Giants' Tommy DeVito addresses newfound fame, pizzeria controversy

New York Giants rookie quarterback and New Jersey native Tommy DeVito spoke with reporters Wednesday about what he's learned amid his unexpected and sudden rise to fame.

"Everything you do is under a microscope times 100, even more now," DeVito explained, per the Giants' official website. "Anything that happens is going to be in some kind of article somewhere, like how this happened. I'm sure if this happened a month ago, it probably wouldn't ... have happened how it did, but it did. Got cleaned up, but just continue to be yourself though." 

Specifically, DeVito was referring to how it was previously reported that a New Jersey pizzeria canceled a scheduled appearance by the 25-year-old after his agent allegedly doubled the signal-caller's fee from $10K to $20K. DeVito ultimately made an unpaid appearance at that establishment, one of three public events he participated in on Tuesday. 

"Obviously, there were a million things going on — and still is," DeVito said about dealing with the pizzeria controversy as he and the 5-9 Giants prepare to play at the 10-4 Philadelphia Eagles on Christmas Day, according to Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "Some stuff just slipped through the cracks. And as soon as I got word about what was going on — I got word via my telephone [news alert] — [I thought], 'What is this?' I made some calls to my team and got it sorted out. I found out Monday, and decided I needed to go there the next day." 

Former New York Jets quarterback, one-time NFL Most Valuable Player and current New York sports radio host Boomer Esiason has repeatedly warned DeVito during on-the-air segments about staying "away from all this nonsense off the field." 

DeVito suggested Wednesday one reason he recently hired a new marketing team was to allow him to focus largely on improving as an undrafted quarterback. 

"That's part of the reason I live at home as well, so they can handle all that, so I don't have to worry about anything but being here in the building," DeVito added during his comments. 

DeVito became a local celebrity largely because he guided what was a 2-8 Giants team to three straight victories before this past Sunday's 24-6 loss at the New Orleans Saints. 

Fair or not, criticisms about his off-the-field business obligations will grow only louder if he and Big Blue produce a stinker at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field.