They say time heals all wounds, but seeing Tommy DeVito in a New England Patriots jersey last season felt less like an amicable breakup and more like pouring milk before cereal -- it just wasn't right.
New Jersey's own Tommy Cutlets took his Italian hands celebrations to Foxborough after being cut last offseason, leaving a massive, lasagna-sized void in the hearts of the Big Blue Nation. It’s been hard to move on, and frankly, some of us still aren't over the DeVito-Dart Love Island bromance (I'm not tearing up, you are), but the universe has a funny way of coming through when we least expect it.
Just when we thought the era of the local QB legend was buried in the Meadowlands, general manager Joe Schoen decided to play matchmaker with our emotions. If there were ever a way to help us move on from the heartbreak of Tommy's marching orders, it would be by bringing in another kid who grew up within driving distance of MetLife.
Enter Matthew Sluka, the Long Island native who is trading the LIE for the NJ Turnpike to attend Giants rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.
Matthew Sluka could be the Giants' next local cult hero... and I'm here for it
Sluka, a Kellenberg Memorial High School standout who tore up the record books at Holy Cross before a brief, drama-filled stint at UNLV, is the latest underdog signal-caller to walk through the doors at 1925 Giants Drive.
He’s gritty, he’s mobile, and most importantly, he doesn't require Google Maps to find the best bagel shop in the tri-state area. Good vibes are officially back on the menu, and while it might be too soon to start prepping the chicken saltim-sluka or whatever his signature dish ends up being, the stage is set for a new hometown hero to emerge. And I'm ready for it.
The parallels to DeVito are impossible to ignore. During his time at Holy Cross, the 6-foot-2, 211-pounder was an absolute nightmare for defenses, racking up just under 6,000 passing yards and over 3,500 rushing yards. He’s a playmaker who isn't afraid to put his shoulder down, a trait that will immediately endear him to Jaxson Dart, who has a habit of doing the same.
While the Cutlets era ended in a way that still ultimately feels like a betrayal, it proved that Big Blue's locker room and fan base thrive on this kind of energy.
Sluka enters a QB room that's already put together, and while he’s currently the longest of long shots even to make the practice squad, a strong showing at minicamp could do him wonders.
If Sluka can channel that Long Island "me against the world" mentality and show he's more than an FCS star, he could easily become the next fan favorite. RIP Tommy Cutlets, but you can see how this kind of story writes itself.
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