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Tommy Cutlets is no more — and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is to blame

Nypost · · 490 words · By Matt Ehalt
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What to know about Tommy Cutlets is no more — and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is to blame

Once known as “Tommy Cutlets” when he played in the Meadowlands, backup quarterback Tommy DeVito has now become “Two Chains” — different than the rapper — now that he’s with the Patriots.

Claims checked 8
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center80%
Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Once known as “Tommy Cutlets” when he played in the Meadowlands, backup quarterback Tommy DeVito has now become “Two Chains” — different than the rapper — now that he’s with the Patriots.

Why it matters

“’Two Chains’ is doing a nice job,” New England coach Mike Vrabel said Tuesday.

Common ground

“He, I think, continues to learn and with it being a new system, I think it got his attention a little bit better, as opposed to saying, ‘Hey, I know what this is,’ and kind of taking it for granted.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/12/sports/tommy-cutlets-is-no-more-and-patriots-coach…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 4
verified Verified By Reference 2
cancel Disputed 1
info Single Source 1
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Claim 1: “He became known as “Tommy Cutlets” due to the fact that he lived at home with his parents in New Jersey and his mother, Lexi, would make him chicken cutlets.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results (Yahoo Sports, Sporting News) confirm the 'Tommy Cutlets' nickname, the fact that he lived with his parents in New Jersey, and that his mother, Lexi, made him chicken cutlets.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Henry Hill Jr. (June 11, 1943 – June 12, 2012) was an American mobster who was associated with the Lucchese crime family of New York City from 1955 until 1980, when he was arrested on narcotics charge…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Hill
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following nicknames are given to a unit (defensive, offensive, and special teams) or a secondary nickname given to some teams used to describe a style of play or attitude of teams at times in acco…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NFL_nicknames
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Thomas Nicholas DeVito Jr. (born August 7, 1998) is an American professional football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played five seasons of college …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_DeVito_(American_footbal…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 2: “DeVito, a New Jersey native, became somewhat of a cult hero among Giants fan during a six-game stretch as the team’s starter in 2024.”
DISPUTED
The claim states he started six games in 2024. However, a web search result from Fantasy Takes (Nov 18, 2024) states he 'started six games for New York in 2023'. This creates a contradiction regarding the year of the six-game stretch.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Daniel Michael DeVito Jr., ( də-VEE-toh; born November 17, 1944) is an American actor, comedian and filmmaker. Known for his short stature, raspy voice, distinct accent, and energetic comedy roles, he…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_DeVito
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Thomas Nicholas DeVito Jr. (born August 7, 1998) is an American professional football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played five seasons of college …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_DeVito_(American_footbal…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gaetano "Tommy" DeVito (June 19, 1928 – September 21, 2020) was an American musician. He was best known as a founding member, vocalist, and lead guitarist of rock band the Four Seasons.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_DeVito_(musician)
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
Claim 3: “New England coach Mike Vrabel said Tuesday.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia explicitly states that the 2025 season was the Patriots' first under head coach Mike Vrabel. This is further corroborated by multiple cross-references and news reports.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 season was the New England Patriots' 56th in the National Football League (NFL), their 66th overall, their second under de facto general manager Eliot Wolf, their first under head coach Mike …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_New_England_Patriots_seas…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 season will be the New England Patriots' 57th in the National Football League (NFL), their 67th overall, their third under de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and their second under head coac…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_New_England_Patriots_seas…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Michael George Vrabel ( VRAY-bəl; born August 14, 1975) is an American professional football coach and former linebacker who is the head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football Lea…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Vrabel
+ 5 more evidence sources
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Claim 4: “the Giants released him ahead of the 2025 season”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that the Giants released Tommy DeVito and he was subsequently claimed by the Patriots, with one source mentioning his final game with the Giants was in the 2025 preseason.
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web search NEUTRAL — The Giants released Tommy DeVito on Tuesday, and he was claimed on waivers by the Patriots on Wednesday.Recent Stories. Jets 2026 Make or Break: How will Braelon Allen respond from injury-shortened 20…
https://sny.tv/articles/patriots-claim-tommy-devito-giants-r…
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web search NEUTRAL — Giants have released QB Tommy DeVito, per source. pic.twitter.com/k9RqK3OKxy.DeVito puts on a show in his preseason farewell. DeVito's final game with the Giants came during the second half of the tea…
https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/five_memorable_momen…
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web search NEUTRAL — He played five seasons of college football for the Syracuse Orange and one with the Illinois Fighting Illini before signing with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_DeVito_(American_footbal…
verified
Claim 5: “DeVito, 28, also leaned strongly into his Italian heritage”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia lists his birth date as August 7, 1998. Given the context of the 2025/2026 seasons mentioned in the evidence, he would be 26 or 27, but the Yahoo Sports evidence explicitly refers to him as 'DeVito, 28'. However, calculating from the Wikipedia birth date (1998) to 2026 makes him 27. The claim is supported by the text of the reporting source.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Thomas Nicholas DeVito Jr. (born August 7, 1998) is an American professional football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played five seasons of college …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_DeVito_(American_footbal…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Daniel Michael DeVito Jr., ( də-VEE-toh; born November 17, 1944) is an American actor, comedian and filmmaker. Known for his short stature, raspy voice, distinct accent, and energetic comedy roles, he…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_DeVito
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gaetano "Tommy" DeVito (June 19, 1928 – September 21, 2020) was an American musician. He was best known as a founding member, vocalist, and lead guitarist of rock band the Four Seasons.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_DeVito_(musician)
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 6: “He’s slated to be the backup this year with Dobbs no longer with the team”
SINGLE SOURCE
While evidence confirms DeVito is a backup for the Patriots, the provided search results for claim 7 are irrelevant (referring to a 1975 film, a The Who album, and Tommy Hilfiger) and do not provide information regarding Joshua Dobbs' current status with the team.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — An increasingly frustrated Nora promptly throws Tommy through the mirror ("Smash the Mirror!") causing him to snap to full consciousness ("I'm Free"). Tommy reveals that his experiences have transform…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_(1975_film)
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web search NEUTRAL — Written primarily by guitarist Pete Townshend, Tommy is a double album and an early rock opera that tells the story of the fictional Tommy Walker and his path to becoming a spiritual leader and messia…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_(The_Who_album)
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Welcome to Tommy Hilfiger USA. Classic, American cool style since 1985—delivering a modern twist on tradition, reinventing the fashion icons of prep, nautical, sport and rock-n-roll for today.
https://usa.tommy.com/en
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Claim 7: “backup quarterback Tommy DeVito has now become “Two Chains” — different than the rapper — now that he’s with the Patriots.”
CORROBORATED
Wikipedia confirms Tommy DeVito is a quarterback for the New England Patriots. Web search results from Yahoo Sports and other sources explicitly mention that he has picked up a new nickname in New England, replacing 'Tommy Cutlets'.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 season will be the New England Patriots' 57th in the National Football League (NFL), their 67th overall, their third under de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and their second under head coac…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_New_England_Patriots_seas…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Thomas Nicholas DeVito Jr. (born August 7, 1998) is an American professional football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played five seasons of college …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_DeVito_(American_footbal…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 season was the New England Patriots' 56th in the National Football League (NFL), their 66th overall, their second under de facto general manager Eliot Wolf, their first under head coach Mike …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_New_England_Patriots_seas…
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Claim 8: “DeVito did not play last season during the team’s run to the Super Bowl while serving as the third-stringer behind Drake Maye and backup Joshua Dobbs.”
CORROBORATED
Web search results explicitly state that Tommy DeVito was the Patriots' third-stringer during their run to the Super Bowl and served behind Drake Maye.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Patriots bring Tommy DeVito back as Drake Maye’s backup QB on $7.4 million contract. The New England Patriots are bringing back Tommy DeVito on a two-year extension as one of their backup quarterbacks…
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/patriots-n…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Quarterback Tommy DeVito was the Patriots' third-stringer during their run to the Super Bowl.The New England Patriots are re-signing backup quarterback Tommy DeVito to a two-year deal worth up to $7.4…
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7094254/2026/03/06/tommy-de…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — After going to the Super Bowl last season, New England is 31st in the waiver claim order, a notable difference from the past two years. But every year, waived players and vested veterans change teams …
https://www.patriots.com/news/analysis-breaking-down-the-pat…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.