Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode: Hour 1: Burrow to the Jets?

Date: December 11, 2025

Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

Episode Overview

This episode centers on explosive speculation about Joe Burrow’s future with the Cincinnati Bengals and the tantalizing possibility that the New York Jets could make a move for the star quarterback. The hosts break down Joe Burrow’s recent comments about his state of mind and motivation, analyze Bengals organization dysfunction, and assess the Jets’ draft capital and appeal as a destination. The show is peppered with humor, candid personal stories, and listener calls that further the lively debate—but ultimately, the centerpiece is: Is Joe Burrow on his way out of Cincinnati? And are the Jets truly in play?

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Vibe Check and Joking Start (00:32–07:17)

• The episode opens with light banter as Don soldiers through illness, which leads to jokes about the hardships of sports broadcasting compared to athletes playing through pain.

  • Don: “I'm gonna turn the mic off while I can. But no, I woke up a little something.” (02:12)
  • Alan & Peter: Draw parallels to NFL players playing hurt, but raise the stakes for Don as his task spans more hours than a football game.

• The team reminisces about a pre-COVID live show and the awkwardness of not shaking hands, foreshadowing today’s theme of adapting to tough circumstances.

2. Reindeer Games: Launching the Joe Burrow Conversation (07:22–08:15)

• Peter introduces "Reindeer Games"—their tradition of playful, at times improbable, sports speculation.
• Joe Burrow’s interview is played, highlighting his desire to “have fun” playing football amidst a difficult Bengals season:
  • Burrow: “If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it… been through more than most.” (07:40)

Key Quote:

“If I want to keep doing it, really caught my attention.”
— Don La Greca, on Burrow sounding uncertain about his football future. (08:15)

3. Burrow’s Comments—Personal, Organizational, and Existential (08:15–13:00)

• Alan deep dives into Cincinnati’s notorious cheapness and poor player treatment, comparing the franchise's infrastructure and support unfavorably to NFL norms.
• The hosts connect Burrow’s tone to other former star QBs who left or retired early (Carson Palmer, Andrew Luck) from similarly dysfunctional franchises.
• Issue is more than just injuries—Burrow’s frustration appears deeply systemic and existential, not just circumstantial.

Notable Discussion:

• The “Andrew Luck Parallel”: Is Burrow flirting with an early walk-away, or just subtly pushing for a move?
  • Don: “He also made it sound like he was wondering about his future in football… Andrew Luck walked away from the sport because it was beaten out of him.” (11:52)
  • Peter: “That’s why he has to do it… you’re just not trying to throw the organization under the bus.” (11:52)

4. Could the Jets Actually Trade for Burrow? (13:00–22:18)

• Alan proposes the Jets are in a uniquely strong position due to their haul of draft picks.
  • Alan: “Good organizations, good general managers, see what happened yesterday ahead of time. I think there's a possibility he's going to be made available. If he is, I want to be in a position to trade for him.” (16:20)
• Don and Peter question whether the Jets are seen as a sufficiently attractive destination, given their own history.
• The group debates if Burrow is truly preparing an exit, if this is a negotiation ploy, and if Cincinnati’s hand could eventually be forced.
  • Alan: “The Jets have more draft capital than anybody in the NFL… No one is going to be able to match what the Jets can give.” (17:53)

5. Skepticism vs. Possibility—Is This Just 'Reindeer Games'? (18:50–20:50)

• Peter expresses skepticism, branding the whole scenario as “Reindeer Games”—fun but far-fetched.
  • Peter: “I believe this is Reindeer Games. And I like Reindeer Games... but I don't think there's any chance he's moving.” (18:50)
• Don and Alan push back, referencing other QB shock moves (“Never say never”) and Burrow's unusual public statements.

6. Statistical Comparison: Burrow's Physical Toll (15:22–15:36)

• Don references a stat comparing Andrew Luck’s and Burrow’s sack numbers to show the severity of punishment and underscore why Burrow could be thinking of leaving or retiring.
  • Don: “Luck played 86 games till he was 29, sacked 174 times. Burrow’s played 73—sacked 203 times.” (15:22)

7. Jets' Leverage, Bengals' Motives, and the 'Hell for Hell' Debate (22:18–25:08)

• How would a Burrow trade work? Jets are uniquely positioned to offer picks—not big contracts.
• The hosts critically ask: Does Burrow want to swap one dire situation for another? The “Hell to More Hell” dynamic.
  • Don: “Going from the Bengals to the Jets is like going from hell to more hell. And why would Joe Burrow want [that]?” (18:02)
  • Alan: “But you’re talking like the old Jets. If it’s the new Jets…” (18:16)

Audience Engagement:

• Listeners are invited to weigh in, some callers support the idea, while others reiterate doubts about the Jets’ appeal.

8. Front Office Chess & Due Diligence (28:09–34:24)

• Alan and Don stress that the front office must be proactive—not reactive—on this issue. Jets' GM must be aggressive, in constant touch with agents and back-channels.
  • Don: “If he ends up traded somewhere else, that’s devastating for the Jets.” (40:20)

9. Meta-Discussion: Are Quarterbacks ‘Divas’? (51:36–52:32)

• Before break, Peter raises a meta-question about quarterback “privilege”—whether Burrow’s fatigue is somewhat “diva-ish” given Bengals’ relative competitiveness when he’s healthy.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Don La Greca (on Burrow's weariness):

  “If I want to keep doing it, really caught my attention.” (08:15)

• Joe Burrow (on his motivation):

  “If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it… been through a lot, and if it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for?” (07:40, 47:14)

• Alan Hahn (on Bengals’ dysfunction):

  “Cincinnati is the Tampa Bay Rays of football… notoriously cheap. How many holdouts have they had?... That's all good when you’re winning… but if you’re in the midst of a possible rebuild… that's not a pleasant place.” (08:18)

• Don La Greca (on the hell-to-hell comparison):

  “Going from the Bengals to the jets is like going from hell to more hell. And why would Joe Burrow want…” (18:02)

• Peter Rosenberg (on the speculative fun):

  “I believe this is Reindeer Games. And I like Reindeer Games... but I don't think there's any chance he's moving.” (18:50)

• Caller Gilbert (on Jets’ upside):

  “A quarterback who plays like Joe Burrow, who looks like Joe Burrow, handsome kid, Cool... He’d be very popular. That part is not what concerns me.” (36:12)

• Alan Hahn (on agency and opportunity):

  “You never say never… You just had a guy go public, basically telling the world, I don’t want to be here anymore. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in football. The jets need a quarterback. The jets have more draft capital than anybody.” (19:13)

Segment Timestamps

• 00:32–07:17 — Banter on illness, work ethic, COVID-era socializing, show setup.
• 07:22–08:15 — Joe Burrow’s comments on fun and football—first reactions.
• 08:15–13:00 — Bengals’ organizational issues, Burrow’s existential attitude, comparison to Luck/Palmer.
• 13:00–22:18 — Possibility of a Jets trade for Burrow, cap/draft logistics.
• 22:18–25:08 — The “hell for hell” dynamic; evaluating New York as a destination.
• 28:09–34:24 — Due diligence and front office strategy.
• 51:36–52:32 — Are quarterbacks "divas" for speaking out?

Tone & Style

The episode is classic DHR: knowledgeable, irreverent, occasionally self-deprecating, and driven by New York sports urgency. The hosts mix deep-dive football analysis with banter and audience engagement, calling out the “reindeer games” aspect but also signaling there’s real smoke behind the Burrow drama. The tone sways from skeptical to genuinely excited as the scope of the rumor unfolds, always reflecting a New Yorker’s blend of hope and hard-nosed realism.

Conclusion

Takeaway: The episode tees up a new, spicy offseason storyline as the media, NFL front offices, and fans watch Joe Burrow’s state of mind—and the Bengals’ next move. Are the Jets amassing draft picks for exactly this kind of historic play, or is it all just holiday “reindeer games”? The debate is on, and if Burrow truly wants out, New York will be waiting.

Last Words:

“If this guy, if this is more Carson Palmer, you Jets better get on this thing. But if it's not, you better know that too. That's… why I feel like this is a page one, back page story.”
— Don La Greca (50:30)

For listeners who missed the show: This hour delivers must-hear breakdowns on the Burrow saga, a crash course in NFL franchise ambition, and all the manic emotion of New York sports talk at its best.