Tommy DeVito's fairy-tale NFL story added a less-flattering chapter this week when a New Jersey pizzeria canceled his appearance and claimed his agent tried to double the fee, but the New York Giants starting quarterback on Tuesday made for a happy ending.
DeVito, facing negative reaction after the story went viral online, made an appearance at no cost Tuesday at Coniglio's Old Fashioned in Morristown, N.J., according to multiple media reports.
Coniglio's had announced the cancellation on Sunday on Instagram after DeVito and the Giants lost 24-6 to the New Orleans Saints. DeVito, an undrafted rookie who grew up near the Giants' home, MetLife Stadium, had risen in fame after leading the team to three straight victories, including a comeback 24-22 win over the Green Bay Packers on "Monday Night Football" on Dec. 11.
Coniglio's said that DeVito's agent, Sean Stellato, raised the appearance fee from $10,000 to $20,000 after the win over the Packers.
"After last week's win we received word from his agent that his appearance fee would be doubling (went from 10k to 20); We are a small family run business & decided $20,000 was a bit steep for 2 hours," the pizzeria wrote in the post. "Apologies to anyone who had already purchased a ticket."
Stellato told sports business reporter Darren Rovell that there was never a formal agreement.
"It's a shame that the restaurant promoted that they would have Tommy when we didn't have a signed contract," he wrote Rovell in a text. "We didn't raise the price because nothing was ever agreed to."
The restaurant's owner, Nino Coniglio, told Rovell: "We agreed in principle to terms -- two hours, 250 autographs and $10,000, and then the agent couldn't be reached. He reached back out after Monday's game to tell us the price was now $20,000."
Rovell posted a screenshot to social media of a text exchange that Coniglio provided with Stellato referencing the $10,000 fee.
DeVito vaulted from practice squad player to QB1 after injuries to starter Daniel Jones and backup Tyrod Taylor. DeVito has completed 103 of 160 passes for 1,032 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions.
He is earning the rookie-minimum $750,000 this season.
The Giants (5-9) visit the Philadelphia Eagles (10-4) on Christmas Day.
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