Hour 1: Dart Starts

Summary

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Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Dart Starts

Episode Date: September 23, 2025
Podcast: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg (ESPN New York)
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Main Theme:
The Giants have named rookie Jackson Dart as their starting quarterback, benching veteran Russell Wilson after only three weeks. The hosts dissect the decision from every angle: whether Dart is truly ready, the organizational motivations behind the timing, the lingering questions about Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston’s roles, and what the move means for a frustrated but hopeful Giants fanbase. Listener calls and classic New York sports banter energize the hour.

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Episode Overview

The conversation kicks off with lively discussion and inside jokes, before diving deep into the most pressing topic in New York football: the starting QB switch for the Giants. The “Jackson Dart era” begins under controversial circumstances—was this a move based on hope, desperation, or Dart’s undeniable readiness? The hosts analyze the quarterback room, the roles of coaching and team ownership, the psychology of New York fans, and parallels to past Giants rookie QBs. Calls from passionate listeners and a few media tangents round out an engaging hour.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The "Jackson Dart Era" Begins

• Don Hahn insists he had to be in-studio the day the Dart era truly begins, indicating the major buzz in New York sports circles. (01:27)
• The move comes after a dismal three weeks for Russell Wilson as the Giants’ offense stagnated, especially in the red zone.
• Alan Hahn: “The belief has to be that you think the offense will run better, despite the fact that [Dart]’s inexperienced.” (05:20)

Is Dart Ready – and Why Now?

• Hosts debate if this is genuinely about Dart being ready or about Dable trying to save his job.
• Don Hahn: “I’m cool with it if it’s because he’s ready, I’m not cool with it if jobs are trying to be saved or John Mara’s trying to make his football team...relevant.” (01:27)
• Concern about rushing a young QB to the wolves without the right support structure, citing Darius Slayton’s warnings to fans and media.
• The timing is questioned: Why is Dart "ready" now when he wasn’t in week one? Did anything change or did desperation set in after poor team performance? (06:22)

Ownership and Organizational Influence

• The hosts dissect Giants owner John Mara’s influence—suggesting he doesn’t formally intervene, but everyone in the building knows what he wants: fan engagement and hope restored.
• Don Hahn: “Did Mara ever say play him? No, but I’m sure Dable thought John wants to play him because I know John Mara...He can’t stand a fan base that doesn’t care.” (07:04)
• Adding a layer of intrigue, they discuss how Mara’s presence and desires subtly shape big decisions.
• Collaborative organizational decision emphasized; this wasn’t coach-only.

The Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston Angle

• Russell Wilson’s struggles are dissected; his lack of effectiveness and possible locker room dynamics if relegated to backup/mentor are discussed. (10:54)
• The curious case of Jameis Winston as the forgotten option is raised by both callers and hosts. Was Dart’s elevation more about Dart or an indictment of Winston?
• Peter Rosenberg: “He’ll throw some picks, he’ll throw some touchdowns. If the guy’s funny...” (20:42)

Fan Psychology: Hope, Expectations, and Patience

• The hosts and callers zero in on the eternal push-pull of hope vs. pain for Giants fans.
• Don La Greca: “Hope means people will come to watch and they’ll care. But to have hope is also that frustrating, they pull you back in just when you thought you were out on a season.” (10:12)
• Warning to fans not to expect immediate miracles from Dart, referencing scars from past NY quarterback failures (Zach Wilson, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones), and pointing out the dangers of crushing a rookie’s confidence too soon. (13:10)

Historic Parallels & Learning Curves

• Multiple comparisons to Eli Manning’s rookie struggles—how sometimes losing seasons are necessary for franchise QB development.
• The “only learn from playing” vs. “can learn from watching” QB development philosophy is debated.
• Don Hahn: “But you also don’t want to create bad habits, not be ready and play terrible and lose your confidence. I saw it happen to Carr in Houston.” (15:46)

Athletic and Locker Room Dynamics

• How does the team rally around a rookie QB? How will established veterans like Russell Wilson handle the demotion?
• Team chemistry and locker room buy-in are cited as crucial to rookie QB success.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Alan Hahn on Ownership Pressure
  “I hope to God as a Giant fan Dable’s not throwing a kid to the wolves to save his job. That he honestly and truly believes this kid is ready.” (07:43)

• Don La Greca on Red Zone Woes
  “The Giants are second to last in the NFL in red zone percentage...seven times now since last year, they’ve scored less than 10 points in a game.” (08:55)

• Peter Rosenberg on Fan Expectations
  “Don’t build it up to be something where if he doesn’t look like Joe Montana in his first couple of weeks, you call him a bust. Don’t do that.” (30:25)

• Don Hahn on Bad QB Habits
  “I saw it happen to Carr in Houston...it broke him. I still think, I don’t think Zach Wilson’s a good quarterback, but it’s on the table that the Jets broke him because they threw him in and maybe irreparable damaged him.” (15:46)

• Listener on Hope and Optimism
  “All I ask you to do, Don, is soften your heart...don’t have blind faith, but have unwarranted optimism that this could be the turn for your New York Giants.” (36:23)

• Peter Rosenberg on Dart’s Swagger
  “The chain that he wears on game day says he believes he’s the guy...you cannot be a scrubby backup and wear the big ass, iced out Cuban link.” (39:44)

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Multi-Caller Reactions & Giants Fan Pulse

Selected Calls:

• Vinnie from Staten Island (19:13): Skeptical of rookie learning on the job without coaching/OL support; prefers Winston for fun points.
• Flavio from Brooklyn (21:38): Fears for Dart’s safety and long-term confidence with shaky OL—prefers to see Jameis Winston start.
• Nick from East Meadow (32:17): Warns against expecting Eli-like fairytales from Dart—roster isn’t strong enough to protect a rookie.
• Frank from West New York (33:50): Compares prepping a rookie QB to “dropping your kid on the first day of school and hoping he comes back in one piece.”
• Kadeem in the Car (36:02): Pleads for fan optimism and “softened hearts”—champions the value of hope, even after heartbreak.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jackson Dart Era Announcement: 01:27-02:37
• Readiness Debate & Organizational Motives: 05:09-07:43
• Fan Hope and Darius Slayton Comments: 10:05-13:56 & 29:13-31:58
• Historical Parallels & Learning on the Job: 14:07-16:21
• Russell Wilson’s Decline & QB Room Chemistry: 10:54-11:29, 47:13-49:39
• Calls and Public Sentiment: 19:13-23:37; 32:11-36:02
• Swagger, Personality, & Player Perception: 39:44-40:34
• Coaching, Ownership & Decisional Power: 06:41-07:43; 21:09-21:33

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Tone & Style

• Relentlessly New York sports radio—fast-paced, passionate, a bit self-deprecating and always ready with pop culture humor (“Sopranos” and WWE references).
• Critical but hopeful; honest about a bleak football situation but energized by the unknown and the possibility of genuine excitement.
• Direct language, inside fandom jokes, and a blend of hard analytics and emotional appeals.

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Conclusion

“The Dart Era” begins with as much skepticism as excitement. The hosts agree on the stakes: this isn’t about saving a lost season, it’s about finding out if you have “a guy.” They urge fans to be patient and avoid scapegoating the rookie at the first sign of trouble. Whether inspired by hope or desperation, the move is the only way forward for a Giants organization—and fanbase—hungry for relevance, entertainment, and a spark of optimism.

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For those watching Giants football this fall, the only certainty is uncertainty—but at least, as the hosts say, the games will be worth watching again.

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Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

I'm NFL linebacker TJ Watt and this is my personal best. YPB by Abercrombie is the activewear I'm always wearing. That's why I reached out to co design their latest drop. I worked with designers to create high performance activewear that holds up to my toughest workouts. Shop YPB by Abercrombie in store, online and in the app because your personal best is greater than any.

[Don Hahn]

Don she fell in love with the sex.

[Don LaGreca]

Don Sauce was everywhere.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Rosenberg, if you want to stay up, he's got the energy that matters.

[Don Hahn]

This isn't North Dakota, this is New York.

[Don LaGreca]

This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg. John Frenchy Fuqua on 880 ESPN and the ESPN New York app 300 one.

[Don Hahn]

Of the big city. Don Hahn and Rosenberg with you, a full frontal till seven. Very interesting. Very interesting day in all different shapes and sizes. You know, I had to be in the studio for some things, so I'm gonna dart off to the Rock.

[Don LaGreca]

Look at you.

[Don Hahn]

So I get a game tonight.

[Don LaGreca]

Look at him. Look at, look at our guy.

[Don Hahn]

You know what I said?

[Don LaGreca]

Turn on YouTube right now, smash subscribe and take a look at Don.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When you Smash subscribe and you see Don, then you're gonna want to destroy something.

[Don Hahn]

There you go. Because I said, you know what?

[Don LaGreca]

Look at him.

[Don Hahn]

The Jackson Dart era begins and it deserved Don in studio for at least the first segment. Then I'll go to the Rock. But I just could not be remote. I had to come in. I said I had to be here. Of course, because the Jackson Dart era begins on Sunday at home against the big heated rival called the LA San Diego Chargers. I got guys. It's so weird, like how crazy it went since we were on the air. Like it was, you know, you try to decipher what Dable is saying and it sounds like he might be open to it, but it's not going to be something right away. Is he ready? I'm cool with it. If it's because he's ready, I'm not cool with it. If Jobs are trying to be saved or John Maris trying to make his football team, that's 03 relevant on the eve of the postseason of baseball starting and the next season starting and the Giants being a joke, if it's any of those reasons, then I'm not cool with it. But if he's ready, guys, if they believe their best chance to beat the Chargers is Jackson Dart and this is his time, who am I to say it's wrong?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're not.

[Don Hahn]

I'm not watching him in practice. I don't get to see this guy every day the way Shane and Dable do. But it's for any other reason. It's a joke. I'm hoping it's for the right reason.

[Don LaGreca]

I believe it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I believe when we fall in love, it'll be forever.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

I believe I can fly.

[Don LaGreca]

It's a lot of these we could do. But let's get to the point. Those are good, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I believe in a thing called yesterday or no, I believe in a thing. I believe in miracles. All right, Sorry. Let's continue.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes, please.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sorry.

[Don LaGreca]

All you have to do is look at the red zone offense to know that Russell Wilson was not getting it done. Right. Simple as that. And what happened against Dallas was a lot of moon balls, Right. It wasn't really him running the offense with a plum.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And if anybody was playing their Allen Hahn moonball drinking game. Hit your first drink, right?

[Don LaGreca]

That's right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Pound it.

[Don LaGreca]

There it is. So I think after watching enough film and just finally getting to that point, there was the concern of don't rush the kid. Don't throw him out there. That's why Russ is here. Take our time. And you hear Darius Slate, and I'm sure we got the audio. We had it yesterday. Darius Slayton. Oh, we got a. We got a blank page there, Anthony. Jake. All right, so we'll get that for you because Darius Slayton, for the second time in the last couple of weeks has been warning everyone. Don't just throw this kid to the wolves. We think he's going to be great, but we've got to. We can't throw him out there and expect it's going to hit right away. And you're going to want to boo him and you're going to want to be critical and he's just warning you like, this is a young player. But as you've watched Russell Wilson over the first three weeks, how do you not reach the conclusion there's nothing there? Like what he did against Dallas was fugazi. It was. It was. That's all it was, was move. But their secondary was terrible. The reality is they have to make the move not to save the season because he is their next best option. And that's the reason. That's what they came to, in my opinion. And I understand, from what I understand practice, they've given a lot of reps and they like what they see. They think he's made of the right kind of stuff, and that's why they're doing it, because Russ is cooked and.

[Don Hahn]

He was the backup quarterback. So the suggestion is they felt like, well, obviously he can go into a game if something happened to Russell.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So he must be game ready. But yet in the six or seven snaps he got in the last two games was hand the ball off, misdirection. He wasn't. Well, that was allowed to throw the.

[Don LaGreca]

Ball, but that was the stuff they were using him for. They were doing a lot of wildcat stuff with him.

[Don Hahn]

Again, I'm all for it if he's ready. Because Wilson stinks is also not a great reason. Because if the kid's not ready, he's not ready. Because you have James Winston.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I was going to say because there is another quarterback.

[Don LaGreca]

So again, the belief has to be that you think the offense will run better despite the fact that he's inexperienced, you think the offense will run better, and that's why you make this move. And the red zone's all you got to see.

[Don Hahn]

I'm nervous.

[Don LaGreca]

The red zone is everything. Third downs and red zone.

[Don Hahn]

I'm just nervous because it's only three weeks. All right? So you start the season and you say, all right, the kid's not ready. We can't have him start on opening day because he's just. He's not ready.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So we're gonna have Russell Wilson play. Russell Wilson didn't play well. But if you remember, Kurt Warner came on and said, don't blame it all on Russ. They got no offensive line. Team's a mess.

[Don LaGreca]

All right, he did.

[Don Hahn]

Then he goes out.

[Don LaGreca]

It was week one, let's not forget.

[Don Hahn]

I know the Cowboys defense stinks, but Russell Wilson goes out and throws for 450 yards, the most he's ever thrown in his career. So it's obviously not on the table. Russell Wilson looks great. Now he stinks again against the Kansas City team that, hey, their problems are more on offense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, for sure.

[Don Hahn]

They're a very good defensive. And now the kid's ready because when you look at it, he's not ready. But in three weeks he's ready. Or is it? I can't afford.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To me, this timing reeks of. Dable is reading the tea leaves and he is making a move.

[Don Hahn]

And I believe your report, Allen, because I believe your sources that this is not John Maris saying, play the kid.

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Don Hahn]

But that's not how John Mara operates. Okay, you remember sitting that seat right in front of us few months ago when we first came into these studios? We had Carl Banks on. And Carl Banks took exception to my opinion that John Mara has heavy influence.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I remember this all right.

[Don Hahn]

And what Carl misunderstood was that I was saying that he's heavy handed, that he's fat hands, he gets too involved. No, no, no, I don't think John Mara gets involved. He let Joe Shane let Barkley go. He made it known on Hard Knocks. He did not want Barkley to go. He's not heavy handed but he's John Mara. He's a Mara. His father's name's on the football. They know how he feels and that gives them the in. Like if Dable knows I know Mara wants to do it. The so did Mara ever say play him? No, but I'm sure Dabel thought Jon wants to play him because I know John Mara from afar. He is a fan of this team. He loves this team. He bleeds blue. His dad, his grandfather, his family bought this team in 1925. The one thing he can't stand is losing. But worse than that, he can't stand a fan base that doesn't care. He was at that game on Sunday. You saw the stoic look on his face during that game, looking half the building being red. And you know what's going to be happening Sunday if they didn't make this move, half the building would be empty because there aren't that many Charger fans. That's the apathy is something that John Merritt cannot stomach. So now instead of opening with, you know, must win time for the Mets, they're about to blow a chance to go to the playoffs. Yankees will win away from going to the playoffs. We're talking about Jackson Dart, we're talking about the Giants. There's going to be a buzz in the building on Sunday. This isn't about winning or losing. The they're not going to win. Their schedule's too difficult. But you know what? They're going to be more entertaining, the fans are going to be more engaged. People are going to be talking Giants. I'm telling you, he never said the words Allen, but everybody in that building knows John Marrow is on board with this. And I hope to God as a Giant fan Dable's not throwing a kid to the wolves to save his job. That he honestly and truly believes that this kid is ready. But what changed in three weeks he wasn't able to play against Washington.

[Don LaGreca]

Here's what changed.

[Don Hahn]

Three weeks later he played.

[Don LaGreca]

Here's what changed. The Giants are second to last in the NFL in red zone percentage. That's hang on 20% last year when they had a God awful offense and Daniel Jones was terrible. They were at 43%, which is still not very good, but it's still twice as good as what you saw with Russell Wilson. And if you. Again, seven times now since last year, they've scored less than 10 points in a game.

[Don Hahn]

No, I agree.

[Don LaGreca]

So what you're seeing ain't it. So I agree. That's what changed. Well, because.

[Don Hahn]

What are you not ready? He's not ready.

[Don LaGreca]

What you. What you. Well, obviously they have to feel he's ready. They wouldn't have done this if they didn't think he could handle it. Right. It starts there. So they seen enough in practice. This was, from what I understand, this was a collaborative.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you mean everyone's seen enough.

[Don LaGreca]

Everybody. As everybody reached the point of, okay, we're done. We gave them three weeks, but they're.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Skipping over another option that they have.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. That's interesting. That's. That is a part. That's interesting that Jameis Winston is just sort of still there.

[Don Hahn]

See, this is.

[Don LaGreca]

And now, you know what else you worry about?

[Peter Rosenberg]

The backup, right.

[Don LaGreca]

What you just talked about in that soliloquy was the four letter word, hope.

[Don Hahn]

Four letter word.

[Don LaGreca]

And that's the thing you try all the time. It's a four letter word because it's a curse. And it's also a blessing to. To have hope means people will come to watch and they'll care. But to have hope is also that frustrating. They pull you back in just when you thought you were out on a season. That's all that's going on. But what now you also have to watch, number one, the room, the group. What are they thinking? Do they rally around the kid? Because through training camp he was very popular. They love us, so they believe in him. Clearly that's something that's important. You have that. But you also wonder what happens with Russ, a proud former star who's now being told, we're done with you. And he knows, what am I now?

[Don Hahn]

Back up. Mentor asked for a trade.

[Don LaGreca]

That's not what I am. So there's that distraction.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's being reported that Wilson will back up. Actually, I assume they. I assume they'd just say cut him, not cut him. But it's like, does he really want to be the backup?

[Don LaGreca]

You're going to have to watch this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because again, although he is that guy, right. A lot of people would be like, you know what? I'm good. Wilson is the guy who'd be like, I'll wait, coach, get my opportunity again.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, because there's that.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, you know, who?

[Don Hahn]

It's Mr. Unlimited. Mr. Unlimited would want to get dealt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, right, right.

[Don Hahn]

But Russell, hey, I just like being a Seahawk.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Whatever I need to do, I'm a Giant.

[Don Hahn]

So it depends on which one it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Giant way.

[Don Hahn]

You're right about the why, but what changed for Dart? Because if he's not ready. Week one against Washington. Did something happen over the last three weeks with him where they say now he could play, or is it just, hey, he can't do any worse than Russell Wilson?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think. It's not that. That's not that.

[Don Hahn]

I don't like that philosophy. Because even if he's better than Russell Wilson, is he ready to play? If he's ready to play, then I'm all for it. Get the kid out there. He's a first round pick. If he's ready, do it. But you didn't start him on opening day. Why didn't you start him on opening day? Because either A, he wasn't ready, or B, you know he's ready. But I think we got a better chance to win with Wilson. Let's steal a couple of wins here. Let's stay relevant. Now we're owing three. We're irrelevant. Let's play the kid. As long as he's ready, I'm cool. But if that's anything other than that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Peter.

[Don Hahn]

No, not cool if he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If he. If it's bad, if he looks like he's not ready. See, the thing is, though, there's multiple things on the table. You know, even though we had callers the other day, Remember the one caller we had who said, we know we have our quarterback? Okay, that's not true.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's. No one knows that. So if it's not good, there's a possibility. Don, it's the worst case scenario. He's not ready. And they're rushing it because Dable wants to protect his job. So he's hyping up people to think that he's ready when he's not. There's also the possibility the kid's just not the kid. But in within all of that, there's the possibility that not only do you lose this season, you lose hope that there was a future, because if it goes bad for a few games, you immediately go, oh, we can't even rest on the maybe next year we have the guy. It could all get ruined this year now.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah, you know, you know, who knows this? Well, you know who's nodding right now, listening and watching this? Jet fans? Because Jeff fans Have lived through this where it's like, oh, this is the guy. This is the guy. And then you walk and now he ain't the guy. And they've been through this. So look, either you just keep putting out the same player, seeing I think the last straw was what we talked about yesterday, that red zone when he threw it in the tunnel and threw it in the first row and then just threw it up in the air out of the end zone because he felt presence in front of him and didn't want to run.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He doesn't like presence.

[Don LaGreca]

Chose not to run, chose not to scramble. Just get rid of the ball. I'm not getting hit. And when you see that on tape.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It looks so bad.

[Don LaGreca]

You're done.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That ball looks, it's, it's not good.

[Don LaGreca]

Those three in a row.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was three.

[Don LaGreca]

It was three. Three just chucks. Nope. Like you reached that point, you know, we can't do this. We can't do this.

[Don Hahn]

I just hope he's ready. I'm excited because now the game feels relevant.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. Oh, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You know, now Giants are on their way to 04. Now you feel a little bit excited.

[Don LaGreca]

But you don't care about the. Like the loss is, is less significant than his performance.

[Don Hahn]

Well, because now as a Giant fan.

[Don LaGreca]

Malik Neighbors doesn't get a target until the 4th. Like there's things that a quarterback's got back his mind.

[Don Hahn]

I watched eli have a 0.0 quarterback rating against the Ravens where Rex Ryan said, we were calling off the dogs. We thought we were going to kill him.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And it was embarrassing to go through those moments for the Giants. But I kept thinking, let's find out if this is the kid. And every loss was a learning experience for him. And then the highlight of that season came at the end of the year. They're playing the Cowboys meaningless game. He changed the play of the line of scrimmage, hands off the Tiki Barber for the game winning touchdown. And I went into the off season after another losing season going. I got my quarterback. And then what happens the next year? They win 11 games to go to the playoffs. That's what I'm hoping for. If I'm going to watch Russell Wilson suck and the Giants lose, then what are we doing?

[Don LaGreca]

Nothing.

[Don Hahn]

Russell Wilson has no future here. That's why I was getting frustrated with the conversation we had with Tyrod Taylor. You start winning games with Tyrod Taylor, you're not learning anything. 36, no future. You're going to want to learn, you're going to want to win. You're going to want to win.

[Don LaGreca]

Just feeling made that clear right away.

[Don Hahn]

So that's why I get excited. I'm just hoping because I'm in the camp and a lot of people disagree. 1-800-919-3776 that you can only learn from playing. I don't believe that. I think you can learn from watching. You can learn from being in the room, being around guys, just digesting everything you need to digest.

[Don LaGreca]

What are you learning when Russell Wilson is throwing the ball away in the red zone rather than trying to make a play, but on the other hand, you're learning. I can do that.

[Don Hahn]

But you also don't want to create bad habits, not be ready and play terrible and lose your confidence. I saw it happen to Carr in Houston. He got sacked, what, 60 plus times that rookie year and it broke him. It broke him.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You know, I still think, I don't think Zach Wilson's a good quarterback, but there's, it's on the table that the jets broke him because they threw, he wasn't ready. They threw him into the season and they maybe irreparable damaged him. Maybe the same thing with Sam Darnold. Between throwing him in early, him suffering mono, remember missing those games. And it might have taken three years for him to figure it out again. I don't want that to happen, especially if it's going to be a new regime. So I'm just hoping they're. But now I'm excited.

[Don LaGreca]

But the Giants don't want this either. And you know who especially doesn't want it is Joe Shane. He doesn't want that because that, because this move, this pick could be his. Phil Sims, what was it, 1979? Whatever year it was, right? Morehead State. Like, like that, that's. That, that's the first significant George Young piece, right? Like that's for, for Joe Shane. That's what it's gotta be, is this has gotta be my guy. So I can't do this. Whether Dable's trying to save his job or not, I can veto it and say, no, no, he's not ready. We can't put him in there yet. But if enough people get together and sit there and they all go, no, no, no, he can handle, he can handle it. You look around the room, you go, okay, if you guys believe it, let's.

[Don Hahn]

Do it, let's do it.

[Don LaGreca]

And then I think that's where I think they got to after watching the tape of Sunday night's game because that was an embarrassment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don, when I Hear someone say, veto it. I think wear. I think wearing your skivvies and handcuffs and a police hat, going through a gay club late at night. You know what I'm talking about?

[Don Hahn]

Yes, I do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't. You don't follow, do you?

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Come on, man. Sopranos.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Veto.

[Don Hahn]

Veto.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, Vito.

[Don Hahn]

Johnny Cakes.

[Don LaGreca]

I wasn't. Yeah, I wasn't on that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Didn't you watch with Johnny Cakes?

[Don Hahn]

I did.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, he. You know, he watched the episode when Vito got his brains blown out, by the way. Not. It's not. It's not. Okay. By the way, that storyline is very troubling. Right. They kill it.

[Don LaGreca]

Where'd we just go?

[Don Hahn]

The pool cue scene. I. I watched it in his living room.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, with him?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

No, he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, how often do you see a character get smoked and you're sitting with the character? I did it.

[Don Hahn]

Imagine just being like, it's not quite the same level, but close. Like if you're at Jimmy Khan's house watching the scene at the. The toll booth.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, right. That's right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it was a pool cue.

[Don Hahn]

Well, that. Well, yeah, that was. They. They put it someplace.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, got it.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, it's like a calling card for.

[Don LaGreca]

That's not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Again.

[Don Hahn]

It'S.

[Don LaGreca]

That's not.

[Don Hahn]

It's not the Godfather. It's.

[Don LaGreca]

It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's Godfather J. Sopranos.

[Don Hahn]

Right. That was kind of a cool moment for me. Me, Nancy, my brother, and whichever wife it was at the time and. Oh, that's not.

[Don LaGreca]

Anyways. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not what you say.

[Don Hahn]

What do you say?

[Peter Rosenberg]

His ex. Wife just safely say his ex. You know, it's not Valletta.

[Don LaGreca]

Whatever.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was just a lot more fun.

[Don Hahn]

It's a lot more fun to say it that way. I'm sorry. And listen, it wasn't just me. And, I mean, he had, like, a good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, it was a party.

[Don Hahn]

20, 30 people.

[Don LaGreca]

It really would have been a lot more relevant if Tommy DeVito was. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way.

[Don LaGreca]

And we'd really have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All you have to say is veto it. Next to Tommy DeVito. Veto. And veto.

[Don Hahn]

The phones are blowing up. Let's get to them. What do you. What are you thinking? We've all given our opinion. It's now time for you 1-800-919-3776, and let's start it off, I guess, you know, start. Kind of stay in that. That group there. Vinnie and Staten Island.

[Don LaGreca]

Perfect.

[Caller]

What's up, guys?

[Don LaGreca]

How you doing?

[Caller]

You were saying before you can learn on the job, but you got to Learn on the job with the right coach. Dable is a lame duck right now. And his play. Call him. Kafka's play. Call him. It's terrible. This guy. This kid's gonna have no offensive line. He's got Malik Neighbors out there who only plays when he wants to play. He's got no running game. I would just throw Jameis Winston out there. Jameis Winston will make the game fun. He'll throw around. He might throw some interceptions, but he'll throw for 300 yards. If you let him throw Finney. We're already at just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're already at the place with the Malik Neighbors or just. He plays when he wants. We're out on Malik Neighbors.

[Don LaGreca]

I think Malik Neighbors is trying to. He's. He. He wants to win like he wants. He wants the offense to click. And he's. If you saw some of the stuff he saw where he's running routes, like, I can only do go routes because this dude, like, doesn't have the time for me to run like a. A slant because Russ is going to get rid of the ball. So I got to just do go routes and throw it up in the air. Like, that would drive me crazy. Andrew Thomas is back and looked pretty good. So your offensive line got a lot better.

[Don Hahn]

He played, what, 25% of the snaps?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, they're bringing.

[Don Hahn]

He won every snap.

[Don LaGreca]

Felt like it.

[Don Hahn]

No, they say, look, they did the calculus. He won 100% of the snap.

[Don LaGreca]

That's what sure looked like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was such a New York sports fan. Little thing to throw in there because you know Malik Nabis, he already. He plays when he wants to play. You know, you're. You're out on him. He's the most talented player on the team. You can have him for a decade.

[Don LaGreca]

You're out. What's also great, though, is that throwing Winston, he'll be fun to watch. He'll throw some picks. He'll throw some.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, Right. How does that go?

[Don LaGreca]

We've gone from. We've gone from you want to see the kid to I don't mind some interceptions. If the guy's funny.

[Don Hahn]

Wouldn't you feel. Wouldn't you feel funny, though? But I still. I would feel a lot better about this decision if Davel had a couple of years left on his contract, because then we take off the table. He's trying to save his job. Right. So there'd be a little bit more faith in it.

[Don LaGreca]

I get what you're saying because it does feel desperate. But from what I know, this wasn't In a vacuum. This wasn't a coach making a decision without any input. Because to me, if I'm in the front office, there's. And I don't believe he's ready. That's my guy. Like this my player. You might get fired, but I don't have to get fired because that's my guy. You're not ruining my guy. So I do think this has to be. Had to have been a collaborative.

[Don Hahn]

Let's keep. Let's keep it going. Flavio in Brooklyn. You're on ESPN New York.

[Don LaGreca]

What a great name.

[Caller]

All right. Thank you. Thank you. What's going on, Peter? What's going on, Han? And so I. So I obviously do believe that Malik Neighbors is a very talented player, unlike the last caller. But I do feel that Jameis Winston should at least have started against the Chargers. I don't. I don't want to throw Jackson Dart into this flyer because I was like, let him play against the scene. Let's see what we have with James at least one game and then carry it from there. But I just. My whole worry when I was playing Anthony was I don't want Dart to be running for his life. I want him to end up, you know, where he's getting sacked and then he's having to, you know, throw unnecessarily. And that. That performance from Russell Wilson was. I never want to see him in a Giant uniform ever again.

[Don Hahn]

Is it possible, Flavio, that, you know, we're looking at Dart backing up Wilson as a reflection on Dart? Did anybody ever think it was a reflection on Winston? Like, maybe the Giants remember because they got Winston and Wilson before the draft.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it would just be weird because here's the thing that's weird about it. Number one, Winston's been Winston all along. So I. Unless. And I didn't see. When we saw him play in the preseason, it didn't seem like he fell off a cliff.

[Don Hahn]

I think.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what?

[Don Hahn]

Maybe they just think he's not. He's here. He's going to help the kid out because he was a former first overall pick and all that. Maybe they just look at. I don't think I still.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I stand by. He would have been better than Wilson. I truly believe in my heart he's better.

[Don Hahn]

We'll never know. Well, I guess another thing you got to hope is we don't see him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Acted as if the offensive line has still been playing like it was in the Washington game.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. It hasn't been Sampson again and adding Thomas. But another thing, the Chargers, I Mean, there's no Bosa, right? There's no like what? They don't have what? They're not like a known pass rush kind of team, right? Where they.

[Don Hahn]

No, they're banged up too.

[Don LaGreca]

They don't kill quarterbacks. They're good and well coached.

[Don Hahn]

They're a good team. They're one of the best teams of football.

[Don LaGreca]

But I don't. You got to correct me because I don't know it well enough. I don't know them to be that kind of team where they kill quarterback.

[Don Hahn]

No, they get. No, not to the point of. I check their rank and then you got New Orleans next week. But then you got the short turnaround against Philadelphia. But they're hoping maybe by then, hey, I got two games under my belt. Bring on Philadelphia. 1,8009193776. Here's a lay to land. I'm going to dart off for a sec because I got to go to the Rock. The traffic's building. I'm going to get there real quick.

[Don LaGreca]

Hey, you said dart twice. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Then we're going to have Mike Greenberg come in.

[Don LaGreca]

Greenie. That's going to be fun. When's that?

[Don Hahn]

I really heard the audience. I really hope the audience heard Anthony speak in my ear.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think because.

[Don Hahn]

Because otherwise if I went you would think what happened to Dosh? I was reacting to something. No, it was. We confirmed.

[Don LaGreca]

That's good to know.

[Don Hahn]

Mike Greenberg is going to be in studio. Please tell him I said hello. I'll talk to him.

[Don LaGreca]

But I wish you felt like it was okay for you to leave before he got here.

[Don Hahn]

I got. So I'll be on till 6:30 because I'm going to do the Devils and Islanders tonight at the Rock. My second preseason game, but we are on till seven so we're looking forward to it all here on Don on the Rosenberg on espn.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don LaGreca]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. You know, I'm a big fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, I know you are.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Pete Rock's a big Nick fan.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes, he is.

[Caller]

Very big.

[Don LaGreca]

Speaking of Knicks media day today, I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I see a quotable that's out there moving around some stuff.

[Don LaGreca]

There's some stuff going on there. We might finally be able to start talking Knicks at some point. But of course, this is about the Giants right now. Jackson Dart is now your starting quarterback. You've only had to wait three weeks for it. You had to endure some ugly football along the way, but it happened. And so we want to talk to you about it. 800-paper-3776. What do you want?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, they were Jackson start.

[Don LaGreca]

I like that. They were already calling for it Monday. Like, I think the news in the Post already were putting it out there. And it just was a matter of them having those meetings that you got to have the conversation and everybody that is part of the coaching staff knowing what we saw in film. Yeah, that's. That's not what it's supposed to look like. We got an issue at quarterback, we got to fix it. And that, you know, look, I referenced Eric Slayton, veteran on the team, who was just begging everybody to not be so quick, not only to shove the kid out into the spotlight, but then once you build him up, don't start tearing him apart if it doesn't hit right away.

[Caller]

I mean, if they do. Look, he's talented. He's shown himself to be able to learn fast. You know, I think he's capable of being an NFL quarterback. I think he's capable of being a good NFL quarterback. But. But, you know, if they do and if we do have a lackluster performance, maybe a week or two, it's like, well, then that's the case. Give him some time. Give him some grace. Don't show up and boo him a game or two in if he doesn't do well, which I don't expect him to do well, but I'm just saying the reality is it might not. So if that's the case, like, give him time to grow. Give us time to gel and, you know, let him. Let him be an NFL quarterback and let him figure out what that is and learn and grow and. And learn us as players, playing with us players and, you know, give him A chance to grow and be and become a good quarterback. You know, it's something that I feel like Daniel Jones probably didn't get the chance to do is get the chance to become a good NFL quarterback. And you know, something that I hope that Jackson Dart will get the chance to do if he does get the opportunity to play.

[Don LaGreca]

Find that interesting, right, that he would bring up Daniel Jones, who he obviously has history with.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just found it the most like measured, like, reasonable wide receiver quotes I've ever heard in my life. Like, that was just like so thoughtful thought. Very, very thoughtful.

[Don LaGreca]

But I thought it was great analysis and used a recent example to prove his point because that's what happens. We had calls for three weeks about, start the kid, start the kid, throw him out there. He should play. He should play. So everybody that believes that he should play. Now, that called for it after week one. That called for it after week three. All of you understand. Now, I can't tell you how to fan. No, but you heard Darius Slate. You know what he's telling you now you have to do something that's very hard for a fan to do. So patient. You have to give it time because you can't expect immediate impact. You have to expect and if you get it, great. But don't expect it. Don't build it up to be something where if he doesn't look like Joe Montana in his first couple of weeks, you call him a bust. Don't do that. That's what they're trying to say. And guys like Slayton Neighbors is still young, but at least he's got a year under his belt. Those guys and that line have to treat him like he's that little brother that they want to make. We want you to succeed. That's what you want to see. Does the offense as a unit care about Dart so much that they do whatever it takes to make sure he's protected and has success? That's what you want to see. That's all you're getting here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're going to find out all we got.

[Don LaGreca]

All we got baby steps. So let's hear more from the people. 800 I went 9-3776. Don on his way to the Rock. He will be joining us back momentarily. Back to the calls. Nick Eastmeadow, you're up next.

[Caller]

Hey, what's going on, guys?

[Don LaGreca]

What's up, Nick?

[Caller]

I don't think people realize that Jackson Dart is not going to be this player right away. He is not going to be Eli going in for Kurt Warner. I don't know why people are getting so excited over this now.

[Don LaGreca]

What makes you think that he's not going to give them any lift whatsoever?

[Caller]

I mean, I think it's because, you know, he doesn't have the, he doesn't have the players that are going to make him be successful. Yeah, he has Neighbors. And I don't know what the other guy was talking about before. He was probably flipping burgers with Evan Neal, but my God, Malik Neighbors is a great wide receiver and he's going to help Jackson Dart be a stud, but everybody else is going to get him killed. The offensive line is going to get him killed. And, and part of me thinks that's why people were saying James Winston should start.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, because you know what you're getting from Jameis Winston. But if the Giants, who saw all three quarterbacks in training camp, feel like the next, the next part of the progression is to go to the kid, then they have to believe that they've seen enough, at least in practice, that he can handle himself. What you want to see is that he can feel that pressure. If he, if the pocket is closing on him. We know he's got the athleticism to be elusive. We saw that in preseason. But it's a different animal when you get into the regular season, the NFL. Frank in West New York. What's up, Frank?

[Caller]

Hey, guys. All I called yesterday, all I said was there's no real time to determine whether your quarterback's ready or not. But. And a lot of times even I remember, I remember Imani Toomer putting this out, that Eli was a project quarterback. You know, like anything else. But at the same time, it's like, it's when you put your rookie quarterback out there, especially a team that finished three and 14 last year, a lot of times you're looking for that quarterback. It's like all you can do is it's like dropping your kid at the first day of school, hope he has a small, smooth transition and hope he comes back in one piece.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes, obviously one piece is preferable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that's what you're going for.

[Don LaGreca]

You know what I mean? But look, this is, it's really odd because, Peter, if you're a top 10 pick, there's a lot of feeling like, well, you're really good. You're supposed to be good. Right? So you almost have like this belief that you should step into the league and be, be good. Because he was a trade back into the first round, late first round pick, it almost seems like trepidation that maybe he's not good Enough. Prescott wasn't a first round pick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But don't you feel like this is completely split? There's a feeling because people have said he's going to be the guy that you're almost treating him like he's a top 10 pick. But then there's just like, whoa, whoa, whoa. Remember he's not that. Let's give him time.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I just feel like everyone is twixt between with this kid on what he's going to be. There's excitement, there's nervousness.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, it's going to be so compelling. Super. Like the first series and you know, it's scripted. The first series, the first throw, the first read, the first time he feels pressure and has to get out of it. Well, listen, we have scatter boo. There's your offense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We have good news though. There is going to be at least for we have at least three or four weeks now. Well, regardless of wins or losses, we have intriguing Giants football to watch.

[Don LaGreca]

That's a good point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We get to review this kid. Now.

[Don LaGreca]

You might get to Halloween with worthwhile football with worthwhile.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just worth watching. Not worthwhile. Worth worth watching. Well worth your while because the Giant spend the time.

[Don LaGreca]

Sure, sure, sure, you're watching.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And by the way, if he turns out to be good, then results are not. It's a whole worthwhile season.

[Don LaGreca]

You say that Kadeem in the car is asking that question. Exactly. Kadeem.

[Caller]

Gentlemen. I mean, good afternoon, first and foremost. Secondly, what's up? So, you know, Peter mentioned it before you guys went to break. Better help. And you. Alan mentioned hope and I'm here. I know he's not on right now, but I'm here to give Don some therapy. Free of charge.

[Don LaGreca]

He's listening. He's in the car listening.

[Caller]

All right, Don. So the thing is that I understand he's been heartbroken so much and I understand why there's pessimism because he just doesn't want his heart want to get his hopes up and have his heart broken again. And his analysis is fair, it's intelligent, awaiting for the kid. But now that we're at this point, I feel like David was in a situation where you get Russell Wilson before the draft. Regardless, the cachet of Russell Wilson, you had to at least give him a shot and see it through. But now that we are the way we are, what happens if it works? You're telling me in the next three weeks, if Jackson Dart plays tough against the Chargers, you beat the Saints and you play tough against the Eagles. He's got 500 yards, five touchdowns and two picks. You're happy with that. And as long as you see some flashes, then you're going to be excited moving forward with this kid. So all I ask you to do, Don, is soften your heart, my friend. Soften it a bit. And not. Don't have blind things, but have unwarranted optimism that this could be the turn for your New York job. That's all I got, gentlemen.

[Don LaGreca]

It's that. It's like that moment, like you're wondering if years from now, you look back, right, and say, you. I remember when they named him the quarterback. Just like we always reference Eli Manning when he took over for Kurt Warner. Like, would you again, Peter? You. You had a kid come in and just change your franchise around immediately so it's a little different. But honestly, like he just said, he throws a touchdown, maybe two picks, but the touchdown looks like something. And you. So you feel like almost, if you're a Giants fan, you should just be looking for just. Just a little glimmer of something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, no.

[Don LaGreca]

You can't look for 350 yards and three touchdowns Sunday. Yeah, right. Just show me capability.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. But by the time we get to January.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah, of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Here's what I need to see.

[Don LaGreca]

You want to see it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I want to see a clear uptick. And more than that for the first time compared to Zach Wilson, compared to Sam Darnold, compared to Daniel Jones. It would just be nice to know that you get to watch for 12 games and go, maybe not a thousand percent. No, but like 80%. We got a guy. Every guy who's come to this town by the end of their first year, and sometimes their second and third year, which is why I famously said, when it takes you that long to get an answer, you've got an answer.

[Don LaGreca]

You got your answer.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just hope that by the end of the year, you go, pretty sure this Jackson Dart guy's the guy.

[Don LaGreca]

Like, we got a guy listen. Which, by the way, in the Giant organization, that's what they're saying. I could tell you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know they are privately, because they didn't want to overhype this before.

[Don LaGreca]

Private.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They've said things, maybe not about this, maybe not about quarterbacks. They just, they.

[Don LaGreca]

They look at him and what he's made of, personality wise. Like, again, the consistency is the most important thing. You get a guy in, you draft somebody, you bring him in a training camp, all first. The first impressions are always going to be there, what a great guy. But then the more you get to Know him, put him through some, you know, tough practices, workouts, frustrations. Day to day. You start to really see who they are. They look at him and they truly like, well, how about this? Like, we got a guy. They put a lot of work in him pre draft, so they know him well. Well, first of all, they think they got something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The chain that he wears on game day says he believes he's the guy. You cannot be. You're not wearing that scrubby backup and wear the Cuban link. The big ass, iced out Cuban link. He wears, like under.

[Don LaGreca]

I know. I know what you're talking about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's an aggressive. It may be the first time a white quarterback in history has attempted to pull off.

[Don LaGreca]

I think burrow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, not on the field, though.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, on the field. Oh, fair point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's wearing it under his J.

[Don LaGreca]

It's going to get snatched.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You can't wear that as a way to watch out. Now, this is an interesting point we got from in the chat room. Where's the guy's name? I'm going to try to find his name, but his comment was, oh, it was Mike Rella. He said it was never about dart being ready. You had to start Russ. Now, that's an interesting thought. We haven't discussed much. It was kind of like out of respect and the deal we made and the kind of player that he is, we're starting Russell Wilson, so we brought him in here.

[Don LaGreca]

So we're giving you the opportunity to begin, but if it doesn't hold.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Correct.

[Don LaGreca]

Then we go to the kid.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Exactly. It's like the opposite of a rookie. Instead of proving yourself, you as a veteran, you can earn this job and keep it yours because you're a Super bowl mvp. But if it doesn't work out, we're going to our kid.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And we gave him three.

[Don LaGreca]

Didn't they get him and Jameis before they even got to the draft because.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They thought Russ was the starter and Jameis was the backup. Keep in mind, also, first game, horrible. We can't bench him after one disrespect. Game two, amazing. All right, let's see what happens next. Guess what? Terrible again.

[Don LaGreca]

They're out. Yeah. All right. We saw it twice.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So maybe that's.

[Don LaGreca]

Maybe.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe they're completely sure. Dart is.

[Don LaGreca]

Remember the Pittsburgh Steelers used him for the rest of the season, then said, we're all set.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One of the big. Were all sets in history.

[Don LaGreca]

That was a huge. Well, here's the funny part. They set Justin Fields, but wanted to talk to Justin Fields about coming back and told Russell Wilson, we're all set.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, we know with you, we're all set.

[Don LaGreca]

Wow. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Checking off the boxes on your to do list is a great feeling. And when it comes to checking off coverage, a State Farm agent can help.

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[Don Hahn]

Valid through 926. Selection varies by location while supplies last. See associate or lowe's.com for more details and qualifying items.

[Don LaGreca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don LaGreca]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. All right. Game Time is brought to you by Tulla Mardu Irish Whiskey. Because boys, when it's game time.

[Don Hahn]

That'S.

[Don LaGreca]

The that we definitely need to to edit that one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's right. It feels like it should be shortened a little bit.

[Don LaGreca]

We could. We could definitely edit that. The Mets open a series with the Cubbies.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh boy.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, that's a big one. Coverage begins immediately following us on 880@7. The Yankees and the White Sox like you dream about 7:05 for that one. Yankees still two games out of the American League East. The Rangers. We got some preseason hockey. Rangers and the Bruins at The Garden tonight, seven o' clock and Islanders Devils at the Rock at seven with Don LaGreca. And that's something to do on the msg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, there are two. Two news stories out there today. Did you close it?

[Don LaGreca]

Not yet. No. Local? No. Okay, that's. That needed to be edited out. Telemurdo. This was yesterday's copy. The original triple distilled, triple blended, triple cask matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Telemore Dew or try the new Telemore Dew, honey. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Tillamore do responsible Jimmy Kimmel is back tonight on abc.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Don legreca is on the call for Devil's Ranger.

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

These are the broadcasting stories of today.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You ever went to your choices?

[Don LaGreca]

I have, yes. I'll stick to sports.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did you play my song coming back? Did I miss it?

[Don LaGreca]

Mass Appeal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, he played Mass Appeal. Oh, he did.

[Don LaGreca]

Good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, good.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. You weren't back yet, so I didn't play.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, thank you.

[Don LaGreca]

I appreciate it. On his way, literally walking to the building. Mike Greenberg will be joining us.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you for the update.

[Don LaGreca]

What?

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're getting Mike Greenberg's walking updates.

[Don LaGreca]

He's going to be here, and he'll be on the. On the show in nine minutes.

[Don Hahn]

And I'll be treating this as his show.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm sorry. Like, play his walk in. That's. That's not. That's not important.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you're. Hold on. I love Greeny, okay? We love Green.

[Don LaGreca]

And he's going to be here in person, sitting in that chair.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're giving him, like, the Goldberg entrance where they show him. Jacob. It's like Goldberg. They show him knocking on the door in the. In the locker room. You're giving. It's Greenberg, not Goldberg.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, for me, he is Goldberg. Goldberg. Everything he's done for me. Are you kidding me?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a good point.

[Don LaGreca]

This is a big deal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He is your goal.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm sorry. I got excited.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I want you to keep filling it on.

[Don Hahn]

Get up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, Green, he's gone for a week. I need more Han TV.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, we need more calls. 800 now. 193776. Don Legreco will be getting back onto the show once he gets to the Rockies en route now. So we go to Dave, who's also in a car. Hey, Dave.

[Caller]

Hey, guys.

[Don Hahn]

How's it going?

[Don LaGreca]

Good.

[Caller]

I heard some of the conversation before about Jackson Dart, and I kind of agree. It's just like, I think you have to play him watching off the list and make, like, certain plays stick in my mind every time he rolls out. And you See like he can make a move. He gives up on the.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Caller]

And then. And then obviously the last game on Sunday night where he threw three balls with the stands one down the tunnel which you can't win like that and everything which drives but. So I'm okay with the kid playing but I have a question for Peter. Peter, compared to your Washington commander's teams with like RG3 when you thought he showed up, how well he played and everything like you know our line compared to that team's line in comparison is better or worse. You know, like certain things got better because I think we put the young kid in. So I'm wondering if the only difference was an RG3 knee went. Gave out on him on that terrible field. I'm just thinking I want to see him do well. I just don't know if we have the line to do it. And then the lame depth coaching is able to stay or not. I'll get off on what you guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a very. That's a very interesting question. I'll tell you this. RG3 had a young Trent Williams on the left side of his line which is maybe. Listen, you feel really good about Andrew Thomas, right? You got. I don't know if. I don't know if he's Trent Williams but you got a real. He's a real player.

[Don LaGreca]

He's very good trending.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. He's trying to the right way. Listen, I don't. There's so much loaded into every quarter, particularly someone like RG3 but every quarterback sort of, you know, health. I know nothing about the fragility of Jackson Dart. I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

Do you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know how. What he's built like yet. So all you're going to have to do is get out there and see what he looks like. I don't. This offensive line is not terrible. I think two things they didn't have Thomas week one, the commander's defense has been better than anyone expected so far. The commander's defense actually gets after it pretty good. And Russell Wilson's been bad. That can make a line look terrible.

[Don LaGreca]

You remember against your team week one, I got on him. There was a bootleg and instead of running inside some ridiculous fakocta shovel pattern.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Mistake you made Allen is that you thought at the time he should have tried. That's not even in him to try anymore.

[Don LaGreca]

No, doesn't even have it. That looked to me like get to the pylon before the linebacker. Instead he almost like waited for the linebacker and took the hit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He either doesn't have that gear anymore or doesn't think he has or doesn't want that gear.

[Don LaGreca]

It hurts when you're to be. When you're in pursuit and get tackled. Probably harder than if I'm bracing for tackle. Oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no. Getting pulled down.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No one wants that.

[Don LaGreca]

Like you saw CD Lamb, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

The hip that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That can happen. Horse collar.

[Don LaGreca]

If you're trying not to get hurt, you're not running for the pylon. But anybody else is running for the pylon right there. So I saw. Like, those are the little pieces of evidence that make you say to yourself, I don't know if he wants to really get hit anymore.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is worth remembering who wants to get hit.

[Don LaGreca]

Nobody. But. But it is worth part of the game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is worth remembering that just as easily as an offensive line can make a quarterback look terrible, a quarterback can.

[Don LaGreca]

Make an offensive line look terrible. I've heard that. I've heard that from the jets about Zach Wilson.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah, Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

I heard that a lot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They do. They go. They do the wrong thing, look the wrong way. Take two. Whatever it is. Things we don't understand. It's the things that are happening.

[Don LaGreca]

Don't see the coverage, don't know to call it out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And all of a sudden your O line looks like they're getting burned all day, when really it's not that.

[Don LaGreca]

Or the guys holding the ball, too. They would complain about this in Denver where he'd scramble so much. And the offensive line's like, wow. We don't know where he's going. I don't know what he's doing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sort of getting the feeling. I don't know why. I sort of have the feeling that Dart's going to. I don't know how it's going to turn out. I think he's going to come out of the gate pretty strong, I think. I think Sunday will be fun and interesting and they will look alive because of him.

[Don LaGreca]

You think they'll keep it simple? Which is usually when it's good to keep it simple.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We call it vanilla. Yeah, that's what we call it.

[Don LaGreca]

Vanilla. It's a flavor. That's right. We'll keep the calls. Rolling 800 now, 1-937-you can watch us.

[Peter Rosenberg]

On YouTube, for God's sake. Don't you want to see Mike Greenberg in the flesh?

[Don LaGreca]

I would hope so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Green, he's gonna be here. Who knows what he's gonna be wearing? So jump on the YouTube, ESPN New York, wherever you find your YouTube smash.

[Don LaGreca]

Destroy do it all as well. Which is also leading me into telling you that ESPNY is streaming live on YouTube literally right now. And you can catch not just our show, all your favorite shows, including dpatron, Rothenberg, Barton Collar, Barton Carlin. We saw Chris today. Good to see him. Michael K show, our show as well. Live video every day during the week. You can watch, you can chat, join the conversation there. Peter's following along right now, reading some of your better comments, all of it exclusively on YouTube. So get to the ESPNY channel, subscribe to it, and never miss a single moment. Which includes a couchcast next Monday, which you know will be entertaining. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know it's good. Hear my more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers. This isn't just another ESPN fantasy football season, it's your shot at greatness. With a refreshed design, the ESPN Fantasy app is sharper than ever, so you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can draft like a pro and dominate your league.

[Don Hahn]

And introducing Gridiron Gauntlet, a new game.

[Don LaGreca]

Mode where the best compete to be crowned the number one fantasy football player of 2025. One app, one shot, one champion. Download the ESPN fantasy app and sign up to play ESPN Fantasy Football today.