The New York Giants benched and released failed franchise quarterback Daniel Jones, which left them with a choice between either Drew Lock or Tommy DeVito as the starter. Against logic, the Giants went with DeVito.
There are stylistic differences between the two, as Lock is less mobile with a much stronger arm when compared to the smaller, more crafty DeVito. The biggest plus in DeVito's corner seems to be the media attention that follows him, as his showing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers confirmed that his biggest assets don't show up on the field.
The Giants were trounced 30-7 by Tampa Bay in a game where four different Buccaneers ran for a touchdown. DeVito went 21-31 for 189 yards and no touchdowns, though many of his yards came after the Giants went into halftime with a three-score deficit they were never able to overcome.
With DeVito proving that he is unable to reel off solid stats against a Tampa Bay defense that is without question one of the worst in the league at defending the pass, one has to wonder just how influence owner John Mara had over the decision to start the local product over Lock.
NY Giants starting Tommy DeVito appears to be a John Mara move
Even if the Giants may be tanking, individual players and coaches don't try to tank. Brian Daboll knows his job is on the line, and it seems hard to believe he chose to start DeVito over Lock after making Lock the No. 2 quarterback for the entire season before the Jones release.
Lock is by no means a particularly good quarterback, but he has the bigger arm and greater pedigree in the NFL. Purely as it pertains to putting a quality product on the field, Lock would be the better option. Why else was he the backup all year long up until one week ago?
Would it surprise anyone if it came out that Mara intervened to put DeVito in the starting lineup because of the buzz he generates? If the Giants are going to be unwatchable slop, why not do it with a local kid social media seems to like? How would this type of intervention be any different than what Woody Johnson is doing with the Jets?
This season is cooked, as fans are already looking forward to either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders arriving in town. The added dose of quarterback drama serves to show just how far New York football has fallen.