Tommy DeVito has settled into a new kind of quarterback life in New England, and the Patriots appear comfortable with it. The 28-year-old backup has been one of the more steady performers during training camp, and Mike Vrabel added a new twist Tuesday when he started calling him “Two Chains” before practice with the Colts.
It is a fresh label for a player who first became known around the NFL as “Tommy Cutlets” with the Giants. DeVito said Vrabel originally called him “Cutlets,” then noticed the two gold chains he always wears and changed the nickname to “Two Chains.” DeVito said that nickname has already caught on inside the building.
Strong camp work has reinforced his role
The Patriots claimed DeVito on waivers last summer and initially slotted him as their third-string quarterback. His camp performance has helped change that picture. With the Patriots on their 14th training camp workout, DeVito has looked comfortable enough to strengthen his case as the No. 2 quarterback behind Drake Maye.
Last week, DeVito went 13 for 16 with two touchdowns to DeMario Douglas in an intrasquad scrimmage. On Tuesday, he followed that up by going 11 for 16 in 11-on-11 work and 2 for 6 in seven-on-sevens. That kind of efficiency has been noticeable enough for Vrabel to praise the way DeVito is handling the system.
“Two Chains” is doing a nice job, Vrabel said, adding that DeVito continues to learn and has benefited from the new system because it has kept his attention. Vrabel’s point was simple: DeVito is not taking anything for granted, and that matters for a player trying to hold down a backup job in training camp.
Why the Patriots feel better about the depth chart
DeVito’s play has also given the Patriots confidence in the decision to move on from Joshua Dobbs as their previous No. 2 quarterback. In New England, DeVito has looked more like a steady backup than a novelty act, even if the nickname story has added some color to camp.
That fits the way DeVito has approached his career. He said he learned early in his rookie year that he had to prepare like a starter, after going from the practice squad to backup duties and then into a starting role. He also pointed back to his time with the Giants, when he went from No. 3 quarterback one week to starter the next. For him, the lesson has been the same throughout: stay ready.
DeMario Douglas has already been part of one of DeVito’s best moments in camp, and Dell Pettus offered another endorsement, saying the talent has always been there and that DeVito looks like he is in a flow state right now. That is about as good a camp summary as a backup quarterback can ask for.
For now, DeVito is making the most of the opportunity. He is no longer just the cult-hero quarterback from the Giants era. In New England, he is trying to prove he can be something more useful: a reliable No. 2 who can step in when needed and keep the offense moving.
