COMMENTARY: STRIKE WHILE THE IRON’S HOT

(Listen daily for the RP Commentary on Cat Country 98 & LTD Radio)

It’s not like the NFL needed anymore publicity, nor feel-good stories.

But they certainly got one with the now infamous story of New York Giants local hero Tommy “Cutlets” DeVito and his fedora-wearing agent Sean Stellato.

Please tell me you’ve heard of this! If not, that’s what I’m here for.

The Giants season was being flushed away, unable to win even with the services of their #1 and #2 quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor (T-Mobile).

But with them out of service, the Giants turned to undrafted quarterback Tommy DeVito. It’s not like he’d been out of football; the New Jersey product was quarterbacking Illinois in college just last year after transferring from Syracuse.

But where New Yorkers fell in love with the story – and football fans around the world – is when it was learned DeVito lives with his parents just 12 minutes away from MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

He lives with his parents because – why not? His mom makes his bed for him everyday and cooks his supper. (His favorite of her meals is chicken cutlets, hence the nickname).

And Tom Sr. was tailgating with thousands of Giants fans before Monday Night Football and estimates he served 300 or so chicken cutlets off his grill.

Stealing just as many headlines, and hearts, was DeVito’s agent Sean Stellato, who was seen on the sidelines Monday night and later in the stands in a pinstripe suit and fedora. When Tom Jr. led the Giants to an upset win in the Monday Nighter, 24-22 over Green Bay on a last-second field goal, the agent and dad were seen jumping up and down and planting a big kiss on each other’s cheek.

A star is born? Or a one-hit wonder?

When asked about it all by reporters after the game – about his meteoric rise, new family fame and contract status – Tommy smiled and said, “It’s good for business!”

Talk about a classic New York story. We’re watching a real-life movie unfold here, folks.

And through the wonders of football connections, I was forwarded Agent Stellato’s phone number on Wednesday.

Strike while the iron’s hot.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)