By Joseph Staszewski
Call it the most rewarding weekend of Jayson Bromely’s life.
The former Flushing defensive end was chosen by the New York Giants 74th overall in the third round of the NFL draft last Friday night.
And Bromley’s NFL dream became a reality just a day before he was set to graduate from Syracuse. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound Bromley from Jamaica didn’t think he would be picked that early. He said his agent told him he had a chance to be selected in the fourth, fifth or sixth rounds and he was in the grocery store with his girlfriend to rent a movie from a Redbox when he got the call from Big Blue.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to go today,” Bromley said on a conference call shortly after being taken. “I didn’t expect a call at all tonight.”
The timing of the selection also took Flushing Coach Jim DeSantis by surprise. He said he had a draft party planned for Saturday, but the festivities were called off. “The Giants ruined my draft party,” he joked.
But Big Blue certainly made his and Bromley’s day.
Bromley came a long way from his days with the Red Devils. He didn’t start playing football until high school and was without even the hint of a college scholarship in June 2010, when he entered the annual Empire Challenge senior all-star game that benefits the Boomer Esiason Foundation.
He dominated the game to earn most valuable player honors and Syracuse quickly offered him a scholarship. Four years later, Bromley received the call to tell him he is a Giant.
“When I talked to Coach [Tom] Coughlin, it was surreal,” he said. “Oh, the home team, my favorite team, this is crazy. Big Blue and then I get picked by them. It’s amazing.”
Added DeSantis, “He’s getting everything he deserves.”
The Giants will likely also benefit by selecting a player who probably still has his best football in front of him. He had a productive senior season for the Orange. Bromley posted 10 sacks, 14.5 tackles and was an All-ACC third team selection as the team’s captain.
Bromley’s work ethic and character impressed the Giants enough to pick him higher than he had been projected to go.
“He had 10 sacks,” general manager Jerry Reese said. “When you play at a high level of competition, he had 10 sacks, he can run, he has long arms, plays hard. I think our coaching staff is going to really like this kid.”
DeSantis is excited about the opportunity to watch Bromley play on television each week, something that would have been harder to do if his former player landed outside New York City.
DeSantis said the Giants are getting a high-character player who is going to work hard. There is plenty of upside to Bromley, the Flushing coach believes.
“He really wants to get better,” DeSantis said. “I think he is the diamond in the rough.”
Bromley couldn’t hold back his excitement about joining the team and championship organization he grew up watching and one known for defensive stars like Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora. He thinks he will fit right in with the Giants.
“When they beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl, the sacks they get and the pressure, it’s so exciting because I love to sack the quarterback,” Bromley said. “And, like, that’s what they do.”
