He 341 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 1: wasn't able to process it. You fast forward three weeks 342 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 1: and he's getting through progressions, he's getting on the move, 343 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: he's not taking those sacks. I think as a staff, 344 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 1: that's what you're evaluating, and that's where you're saying, you know, 345 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 1: we've got a guy that if he goes out there, 346 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 1: we know he's going to be able to run the operation. 347 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: He's not going to make dumb throws or dumb mistakes 348 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: and lose us the game. He's going to give us 349 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 1: an opportunity, you know, to have a chance to win 350 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 1: the game at some point, which that's what you want, 351 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 1: you know, in any player on your roster. 352 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 2: We'll talk about former NFL quarterback Mike Teale here on 353 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 2: the Giants Metal Podcast, as he was the offensive coordinator 354 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 2: at don Bosco Prep during Tommy DeVito's junior and senior years. 355 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 2: I want to bring your NFL experience back into the 356 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 2: conversation here, Mike, because when you were a rookie, you 357 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 2: had Matt Hasselbeck in the quarterback room. That's a nice 358 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 2: veteran to be around. He was in the league at 359 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 2: that point for well over a decade. Daniel doesn't have 360 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 2: nearly as much experience, but Tyrod Taylor, I think you 361 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 2: could compare to Matt Hasselbeck. What does that do for 362 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 2: a player like Tommy DeVito related to what Matt's presence 363 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 2: did for somebody like you. When I'm assuming you're coming in, 364 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 2: you want to be a sponge, You want to sit back, observe. 365 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 2: And now that Tommy is thrust into the starting role, 366 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 2: how much he can lean on fellow quarterbacks in addition 367 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 2: to the coaching staff. 368 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:04,919 Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean, when you have experience like that in 369 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 1: a room, you take advantage of it, no doubt, and 370 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 1: you don't necessarily need to ask a thousand questions. You 371 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 1: just pay attention to how they take notes, how they 372 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 1: watch film, what they do to prepare themselves to get ready. Listen, 373 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 1: there's a reason Tyrod has been in the league for 374 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 1: as long as he's been, right, and we all know 375 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:21,880 Speaker 1: he's super talented. But you've got to be more than 376 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:24,879 Speaker 1: talented at the quarterback position to stay around and be 377 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: a starter and continue to have a career. So I 378 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 1: think for Tommy, I'm sure, and he's said it before, 379 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 1: I'm sure he's taking advantage of watching what being a 380 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:39,440 Speaker 1: professional quarterback looks like. You know, in both Tyrod and Daniel, 381 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 1: but I'm sure there's times where he's getting insight from 382 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 1: Tyrod that he wouldn't be able to get otherwise. And 383 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 1: sometimes coaches don't have because they can draw it up 384 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:54,120 Speaker 1: and they can put together really good schemes and they'll 385 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 1: develop guys. But you know, unless you're out there and 386 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 1: you're in that fire, you know, as a play clock's 387 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: running down, you're trying to get check, actually trying to 388 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: get the ball snapped. All those things, you know, it 389 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:05,879 Speaker 1: just starts to pick up. And you have an experienced 390 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,120 Speaker 1: guy like that, you can ask questions too. You can 391 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,239 Speaker 1: watch how he goes about it. You can see how 392 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: his relationships are in the locker room. All that stuff 393 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:14,919 Speaker 1: you're gonna learn from. That's what I tried to do 394 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 1: when I was around Matt. I just I didn't ask 395 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:20,440 Speaker 1: a lot of questions, but I watched everything that he did. 396 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: I watched how he took notes on third down day. 397 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 1: I watched how he took notes when we were installing 398 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: red zone packages or watching film, whatever it was. And 399 00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 1: you learn stuff, and you pick up stuff and then 400 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 1: you start to, you know, take what they've done. You know, 401 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:35,360 Speaker 1: Matt learned from Brett farre So I'm sure what Matt 402 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:37,640 Speaker 1: learned from Brett, he kind of made it his own 403 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:39,479 Speaker 1: and then it was it worked for him, and then 404 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:41,399 Speaker 1: I tried to take stuff that I learned from Matt 405 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:43,640 Speaker 1: and make it work for me. And I'm sure Tommy's 406 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:45,920 Speaker 1: doing the same thing right now. So you know, having 407 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:48,879 Speaker 1: guys like that in the room, it's invaluable. And I 408 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: really think especially you know, as a as a teammate, 409 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 1: whoever's out there, especially a quarterback, you want to be 410 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: the guy. But when you're not, you want to be 411 00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:59,439 Speaker 1: the best teammate that you can to help the team succeed. 412 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 1: And that's what you're role is. And I'm sure that's 413 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 1: how Tyrod's been with Tommy throughout this process. 414 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 2: And I think you just hit on some other interesting 415 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,439 Speaker 2: points that I want to piggyback off of, because I 416 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 2: don't think we talk much about in the NFL, Mike, 417 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 2: the dynamics of a position room, because normally you have 418 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 2: a specific depth chart and you're hoping that the starters 419 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 2: can make it through the majority of the season. But 420 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:24,400 Speaker 2: the quarterback room seems to be very unique because only 421 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,640 Speaker 2: one quarterback is on the field on any given play 422 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,199 Speaker 2: and for the majority of the season unlike others, and 423 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:32,439 Speaker 2: as you mentioned, everybody wants to get on the field. 424 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 2: I mean, that's the competition that you want to feel 425 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:37,400 Speaker 2: out of every player in the NFL. If you don't 426 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 2: want to get it on the field, you probably don't 427 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 2: belong in this league. What I'm getting at is how 428 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 2: important are the dynamics in the quarterback room and how 429 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,919 Speaker 2: do you navigate trying to help a teammate but at 430 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 2: the same time also wanting to show the coaching staff 431 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 2: a little bit of something, whether it be through a 432 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 2: mental rep a conversation, you name it. How do you 433 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 2: go about mapping that out? Yeah? 434 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: I mean I think you you evaluate as a staff, 435 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 1: you evaluate quarterbacks probably a little bit differently than you 436 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 1: do other players because again, to your point, only one 437 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 1: guy's out there playing. So what are the intangibles that 438 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: are that are being brought to the table. What's the professionalism? Like, 439 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:17,640 Speaker 1: you know, are they the you know, everyone talks about 440 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:19,680 Speaker 1: the quarterback the first guy in the building, the last 441 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 1: guy out. Are there are there guys? Are they guys 442 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 1: that really want to grind and watch tape and you know, 443 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,919 Speaker 1: really have himself prepared. I personally think not only is 444 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: the starter. The starting quarterback in the NFL the hardest 445 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:34,000 Speaker 1: position in sports. The backup quarterback might be even more 446 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,439 Speaker 1: difficult than that because, you know, like we were speaking 447 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:38,919 Speaker 1: about a couple of minutes ago, you don't get any reps. 448 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 1: You get mental reps, so you're you're doing all your 449 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: preparation in the film room or on the sideline or 450 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 1: after practice. So you know, I think as a quarterback 451 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 1: in the room, you know, and the reason why you're 452 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:53,439 Speaker 1: on the roster or on the team is you have 453 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:56,159 Speaker 1: some sort of intangible or you're some sort of an 454 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:59,639 Speaker 1: asset to the organization, you know. And and for guys 455 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: as depth, charts kind of play out and rosters kind 456 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:05,359 Speaker 1: of are set and made, you kind of understand what 457 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 1: the intangible is or what your responsibility is. And I 458 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 1: think as a professional, you know, whether it was Tirade 459 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:14,760 Speaker 1: as a starter or Tommy as a starter, or Daniel 460 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: Jones as the starter, of the other guys in that room, 461 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: their responsibility to the team and the reason why they 462 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 1: still have jobs is because they're going to help the 463 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:25,400 Speaker 1: guys in that room prepare and go out and win games. 464 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:27,800 Speaker 1: If you win as a team, whether you're the starter 465 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:30,440 Speaker 1: or not, in the league. Good things happen to the team, 466 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:32,679 Speaker 1: good things happen to the organization. And I think that 467 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 1: shows you know a camaraderie and really like a it's 468 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 1: not even a being a teammates being, you know, to 469 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 1: your point in that quarterback room and being part of 470 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 1: this position group that succeeds, because when one guy succeeds, 471 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 1: you all succeed, especially in that position group. 472 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:52,680 Speaker 2: The other thing that's interesting about the dynamics with Tommy 473 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 2: DeVito that I think you can relate to someone Mike 474 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 2: is you're both New Jersey natives and you both were 475 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 2: thrust into opportunity in your own backyard, with you playing 476 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 2: at the high school level then at Rutgers and him 477 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 2: now playing on the NFL level. I'm not saying they're identical, 478 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 2: but it's not easy. I would assume when you're trying 479 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 2: to balance focusing on football, you got family and friends 480 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 2: right in the vicinity. They want to try to maximize 481 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:21,399 Speaker 2: your success. They want to be present. What's that like 482 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 2: and what do you think Tommy is dealing with? From 483 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:26,480 Speaker 2: that standpoint, it's a lot. 484 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 1: It's definitely a lot, and it's not comparable to my 485 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 1: experience at all. Because in college, especially back when I 486 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:36,480 Speaker 1: was in school, there wasn't this social media. There wasn't 487 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 1: this expectation of being present all the time and doing 488 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 1: things all the time. You know, when I would go 489 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 1: to the mall or go out to dinner, like people 490 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:46,919 Speaker 1: would recognize you. But that was kind of it. Now 491 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:51,160 Speaker 1: you're under a microscope all the time, and your job 492 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 1: is you know, Tommy's job as a quarterback is is 493 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: to prepare the best that he can and is to 494 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 1: go out and play. But then there's also another component, 495 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:01,959 Speaker 1: being in New York, being in this media market, that 496 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: the off the field component, especially as a quarterback, is 497 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:08,119 Speaker 1: almost as big as you know, being successful on the field. 498 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:12,159 Speaker 1: So you know, people wanting tickets and people wanting to 499 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: come to the tailgate in the game, and then wanting 500 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:17,200 Speaker 1: to do, you know, an autograph session here or there. 501 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 1: I think it's really important to surround yourself with the 502 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:24,280 Speaker 1: right people. You know, family first, and and then your 503 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 1: your close friends, and then you know the people that 504 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 1: represent you, whether it's you know, on the agent side 505 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 1: or the marketing side. Uh you know, I I just 506 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 1: read an article that tom that Tommy hired a marketing 507 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 1: company to handle some of the stuff off the field, 508 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: which I think is extremely important and smart. I actually 509 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:44,400 Speaker 1: know the guys who he hired, which I think they're 510 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 1: at top of the line. They're as good as you're 511 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 1: going to get for what he's looking for. So making 512 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 1: sure you're able to delegate certain uh certain tasks and 513 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:56,160 Speaker 1: certain things that need to be be handled off the field, 514 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 1: so so Tommy can focus on winning football games. But 515 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:00,879 Speaker 1: at the same time, it is a business and you 516 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:03,680 Speaker 1: want to take advantage of the opportunity that's being present, 517 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:06,200 Speaker 1: and I think that's probably why he made the decision 518 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:09,879 Speaker 1: to hire a team money outside and let them handle 519 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:13,399 Speaker 1: all of the off the field opportunities. You're ready for 520 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:13,960 Speaker 1: a change. 521 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:16,879 Speaker 2: Payday comes early with citizens, so go to that retreat. 522 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 1: Knew you move to the country. Now you're raising goats 523 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:22,680 Speaker 1: and launching a lifestyle brand. 524 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 2: Are you ready for all that? 525 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:25,040 Speaker 1: Life breaks? 526 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:31,480 Speaker 2: And these windows are very short lived in the NFL, 527 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:33,160 Speaker 2: as you could attest to in terms of you don't 528 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 2: know how long you're going to be in that position, 529 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 2: how long you're going to have to market off of 530 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 2: these things. So it's pretty understandable based on his moves. 531 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 2: How surprised are you Mike though that he's sort of 532 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:48,119 Speaker 2: taken the city and the local area by storm based 533 00:24:48,119 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 2: on what's happened in a relatively small period of time. 534 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:55,639 Speaker 1: You know, I think people around here and I experienced this, 535 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:58,240 Speaker 1: so I can relate to this part being in college 536 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:02,200 Speaker 1: and being playing high school football here. People people love 537 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:05,360 Speaker 1: to get behind something that's that's new and something that 538 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:07,200 Speaker 1: you know, at the end of the day is winning, right, 539 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:09,640 Speaker 1: And Tommy's been able to win a couple of games, 540 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 1: and and there's been a lot of Giant fans that 541 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: you know are probably you know, a little disappointed with 542 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 1: the way the season's gone with injuries and stuff like that, 543 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 1: and and it kind of gives them a little bit 544 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:21,639 Speaker 1: of hope and a little bit of a you know, 545 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:25,959 Speaker 1: a freshness and the thought that you know, the Giants 546 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: aren't you know, what their record might necessarily you know, 547 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 1: have been a couple of weeks ago. You know, sometimes 548 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:33,720 Speaker 1: it's just a little bit of bad luck. You lose 549 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:35,639 Speaker 1: a bunch of guys early on in the season, and 550 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 1: you know, it makes it hard to recover. But I 551 00:25:38,560 --> 00:25:41,440 Speaker 1: think if if you look at it in New Jersey, 552 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:45,160 Speaker 1: in New York, people want to put themselves around people 553 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:47,119 Speaker 1: that are winning and Tommy, you know, I think the 554 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 1: biggest thing is a quarterback. You get judged whether you 555 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:51,760 Speaker 1: win or lose, and Tommy's been able to win some games, 556 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 1: and people want to be a part of that. And 557 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,920 Speaker 1: then you get into the whole Italian American you know thing, 558 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 1: which I'm not Italian, so I never got that sup 559 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:03,680 Speaker 1: or from that community. But I think that's been, you know, 560 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 1: almost overplayed a little bit. But people love it and 561 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:10,119 Speaker 1: people want to be around them. And when you're a 562 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:14,160 Speaker 1: good kid and you're playing good football, and I think 563 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:16,480 Speaker 1: the thing with Tommy, when you watch him play on Sundays, 564 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 1: you can see that he cares and he loves the game, 565 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 1: he loves his teammates. I think people respect that, and 566 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:24,000 Speaker 1: I think people want to be associated with that, especially 567 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:27,159 Speaker 1: around here. And there's nothing like blue collar, hard working 568 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:29,720 Speaker 1: people that get up every day and go to work, 569 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:32,159 Speaker 1: and I think people can kind of relate to Tommy 570 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 1: in that sense. 571 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:36,160 Speaker 2: Giants fans love a winner. It's why they love Citizens, 572 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:38,640 Speaker 2: named Ay twenty twenty two best Bank in the US 573 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 2: by The Banker as the official bank of the Giants 574 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:43,560 Speaker 2: and sponsor of the Huddle, Citizens is made ready for 575 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:47,800 Speaker 2: fans of Big Blue learn more at citizensbank dot com. 576 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 2: You just tapped in Mike to his personality, and you 577 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 2: know this from playing quarterback. It can't get too high, 578 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 2: you can't get too low. He seems very even keeled 579 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:01,840 Speaker 2: despite everything that's been thrown at him. I'm curious how 580 00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:04,679 Speaker 2: much you saw that on the high school level and 581 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:08,439 Speaker 2: how much this is within his character based on what 582 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:11,720 Speaker 2: he showcased in the level since Yeah. 583 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:13,240 Speaker 1: I mean, that was one of the first things that 584 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 1: kind of stood out as you got into competitive situations, 585 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 1: was just the ability to kind of stay in the 586 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 1: moment and not worry about the outcome, good, bad, indifferent. 587 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:27,160 Speaker 1: And I think as a quarterback that's extremely important because 588 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:28,960 Speaker 1: there's a lot of highs, there's a lot of lows. 589 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 1: When you win, you get too much credit, When you lose, 590 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:34,399 Speaker 1: you get too much blame. So being able to just 591 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:37,240 Speaker 1: focus on the task at hand. I think even back 592 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:39,920 Speaker 1: when he was a high school player, that was extremely 593 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,760 Speaker 1: evident that he was able to just play that play, 594 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:44,920 Speaker 1: not worry about the play before, and not think about 595 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 1: the play that was coming up. And I think as 596 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 1: being a former quarterback, you kind of get yourself caught 597 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 1: up in that a lot. And I remember as a 598 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:54,720 Speaker 1: player where I'd make a bad throw or a good 599 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:56,480 Speaker 1: throw and then had to go make another throw on 600 00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:58,439 Speaker 1: the next play, and you start thinking about either the 601 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 1: good one or the bad one from the previous and 602 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 1: for him, I don't know if that's ever really been 603 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:05,840 Speaker 1: an issue. I think part of it too. I was 604 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:09,200 Speaker 1: speaking with someone last week. You know, his experience through 605 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 1: through high school was great. His experience in college there 606 00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:13,880 Speaker 1: was there was some adversity there. It was a little 607 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: up and down. I think all that that he went 608 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 1: through and all the experiences that he had to deal 609 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:22,920 Speaker 1: with has been able to prepare him for this level. 610 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:25,040 Speaker 1: And I think he's done a great job in handling 611 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:26,840 Speaker 1: everything both on and off the field up to this. 612 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 2: Point, especially his red shirt senior year where he lost 613 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:33,640 Speaker 2: his starting job at Syracuse Handle that moved on to Illinois. 614 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 2: I think those are examples that relate to what you're 615 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 2: talking about. Was there a moment, Mike where you saw 616 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:42,680 Speaker 2: either in high school or college and said, if Tommy 617 00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 2: wants to take this to the NFL level, he at 618 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 2: least has the potential to get onto a roster and 619 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 2: hang around. Was there anything specific, maybe an it moment 620 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,280 Speaker 2: or a gotcha moment where everything seemed to click in 621 00:28:56,320 --> 00:28:56,680 Speaker 2: your mind. 622 00:28:57,480 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 1: I mean when I was around him as a coach 623 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:01,800 Speaker 1: your high schoo So there's so many things that have 624 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 1: to happen between high school and you know, having an 625 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 1: opportunity to go to the NFL. But when you watch 626 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:10,920 Speaker 1: him work out and you watch him throw, you knew 627 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:14,200 Speaker 1: he was talented enough to be a big time college quarterback. 628 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:16,280 Speaker 1: And then from there, where your college career takes you 629 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 1: you never know, and you know, you got to get 630 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 1: some things that go your way, and the ball's got 631 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: to bounce your way a little bit. But his junior year, 632 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 1: we went out to Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas and 633 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:28,640 Speaker 1: they were the number one team in the country at 634 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:30,840 Speaker 1: the time. We were we were ranked like in the 635 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 1: top twenty five or something like that. But you know, 636 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 1: they were defending national champions in high school football. And 637 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:38,680 Speaker 1: we went out there and we ended up losing the game. 638 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:41,520 Speaker 1: But we lost, I don't I forget what it was 639 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 1: by seven or ten points. So it was back and 640 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:47,160 Speaker 1: forth for a while, and right after halftime, we're down. 641 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 1: We're down like ten at half, and we get the 642 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:51,680 Speaker 1: ball to start the second half, and we're going through 643 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:53,560 Speaker 1: some adjustments and we're looking at you know, the call 644 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 1: sheet and some plays and and we had put this 645 00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 1: one play in brand new concept that we've never run. 646 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:01,680 Speaker 1: Put it in just because a look that Bishop Gorman 647 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 1: had shown on film, and they were showing that look 648 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:06,960 Speaker 1: in the first half with some of the formations that 649 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:09,000 Speaker 1: we ran. So I said to him, say, hey, remember this, 650 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 1: remember that look. But he's like, yeah, the safety's there, 651 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:13,160 Speaker 1: we want to throw the ball here, and you know, 652 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 1: so on and so forth whatever the concept play was, 653 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 1: and we went out like the third, third or fourth 654 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:20,560 Speaker 1: play of that series, ran that play, got the look 655 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 1: we were looking for. He made the throw and it 656 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:25,800 Speaker 1: was a touchdown. That type of stuff for a high 657 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: school kid that doesn't happen a lot, Like I don't 658 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 1: think people really realize, you know, how much goes into 659 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 1: that being able to see it on the film, practice 660 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 1: it during the week, and then you know, identify it 661 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:37,240 Speaker 1: during the game, get in the right play and make 662 00:30:37,320 --> 00:30:39,960 Speaker 1: the throw and score a touchdown. So when he did that, 663 00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:42,320 Speaker 1: I said, you know what, this kid's got a shot 664 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:44,760 Speaker 1: to be a really good quarterback at the next level. 665 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:47,880 Speaker 1: And then from where that takes you you know who knows. 666 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:52,120 Speaker 1: But he was definitely an elite quarterback at the high 667 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 1: school level, which you know is why he was a 668 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:56,960 Speaker 1: big time recruit in the Elite eleven prospect and everything else. 669 00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:00,560 Speaker 2: Like how much in high school did you give him 670 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 2: the flexibility to make changes at the line of scrimmage, 671 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:07,960 Speaker 2: which I'm sure is not necessarily something that every coach 672 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 2: affords their quarterback. You maybe see that on the college 673 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:13,479 Speaker 2: at the NFL level, But from a mental standpoint, how 674 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:14,719 Speaker 2: much freedom did you give him? 675 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 1: We did a lot. I put a lot on his plate. 676 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:21,360 Speaker 1: And again part of going through training camp and putting 677 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:23,040 Speaker 1: stuff on him to see how he would be able 678 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:25,000 Speaker 1: to handle it and see how he were at would 679 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 1: react was all part of that process. So we ran 680 00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:32,520 Speaker 1: a traditional and seeven probably less an NFL system now 681 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 1: because the NFL has obviously evolved to the game and 682 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:37,560 Speaker 1: they're a little more in the gun and doing zone 683 00:31:37,560 --> 00:31:40,480 Speaker 1: read and stuff like that. We were a true tight 684 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:44,320 Speaker 1: end full back twenty one eleven, you know, twelve personnel 685 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:47,880 Speaker 1: team under center, play action pass, so we would call 686 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 1: two plays in the huddle. So we used a check 687 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:52,520 Speaker 1: with me system, a check or kill systems. Do you 688 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:55,560 Speaker 1: hear guys, you know, say alert, alert or kill, kill 689 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:58,520 Speaker 1: or can can, and you have a week side run 690 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 1: play and a strong side run play. You'd have a 691 00:32:01,280 --> 00:32:04,520 Speaker 1: week side run play and a pass play. And it 692 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:06,600 Speaker 1: was based on certain looks. There was either a box 693 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 1: count in the run. If it was a three man 694 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 1: box week, you wanted to run the ball. Week if 695 00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:12,520 Speaker 1: there was four guys there, you would alert it and 696 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:14,560 Speaker 1: you would run it to the strong side. In the 697 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:17,160 Speaker 1: past game, if you got a single high look, you know, 698 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:18,920 Speaker 1: you would want to throw the football. If it was 699 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:20,520 Speaker 1: a too high look, you'd want to run the ball. 700 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 1: So we gave him all that stuff and asked him 701 00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:26,160 Speaker 1: to you know, execute it and be able to operate 702 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:28,960 Speaker 1: at the line of scrimmage. And he did it. You know, 703 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:31,080 Speaker 1: it didn't happen at first, right, It took some time 704 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:33,800 Speaker 1: to learn and develop and get reps at it. But 705 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:36,040 Speaker 1: he was able to do it as a high school kid, 706 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:38,360 Speaker 1: which you know, again, I just think goes to the 707 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:42,120 Speaker 1: football IQ and the ability to process things and the 708 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 1: ability to take something from the film room, you know, 709 00:32:45,560 --> 00:32:47,560 Speaker 1: off the field and then be able to implement it 710 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 1: on the field. And really that was that was the 711 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:51,960 Speaker 1: reason for us our success that year. 712 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:54,880 Speaker 2: If you want to stay titled as a junior. It's 713 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:57,440 Speaker 2: kind of wild how you want it in midlife stadium Mic, 714 00:32:57,520 --> 00:32:59,600 Speaker 2: and now all of a sudden, a few years later 715 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:02,320 Speaker 2: he that is backyard. It's crazy how life works. 716 00:33:02,840 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, full circle, isn't it? 717 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:09,680 Speaker 2: Before I let you go? In terms of what Tommy 718 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:13,360 Speaker 2: has been able to accomplish and the path that he's taken. 719 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:16,760 Speaker 2: You know, having somebody like yourself to speak to, who's 720 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:19,400 Speaker 2: a former NFL quarterback who had success, Mike, how much 721 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:21,640 Speaker 2: have you kept in contact with him over the years 722 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:24,360 Speaker 2: and how much do you try to give him some 723 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:27,160 Speaker 2: guidance even to this day if it calls for it. 724 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:30,560 Speaker 1: I think minimal. I think there's so many people that 725 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:34,480 Speaker 1: are around them, between family and coaches. You know, just 726 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:36,840 Speaker 1: again from my experience, the people that you really want 727 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:39,240 Speaker 1: to surround yourself with are the fifty three guys on 728 00:33:39,280 --> 00:33:41,440 Speaker 1: the roster and the coaches in the building. Those are 729 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:43,280 Speaker 1: the guys that are going to get stuff done for you, 730 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:44,760 Speaker 1: And those are the guys that you go to war 731 00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:48,920 Speaker 1: with every Sunday. But I've sent them text messages and 732 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:51,800 Speaker 1: you know, we've kind of exchanged texts back and forth. 733 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:55,080 Speaker 1: I get how much pressure he's under and how many 734 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:57,920 Speaker 1: people are coming, you know, out of the woodwork, and 735 00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:00,240 Speaker 1: he's got a new aunt and new uncle, and you know, 736 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:02,200 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, he's got three hundred family members, 737 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:04,440 Speaker 1: you know. So I get all that. I had a 738 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:06,920 Speaker 1: big family and I dealt with it too, So you know, 739 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 1: he knows that I'm always here to be a resource 740 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:11,800 Speaker 1: and if he ever needs anything, you know, he'll always 741 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:12,960 Speaker 1: be able to pick up the phone and give me 742 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:15,960 Speaker 1: a call. I'm just happy for the success that he's had, 743 00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:17,719 Speaker 1: and you know the fact that we've been able to 744 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:19,800 Speaker 1: text back and forth a little bit and uh and 745 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:22,040 Speaker 1: just really say, you know, hey, great, great way to 746 00:34:22,080 --> 00:34:25,440 Speaker 1: finish the Packers game or you know, whatever it might be. 747 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:28,680 Speaker 1: So it's just cool to see and you know, and 748 00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:31,319 Speaker 1: the coach, you know, put the coaching hat on. It's 749 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:33,839 Speaker 1: so awesome to see a former player that you got 750 00:34:33,920 --> 00:34:37,359 Speaker 1: to coach develop and succeed and now have a chance, 751 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:39,719 Speaker 1: like to your point, you know, really in our own 752 00:34:39,760 --> 00:34:43,200 Speaker 1: backyard to go and play for one of the most 753 00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:47,319 Speaker 1: historic franchises in the history of the NFL. While while 754 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:49,399 Speaker 1: you're ten minutes from the stadium, you know, from where 755 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:51,680 Speaker 1: you grew up. It's pretty cool. It's really pretty cool. 756 00:34:52,200 --> 00:34:55,040 Speaker 2: One hundred Very rare feat. Mike is a quick follow 757 00:34:55,160 --> 00:34:57,799 Speaker 2: up on the topic of pleasant surprises. If I read 758 00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:01,400 Speaker 2: this correctly, you had Tommy work out with Victor Cruz, 759 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:03,719 Speaker 2: I believe when he was in high school, and Victor 760 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:06,800 Speaker 2: is another one of those pleasant surprises that took advantage 761 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:09,080 Speaker 2: of his opportunity with the Giants. I'm just curious how 762 00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:12,120 Speaker 2: that came about and what Tommy got out of that 763 00:35:12,239 --> 00:35:13,200 Speaker 2: workout in high school. 764 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:16,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, so Vic and I were the same age. He 765 00:35:16,760 --> 00:35:18,840 Speaker 1: went to Patterson Catholic. I went to Don Bosco, So 766 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:23,200 Speaker 1: I've known Vixen's high school and we never really worked 767 00:35:23,239 --> 00:35:25,120 Speaker 1: out until the year of the lockout in the NFL 768 00:35:25,239 --> 00:35:27,719 Speaker 1: back in like twenty eleven twelve whenever that was. And 769 00:35:27,800 --> 00:35:30,040 Speaker 1: then we started to work out a bunch together and 770 00:35:30,120 --> 00:35:34,800 Speaker 1: became good friends. And then I ended up finishing up playing. 771 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:38,000 Speaker 1: He obviously continued on to play, and I went into coaching, 772 00:35:38,239 --> 00:35:41,320 Speaker 1: and he had I guess he was coming off an injury, 773 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:43,040 Speaker 1: he was rehabbing, and he was trying to get back 774 00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:45,399 Speaker 1: in the football shape. So his trainer, who I also 775 00:35:45,480 --> 00:35:47,680 Speaker 1: worked out with at a bunch had reached out to 776 00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:51,279 Speaker 1: me one Sunday during high school football season. And you know, 777 00:35:51,520 --> 00:35:55,280 Speaker 1: high school coaches just as much as college or NFL coaches. 778 00:35:55,320 --> 00:35:58,160 Speaker 1: They work all weekend, you know, preparing for the next 779 00:35:58,239 --> 00:36:01,440 Speaker 1: week and putting game plan together and stuff like that. 780 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:03,719 Speaker 1: So his his trainer reached out to me and said, hey, 781 00:36:04,239 --> 00:36:06,239 Speaker 1: can you throw for Vic? He needs he needs a 782 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:09,440 Speaker 1: quarterback to throw. I said, I can't, But the kid 783 00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:12,839 Speaker 1: I've got now that's our quarterback, he can. He can throw. 784 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:15,400 Speaker 1: Like he's good enough to go throw for Vic. So 785 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:17,400 Speaker 1: you know, as long as you're all right with that, 786 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:19,560 Speaker 1: I'll reach out to him and tell him to, you know, 787 00:36:19,640 --> 00:36:21,799 Speaker 1: go meet you guys, and you know you can go throw. 788 00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:24,160 Speaker 1: And long story short, I think they went over to 789 00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:27,200 Speaker 1: William Patterson University and uh and they threw for a 790 00:36:27,239 --> 00:36:29,600 Speaker 1: couple hours and Vic texted me after He's like, that 791 00:36:29,719 --> 00:36:32,120 Speaker 1: boy could throw. Huh So I told you I wouldn't 792 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:34,440 Speaker 1: send you a kid that that couldn't. Uh So it 793 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:36,320 Speaker 1: was cool. I'm sure it was a really great experience 794 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:39,080 Speaker 1: for Tommy, you know, a chance to work with an 795 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:42,320 Speaker 1: NFL receiver. And then you know, Vic is another story. 796 00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:45,800 Speaker 1: Uh that that's pretty pretty damn cool being a local 797 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:48,200 Speaker 1: kid and having the career and success that he's had. 798 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:51,000 Speaker 2: And who would have known that you'd have a pair 799 00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:55,200 Speaker 2: of former Giants, or one future Giant and one past 800 00:36:55,280 --> 00:36:58,439 Speaker 2: Giant working in conjunction with one another at that point 801 00:36:58,480 --> 00:37:01,000 Speaker 2: to be a fly on the fence of the stadium 802 00:37:01,120 --> 00:37:03,439 Speaker 2: or the field that they were working on at that point. 803 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:07,080 Speaker 2: Quite a wild scene, as he is. Mike Teal former 804 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:10,480 Speaker 2: NFL quarterback. He was Tommy DeVito's offensive coordinator at don 805 00:37:10,560 --> 00:37:13,080 Speaker 2: Bosco Prep. He played at don Bosco, went on to 806 00:37:13,120 --> 00:37:15,880 Speaker 2: play at Rutgers before a brief stint in the NFL. 807 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:18,880 Speaker 2: Mike can't thank you enough. Really enjoyed the conversation. I 808 00:37:18,960 --> 00:37:21,680 Speaker 2: appreciate all the time and the insight that you provided 809 00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:23,919 Speaker 2: and very much look forward to talking down the road. 810 00:37:24,600 --> 00:37:26,640 Speaker 1: Absolutely, it's a great time. I enjoyed it. 811 00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:29,680 Speaker 2: This is the latest edition of the Giants Total podcast 812 00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:32,400 Speaker 2: that is presented by Citizens, the official bank of the 813 00:37:32,440 --> 00:37:34,600 Speaker 2: New York Giants. You can check it out on Giants 814 00:37:34,680 --> 00:37:38,080 Speaker 2: dot com, the mobile app, and your favorite podcast platform.