Head Coach Brian Daboll

BRIAN DABOLL: What we got? Great night. Few questions. Go home and get a good night's sleep. All good.

Q. Sliding practice for Jaxson?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, got the wind knocked out of him. He's good. Yeah, we'd like him to slide on that.

Q. 107 points scored in the preseason.

BRIAN DABOLL: I think just the effort of the guys is what we're really focused on, the discipline, their team first attitude, their work ethic, big things, accountability to one another, to the coaches, to the players.

Again, it's a process of training camp to the preseason games and being able to execute regardless of who is in there. There is a standard that I'm going to hold everybody to, and we got 17 days here before the first one. So got a lot of work to still get done.

Q. In college Jaxson's aggressiveness with running with the ball was of note. See him dive a descent amount in practice. Was aggressive against Buffalo and tonight. How do you coach it out of him, balance it, don't want to take it away, but how do you find that?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I wouldn't coach it out of him. Just certain times that you got make the right decision. I would say in this particular game is probably a good time to slide, a third preseason game. Every situation is different. I've had different quarterbacks that could run and are pretty productive running the football.

There is a time and a place. You know, you'd like to take as few hits as you can, but I like Jaxson's competitiveness, his toughness. You got to make the right decision. Those are split-second decisions, so I trust him. I trust the guys that I've been around, our guys. I just trust them to do the right thing. I'll never take his competitiveness away.

Q. Do you think part of it is because there is only a split second to make those decisions?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I think that's probably a good question for Jaxson and those guys that do it. Things happen in a split second in this league. Don't want to take any unnecessary hits.

But I love his competitiveness and toughness.

Q. How do you think he did today? First start. I'm sure he was excited.

BRIAN DABOLL: I mean, every ball should have been complete, so...

Or all but one maybe.

Q. Was it your plan for him to only play to that point in the game and go to Jameis, or would you have put Jaxson back in?

BRIAN DABOLL: No, Jameis was up and then Tommy was going to play in the second half.

Q. What did you think of Tommy's play?

BRIAN DABOLL: I thought all the quarterbacks played well. Thought they played well all preseason. Thought they played well all training camp. Decisive, quick, good decision making.

We threw that pick down there in the end zone again, but timely. I think helped the line. The line is doing a nice job, but the quarterbacks are doing a nice job as well.

Q. Assuming you made the decision at some point yesterday or earlier that Jaxson was going to start tonight. How did his process change, if at all, from last night to today? Did you give him opportunities that kind of simulate what it would be like starting?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, it was a short week. Obviously we played, what, Saturday, so it was a short week. You know, Jaxson had an idea he was going to start for the week. I think that's important.

Again, it's the third preseason game. You're really not doing any game planning. But for a quarterback, whatever calls that we put on the call sheet to prepare -- but he needs to prepare like that every week; so do all the quarterbacks.

Q. Is this a tough spot for you? You have four quarterbacks. We know this is a numbers game at some point. To get the play you got out of your quarterbacks, who knows what's going to happen on Tuesday, it's rare for a team to keep four. Is it hard for you because you spend so much time with these quarterbacks? I know it's hard every year at every position.

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah.

Q. Just to get exactly what you've gotten out of these four guys, is it going to be hard to move forward if you have to move forward?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah. I would say with every player, you know, obviously the quarterbacks, you're around them a lot, you develop a special relationship with them.

But for every player. They put so much time and effort into being the best they can be to try to make a roster. Unfortunately you can only keep a certain amount. I certainly appreciate everybody's work ethic and commitment to the team. Even the way the guys were playing all the way up to the end. I know it's the third preseason game, but I think there is something to be said for the level of discipline and accountability and effort they give all the way through. Guys on the sideline jumping up and down and running down after TJ (Moore) had that pick. We're trying to build something, but these next couple days are tough. Tough on the players and tough on the personnel staff, the coaching staff, because this is a relationship business.

Q. How do you think Jalin Hyatt did? The one hit him on the shoulder, caught the long one.

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, had a nice touchdown.

Q. What about the other...

BRIAN DABOLL: Go back and look at it.

Q. Now that you're through the offseason, training camp, preseason is done, spent a lot of time talking about your plan with Jaxson. Through it all, did you accomplish what you wanted with him to this point? Were you able to do a little bit more than you expect when this whole thing began?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I would say we are kind of on a day to day plan with the young quarterback. Every day we're learning something.

For example, I put him out there for the coin toss today and he's running up to me, what do you want me to do again? I've never done this before. Just the last second I told him, you're going out there, right when I got here today, a few minutes before we went out there. So he's thinking about that.

Just try to do things that may come up one day with him. We'll keep on building him. I think Shane (Tierney) and Kaf (Mike Kafka) have done a really good job with him. He's done a good job. Credit the player, first and foremost. Being a rookie quarterback is not easy. Being a quarterback is not easy.

He knows he has a lot of things to work on, but he's made progress every day. I'm glad we drafted him and I'm glad he's our guy.

Q. Did Abdul Carter have the same reaction?

BRIAN DABOLL: Abdul was less. I usually have the quarterback go out there and decide what we're going to do. He was like, 'wait a minute, So, we're going to take the ball, but what if they defer, which way do you want me to kick?' He was out there warming up and coming over to me, I'm like, 'what?' And he's got like two questions. And I'm like, 'don't worry about that. Just let's go.' But I wanted him to think about what it would be like one day.

Q. The ambulance for TJ Moore...

BRIAN DABOLL: I don't think we know yet, or if they found out they'll just tell me now. Wasn't good. Feel for that young man.

QB Jaxson Dart

Q. How do you balance aggressiveness and competitiveness, like on that potential slide?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, I mean, first of all, just shouldn't have fumbled. Never been taken out of a game for getting the air knocked out of me, so that was the first. But, I mean, I quite honestly felt like I could split them when I saw the open field. Honestly in this situation, I didn't feel like I was in too much of a threat to get a big hit on me.

But I think that quite honestly, like it's just situation based. If you're going to take a big hit, then you slide. I didn't feel like I was in a situation where I was going to take a really big hit, so I felt like I could extend the play and make something out of it.

Q. Took you out of the game and you wanted to finish the drive?

JAXSON DART: Yeah. That -- I don't know. I told him, I was like, I mean, you would feel uncomfortable if you got the air knocked out of you too. I'm fine. I'm just trying to get my breath. So that was all there was. Obviously, they have like their – a little different in college I guess.

Q. The hit was from behind…

JAXSON DART: There (were) two guys. There was the DB in front of me, and I think it was the linebacker who kind of came from the side.

Q. In the tent, were you just like, hurry up, you wanted to get back out there?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, like I said, I didn't understand why I got (taken) off the field. I was just wanting to get back out there and finish the drive, so I just -- everybody was walking over. I'm like, 'let's go. I want to get back out there.'

Shoutout to Jameis (Winston) for throwing a touchdown and finish that last drive.

Q. Did he make any jokes with you about stealing one away? Happened in practice a few weeks ago…

JAXSON DART: No, we're a team. Any time you put points on the board, thought it was good for Jalin (Hyatt) to get that as well, so was just happy to put points up in that situation.

Q. Would you like to slide in that situation in the future, or just like, hey, I'm going to try to get extra yards when you can?

JAXSON DART: I think it's situation based. Like I said, I felt like I could make a better play on it and thought I could split them. Feel like if I just break a tackle then I'm gone.

But yeah, there are situations where things are super congested and you're going to take a big shot obviously you want to get down. I thought it was an open field, and I could have made a play.

Q. What does it say about that quarterback room that you're off the field for one play and Jameis can float it into the end zone for a touchdown?

JAXSON DART: We're all really good players. I think everybody has seen that throughout practices, throughout camp. We all operate at high levels and guys just continuing to get better each and every day. It's a really fun room to be a part of because it's super competitive that way. We have an amazing relationship between all of us.

It's definitely fun. We're all each other's biggest fans when we're on the field.

Q. Does that mean you have a smaller margin of error when you get an opportunity to play?

JAXSON DART: I mean, you've got to go out there and compete and make your plays when you're called and you're on the field. We expect everybody to make those plays. So, I don't think we really look at it that way.

Q. You're accustomed to starting obviously.

JAXSON DART: Yeah.

Q. Did this feel normal to you, to start a game?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, absolutely. I've never been in my career coming off the bench, so just felt normal to go out there and play right off the bat.

Q. Offseason is over, training camp is over, preseason is over. If you needed to play after everything you have done this offseason, do you feel like you're ready?

JAXSON DART: I feel like whenever my number is called, I'm going to go out there and I am going to play my game and ball. That's my mindset any time I touch the field. Obviously, Russ (Wilson) is the starter and he's going to be amazing. He's had such a great camp and has played at an elite level.

So my job is just be the best teammate and be ready whenever it is, but I'm excited for Russ and what he's going to do this year.

Q. Dabs mentioned he likes to add other things to the routine, including going out for the coin toss. What was that like adding to preparation of the game?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, I haven't been out for a coin toss since high school because at Ole Miss, we always wanted the ball first. I had to get my arm warmed up and get ready to go, so I had other guys go and do it for me.

So, when he was like go do it I was like, 'I can't even remember what to do.' But good experience.

Q. After three games, what did you learn most from this experience?

JAXSON DART: I think I've learned a lot about preparation going into games, especially at this level. I've just felt more and more comfortable each week. I think that attributes to just the time I put into trying to learn the system to the best of my ability.

I've also learned that every guy out there on the field is an elite player in what they do. You know, you can't let one mistake lead to another one and little things in your game will get exposed.

So I think through my time in camp I've been able to grow and learn from a lot of those things, and then when I come out on the field, I'm able to translate that to the game. The biggest thing is just preparation.

Q. Whether it was training camp, I know you're a very confident player, but was there something that like reaffirmed in your mind you can do this?

JAXSON DART: I think I just always had that thought in my head. Yeah, I've said this like when I step on the field I expect to play at a high level. To be honest, I have the confidence that I feel like I'm going to be the best on the field every time I touch it, so I think I just -- I kind of just expect to play (well).

Like that's just the standard that I have for myself. So, if you don't play to that standard it's really frustrating. You just try to be consistent and play to your level.

Q. You've been a starter your entire life so this could be it for you for a while. How tough will that be to sit on the bench?

JAXSON DART: I'm just shifting my perspective to be the best teammate that I can be. Russ has completely earned that role, and he's played amazing, played elite. So for me, I just want to be the best teammate, and I just want this team to win. Whatever my role is for that to happen, I'm going to do that to the best of my ability.

Q. Question about Tommy (DeVito) going in at the end…

JAXSON DART: Yeah.

Q. Always like watching him play there...

JAXSON DART: Yeah, I was so excited. You know, in the quarterback room we can make like who we think is going to be the player of the game, and I said I felt like it was going to be Tommy. (Mike) Kaf(ka) said we can't pick a guy in the room. I knew he was going to go out there and ball. Just the things I've seen and how much I've grown from learning from him, not only is he a great teammate, but he is one of my best friends on the team, too. Was really happy to see him play the level he did and really wasn't any surprise for any of us.

QB Tommy DeVito

Q. Tommy, what were the snaps like for you, from the minute you got the warm ovation coming into the game?

TOMMY DEVITO: It was a lot of fun. It's been a little while since I've gotten some good time to be able to go in there and play. The first preseason was two drives, just about; last one was one drive.

So to be able to have not a set amount of time, felt good to be able to go out there and play football again.

Q. Are you thinking as you go out there or as you go through the game at all, like, this could be the last time you're playing in front of these people; most teams don't keep four quarterbacks; or does that not enter your mind?

TOMMY DEVITO: I think about that in the sense of every time you go on the field you never know what's going to be your last. Having the rollercoaster I've had in the past with injuries and playing performance, whatever it is, every time I go out, I try to put my all because never know when it is going to be your last.

Q. What was your reaction when (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) had to come out of the game, when he didn't slide and had to come out of game?

TOMMY DEVITO: It's a work in progress. Trying to help him out a little bit. Seems like the type that's going to learn from personal experience, so hopefully he will take that insight from today and get better from there. But I knew he was okay.

Q. Did you say anything to him?

TOMMY DEVITO: When he came back? Yeah, I let him know. I treat him like my little brother. Even though we're not that far in age. It's not like that. But just trying to help him go over the bumps and talk to him.

Q. What did you tell him?

TOMMY DEVITO: Slide. (Laughing.) Dude, you don't need to be taking these unnecessary hits. There are certain times in the game, situation, yes, I get it, be a ball player. Times like that, just go down.

Q. You've been through a lot of lessons here in a really short amount of time. I know it's a long amount of time, three years. What did you take from this experience these last couple months and going into this weekend you've been here before, been uncertain about what the future might hold? What's different now than maybe in the past for you here?

TOMMY DEVITO: Kind of my similar mindset of be ready when your number is called. Obviously, rookie year played out and never kind of knew how that was going to happen; happened how it did. Last year, similar thing. Get thrown in there so you've got to be ready to play. This year it's kind of a little different because I'm going on year three of the offense. I know it like the back of my hand. I can do everything, get to any answer that I've been taught from the coaches in the past two years with ease.

So it's really about focusing on the defense and not worrying about the offense as much. For me it's just being able to play faster. I feel like I was seeing it well tonight. Guys were playing great. O-line was playing awesome. Really there was nobody near me really at all. Made everything easy, so just going out and executing and doing what I do.

Q. You might be in a unique position here in the coming days where you have the opportunity to decide your future a little bit in terms of maybe coming back here as a quarterback for the practice squad or going to another team where you could be a quarterback 3 or 2 and try to fight your way up. What is important to you? Have you thought about that at all?

TOMMY DEVITO: No, not too much. All my focus, obviously a lot of things like that weighing down as the time gets closer. But for me it was really focusing on this game. Obviously said it last year, any time you go on the field, no matter where you are, especially being undrafted, you're performing for all other 31 organizations as well. It's important to do that and be where your feet are. Right now, this is where I am, so that's what I'm going to do each day in and day out. I'll let my agent and everything else handle itself if that time were to come.

Q. This is a talented quarterback room. If that happened to be your last game here with the Giants. What does that mean to do what you did tonight?

TOMMY DEVITO: Means a lot. Like you said, the ovation, if I was in the stands I would be cheering for anybody who was the hometown kid, too. It was appreciated. To go out and execute, still things to clean up, but felt good getting some time with two whole quarters to go out and play and feel the energy, excitement, and love for the game again.