Fans of Tommy DeVito and pizza were not disappointed on Tuesday.
After a fee blunder threatened to cancel his appearance at a New Jersey pizzeria, the New York Giants quarterback and Italian-American sensation showed up as planned to sample pie and meet and greet fans. What's more, according to reporter Darren Rovell, he did it for free.
Here's DeVito on Tuesday at Coniglio's Old Fashioned in Morristown, New Jersey, watching owner Nino Coniglio work behind the counter.
Class Act: Giants QB Tommy DeVito showed up alone and without pay this afternoon at Coniglios, the pizzeria that had originally scheduled an appearance.
Making lemonade the old-fashioned way with owner Nino Coniglio. pic.twitter.com/k8w8pK5OkG
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 19, 2023
It's a scene that almost didn't happen after an online dispute between Coniglio and DeVito's agent Sean Stellato threatened to end the gig. Coniglio posted on Instagram Sunday that Stellato had doubled an agreed-upon starting fee of $10,000 after DeVito led a high-profile win over the Green Bay Packers on Monday night in his third straight win as New York's starter.
It was a primetime feature in which Stellato played heavily on the love affair between DeVito and the Italian-American community in New York/New Jersey.
“After last week's win, we received word from his agent that his appearance fee would double (from 10,000 to 20). We are a small family business and decided that $20,000 for two hours was a bit steep,” Coniglio wrote.
Coniglio ended his post by saying that DeVito and Stellato didn't make a deal.
“We are Italians too and we don’t like it when someone says one thing and does another,” Coniglio wrote.
Stellato responded to Coniglio by telling Rovell that the two sides never had a signed contract.
“It’s a shame that the restaurant advertised that they would have Tommy when we didn’t have a signed contract.” Stellato said, per Rovell. “We didn’t increase the price because nothing was ever agreed.”
Tommy DeVito reportedly appeared for free after a pizza shop owner said he and his agent violated an agreed-upon appearance fee. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Coniglio then responded to Stellato's response with his own statement to Rovell and a screenshot of a text message that he said shows Stellato agreed to the terms he stated.
This is not the end.
Coniglio's owner Nino Coniglio in deal with DeVito.
“We agreed to the terms in principle – 2 hours, 250 autographs and $10,000, and then the agent couldn't be reached. He contacted us again after the game on Monday and told us the price was now $20,000.”
Contract… https://t.co/fBOFYqiIBi pic.twitter.com/JhZFBeAYSe
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 18, 2023
It was all a massive mess that threatened to destroy DeVito's good faith in breaking through from unknown, undrafted rookie to winning quarterback of the New York Giants.
In the end, DeVito had a few one-on-one conversations with fans and what appeared to be a delicious lunch with his reputation intact. And Coniglio got a lot more promotion than he bargained for, and at a steep discount. Everyone seems to be ahead.