Hour 1: Entertaining Football

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: Entertaining Football

Air Date: September 15, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Podcast Description: New York’s unique sports trio — OG voice Don La Greca, Knicks broadcaster Alan Hahn, and WWE/Hip Hop maven Peter Rosenberg — reflect and riff on the latest in New York sports… and everything else.

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Overview: The Monday After “The Game of the Week”

The hosts launch into a lively, candid post-mortem on a wildly entertaining, yet ultimately gutting, Giants loss to the Cowboys. The theme centers on the duality of being a New York football fan — finding optimism (“moral victories”) in defeat, lamenting old wounds with new hope, and the unending cycle of expectation, heartbreak, and reflection that characterizes Giants and Jets fandom.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Moral Victories and the Giants’ Painful Progress

• The guys agree: the latest Giants game was "one of the most entertaining" in a long time, but the thrill is mixed with cold, hard reality — an 0-2 record and another devastating divisional loss.

  • Alan Hahn: “It just shows how far we've fallen that I could actually be excited about talking about a Giants loss...that didn't look like a complete and utter embarrassment.” [06:16]
  • Don La Greca: “That’s how low it’s gotten, that you feel good about a loss because it's all you got at this point.” [06:39]

• The double-edged sword of “moral victories” — the concept is dissected and mostly derided as a symptom of mediocre expectations in New York football.

2. Blame and Responsibility: Who Cost the Giants the Game?

• Russell Wilson’s Game: The hosts debate Wilson’s performance, torn between his gaudy passing stats (“the Russell of old,” [04:16]) and the brutal late-game mistakes (backwards pass, untimely interception).

  • Peter Rosenberg: “He's not completely cooked. Against a putrid defense, he can throw that moon ball over and over again…” [04:16]
  • Alan Hahn: “Russell Wilson cost them the game. Those two mistakes—behind the line pass, the interception—cost them the game.” [12:35]
  • Don La Greca: “He’s going for it, trying to win the game… I don’t have a problem with it. At that moment, let 'er rip, baby.” [14:21]

• Coaching and Discipline:

  • The group pinpoints undisciplined play, excessive penalties (notably, multiple flags on the same play), and coaching choices as pivotal factors.
  • Rosenberg: “Where's the place that we look when you see a team that's utterly undisciplined?” [08:45]

• Rule Frustrations and Officiating:

  • Colorful gripes about NFL penalty rules, offsetting yardage, and tongue-in-cheek conspiracy talk about league favoritism (e.g., Chiefs will "never be allowed" to go 0-3). [17:19–19:04]

3. Fan Psychology: Addiction to Hope, the “Dagwood Sandwich” of Emotion

• Hahn and La Greca delve into how fans grasp onto hope, likening it to an addictive substance, and recall their childhood experiences idolizing even mediocre Giants teams.
  • Don La Greca: "Hope is an addiction. It's unreal, but that's what's going on here." [07:39]
  • Alan Hahn: "Maybe this is just a glorified sports aspirin I'm taking." [12:36]
  • Anecdote: Hahn’s son Marco wanting to play football in the yard after the game — a small joy amid disappointment. [03:37]

4. Big Leg, Big Problem: The New NFL Kicker Era

• Extended discussion about monster kicks and whether the league should address the seemingly automatic super-long field goals.
  • Alan Hahn: "...a 46 yard field goal...I almost turned to — I would never do it — but… this is a chip shot. It's over." [37:55]
  • Don La Greca: “Keep in mind, that’s in a dome...ideal situations. I wouldn't overreact...but [the Cowboys’ kicker] is the best in the league right now.” [39:16]

5. Running Bits & Light-Hearted Banter

• Couch and underwear discourse: The trio meanders into an extended, laugh-out-loud exchange about man cave couches, the merits of leather vs. cloth, and “football-in-my-underwear” nostalgia — seamlessly blending personality and sports culture. [29:56–34:34]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Moral Victories:

  • Alan Hahn: “You want to start winning games here. These moral victories are nice, but eventually you want to get a W, especially in the division. Eight straight losses in your division…” [04:34]

• On Russell Wilson’s Moon Ball:

  • Peter Rosenberg: "At least against a putrid defense he can throw, as Alan Hahn would love to call it, that moon ball over and over…" [04:16]

• On Discipline and Rules:

  • Don La Greca: "But as a fan, you're just grasping to something. Hope is an addiction." [07:39]
  • Alan Hahn: "Penalty should only offset if it's the same yardage." [09:18]

• On NFL Conspiracies:

  • Alan Hahn: “The NFL is not going to allow the Chiefs to start 0-3...I'm just going to throw it out there. Call me a conspiracy theorist.” [17:19]
  • Peter Rosenberg: “You’ve become the NFL scripted guy.” [18:43]

• On Coaching:

  • Peter Rosenberg: “Where's the place that we look when you see a team that's utterly undisciplined?” [08:45]

• On Field Goals:

  • Alan Hahn: “He's lining up for a 64-yard field goal. I had no doubt it was going to be good. No doubt in my mind. Automatic.” [37:55]

• On Fan Experience:

  • Alan Hahn: “Am I the only person that after the Giants lost…as you're preparing for bed…you're not thinking to yourself, the NFL is not going to let the Chiefs lose on Sunday night?” [22:10]
  • Tessa (Caller): “I don't know why the Giants keep like putting the straw in my soul and like sucking it out every season.” [49:02]

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Noteworthy Call-Ins (Listeners’ Reactions)

- John (34:35): Expresses frustration with Russell Wilson’s late-game ego and the emotional whiplash of being a Giants fan; hosts empathize but stress Wilson isn’t the future — so the pain is less direct.

- Nick (37:22): Highlights how rarely Giants fans have a truly exciting game to rally around, and how the modern NFL kicking game shifts late-game strategy and emotion.

- Tessa (48:23): A passionate fan who covers the emotional spectrum — from misery over the defense and coaching, to hilarious hot takes on couch hygiene — capturing the raw pulse of New York fandom.

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Segment Timestamps & Structure

• 00:52–06:16 — Weekend recap, moral victories, Giants/Jets shifting roles
• 06:16–16:28 — Entertaining Giants loss, moral victories dissected, Russell Wilson’s performance, game breakdown/penalties
• 16:28–23:33 — NFL officiating, league "scripts" and conspiracy, schedule banter
• 29:56–34:34 — Man cave couch/underwear conversation, family anecdotes
• 34:35–48:23 — Listener calls: Giants heartbreak, generational fandom, kickers, fan frustrations, coaching criticism, more cathartic venting
• 42:31–44:14 — In-game coaching decisions: 4th down call controversy

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Podcast Flow & Tone

• Language & Tone: The banter is barbed but affectionate — plenty of sarcasm, exasperation, colorful New York metaphors (“hope is an addiction,” “sports aspirin”), and genuine, sometimes cathartic, sports therapy.
• Dynamic: The mix of deep analysis, self-deprecating fandom, and comedic off-ramps (couches, childhood, man caves) keeps both hardcore sports talk and personality front and center.

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Takeaways for Listeners

• The Giants’ loss, while entertaining, exposes chronic flaws — discipline, coaching, closing ability — making it hard to see real hope amid temporary thrills.
• New York football culture cycles between solace (moral victories) and skepticism; the show captures that restless, never-satisfied energy.
• Listeners can expect both sharp on-field breakdowns and relatable slices of fan/family life — all delivered in classic high-energy New York style.

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For future episodes: If you’re a fan craving both X’s and O’s and a little comic relief for your football-induced stress, Don, Hahn & Rosenberg remains appointment listening.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

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.

[Alan Hahn]

Best is greater than any Todd. This isn't Vietnam, it's Radio Hanh.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, he had a handful of twig and berries and Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Everything about it was pure, unadulterated ass.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don Hahn]

This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg.

[Alan Hahn]

The best threesome I've ever heard on.

[Don Hahn]

880 ESPN and the ESPN New York.

[Alan Hahn]

App 301 with the big city Don on Rosenberg. Here on a Monday, it's warm. So you got that going for you if you're a sports fan. Otherwise, not the greatest of weekends. Yankees had a good weekend. They took two out of three, but not a, you know, great showing in the first inning last night. But the football, it's. It's a reversal. I am now Alan Hahn. Allen Hahn is now Don legreca. My team didn't show up in week one and the jets were a functional team that just happened to lose a close game. And now I'm in that boat where the jets didn't function, get their doors blown off and the Giants function to really, honestly, one of the most entertaining Giant games I could say I've seen in quite a long time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Vintage.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but still, 02 is 0 and 2.

[Don Hahn]

You had the moral victory this week. The jets had it last week. Had that workout reality set in for the jets and their fans. Really this week and for week one for a Giants fan was a reality check nobody wanted. And now everybody's questioning everything at this point. How do you know how you supposed to feel? What are you supposed to think? But it just to me, the Jet side of it all, like, duh, the Bills are good, right? Pretty obvious. But this really does show you though that they are very far away from anything that anybody thought they might be last week.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's why. And then you see what happened to the Steelers at home against the Seahawks and you say, well, maybe the Steelers aren't very good or not, and maybe the jets were supposed to hang with them. And the same can be said for the Giants because I don't think the Cowboys are very good. No, that's secondary defensively, but secondary be bad.

[Don Hahn]

They Were could be had offensively.

[Alan Hahn]

But. But I want to hear from Giant fans right away at 1-800-now-193776 and I'd love to be able to get your guys opinion because you don't have a dog in the fight. I know you don't like the Giants just because they're in the same division as the commanders. Peter Allen, you're probably just very new to the Cowboys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Didn't cover. I had no use.

[Alan Hahn]

But it was, it was cool to actually watch my team involved in what you can make the case. If you remember back in the day, NFL films would have a game of the week. They would take the game, the best game of the week and they would like show it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You mean on. On, on. On Showtime? On Inside the NFL. You mean like the one. The main game?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, even, even before Inside, like the NFL films would release it. It would air somewhere. But yeah, it would. They would obviously feature it a lot. During Inside the NFL they feature all the games. But this was the game of the week. I mean it was the one thrilling back and forth overtime right down to the nub of overtime. So me and Marco are watching the game. He's jumping up and down. Maybe this is the day. Maybe yesterday was the day that he galvanizes himself as a Giant fan because he didn't show a lot of interest in Eagles Chiefs after. So that's good. Little tiny moral victories.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

And he seemed legitimately upset. He wanted to go outside and play football after the game. Like he wanted to grab a football and play football.

[Don Hahn]

It looked fun.

[Alan Hahn]

And that reminded me of when I was a kid around his age when the Giants were awful. But if the Giants actually put a decent showing up, win or lose, I'd want to go out and take the Nerf ball and throw it around like that. So. So that was cool. And it was cool to be involved in a game where they're functioning playing football.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And also can we add to this too? Like it has to make us at least to some degree, myself included because I was all over it adjust what we were saying about Russell Wilson.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, you have to. We have to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We just. We.

[Don Hahn]

You mean that he's not cooked?

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's not completely cooked. Like at least, at least against a putrid defense he can throw, as Alan Hahn would love to call it that moon ball over and over again. I mean it was, he was, he.

[Alan Hahn]

Was Russell of old and unfortunately I think he got a little too addicted to it. And that last turnover, you got a yell quick kick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you're going to punt the ball in the middle of the game.

[Alan Hahn]

What's so interesting to me is that I was still very frustrated they lost the game even though again I didn't think they're going to the playoffs. But again, you want to start winning games here. I mean I understood what Allen said last week. I mean these moral victories are nice but eventually you want to get a W especially in the division. Eight straight losses in your division, another loss to the Cowboys, seeing Jerry Jones. Chill out, Jerry, your team stinks. Okay, all right. But still I don't want the Cowboys to win. Just like I don't think the jets wanted Aaron Rodgers to win in their building. So ultimately it ends up being a huge disappointment not to win the game. But I was so excited coming in today because for the first time we can actually break down a giant game. Decisions, plays. It's not just they get run over and fire Dable, fire Shane. Why is my team awful? We can actually have a conversation about things that happened in that game. And there were a lot of positives. I think even despite the constant penalties and no Thomas, they gave Russell Wilson some time. He was able to throw the ball downfield, they were able to run when they needed to and they were able to work in Jackson dart in a couple of spaces and the defense was God awful until you needed him to be great. How often do you see in this league get two big stops against a really good offense in overtime? That's what's so frustrating about the game guys is that they get to overtime and they get two stops and the two times they didn't get a stop at the end of the game where the guy could have kicked 100 yard field. I mean at what point do they not at least attempt a 75 yard field goal with the guy? It's ridiculous. You give him a four yard field goal to tie the game and then listen ended up being a 46, 47 yard field goal they probably attempted at least for midfield and he probably makes it. So the two times you did cave it wasn't like you completely got carved up but oh it just, it was still frustrating to lose that game but it was, it just show how far we've fallen that I could actually be excited about talking about a giant loss that didn't look like a complete and utter embarrassment.

[Don Hahn]

That's kind of what I'm trying to get at here is the moral victory thing. Remember what I said last week about the jet victory or moral victory and that, that's, that's how Low it's gotten that you feel good about a loss because it's all you got at this point. That's kind of what it felt like. You had to win that game. You had to win that game. I understand that there were things that looked a lot better from one week to another, but as we said about the jets and the Steelers and what are the Steelers really, this is not a good Cowboys defense. It's not. Especially if you think about the injuries they have in the secondary. No, Parsons of course is a big part of it, but still they are not a good defense. So what they were able to do is put up points, which is great, but how many self inflicted wounds are you going to have in one game? The penalties were piling up, Don. They should have blown the Cowboys off the field and yet they couldn't keep them away.

[Alan Hahn]

Why?

[Don Hahn]

Because of self inflicted wounds. So this is maddening on many, many levels. But as a fan, you're just grasping to something. Hope is an addiction. It's unreal, but that's what's going on here. The Giants and their fans are hoping to cling to something that is just simply the addiction of hope. But come on, you gotta win that game. You win that game and maybe you feel better. But there's so many mistakes from that game that make you feel like there's still. This team has so many flaws, but.

[Alan Hahn]

We know and it's hard to overcome. That's why you can't, you can't get too caught up in one game. Now go out and do it against Kansas City, do it against the Chargers, do it against the Saints, start scoring points that maybe you could feel good about it. Until then, it's just one game. As the jets just said, you go out there and get shut up by Kansas City and it looks awful and you're embarrassing. Well, that doesn't matter. But even all that said, they overcame Hudson's four penalties in the same drive. Never, ever happened.

[Don Hahn]

Unbelievable.

[Alan Hahn]

I've never seen the complete meltdown. At least Dable was able to take him out of the game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you mentioned Dable. Where's the place that we look when you see a team that's utterly undisciplined.

[Don Hahn]

There you go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That has four penalties in one play. By the way, can the NFL change the rule if you have a. If there's four penalties on one play and three are against one team? I mean the Giants were very lucky in the situation and one is against Don. I don't understand how it's all together offset personal foul but it was a personal foul there. Wasn't there rough in the past on the same play?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you had one that's a rough in the passer. Right? That one shouldn't outweigh the one in the Cowboys, which is just the player sitting on the ground.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, I'm a believer that the only time penalty should offset if it's the same yardage.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Exactly.

[Alan Hahn]

Saying like if you have a pass interference and a fault, like a procedure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You should subtract the yardage.

[Don Hahn]

You want math now we gotta put math. Are you crazy? Calculator. But no, I get that. I completely understand that there's a lot of things with yesterday in the NFL that we have to discuss rules and.

[Alan Hahn]

But yeah, for sure. And we'll definitely get to that a little bit later on in the NFL binge. But all that said, guys with the embarrassment with the penalties is that they are still in overtime with the ball, moving the ball after they get a stop where. And it's a second down and three. And then all of a sudden the guy that can't do any wrong, that is having a career year. This is a guy that won a Super bowl and, and should have won a second super bowl. Okay? One of the great future hall of Fame quarterbacks in this sport is having a career day as a giant and then all of a sudden in overtime, forgot how to play the backwards pass. So instead of second and three, even if you gain a yard, it's third and two. Very manageable. Now you're in a third and 17. Drive over, drive over, killer. And then what are you doing on that pass? No, and the idea is like, oh, well, neighbors will get it. Well, neighbors didn't get it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you can't just can't heave it up.

[Don Hahn]

He's not a super.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know he had a great game.

[Don Hahn]

But it was the, it was the one time they weren't on the same page because you can see neighbors wasn't. He was not anywhere near the ball until the last second.

[Alan Hahn]

And I understand the way things were working for him. And there could always be a defensive hold or a pass interference. There's a lot of things didn't go right, just heaving the ball up. But the one thing that went wrong is the one thing that's going to absolutely kill you. And back when we were growing up, that would have been like, all right, just a punt. They got the ball at the 30, got the ball at the 30. Guy can kick hundred yard field goals. Like, I was like, oh, this is not going to be good. And then the defense that stunk all day, couldn't get a stop, all of a sudden gets two stops at overtime. So it's weird. Like overtime was the complete like opposite of what we saw over, over, over 60 minutes. Well, especially the fourth quarter.

[Don Hahn]

Fourth quarter is 41 points were scored.

[Alan Hahn]

It is, it is that game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you didn't know that both teams stunk, you could have believed both teams were incredible.

[Don Hahn]

It was, it was at the end.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of a Bill's Chiefs game. I mean it's, it's unreal. What's going on?

[Don Hahn]

Well, that was Ravens, Bills. Wildly, wildly competitive and entertaining because not only was it scoring, but it was scoring with 50 yard passes and 40 yard passes. Like that was a lot of fun to watch if you didn't have a dog.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I texted the group. That's a bona fide classic. I'm sorry. No matter what year ends up being, that's a Cowboys Giants classic.

[Don Hahn]

But that's why you got to win it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But gotta win.

[Alan Hahn]

It's amazing. And Giant fans of a certain vintage will know what I'm talking about is that whenever a Giant quarterback has a historically great game, it comes in a loss. I remember Phil Sims, I can look it up. The exact number in 1985 in Cincinnati, he threw for 500 yards, lost the game. And then the Eli game, if you remember, against Drew Brees. When was that? Maybe like it was, I think it was after the 2011. So it might be like 2012, 2013 goes to New Orleans, throws like 550 yards, which is whoever's going to have the ball out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I remember but that was in New Orleans.

[Alan Hahn]

That was a good Saints team, not a good Cowboy team. And then, and then we get the Russell Wilson. The thing. That's crazy, guys. And I don't, I'm not. Maybe I'm just trying to make myself feel better. Maybe this is just a glorified sports aspirin I'm taking. They lost the. I'm already giving up on the coach. Okay. So I'm firedable. Whatever. Okay. Shane, I think is very debatable and we'll have a conversation throughout the season about that. But it's hard to say this considering had a career game. But I'm sorry. Russell Wilson cost him the game. Those two mistakes really ended up costing them the game. The behind the line pass, the backwards pass and the interception cost them the game. But Russell Wilson doesn't have a history here, so. Or a future.

[Don Hahn]

But his first mistake was a, was a coverage mistake because they they came in, they brought the house, and he couldn't. He was about to throw the ball. And who was the offensive. The defensive lineman of Dallas. Got his hand up, and he knew if I throw this, he's going to bat it down. So he tried to pull it back, and it was too late. But they were like, they brought the house. He had no chance.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, bat it down. Now it's third and third.

[Don Hahn]

But he was trying to. He was trying to pull it back and run, and he just couldn't do it because we saw Dak do the exact same thing. But he held onto the ball. In the very next possession, he went to fake it, held it because he was able to palm the ball better. Remember, Russ is not nearly as big. He's got tiny little hands. But the next one that's on him, you can tell that was hero ball.

[Alan Hahn]

That was hero.

[Don Hahn]

What he was trying to do there. Not necessarily in the moment, but he was trying to, like, put it, like when you're riding that wave, like, he hot. So he was like, I'm throwing it up again.

[Alan Hahn]

We're going to do it again. He just. He's going to. He's just going to keep. He's going to roll a seven. He's convinced he's rolling a seven.

[Don Hahn]

And, you know, I got up.

[Alan Hahn]

Snake eye.

[Don Hahn]

If you're the, like, you know what's around you, the Giants aren't a very good team. You have a moment like that and you're thinking to yourself, I'm going for it. I don't have a problem with it. Go for it. Go for it. Because you're trying to win the game. And that's what he was doing. He on that throw to neighbors that missed him by a mile that got intercepted. He's trying to win the game there by being aggressive, not being passive. I don't have a problem with it. If this was something where the Giants were a good team and it was later in the season, maybe you'd be conservative. I don't care. At that moment. Don't let her rip, baby.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, you would just, like, look at the quarter. He just had some. No, you want to go for throw. Just the idea of throwing the ball downfield with the blindly throw it downfield that.

[Don Hahn]

That just hope your receiver is where he's supposed to be.

[Alan Hahn]

You're not poking and hoping when you throw him for 450 yards, and then it's not. It's not like it's fourth down. It's not in desperation. You're not trailing, trailing the game, I mean, you could live to fight another down. I disagree with that. But at the end of the day, guys, it's still. And we'll get to the jets, too. But we started with the Jets. His game was so great. Yeah, I know you still talk about 02. That's what just. And another loss to the Cowboys, another loss in the division. Now, I don't. Listen, if they go out there and play the same way against Kansas City and lose and then we could start building some value, like, hey, maybe there is, maybe this offensive line can function. Maybe there is, there is some hope here for this coaching staff or there's some hope here for this team, but still, it's just another loss and it just, it stinks. So, yeah, I could sit there like Alan did last week or Jet fans did last week, hey, we did this well. We did that well. Owen 2, you start Owen 2 in this division, you're cooked just the way that it is. Philadelphia's two and, oh, you know, it just, it just doesn't feel great moving forward. But it was still an entertaining game. It was nice to actually watch a team play football. But it just, When I, when I turned the game off, it just, it stuck.

[Don Hahn]

I get it.

[Alan Hahn]

It just, it's so you were where I was last.

[Don Hahn]

You were where I was last week, where the game was entertaining and, you know, they could have won and I saw some good things. And you, like I said, you almost get intoxicated by the hope without seeing the reality. And the next day, as I'm thinking about, I'm reading everything and I said last week, last Monday, and I said to myself, they still freaking lost, though. Like, you got to win that game.

[Alan Hahn]

Is that. That's how far we can't get caught.

[Don Hahn]

Up in what it looked like. You got caught up in the result.

[Alan Hahn]

Just got to win games.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And it's tough with this schedule.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, again, I'm not going to sit here and have a conversation about the Giants, you know, making the playoffs or the jets for that matter. But when you're talking about having a meaningful season or playing meaningful games, the Giants already own two in the division, jets already own two at home, you know. Yeah. And the feeling was it's a Jet fan like, hey, maybe you steal one against Pittsburgh and you always play the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Bills close to MetLife Stadium.

[Alan Hahn]

And the Giants like, ah, well, yo, you've kind of got the commander's number and Dallas Steve has is a very good. Where are the wins coming? You're not. You're not beating can. The league won't allow it. I'm just going to throw it out there. The NFL is not going to allow the Chiefs to start owing three. There's. There's too much on the line. I'm sorry. Call me a conspiracy theorist.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I will.

[Alan Hahn]

ESPN can fire me. The NFL is not going to allow the Kansas City Chiefs to lose that game on national television to be 013. That's not going to happen. What are they going to do?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you've got them.

[Alan Hahn]

They're getting married later. They're engaged. All these nationally televised. It's not. I'm telling you, we're going to sit here on next. Next Monday night. We're going to sit there and we're going to say there's going to at least. I'm telling you there's going to be at least three calls where we're like, how did that happen?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But do you think they're really going to need that?

[Alan Hahn]

Probably not. I'm just telling you, on top of the Giants not being good, the league just won't allow it. I'm like, honestly, rise up. Come on, speak our minds here. Is there any world that the NFL is going to say, yeah, let's, whatever we do, make sure the Giants win this game? The Chiefs are not going 03. They will not allow it. But they will run on the field like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But there were opportunities yesterday.

[Alan Hahn]

There's going to be a button piss. Throw the flag. But they've already awarded that. They just kicked the extra point. Throw the flag. No, you can't throw a flag after they've already ran a play. Throw a flag.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You've become the NFL scripted guy. You really think this is.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm just saying there's no script again. The whole thing with jfk. If you watch the movie jfk, oh boy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's your favorite.

[Alan Hahn]

Nobody said he must die.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

Like nobody's going to speak. They have to win. It's just. It's understood. They all with a wink, a glance, a nudge.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not happening.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not going to happen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I don't think it's going to be a contest.

[Alan Hahn]

We've already gotten to that throw play.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is the game here?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're home opening.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Because you know, the Giants own metal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm going to say it doesn't matter.

[Don Hahn]

Well, but at least there's not Daniel Jones here who never wins on, you know, nationally televised unless you put a.

[Alan Hahn]

Horseshoe, you know, upbrain. But one of my.

[Don Hahn]

Now he's Indiana Jones.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you realize that every. The first few weeks of the season, every game you watch makes you question other games you watch.

[Don Hahn]

Of course it does.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because you go, wait a second.

[Alan Hahn]

Hold on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So the Giants are awful. Or wait, hold on. Are the Giants actually. Should I feel good? Wait, is the commander's defense actually decent for keeping the Giants offense in check?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Or wait, are the Giant.

[Alan Hahn]

You can't make sense of the league for a month. You need a month to do everything.

[Don Hahn]

Absolutely true.

[Alan Hahn]

It's almost performative in a sense. Like, what are we even. Just go out there and play?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, but did you.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm pulling movies.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go ahead.

[Alan Hahn]

Did you see Quiz Show?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know if I.

[Alan Hahn]

He. He. He lost. So they're like, well, let's just throw another round in. Let's. Let's make up another rule. Right. So the game. So how did there be a fifth quarter? No, no, there's no fifth quarter. They're walking off the field, Mr. Commissioner. No, a fifth quarter. It's a. The NFL commissioner has the right to add a quarter to a game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but guess what?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't see that in the room now.

[Don Hahn]

The next day they'll have a state.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, if that was game to play. Along with Don's game, though, we need.

[Don Hahn]

To replay the last quarter because something was played out of, like, something will happen where they'll come up with a ball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That last tush push yesterday, which we'll get to. You could have argued the ball was turned over. Who knows? They could.

[Caller]

There.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There were opportunities for them to put it back.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm just. I'm on a roll here. Don't throw facts at this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, sorry, sorry.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't throw facts at. I'm just Saying It's. It's 425. It's Eagles, Chiefs. I'm just saying, you can't have the Chiefs lose to the Giants on national.

[Don Hahn]

Television and go, oh, and three is the death knell.

[Alan Hahn]

No, we've. Three is the death engagement party to arrange here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. They've lost three in a row, by the way.

[Don Hahn]

I did not have Don legreco with the tinfoil hat on. Today.

[Alan Hahn]

We're going to replay the game.

[Don Hahn]

Did not have that.

[Alan Hahn]

And you know, they replayed the game like the commissioner founds it. McGregor Goodell wants to replay the game on Tuesday. They. And then they'll sell it to Amazon for like a billion dollars, and then they'll play the game on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Done deal.

[Alan Hahn]

Just let me have fun.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, go ahead.

[Don Hahn]

No, no, you really have like you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We just didn't know.

[Don Hahn]

One Giants loss. And he like, that's it.

[Alan Hahn]

Let me just ask you. You're losing. I know that you guys want to play the role of. It's all calm. Let's just. Let's just do a show.

[Don Hahn]

It's calm. Everybody stinks.

[Alan Hahn]

That's all you need. You're washing yourself in the acceptance. I'm just saying. Am I the only person that after the Giants lost to the Cowboys, as you're preparing for bed, maybe you're putting your child down. Maybe. Maybe you're making a nice late sandwich like a Dagwood before you go to bed or something. And you're not thinking to yourself, what's a Dagwood?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, it's whatever's in the fridge. Throw it on the.

[Alan Hahn]

Between two big layered.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

It didn't pop into your mind that the NFL is not going to let the Chiefs lose on Sunday night?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Don, the reason it didn't is because no one thinks they're going to win. That's why it doesn't play that great. If they were playing a good team.

[Don Hahn]

That's it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It would be more compell it if.

[Don Hahn]

It were Chiefs, Cowboys or Chiefs. No, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Even. But go better.

[Don Hahn]

No, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Chiefs, Packers.

[Alan Hahn]

Chiefs.

[Don Hahn]

Packers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They gotta. They can't let the Chiefs. But in the Giants case they're not even talking about.

[Don Hahn]

They'll find a way. Like. Like packers are already 2.0. They could take the loss. Okay. You don't let this happen. But the Giants.

[Alan Hahn]

Fun. I'm having a lot of fun. It's almost like the league put the.

[Don Hahn]

Giants third on the schedule.

[Alan Hahn]

That's what I was gonna say.

[Don Hahn]

So the first two games away.

[Alan Hahn]

That's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They've already done that.

[Alan Hahn]

That's. They've already. The NFL's already done it.

[Don Hahn]

There you go.

[Alan Hahn]

Roger's looking to schedule like. Wait a minute. Like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Chargers in Brazil. That's not a sure fire win.

[Alan Hahn]

We're putting them in a bit of a tough spot.

[Don Hahn]

We got him in Brazil. Shouldn't do that.

[Alan Hahn]

And the Eagles.

[Don Hahn]

Eagles at arrowhead with 100 degrees.

[Alan Hahn]

Guys, you got to give me a layup here for my boys in week three. Come on.

[Don Hahn]

Guaranteed win. Week three. Let's. Let's put it on national tv. Never win.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Got it.

[Don Hahn]

Wait. Good rating.

[Caller]

Good rating.

[Don Hahn]

Matchup on a Monday night. But a patsy.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that. Well, that's what they're doing. Like, that's what they kind of did, you know.

[Don Hahn]

Show me Giants.

[Alan Hahn]

Give me. Give me a team that people Want to watch against the team in the big market. Like that's. That's it now can I. Can I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let me throw something out here before we take the break here. Alan witnessed it. You didn't witness it. I. Today's my don sent this to the group earlier. It was very. It was very sweet that my 10 days, my 10 year anniversary officially at the radio station. Which means I did a show before that. I did some like test shows.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. It's a moment. You had some tryouts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We had some tryouts. Right. But like. So that was a few months actually like went into the summer but like I was officially on the Michael K show this day 10 years ago. Which is wild. So you know having a bit of a sentimental moment. If you saw. And he didn't mean anything by it. It's just his way. Alan, did you see how callously Anthony threw the Jaden Daniels news at me? Like if God forbid someone dies. Please don't let Anthony tell me it was. He just. I knew nothing.

[Caller]

Okay, we're equating that to somebody dying.

[Don Hahn]

Well, no knee sprain.

[Alan Hahn]

Hold on one second.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hold on. I'm saying should he was indicator he.

[Don Hahn]

Was in a moment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He was aware of what your bedside manner is like. No, it's not the same as a death. But I sat down. I had physical therapy today. I got the baby. I got a lot of stuff happening before I get here. Sit down. What's up guys?

[Alan Hahn]

Blah, blah, blah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He literally doesn't even look at me. Daniel's knee sprained. Probably not playing this week. I went what Shoot me.

[Alan Hahn]

I gotta be honest, it was more your tone in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm lying to you.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm not making things up. I. I don't know news that he gives any other way. The way he told you is the way he would tell me. He's. He's always been a matter of very.

[Don Hahn]

Matter of fact he's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, there may be a bit around that I didn't come up with the bit about Anthony gives you the bad news because it hits you hard. I mean you got no like not.

[Don Hahn]

Debbie Downer, but more of like the just monotone. Yeah straightforward. Just telling you Jaden Daniels is a knee injury.

[Alan Hahn]

He's doubtful but I'm just. He's never not started again tomorrow. If I'm walking towards the building.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And he's walking away from the building as he's passing me. If I go listen. Doors locked. They sold the building roll out of jobs. And then he would just continue walking.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

All Right, then. Well, you know, we'll. We'll discuss it later. But the initial news is always given in very.

[Don Hahn]

Billy's on fire. I'm going home.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm going home.

[Alan Hahn]

What?

[Don Hahn]

Text me later.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Oh, Billy not fired. There might be people inside. Don't know. We'll talk.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not sure. Doubtful.

[Don Hahn]

Winthrop's trapped in his office and I.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what? I like that he doesn't listen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He doesn't. You know what the phrase is? I think the phrase would be Anthony Pusick doesn't suffer fools. That's the way you put it.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, my dad went for a second triple bypass.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's six bypasses.

[Alan Hahn]

He had surgery. Comes out of the surgery and the doctor says to me, before he even says he's okay, he's like, we opened your dad up. The scar tissue in his chest was spectacular.

[Don Hahn]

I love when they do that. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay. Is he alive? Yeah, your father's doing fine. His first. His first initial reaction was just how entertained he was by this. But I, like, I want doctors to just be that way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't. Don't sell me the hope. The false hope, you know?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you say that, but it depends on what the news is. Because there's some news that you don't want.

[Don Hahn]

The right ventricle was gorgeous. The other three.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. By the way.

[Alan Hahn]

Dead. I don't know if you want that.

[Don Hahn]

And they're a heck of a doctor.

[Alan Hahn]

Just like. Oh, what? No, there's nothing to talk about it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you mean? Because everything's all right.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no, no, no. Dead.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. No, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He literally says. That is actually Anthony's default line about anytime someone's injured, even, like, we'll just say so and so.

[Alan Hahn]

Excuse me one second, nurse. We're out of sheets. Oh, by the way. Yeah. He didn't make it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. To make it anyway.

[Alan Hahn]

We just use the last sheet on.

[Don Hahn]

Take his. Take his sheets.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but, you know, that's. But I. I love you for it. And besides, he's going to be fine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, they said no structural damage. He's fine. But he's doubtful.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, they're still in way better shape than us.

[Don Hahn]

Remember the last time I heard you remember that knee sprain early in the season? Whatever happened with that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

They didn't say spray.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They start. Are they saying spraying officially?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't think. Have the Yankee doctors where. You're going to find out that you know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. As long as it's not exactly.

[Alan Hahn]

You'll find out week. You're going into the Super Bowl. 1-800-919-3776. Let's hear from you. We'll get to the jets of it all as well. Interesting baseball weekend. We got a full show today. Full frontal till 7 o'. Clock. Donna Rosenberg on ESPN New York There are a lot of reasons why you buy at Ramsey Mazda. It's the selection, it's their customer service, and it's their savings. Lease a new 25 Mazda CX30 for 199 for 33 months. Start shopping now at Ramsey mazda.com Choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Modical 833-853-2970 for details. Vin SM 843-629 MSRP26865 0 Security Deposit Ends 93025 Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start? Thumbtack knows homes so you don't have to don't know the difference between matte paint finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro, you just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the Thumbtack app. Download today.

[Don Hahn]

When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom 60th and never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn [e-mail] this episode is brought to.

[Alan Hahn]

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 you choose an option that's right for you. Whether you prefer talking in person on the phone or using the award winning app, it's nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alan Hahn]

You know we're supposed to be the psychologists for you, the fans, but sometimes I feel like you need this is my couch where I can kind of air out when I'm feeling, but I want you guys to be able to do that with us.

[Don Hahn]

What kind of couch Would Don have. Like if you had to picture Don. Don's couch. If I had to picture Don, what would Don's couch look like?

[Alan Hahn]

And I mean in the office, like.

[Don Hahn]

If you had a couch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He does have a couch.

[Don Hahn]

No, I'm not talking about your family like a therapy. I'm talking about Don's couch, wherever it would be. Oh, like man cave couch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don were to have a couch, Don's.

[Don Hahn]

Man cave would be. Not in the basement, I think in the garage. Number one.

[Alan Hahn]

I have a man cave and I have a couch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's a couch there.

[Don Hahn]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think it's a big, brown leather couch.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not leather. Leather's uncomfortable, man.

[Don Hahn]

It breaks in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It gets. Yeah, but it can get hot and it can get cold.

[Don Hahn]

Well, so can material too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But no, that always stays around the same.

[Alan Hahn]

Gotta be comfortable because there's a lot of time I've. I consumed what colors for the kids.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not brown.

[Alan Hahn]

It's tan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Tan.

[Alan Hahn]

But it's got the. It. It could break off the different pieces, but it does wrap around. And it's got the cup holders and got the cup. And every one of the seats recline. See, that's on brand.

[Don Hahn]

This is on brand.

[Alan Hahn]

But. But I. I did consume a lot of football back in the day. Pre kids in my underwear. And if you're sitting in leather, it's just skin on leather.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You stand up. What was that?

[Don Hahn]

Just. Just by choice. Underwear.

[Alan Hahn]

They just get out of bed.

[Don Hahn]

Homer Simpson.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. You wake up in the morning, you sit down, you gotta put even shorts, though just a leg on the leather is not a great feeling. There's a lot.

[Alan Hahn]

But don't you. But when he says in his underwear. No, because there's a lot of times. Roll out of bed, go right to the man cave, turn the TV on, and that's where you stayed until the Sunday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Remember, he's upright. He's sleeping right Till noon. Don't forget it.

[Alan Hahn]

This is pre responsibility.

[Don Hahn]

Are you like. Are you talking like Fruit of the Loom? Like tighty whities.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It doesn't matter.

[Alan Hahn]

K had turned me on. Excuse me. Oh, because I was tighty. Whitey's in deep into the K show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Can you imagine the outfits he was wearing? Plus tighty white?

[Alan Hahn]

And then how uncomfortable he. And then you got it to what, the boxer brief? Now. Now I can't have anything other than. I can't even. I can't even look at tight.

[Don Hahn]

It's glorious.

[Caller]

I'm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I, by the way, call me old school. Call me straight Archie Bunker.

[Don Hahn]

Boxers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Most days. Not every day. A boxer brief. Some days, but most days, my eight, my. My P1 top tier. These are what I'm going for. Are boxers still? I'm a boxer, man.

[Alan Hahn]

Just never a day swinging free in the box. Or you'd go out late Saturday, sleep in, and at one o' clock kickoff, just roll out of bed and just go into the living room, turn the TV on, and that's where you were and whatever you were sleeping in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not. But I'm not lasting long. I prefer putting on sweats. At some point, somebody comes.

[Alan Hahn]

Not at the expense of missing the kickoff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I'm not missing kickoff. By the way, I'm still figuring this stuff out right now. The walk. Like the walking around in my house. Well, good daughter.

[Don Hahn]

Wait till she gets old enough.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's what I'm saying. Like, I mean, even now, I don't know where the line is. I'm like, what's up? What's totally appropriate.

[Don Hahn]

They don't know the line either. You'll learn. Which makes it real interesting at times they do.

[Alan Hahn]

You know where they'll. They'll make comment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So is that when you. So once they make comment, is that when you go, I got a cover up?

[Don Hahn]

First of all, Marco, it doesn't matter.

[Alan Hahn]

No, Marco doesn't matter, because here's the thing, is that up until recently, the bathroom was not my domain. If I'm doing my business in the bath, they'll just barge right in and show me something on a book or a tablet. But Jalen shut that down like six months ago. And if I were to swing the door open or she'd catch, she'll say, me, daddy. Scream and run the other way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So that's good. So you guys taught her that. This is what. This is established now and then I.

[Alan Hahn]

Think in the DNA to just figure out this is. This is something I shouldn't.

[Don Hahn]

I wish Callie would learn this, but Marco does.

[Alan Hahn]

Marco does.

[Don Hahn]

Just. Just kicks the door down right in. Whatever it is, it's more important than whatever you're doing. Dad, I got to tell you about it. Marco on the can, right? Yep. Just right in.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, Marco. And I think it's great because it was out of Bluey, so he got it from Bluey. But, like, Nancy went to pick something up yesterday, and Marco just runs over and just bum, bum, bum. It's like, wait a minute, I went. Not doing that to my mom. The meanwhile, he just thought, oh, there's bongo opportunity. And he's playing. You have bum, bum, bum.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How'd she react?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, she didn't like it. Wow. What's the matter with you? I'm your mom. And he doesn't, you know, he didn't care.

[Don Hahn]

Tremendous.

[Alan Hahn]

She'll miss that one day.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah, sure.

[Alan Hahn]

But right now, it just didn't. But anyway, we.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sorry, we digress.

[Alan Hahn]

We went off the reservation.

[Don Hahn]

You said couch. And it's just. Maybe one.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that's it. That's all it took. 1-800-9193776. Let's dive into the calls. Talk to John. He gets started off in Long Island. You're on espn, New York. What's up, John?

[Caller]

Hey, how you guys doing? You know, I'm having a great, great time watching the Giant game. I'm having like a little bit of a modicum of hope. And then, and then Russell Wilson throws up that interception. And then all the bad memories about Russell Wilson and all the stories about him and his ego. And before that, he's walking around the sideline. He thinks, he thinks he's Patrick Mahomes, the witness. You can see all over his face. He had, he's like, oh, yeah, me, you know, hall of Fame quarterback. And then, you know, what he did with this, with the interception, and, and then that, that, that play when they lost all those yards in, in overtime, it just, it just completely just destroys. I know, you know, any, any, any feelings that you had, good feelings you.

[Alan Hahn]

Had about, you know what I, you know, I felt about it. You know what, you know, I dealt with it, John, after. It's like, listen, he's. He's not our quarterback. Right? He doesn't have a future here. If we had, if we had signed Russell Wilson to help us make the playoffs and win a championship, kind of what Pittsburgh's trying to do with, with Rogers or what the jets try to do with Rogers, then it would bother me, but like, he's not here long term. We've got, we've got to dig a little deeper into finding the positives. Yeah, it stunk in real time.

[Don Hahn]

If that was dart, that's not our quarterback. If that was dart, you could just go, he'll learn.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, it's a learning experience. Right?

[Don Hahn]

But what a game.

[Alan Hahn]

But if that's, if that's dart, to three years from now, when you have a hankering to go to Daniel Jones.

[Don Hahn]

Let'S say it was Daniel Jones, then you'd be sick.

[Alan Hahn]

If that was Daniel Jones, furious. Because you, You're. He's auditioning to be your Quarterback Russell Wilson literally every week is auditioning to start the next week. Right. That's all. So although I do believe the performance actually keeps Jackson Dart on the sidelines a little longer.

[Don Hahn]

Of course it does.

[Alan Hahn]

Then, hey, he Jackson Dart complain 100%.

[Don Hahn]

There's no question.

[Alan Hahn]

So in that way, the only positive.

[Don Hahn]

That comes out of this game is the fact that it was Russ show you enough of a pulse to say, all right, we can. We don't have to rush this kid in. And by the way, they'll give him some reps here and there which will make whatever his first start is less compelling because he already has had a snap or two in the NFL already. I think that's a, that's important.

[Alan Hahn]

It was, it did feel the first one was really good and actually put the Cowboys on their heels.

[Don Hahn]

Fell the second time. Is it?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. But the first one was good, though. Yeah, first one was good. But then I after that because they, they were rolling. So I didn't really see. Feel the need for. Maybe they wanted him to be in a position where he could have done something positive. This is what happens when you're trying to serve two Masters, right, Trying to win a game, but you're also trying to think about the future. It's a really difficult thing to do. Let's go to Nick and Woodbridge. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Nick?

[Caller]

Hey, guys, thanks for taking the call. And Don, in the opening, you said something that kind of resonated, like when was the last time there was a meaningful Giants game where you actually felt excited to watch? And I go back to the playoff win against Minnesota. I guess the last time I called up my buddies and said, you know, let's go out, let's go to a bar, let's watch this. It's going to be awesome. And for, you know, if you can dance around the penalties or ignore that those weren't happening. It was an offensive shootout, still was enjoyable. But you just had this pit in this in your stomach. When he lined up to kick a 64 yard field goal, I knew it.

[Alan Hahn]

Was like, I don't, I don't want, I don't want to have sour grapes, Nick. But at what point does the league address this? He's lining up for a 64 yard field goal. I had no doubt it was going to be good. No doubt in my mind. Automatic. And think about what happens in overtime, nick. It's a 46 yard field goal. We grew up thinking, all right, he's probably going to make it but like I almost turned to. I would never do it. But like you're figuratively, like, you know, I'm just. This is a chip shot. It's over. Maybe, maybe they block it. Maybe there. But even if there had been, even if a cowboy clubbed a giant over the head with his shoe and took a 15 yard penalty, he'd still hit it. He's still hitting the field goal. I mean, the NFL was sensitive to this. When do they have to revisit it? Because if I'm taking the kick out to the 35 yard line, what do.

[Don Hahn]

You want to do?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know. You can't bring.

[Don Hahn]

You're going to bring the post closer together so that we saw one go off the post yesterday.

[Alan Hahn]

But a lot of these.

[Don Hahn]

Was it. Was it Denver? Somebody hit, went right off the post.

[Alan Hahn]

But some of these are like 65 yards, like straight down the middle. It's crazy. Listen, they're good. It's so difficult. I'm not calling for it. I just know the NFL was sensitive to it. They put the cable in. It's happening again, but it's adding to the points and all that.

[Don Hahn]

Keep in mind, again, that's in a dome controlled environment later in the season when there's wind and there's weather. There are times though that this is, this is early in the year in ideal, ideal situations, I wouldn't overreact. But it is. He is the best in the league right now.

[Alan Hahn]

And the thing is, is they got him off the scrap heap. He was in the usfl.

[Don Hahn]

Like, it's not like he was, you.

[Alan Hahn]

Know, Janikowski that was like drafted in the first round.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, it is amazing how much teams miss, by the way, on, on caring about kickers. I say that as someone whose team last week was bringing out Matt Gay, who couldn't hit from anywhere you can't hit from. They said, well, they know he's not good beyond 50. You that in this NFL you can't have.

[Don Hahn]

Not beyond 50.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's not a thing.

[Don Hahn]

Kickers, it's. Kickers are like relief pitchers, though. They can be great for a while and then lose it. And it doesn't make sense, but they do. And then, then they get cut. Then they join another team and they can't miss again.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know.

[Don Hahn]

It just. I don't. It is very mental. They're like relief pitchers.

[Alan Hahn]

It's probably. I'm sure it's a lot like golf in the sense that there are times where they maybe kind of lose it, get the yips or something's up with their swing, or in this case, their kick. That kind of messes them up and then they get it back again. But as far as the strength of these guys, like, it's one thing to be accurate, but I don't think the guys that we grew up with had the leg to kick it that far.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, they didn't.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, Dempsey. Dempsey had the record because he had a club foot. Literally. So that was the problem. This episode is brought to you by Indeed. When your computer breaks, you don't wait for it to magically start working again. You fix the problem.

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[Peter Rosenberg]

A pain in the neck and we've.

[Alan Hahn]

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch this show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alan Hahn]

Don on Rosenberg up until 7 o'. Clock. Let's get back to the busy phones on the Giants. We'll we'll pivot to the jets soon enough. All right, don't rush.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Take your time.

[Alan Hahn]

See?

[Peter Rosenberg]

What are we going to do? Please, what are we going to.

[Don Hahn]

You're not doing me any favors.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean this. The Giants aren't good either, but there's a sub. There's a story here. There's something to talk about, excited about.

[Alan Hahn]

We can actually break down something decisions. And then since we're. Before we get back to the calls, how did you guys feel? Be honest. In real time, them going forward on fourth down in the red zone. Up 13:10 in the third.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, say whatever it was.

[Alan Hahn]

13:10. Yeah. Fourth down. I want to say three from like it was in the red zone. I think it was at the 10. How did you feel in real time? And they were going forward and they got stopped and then the Cowboys went down, scored a touchdown.

[Peter Rosenberg]

My immediate thought was in the moment. What are you doing, Tom? The football game?

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, it was 13.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They were up 13 10. No, I immediately thought add to it. What do we do?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, because you want to just keep stacking points here coming off a turnover, I. Because I do feel like if here's my logic and it might be flawed, but if you start at your own. Let's say you had like you're starting your own one line yard line and you're marching down the field, you might be like, you know what, I want to keep going here. I want to keep this going. But off a turnover, take the gift. Three points. Those are three points you're not supposed to have. It swings the momentum and obviously the Cowboys use that to score. Now it's early enough of the game. The fallacy of the predetermined outcome when you see how many points were scored.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but that one goes back and.

[Alan Hahn]

Say, oh well, definitely, you know, go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

For it because field goals aren't going.

[Alan Hahn]

To win this game. But in the moment I'm thinking take the free 3 points. Plus you're the worst team in football. In the red zone.

[Peter Rosenberg]

In the red zone.

[Alan Hahn]

So even if you get the first down, Peter, you're not going to score.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A touchdown at that point.

[Alan Hahn]

Point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What I felt they're up three points, but they'd been dominating the game offensively. Get more points, you have to get more points. Russell Wilson could throw for 300 yards and a half. If you don't have more points, you can't win the game. And yes, Don, to your point, in the end, so many points were scored, whatever. But in that points were coming at a premium.

[Alan Hahn]

It's easy now to look at it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that's not what was happening in that moment.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm like, just take the damn three points. Go up six. Well, how did you feel in real time? Do you remember? Because like you probably juggling with the.

[Don Hahn]

Jets are still viable at that point. That might have been the of the jets that I was watching because I didn't watch a minute of the second half of the Jet game.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. So I probably checked by then.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I think because I watched the entirety of the second half and overtime of the Giant game. So the Jet at that point I probably wasn't as dialed in on that. So it didn't, it didn't stand out to me. I just knew it was a three point game at the half.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And they had elite.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not a fireable offense or anything. I just, I questioned that. I didn't, I didn't love that decision at all, like so. But. And it's easy to say, well, those three points really meant something. They lost by three points. A million things could happen. I just, in that moment with the struggles in the red zone, because again, you get the first down, if you don't score a touchdown on that down, you're still not guaranteed to get any points anyway. A touchdown anyway. It's not like it's first and goal at the one where you either get a touchdown or not.

[Don Hahn]

You're talking about the end of the half. You talking about the end of the half.

[Alan Hahn]

It's 13. 13, 13.

[Don Hahn]

It must have been third quarter early.

[Alan Hahn]

Third quarter early. Yeah. Third quarter.

[Don Hahn]

It was third quarter. Yeah, yeah. Fourth and fourth. Third on the 10.

[Alan Hahn]

On the 10.

[Don Hahn]

And you're not taking the points. Yeah, that.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I, I would have taken the points there for sure. Let's go to Rick in South Carolina. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Rick?

[Caller]

Hi, guys. Thanks for taking the call. I think there seems to be a tendency, certainly based on what the prior.

[Alan Hahn]

Caller was saying, of minimizing what Russell.

[Caller]

Wilson accomplished yesterday because of what happened in overtime. The guy was great all day and he's always had the reputation, and he obviously still is the best long ball passer, I mean, that I've ever seen. The way he was putting those balls in the guy's hands in stride was amazing. And here's my real point. The game never should have gone into overtime. At the end of overtime, the Giants were playing back as if the Cowboys needed. And the regulations are the Giants were playing back as if the Cowboys needed a touchdown. Greg Olson pointed it out on tv. He said, well, those guys are too far back. You got a kicker who can literally kick it from 70 or 75 yards. So they needed to gain almost nothing and they were paying. Playing back, as I agree.

[Don Hahn]

Well, yes, that, that is, in my opinion, that is, that's technically right. But you still gave up 64 yards. Like, it's. I get it, but you're trying not to give me over the top. You're trying not to lose the game. Like, I'm not saying you play for the tie, but the kick doesn't kill you. Over the top kills you. So you got to keep everything in front of you. Don't you agree?

[Alan Hahn]

You want to keep everything.

[Don Hahn]

I don't want to press up because if I get beat, the game's over. If he kicks something 60 yards, all right, at least I live to fight in overtime and I tip my cap to a 60 yarder. I understand, but I'm not getting beat over the tunnel.

[Alan Hahn]

That. But at the start of the drive, I'm thinking just at least be. I know you don't want to give up the big play, but be aggressive. Maybe you sack them, you force a turnover. Something like, I understand he's got a big leg, but why not just play it straight up, you know, and just. You could also not give up the big play, but maybe you stop him, you know, maybe you get a turnover, you end the game. It did feel like. Well, listen, they're going to get in field goal range anyway, so let's just make sure we don't give up the big play.

[Don Hahn]

30 yard kickoff return didn't help.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And the problem is they had all three of their timeouts, so really, how much time was left was irrelevant because they could use the whole field.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

So it was. It was. Listen, it's just the state of where the sport is right now, unfortunately, where it doesn't take a lot.

[Don Hahn]

It was 18 yard pass. It was only one pass that beat.

[Alan Hahn]

You, Tessa and West Caldwell. How you feeling, Tess?

[Caller]

Yeah, I'm not feeling too well. You hear my voice? I could hear it screaming yesterday from. Of joy and sadness and then devastation. Sitting in my recliner chair with my Yankees blinking over my head. Not the Giants at that time that was packed up. But I tried to call y' all last week to get through the. Because, you know, I know. It was said that I wasn't behind that defense. I was talking different. I'm still gonna stand behind the defense. My biggest. I just don't understand. I feel like the Giants, they. I just keep. You guys are there therapeutic counselors. You guys are. You really, really are. Because even today, you guys made me laugh already, talking about the tighty whities and then the couches and stuff like that. But, Don, I gotta admit, I don't care how hot it is with you and Peter. I'm still A leather couch person. Because at the end of the day, people sweat and I don't want their sweat. And they're like butt juices getting on my material.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Couch it off.

[Caller]

Smell it there. Yeah, you can wipe it off a leather. That's why I've always been leather. You know what I'm saying? Even if you could breathe the couch, if their butt juice is on there, you're done.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't agree with much. Jess has to say this is, this is, this is.

[Don Hahn]

But your cloth couch is definitely a problem.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I hear what you're saying.

[Caller]

Thank you. Okay, so. Okay, so I just want to say. So thanks for just making me laugh because today was. I told you I didn't go to work today. Like, today was devastating because I don't know why the Giants keep like putting the straw in my soul and like sucking it out every season. I'm about to go to two games this season, paid a lot of money and I'm just like, why are we going to get blown out? But this is so many things we could pick from of the devastation. But I do feel like the number one reason why we lost that game. I do feel like it was the penalties and then it was the way the defense was getting called. Like the caller just said, this man is legatron. Why are you playing so soft then? Why can't change. Him and Hudson to me are just giant oversized bags of hot poop. They make me sick. Why they see Adobo was getting slashed. All see the inside route that they kept running. Adjust. Adjust. Bowen, he never could. He never could adjust. He does not know how to do in game adjustment that he doesn't know how to do halftime adjustments. And it's like, let these guys go eat. What are you doing? That he never one time, like God said, threw the house at them. You were still rushing for rush seven. Let's see. You know, that's almost like he don't trust the corners. So it's just like it was all of that and then it was the penalties and it was the first drive to me. I'm sorry, guys. I mean, come on. He's at the 1 yard line, 17 against get called back because of Hudson. Come on, guys. And then it's like the. In the red zone four times and then you come up with three points, nine points out of the three of the four and then zero. And Don is right. Take the points. Forget that we suck in the red zone. Take the three points. You know, I just. I don't know. Yesterday just. Yes, Ola thank you. You did your job, guys. Remember last week I was talking about that online. You did your job. Thank you. For the most part you did your job. Russell Wilson most part did your job. It was so beautiful. Seeing was moon balls connecting and it was crazy. The game was exciting. It just made me feel good as a Giants fan again. And then defense to some parts you did it. But I just feel like Shane Bowen is not for us. He's terrible. He's a terrible caller. He doesn't call the right scheme. You know how many other good defensive coaches were just even Robert Salah he would have us rattling defense probably would be ranked number one. But I'm not gonna give up. I still feel like we got time but I'm just devastated today. Like I am devastated.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm completely devastated. Tessa and thank you for the phone call like who it was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's unfortunate.

[Alan Hahn]

Maybe if you lose to Kansas City that way. Maybe if you lose to Cincinnati that way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Dallas.

[Alan Hahn]

Dallas. You know it would just be nice to to beat them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way I did I if you if you recall I lost also in a brutal remember the Jay Z game I went to last year?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Remember that was the one that ended where Daniels hit McLaurin for another crazy play to tie the game and then they missed the extra point. I went through the exact same thing with this terrible Dallas.

[Alan Hahn]

But you bounce back. You bounce back nicely though. That's all you gotta do over the Giants can we'll get into the jets as well NFL binge at 4:30 and and at 6 here on ESPN New York. However however I got right here. There is a lot of reasons why people buy at Ramsey Mazda. It's their selection, it's their customer service and it's their savings at 1.9% financing on a new Mazda 2025 CX50 or at least a for 249 for 33 months. Start shopping now at Ramsey Mazda.com choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Vin SN 354688 MSRP 302000 09:45 0 Security Deposit APR $17.48 per 1000 Finance Ends 09:30 25 thanks for listening to.

[Don Hahn]

The Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to know to how.

[Don Hahn]

The sausage is made man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

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