New Jersey pizzeria welcomes New York Giants star QB Tommy DeVito amidst fee dispute
NFL quarterback Tommy DeVito resolves dispute over appearance fee with New Jersey pizzeria, showcasing his commitment to local businesses and community support
NFL star Tommy DeVito has reconciled with a New Jersey pizzeria after a disagreement regarding an appearance fee. Coniglios Old Fashioned Pizzeria in Morristown, New Jersey, initially promoted a planned appearance by the New York Giants quarterback, only to cancel the event citing a significant increase in the appearance fee requested.
This, the pizzeria said, came after the Giants recent win over the Green Bay Packers.
"No @tommydevito will NOT be @coniglios this Tuesday as originally planned," Coniglios posted Sunday.
"After last week's victory, we were informed by his agent that his appearance fee would be doubling (from 10k to 20k). As a small family-run business, we felt that $20,000 was a bit steep for just 2 hours. We apologize to anyone who had already purchased a ticket.
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On December 11, 2023, Tommy DeVito #15 of the New York Giants enters the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
Tommy DeVito's rise to fame as a beloved figure in his hometown and a viral sensation on the internet has been a compelling journey. In a recent report from Darren Rovell of Action Network, DeVito's agent, Sean Stellato, claimed that they had not increased their asking price as no formal contract had been finalized. However, this statement was contradicted by Coniglios, who provided evidence of a conversation showing an informal agreement for $10,000.
The legend of DeVito continues to grow as "Tommy Cutlets" made a surprise cameo at Coniglios on Tuesday, reportedly without payment according to Rovell. DeVito explained to The New York Post that the appearance was really important to him.
During that time, there was a great deal of activity with various team members involved in different tasks.
Unfortunately, some things were overlooked and I only became aware of it on Monday when I received a notification on my phone. That's when I realized we needed to take action, meet the person involved in person, rectify the situation, enjoy some delicious pizza, and have a good time.
Nino Coniglio, owner of the pizzeria, told the Post he was sorry for any bad press DeVito had received over the initial cancellation.
CNN Sport has reached out to Stellato and Coniglios for comment.
Local boy makes good
DeVito, who orchestrated the pivotal drive that propelled the Giants to victory over the Packers earlier this month, and Stellato have celebrated their Italian roots as the quarterback has excelled this season.
DeVito, a local boy, still resides with his parents and has his mom making his bed. Despite entering the league as an unheralded prospect, he remains particular about the companies he associates with, not forgetting his roots.
"He's a hometown hero, playing for his local team and his performance is astonishing to everyone in New Jersey, New York, and all the Giants fans," Stellato commented. "He embodies the spirit of the underdog."
The New York Giants suffered a 24-6 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. DeVito completed 20 of 34 passes for 177 yards. The Giants stayed within striking distance, trailing 7-6 at halftime, but were unable to score in the second half as the Saints secured the victory. Derek Carr had a standout performance for the Saints, throwing for 218 yards and three touchdowns. CNN's Kristina Sgueglia, Ben Church, and Abby Phillip contributed to this report.
