Hour 1: Giants Expectations

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg - Hour 1: Giants Expectations (July 9, 2026)

Overview

The episode centers on recalibrating expectations for the New York Giants as they head into a new season with a new head coach (John Harbaugh) and a new quarterback (Jackson Dart). The trio—Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg—analyze the hype versus reality around the team, discuss the unique pressures of playing quarterback in New York, and dig into both on-field and off-field narratives that will define the Giants’ season. Alongside Giants talk, there’s some exploration of the Jets’ roster and candid listener reactions.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Setting the Table: Shifting to Football, Giants & Jets [03:31-04:23]

• Baseball updates briefly mentioned; main focus will be on football as the Giants create city buzz with their new leadership and quarterback.
• Alan and Rosenberg tease that expectations have gotten high, perhaps too much so, for this "new era" Giants team.

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2. Jackson Dart Hype—Are Fans Getting Ahead of Themselves? [04:23-09:38]

• Boat Flip Incident (“Not the Boat Trip”):

  • Rosenberg brings up a viral video of Giants QB Jackson Dart doing a backflip off a boat with friends over July 4th.
  • “It is always a boat with the Giants, though.” – Don, referencing the infamous Giants receivers’ boat photo in 2016 [04:20].
  • They downplay the immaturity angle, but use it as a “jumping off” point for deeper concerns: is Dart being anointed as the next great thing too soon?
  • “When was the last Super Bowl champion quarterback that you saw doing a backflip off a boat?” – Rosenberg [05:01].

• Expectations vs. Reality:

  • Rosenberg isn’t convinced Dart is a franchise QB yet: “All I care about is just getting back on the rails, man. I do think there are people that are taking a major leap with this Giants team…” [06:40].

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3. What Really Matters: Maturity, Leadership, and the New York Spotlight [07:05-18:53]

• The Harbaugh Factor:

  • Don: With Harbaugh and experienced staff, the expectation is for better organization and preparation. [07:05]
  • The real season-defining question: Is Jackson Dart “the guy”?
  • “He’s 23. He’s still a kid. And yet the expectations you’re talking about…He’s got to grow the hell up fast if the Giants are going to make a move. The problem is he’s not ready to yet.” – Don [08:20]

• Quarterback Intangibles:

  • Alan and Don emphasize leadership, decision-making, and composure for NYC QBs.
  • Comparison to previous Giants QBs (Eli Manning, Daniel Jones): praised for humility and not attracting off-field drama.
  • “Being a quarterback with the New York Giants is…some special real estate in New York.” – Rosenberg [16:03]

• Pressure of the Market:

  • Immaturity, especially under the bright lights of NYC, is more dangerous for QBs than for other positions.
  • The kid-glove honeymoon is ending for Dart. “Now it’s ‘Put up or shut up’ time.” – Don [14:36]
  • Even fun off-field antics (like going to wrestling events) are treated differently when you’re the QB.

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4. National Power Rankings & Roster Realism [09:38-12:58]

• ESPN’s power rankings: Giants at 23rd, Jets at 25th, Dolphins last at 32 [09:45-10:52].
• Alan: “So that’s about right.” (on Giants at 23) [10:52].
• Discussion: The Giants are young, talented but with significant question marks—especially at QB, and will be missing weapons like Neighbors early in the season due to injury.

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5. Can Coaching Bridge the Gap? [12:58-15:29]

• Fan sentiment: Many believe Harbaugh’s presence alone is worth several more wins.
• “It’s that game we always play in sports…” – Rosenberg warns against “they-would’ve-won-with-Harbaugh” logic [12:06].
• Don notes, “The Giants roster is incomplete. That’s part of the problem.” [12:35]
• The NFC East context: Eagles “stacked,” Cowboys “middle of the pack”, Giants likely fourth at QB [13:11-13:48].

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6. Maturity in the Face of Adversity: Eli, Sims, Jones as Models [15:29-18:03]

• “The one thing that Eli had, he was very, very mature. It took him a while… but he could handle New York, he could handle the media. Never got in any kind of trouble. Phil Sims was the same way.” – Rosenberg [15:40]
• Quarterback stability is tied to team stability; Dart’s challenge is to handle being the face of the franchise in both good and bad times.

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7. Off-field Controversy: The Trump Introduction Incident [22:57-35:43]

• Discussion of Dart’s offseason introduction of Donald Trump at a campaign rally and the internal Giants response.
• Alan: “No matter where you are on the political spectrum, it was a misstep for Dart.” [22:56]
• Don: “You’re a New York Giants quarterback…you’re a brand. Always make decisions on what’s best for my brand.” [23:51]
• Acknowledgment that these incidents (controversy, apologies, etc.) aren’t inherently fatal, but signal youth and a dangerous comfort with early celebrity.
• “If you know…that the person I’m going out to do this thing for is a lightning rod and you’re here to be loved by the entire market, the smartest thing to do would be come up with a creative reason not to do it.” – Alan [32:01]
• They conclude that Dart’s challenge is not just about physical ability, but whether he can avoid becoming “a celebrity quarterback” and focus on winning.

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8. Jets Segment: Talent vs. Quarterback Play [41:19-46:44]

• Bart Scott’s high praise for the Jets’ offensive talent, saying they’re “top seven” on paper—but skepticism about Geno Smith’s ability to take them there [41:39].
• “You can have all this array of talent, but if you’re not getting quarterback play, what good is that?” – Rosenberg [42:06]
• Clarification: Bart meant the Jets have top-10 talent, not that they’ll be a top-10 offense in production.

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9. Listener Reactions—Giants QBs and the “Celebrity” Trap [47:05-51:04]

• Caller Billy quotes Bill Parcells: “You don’t want to be a celebrity quarterback.” [47:05]
• Another caller compares Dart to Johnny Manziel, noting the dangers of getting caught up in the New York hype without having won anything yet.
• “New York loves to put you on a pedestal…[and] loves to knock that pedestal down.” – Rosenberg [47:20]

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Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On Dart’s Offseason:
  • “He’s always had to have Mayor Culpas, always had to have apologies. We have to understand that they’re probably going to have to go through growing pains with him.” – Don [08:20]
• On the QB’s Role in NY:
  • “If there’s instability in your quarterback, there’s instability in your team. And there’s only so much a coach can do…” – Rosenberg [17:16]
• On Handling Spotlight:
  • “You’re a New York Giants quarterback. You’re in New York, big market, you’re being celebrated. You’re a brand…and in the moment when you watch it back, he did come off as a cheerleader. And, man, that’s not who you need to be.” – Don [23:51]
• On Team-Wide Expectations:
  • “Everything he [Dart] does is going to be under that microscope that I want to see how he handles it.” – Don [35:43]
• On New York’s Double-Edged Fame:
  • “That catch made [Odell Beckham] into such a big star. Way ahead. Matt Harvey…[New York] loves to put you on a pedestal. Also…knock that pedestal down.” – Rosenberg [47:20]
• Caller’s Take:
  • “Until he shows me…he’s not a bonus, guys. And everybody’s acting like this kid is a wonder of the world. He’s not.” – Ed, caller [48:39]

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Main Takeaways

• The episode emphasizes caution, maturity, and humility for the Giants’ new quarterback, warning about the unique pressures and pitfalls of instant celebrity in New York.
• Winning, stability, and growth as an organization—not hype or off-field visibility—are seen as the only meaningful markers of progress.
• Both the Giants’ and Jets’ fortunes hinge more on quarterback play and organizational steadiness than off-season excitement or media narratives.
• The hosts blend analysis, anecdotes, and humor while voicing their combined skepticism about quick fixes or magical turnarounds.

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Timeline of Important Segments

• [04:23-09:38] — Dart’s boat flip & the “celebrity QB” concern
• [09:38-12:58] — ESPN Power Rankings & Giants’ Roster Reality
• [12:58-15:29] — Can Harbaugh alone add wins?
• [22:57-35:43] — Dart’s Trump introduction and out-of-football scrutiny
• [41:19-46:44] — Jets’ offensive talent vs. QB reality
• [47:05-51:04] — Callers on Dart, celebrity, and New York pressure

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Closing Thoughts

This episode is a must-listen for Giants fans hoping to recalibrate their expectations, understand the unique challenges facing a young QB in New York, and hear unvarnished talk about hype, leadership, and the very real possibility of growing pains—on and off the field.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

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[Rosenberg]

Learn more at ComcastCorporation.com Todd this isn't Vietnam, it's radio. Han.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Alan]

Everything about it was pure unadulterated ass.

[Rosenberg]

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

[Don Hahn]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.

[Caller/Listener]

The best threesome I've ever heard on

[Don Hahn]

ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube.

[Rosenberg]

Three o' clock in the big city. Don Hahn and Rosenberg hanging out with you until seven. We've got a full frontal today, full boat right till 7 o' clock because the Mets and Yankees both have day games. So we'll be back on 880 as soon as the Met game is over there on the top of the seventh inning at Citi Field. And that's looking to win their first series in a while. They're up six three on the Royals looking to take two out of three from Kansas City. The Yankees had a big six run inning earlier. It was funny, the Yankees were down one nothing and Anthony Pusey came into our meeting. He's like, oh, they're done, they're dead. And then they just could proceeded just not stop scoring runs after he said that. And now they were up at last. Look 7:3 on the race. So a lot of baseball that we'll get to I think a little bit later on. We've got a. That guy Thursday at 4:30. We've got ENN at 6.

[Alan]

You're losing me at 4. Those will be at 4 o' clock today.

[Rosenberg]

What's happening?

[Alan]

France, Morocco kicking right off at 4 o'.

[Rosenberg]

Clock. Right, right.

[Alan]

For your age.

[Rosenberg]

Well, especially, especially when you consider the fact that you didn't have any soccer yesterday.

[Alan]

I know.

[Rosenberg]

So you're Jones.

[Alan]

No, I was like, oh, we're done. And no, we're back baby. And France, Morocco. That's something. I think that's a couple of programs.

[Don Hahn]

You're out at four, I'm out at four. We go baseball at four.

[Alan]

There you go. Go pick up.

[Rosenberg]

Well, I think it won't work out because yeah, the Yankees are, they'll be done. They're up 7:3. And that game is in. What does that look like, the bottom of the fifth or sixth? Bottom of the fifth. I had it right. I lost confidence in my eyesight. So it's possible that by the time we get to 4 o', clock, we can get into the baseball at all. But hey, I mean, that's one last night, a big eighth inning.

[Alan]

I got news for you recently. I got news for you recently. The Yankees are just as deserving of this music. I truly hope. I just hope they didn't leave any stink in the stadium for Jay Z, who gets his big series kicked off tomorrow. I don't want anything to rub off on him.

[Rosenberg]

Where's he playing?

[Alan]

Yankee Stadium. Three straight.

[Don Hahn]

Well, they're in Tampa.

[Alan]

No, no, but when the last time they were there. I'm saying when they left. Do they leave the stench all over the building?

[Don Hahn]

Probably so.

[Rosenberg]

You know, baseball is a very fluid daily thing. So right now they're up by four.

[Don Hahn]

Feeling the flow.

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Doing the Bulldogs, they're in good shape, but. So we'll save the baseball for a little bit later on. But we all figured when we were leaving yesterday, we knew what was coming on Thursday, that we would have to talk about something other than the baseball of it all. And we figured, you know, we could probably get into some football, Right?

[Alan]

Why not?

[Rosenberg]

And you look at some of the video of Jackson Dart doing a backflip off a boat during the Fourth of July weekend, like hanging out with some friends. One of them is a safety that was recruited by Oklahoma. He's 18 years old. They both came from the same town, so they're kind of all hanging out together. Hey, listen, this isn't the boat trip. I didn't see any weed. I. There's no game in Lambeau in a couple of days. So I'm not always. I'm not going to flip out about it. Don't have your fun.

[Don Hahn]

You said flip out. Get it.

[Rosenberg]

Get it back.

[Don Hahn]

He flipped off the boat. It's always a boat with the Giants, though.

[Rosenberg]

It is always a boat. But I do think it's a little extreme. Like, look at that video and go, oh, see, look at the immaturity. Where's he going? But I do think it's a good jumping off point. We did talk a little bit about it last Thursday at the beach bash about, you know, I think people have kind of taken liberties of how good Jackson Dart is going to be. It's almost like a foregone conclusion. All right, they got their Quarterback. They got their coach. Let's go. I don't know. They have their quarterback. I don't know that. And I'm not going to. Again, I'm not going to flip about, you know, the boat thing, but when was the last super bowl champion quarterback that you saw doing a backflip of a boat?

[Caller/Listener]

Right?

[Rosenberg]

It's usually the guy that kind of stabilizes your organization, right? It's everybody else. You got the wide receivers or the divas, right? The running backs are usually the guys that, you know, try out for Jackass. Right? And the defensive play. And it's the quarterback. That's the guy that's supposed to be. All right, everybody, come on, huddle up. Let's get. Let's. Let's get. Let's get refocused here. Come on. We got a game to win. We got a season to go to. So it is a little odd there. The. The Giants new quarterbacks, coach Callahan talking about how they think he's tough enough, but they do think he needs to smarten up a little bit as far as, you know, diving head first for the first downs and all that, making better decisions. But I. Looking at the jets and the Giants, I look at them a little differently because of the coaching situation. Like, I. The jets quarterback is temporary in Geno Smith. Even if he goes out and plays well, I mean, he's not here forever. He's not a franchise quarterback. And there's a lot to wonder about Aaron Glenn because his first year wasn't very good. But with the Giants, people seem to think they have their quarterback they traded back into the first round to get him. They're convinced he's going to be a franchise quarterback. You go out and get John Harbaugh, who's got a ring that there are a lot of people that believe that. All right, let's go. Giants are ready. The Giants are ready to take the next step. I'm not ready to go there. The only thing I'm excited about, forget Jackson Dart, forget Cam Scatterboo, forget about Neighbors who did have the surgery and looks like he's going to miss at least the first month of the season. I just want to get back on the tracks, man. I just want to. I want to be a functioning organization again. So I'm not even thinking about, like, how many wins or am I going to see this team make the playoffs? I. I just want to function again. And then once we. Once we prove that, then we could worry about everything else. But right now, that's all I care about. Is just getting back on the rails, man. I do think there are people that are taking a major leap with this Giants team believing that they can win eight, nine games, double their production from last year.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, because there were games last year they should have won that they, you know, they did give away. But this is all going to be about organization from this, from the beginning. Right. Like. Like just the fact that they look, you said functioning. You should have that with a head coach like John Harbaugh, with a coaching staff that's got tons of experience. Right, right. Like. Like that's what you're expecting because you're going to be better coached, better prepared, and talent wise, you're trying to get better. Guys are getting another year older. The defense should be a lot better. Okay. But we know the only thing that matters, the most important thing to come out of this season is going to be whether or not Dart is your guy. And he's 23. He's still like you got. He's still a kid. And yet the expectations you're talking about to me is what's going to make this the most compelling thing. Because his accuracy numbers still have to get better. He can't turn the ball over, as every quarterback can't turn the ball over, but he can't do it carelessly, which is something that they've argued with him about. Everybody has told them stop taking risks. He pushed back about any. He. He bristles anytime somebody brings it up. And I'm telling you, all this stuff's going to matter. How he handles himself at the podium, how he handles himself in the huddle, how he handles himself during the week between games, because we know there's going to be tough times. He has got to grow the hell up fast if the Giants are going to make a move. The problem is he's not ready to yet. And he's showing us that this whole off season, with some of the decisions he's made, the things he's done, he's always had to have Mayor Culpas, he's always had to have apologies. We have to understand that they're going to have to probably go through growing pains with him. Not talent wise, but all the other

[Rosenberg]

stuff because he's still just 23 years old. We've seen plenty of talented quarterbacks not make it in the NFL, not win in the NFL because there's so much else you got to deal with before you can even go out there and win games. Never mind on your talent. He wouldn't be in the NFL if you didn't have talent.

[Don Hahn]

We have anointed him. And I'm telling you, the organization.

[Rosenberg]

Peter's been on this from the beginning.

[Don Hahn]

Yes, Peter's been right because the organization looks at him as that. This is a special player. We've got to find out if we've got one because they thought they saw it last year. But this year, I think the microscope is going to be on him even more. And I want to see how he handles it. Again, not on the field. For me, this is going to be a lot of maturity stuff with him. How does he handle it off?

[Rosenberg]

And, you know, we jump off with this because ESPN put out the power rankings for every NFL team starting lineup.

[Alan]

Hmm. I didn't see this yet.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, you didn't. So where would you rank the giants starting lineup 1 through 32? Got the jets here, too.

[Alan]

I would imagine The Giants are

[Rosenberg]

25, 23.

[Caller/Listener]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

Where do you think the commanders are?

[Alan]

I would. I would imagine the same neck of the woods. I would say around 25, 21.

[Don Hahn]

21, 21. Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Jets are 25.

[Alan]

Jets are 25.

[Rosenberg]

Jets are 20.

[Alan]

They found seven there. How many? There are seven more teams. How? How?

[Don Hahn]

The Jet roster.

[Alan]

Who's behind the Jet?

[Don Hahn]

Who's one in their own division? Dolphins are terrible. They last.

[Alan]

Yeah, the Dolphins, that's one.

[Rosenberg]

Jets actually have some talent on the offensive.

[Alan]

Cleveland. Cleveland is not great.

[Don Hahn]

Nolan's.

[Alan]

I thought people were Apollo.

[Don Hahn]

But the Giants, 23, they're very young.

[Rosenberg]

And that's with Dart. That's with Cam. I don't know if they included neighbors. Did they include neighbors in this? Because if they did, then it's probably even lower because neighbors isn't going to be there.

[Don Hahn]

They're to start the season Falcons and Browns, too. The dolphins are 32 worst.

[Alan]

All right.

[Caller/Listener]

Right.

[Alan]

So that's about right.

[Rosenberg]

But we've got the coaching and I brought this up during the Beach Bash, but I think it's worth repeating. I think people have made the leap that the Giants are going to double their win total because of the amount of games they lost that they would have won if Harbaugh was the coach. Like the feeling is, while they would have beaten Detroit if Harbaugh was the coach, they would have beaten Dallas if Harbaugh was the coach. That game where they lost in overtime, they would have beaten Denver. They wouldn't. Harbaugh doesn't blow that lead in the fourth quarter the way Dable did. But need I remind you that it's a different schedule, different set of circumstances. Do you realize that that Lions game was started by Winston, right? So was his moxie, Was his veteran abilities enough to keep them in that game? If, maybe if Dart plays that game, they're not closed. Maybe he throws a couple of pick sixes because of his immaturity. Like we can't always just make the leap. It's that, it's that game that we always play in sports, especially in football. Well, the jets beat the Dolphins and the Dolphins beat the Ravens. So the jets should be able to beat the Ravens. It doesn't work that way.

[Don Hahn]

It's all the degrees. We always do that.

[Rosenberg]

We play that game, you know, and it's like the six degrees of Kevin Bacon, but that we know that's nothing. It's about matchups. It's about circumstances in that given moment. Harbaugh, we could go back in a time machine with the same team and then John Harbaugh is the coach. Maybe we win those games under those circumstances, but a different year, different set of circumstances, different schedule. But I think it's just can't make, you know how hard it is in the NFL to just go from four to nine wins.

[Don Hahn]

It's, it's not easy, especially if the roster does still have holes on it. But I don't know, does the, you know, the Giant roster is incomplete. That's part of the problem. It's incomplete.

[Rosenberg]

So I better start getting completed moments

[Don Hahn]

away from camp, I think. No, I mean it's incomplete as far as being a team that can be a contender. Oh, there's still a lot of holes.

[Rosenberg]

But if you're telling me, if you're like, if you're thinking they could be an 8, 9 win team, then you're saying they're competing for a playoff spot. Are they ready to do that just because John Harbaugh is the coach?

[Don Hahn]

Well, again, look at your division and stacked it. Eagles are stacked. Dallas is a middle of the pack team.

[Rosenberg]

If you believe Middle of the pack.

[Don Hahn]

Come on. Dallas is, as much as you want to say, they have great receivers, they obviously have a quarterback who can do it, but their defense should. Their defense has to get better than what it was last year. But in reality though, overall, the Dallas Cowboys roster is middle of the pack in the NFL.

[Rosenberg]

But if you believe that Dart is what he's advertised to be, he's still the fourth best quarterback in the division.

[Don Hahn]

What's he advertised to be? That's what I don't know. I need to.

[Alan]

Even if, even if you heard what they said about him last year and you said, sure, I Think he is going to be really good. To Don's point, you'd still put him last in the division.

[Don Hahn]

In the division? Oh, yeah. Well, again, lack of experience, that's the first and foremost, right? Compared to the other three, he has very little experience. But is he a, you know, is he a guy that players rally around, which is a very important quality in a quarterback?

[Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Don Hahn]

Does he have arm talent and leg talent? Yes. Does he have process ability, which I think nobody talks about? I think his process ability is off the charts. Really good. The maturity part is what I worry about with him in a year now where last year he was sort of. Everybody just wanted it to be. They wanted it to work. So he was celebrated as fresh, new,

[Alan]

something I want to watch and I'm seeing little things. I'm seeing enough.

[Don Hahn]

But now what's happening to Dart now that he's going to have to understand when he walks in is he's no longer now the new kid that everybody's excited to see. Now it's okay. Now that we've anointed you, I need to see it. You got to show me. And does he have the maturity to handle when it doesn't look good, people are going to grumble and gripe and they're going to criticize him publicly. He's going to face a lot of tough questions. And I've seen him in those moments, he doesn't handle that well. So that's what I want to see is how does he handle it when it gets tough? Because it's been a bit of a honeymoon for him because everybody's so excited to see him. But now that it's put up or shut up time, because if it doesn't look good, there's a new coach, not my player. I can find another quarterback. We've seen the NFL quarterbacks are moving now these days. So that's why there's a lot on this kid. And how does he handle.

[Rosenberg]

I think there's a lot there, but there's still a lot of work to be done and the mature and to grow up. The one thing that Eli had, he was very, very mature.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Rosenberg]

It took him a while for him to kind of get going. Had that awful rookie year, but he could handle New York, he could handle the media. Never got in any kind of trouble. Phil Sims was the same way.

[Don Hahn]

Why Daniel Jones seemed to be a guy that you could give him time.

[Rosenberg]

Well, that's why they drafted him, because

[Don Hahn]

he never seemed to bother.

[Caller/Listener]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

Because they figure he had all the attributes of Eli Just unfortunately couldn't play

[Don Hahn]

to the level of Eli, but healthy either.

[Rosenberg]

He'll handle being the quarterback of New York. Being a quarterback with the New York Giants is. Is a. Is really some special real estate in New York.

[Don Hahn]

Absolutely.

[Rosenberg]

You know, where it's not just being a quarterback of any team. You're being the quarterback of the New York Giants already just by the little bit of a spark that he gave. He's doing commercials. People are paying attention to what he's doing, you know, and so because they're paying attention to what he's doing, he's doing backflips off a boat becomes a thing. Remember the Giants didn't lose to the Green Bay packers in 2016 because of the boat trip. No, but they weren't as good as the Green Bay packers, but.

[Don Hahn]

Well, the receivers couldn't catch a ball.

[Rosenberg]

But it's. It's always going to be connected there because you can't do things without it being noticed in New York. Right. And especially if you're the quarterback of the team. You know, Cam Scatter Boo can mess around.

[Don Hahn]

He's.

[Rosenberg]

He's the running back. Nobody looks at him as being any kind of a leader. So it could be fun that he goes to wrestling and he's part of the thing. Maybe it'll rub some people the wrong way, but he's the running back. A wide receiver can afford to be a diva because he's the wide receiver. But when you're the quarterback of the team, that is the stability of the team. If there's instability in your quarterback, there's instability in your team. And there's only so much a coach can do because the coach isn't going to be on the field with him, in the huddle with them when. When things are collapsing around him, knowing the quarterback's the guy that's going to stabilize things.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I think. I think in that place I have faith in him because I've seen him. I think he processes really well. I'm talking about when the game is lost, when things don't go well, when he makes a mistake and he's called out for it, asked about it. How does he handle it? That part. That's what I want. We gotta understand he's 23, very young.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And what's being asked of him from a lot of fans who are just excited about the fact that Harbaugh's here. And that should mean that all the losing is gonna stop now. And you say the same thing. You just wanna be a functioning franchise that competes well. That's gonna. That adds expectations. That suddenly turns. What he enjoyed last year was college extended, where you just celebrated and people laugh because you did some silly stuff and it's funny and all that, whatever. Then the people were talking about, hey, you know, we don't want you get hurt. You should slide more, don't run. And he kept pushing back. That worried me, the fact that he just wouldn't let it go. I want to see how he handles being in the bright lights in New York. As you said, it's one of the. It's one of the great thrones to sit on here in this city. Quarterback of the New York Giants.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

How does he handle it?

[Rosenberg]

And by doing that could be.

[Don Hahn]

That could decide whether or not the Giants have a successful season or not. Just simply. If he just starts imploding on the criticism, the pressure, the demands, you know, all that stuff. Like you said, they should not be expected to win a lot of games because they got a new head coach who's a brand name. The expectation is it's going to turn around quickly, and if it doesn't, they're going to point to him first, not the head coach going to point to the kid first.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, I just. Go ahead, Pierre.

[Alan]

No, Alan was talking about this off the air yesterday. It's going to be the storyline this season more so than Harbaugh. Our ball is a big deal, but

[Rosenberg]

the bottom line is he's here for five years.

[Don Hahn]

He ain't going anywhere.

[Alan]

Well, and also, Harbaugh could have the best coaching season ever. If the kid's not good, they're not good. And Harbaugh could be kind of average. And if the kid's incredible, it's going to cover it up.

[Don Hahn]

But what if the kid still tries to extend a play with his leg, gets hurt, and now everybody's like, he

[Alan]

doesn't listen that now, that changes everything.

[Don Hahn]

Right now, now we. Now we don't have our starter because he didn't do. He's not listening. This is the stuff, though, that can start to melt away. The facade of a young player who comes into New York thinking this is fun and then realizes, no, it ain't. It's work. It's work. Look at Judge, look at Brunson, look at Manning. Look at those guys. Look how they handled it. That's how you survive this Jeter. Then we see some other people, they don't survive it. Why they can't handle it.

[Rosenberg]

The best players melt in New York are the guys that are not out there, like Eli. Well, that's Judge Jeter. You know, look at great example Geno

[Don Hahn]

Smith, who's back now, right? Great example. When he was a young quarterback with the jets and he came in, man, he had a hard time answering the questions every day, man. He couldn't stand being second guessed and questioned. He didn't understand it bothered him.

[Alan]

And he liked being outside too.

[Don Hahn]

And he did like being outside. Mark Sanchez, another guy, same thing. Love being outside. When he was young, when he was the rookie on a veteran team, it sort of was fun and everything was fun. But then when it became all right, kid, the, you know, the kid gloves are off. This is your team now, you need to ascend. He couldn't understand why all these people that were nice to me and loved me, why are they so see negative

[Alan]

to me now Alan's actually changed the conversation for my conversation. Even though I had some of the feelings that he's expressing, I didn't even include that in my original dart concern. My dart concerns that I expressed last year when people were fawning all over themselves was I haven't seen enough yet. I've seen some really good moments, but I'm not seeing it every single play. I'm not. I'm still not sure quarterback takes too long, too much consistency to know it. I didn't even bring up is there a possibility he's just not built for it in the all the other intangible ways.

[Don Hahn]

See, that's the thing.

[Alan]

Allen's bringing in the. I don't know if he's built for it beyond the football field.

[Don Hahn]

Why I say that is because of what you just told. There's a bit of a humility and a bit of a. Like, I need to just be locked in on this stuff. Doesn't mean you can't have fun. But there's two. There's different types of fun. And I just feel like he's really enjoying the celebrity and he hasn't done anything yet. And that's the part where I'm kind of wondering how many times have we seen in this market somebody of that importance enjoy the celebrity before they actually earn it.

[Alan]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

And then if they don't earn it, how fast it turns and that. That's why I'm worried about him on that. I'm not worried about him on the field. He is a talent, but he's really smart. He can process. Those are very valuable things. He's not that big, but he's very, very smart. I'm not worried about on the field. I'm worried about.

[Alan]

Yeah, but the stuff that you're saying, the stuff that you're saying does also leak into on the field as well. Of course it does.

[Don Hahn]

You're absolutely right.

[Alan]

And I will say that's why.

[Don Hahn]

So if you're a Giants fan, that he's the most important thing for the next couple of months.

[Alan]

For the next couple of years.

[Don Hahn]

Well, months first. Let's get there.

[Alan]

He's. He. No, he.

[Rosenberg]

I agree with you.

[Alan]

He's 100% the story. And it's why the whole. And I wasn't here for the day. I was actually on vacation the day the him and Abdul Carter thing blew up around the Trump thing. I was gone that day. That's why no matter where you are on the political spectrum, it was a misstep for Dart. You can come in here and tell me. Oh, if it was Obama. Oh, none of it matters. The only thing that matters is given where they are right now. Was it something that you needed in that moment? The answer was no. Well, it's Carter's fault. He's the one who spoke. Oh, well, it's Tarsus.

[Don Hahn]

You're saying the awareness.

[Alan]

The awareness of everything is on your back as the quarterback. You're a leader of 53 men. You're the face of the franchise. Do you want to have conversation? Cool opportunity. You like Trump. Sweet. He wants you to speak. Whoa, Cool.

[Don Hahn]

But that's. When.

[Alan]

Is that what you need to do? Between year one and year two?

[Don Hahn]

As I reflected on that, because initially I was like, we're making too much of this. The kid just wanted to have an experience, whatever. Because I didn't want to think that, you know, it was more than that. But then the more I looked at it and the more I considered again, what. What do others do? But Jackson Dart hasn't figured out yet. Maybe people around him haven't figured out yet is you're. You're a New York Giants quarterback. You're in New York, big market, you're being celebrated. You're a brand and always make decisions on what's. What's best for my brand. What do I look like in that moment? And in the moment when you watch it back. He did come off as a cheerleader. And, man, that's not who you need to be.

[Alan]

No.

[Caller/Listener]

Like.

[Alan]

And, you know, if you wanted to

[Don Hahn]

do something with a little dignity of an introduction, a handshake, walk away.

[Rosenberg]

I want to get.

[Don Hahn]

But it got a little too goofy. And it's like, I don't.

[Rosenberg]

I, I didn't want to go there, but. But you can't remove it. It's part of the offseason. I want, I want to, I want to, I want to continue this because we're up against. Well, God bless.

[Alan]

We have four hours.

[Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Alan]

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.

[Rosenberg]

You know, you get beat up for, you know, having opinions on things that Trump, who's, who's beating you up, beating you up. You had brought up about him introducing Trump as a mista. But I think we need to acknowledge

[Don Hahn]

it's how absolutely it's not him doing it. Because I don't want to get anybody to think like if you're asked by the, by the, you know, by the office of the president, you know, to present the president, all right, how do you want me to do it? Because I'm not like, I have some dignity about this.

[Caller/Listener]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

I don't want to be up there like some cheerleader goofing off. And I didn't, when I thought about it, the more I'm like, I wouldn't have done it like that. You know what I mean?

[Rosenberg]

But he's unpolished. He's a kid.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Rosenberg]

And you could say, but listen, people didn't have a problem with how he did it. People had a problem. Daddy did it.

[Don Hahn]

I know, all right, but that's always gonna happen.

[Rosenberg]

And there's no way around that. And let's not hide from it. If people had a problem with it, it was because they didn't think that their quarterback should be introducing Donald Trump. But we have to acknowledge the fact that half of this country and yes, half of the Giants fan base thought it was the coolest thing in the world. So I don't like bringing that into the equation. Not because I'm scared to have an opinion, just acknowledging the fact that

[Caller/Listener]

a

[Rosenberg]

lot of people are gonna look at that as, hey, that's my quarterback. I love that he did that. Because they're Trump, by the way.

[Alan]

But you already overdid the number because I don't know.

[Rosenberg]

I did.

[Alan]

No, no, you did, because 50% of the people would have been Trump voters. You said 50% of them thought it was the coolest thing in the world. Half of the Trump voters didn't care one way or the other. They pull the lever and they move on with their lives. No, But a smaller percentage.

[Caller/Listener]

No.

[Alan]

Cause think about it, Don. Think what I'm saying. Half of them are anti Trump. So not cool to them at all. Of the 50% that are pro Trump, you can't tell me 100% of them went, yay. I love that he went out there. No, a percentage of them did. I don't care what he did.

[Rosenberg]

I guess what I'm trying to say is, is that the people. Because there's a lot of people didn't care.

[Caller/Listener]

Yes.

[Rosenberg]

All right, but of the people that did care, I believe half were cool and half weren't, I think. All right, so that's my, that's my point. And the other thing, too is because the other conversation that was had back in the day. Well, why didn't he go talk to the Giants? How do you know he didn't? Because I wouldn't be surprised if the Giants organization was cool with it.

[Don Hahn]

Well, how do you think they reached out to him?

[Rosenberg]

Exactly. So we're sitting here talking about it being a problem, or some people may be talking about being a problem, and there's gonna be a lot of people, including the Giants, that didn't think it was an issue.

[Don Hahn]

Like I said, I would just bring it up. What am I doing? Am I doing this?

[Rosenberg]

I want to leave it alone because I just don't. I don't think that's an issue.

[Alan]

But hold on, hold on. But did it play great? Did it create any off field issues? Did it require apologies from the players on the defense. It created bs. So whether your point is not wrong, that it shouldn't be in some world. But it was.

[Rosenberg]

No, but I.

[Alan]

To the point. Allen's making you as if you're the. If you're the CEO, if you're that kind of role, you really are like the boss of a team. There were people who were affected who didn't enjoy it. What I'm trying to say is we just talked about it. But would Eli do it? Would Jeter do it? Would Judge do it or.

[Don Hahn]

All right, but again, let me just go back.

[Alan]

It's about quiet and out of the way and not doing stuff that gets you attention you don't need.

[Don Hahn]

He also did it.

[Alan]

Sure.

[Don Hahn]

Which was very kind of cheerleadery.

[Rosenberg]

But did we not. Did we not for.

[Alan]

But it was a cheerleader event, Alan.

[Don Hahn]

Remember?

[Rosenberg]

Do we not remember that after it happened, there were a lot of people that attacked Abdul Carter.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Rosenberg]

And thought he was wrong.

[Don Hahn]

Sure.

[Rosenberg]

Calling him out. That's the point I'm trying to make.

[Alan]

All the more reason. But that's still darts problem. My point is if you just never done it, no one's mad at Carter, no one's mad at Dart, no one's talking about anything.

[Don Hahn]

But let's also make it clear.

[Alan]

That's all.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, this is one staying out of the way. This is one example. It's not the primary example. It was over fast. They talked it out. They got through it.

[Alan]

Sure.

[Don Hahn]

And it's gone. It never came back up again. For now, that's where it's at. But it's just for me, that's what I want to see how he handles all this stuff in the glaring spotlight of New York.

[Rosenberg]

And honestly, if we want to include it in the pool here, I thought he handled it well.

[Alan]

He handled the response.

[Don Hahn]

He did the right thing.

[Rosenberg]

And that's a good sign. If this was a controversy, then I thought Carter handled it well. I thought Dart afterward, they all handle it well. And we haven't heard any issue since. So if the only thing better would

[Alan]

have been nothing at all. That's my only some.

[Rosenberg]

But you all know, stand that there are people that don't think it was anything. They thought it was great and they thought Abdul Carter was wrong for bringing it up.

[Alan]

I'll just tell you this. I love that I don't know anything about my quarterback except that he likes his mama and Campbell suit. I love that.

[Rosenberg]

I get it.

[Alan]

That's all I'm saying.

[Rosenberg]

But what I'm saying, it's Such a of part polarizing subject. Guys, the reason I want to leave it out is if we debate him doing a backflip off of a boat, people are going to be motivated to like it or not like it based on the football of it all. Some people will look at it and go, I love my quarterback. It just shows you he's got guts. He could do. He feels like he can do anything. He's confident. And then my opinion would be I don't think that's a stable person to do that. Guy's had concussion issues. He's doing back flips off a boat.

[Alan]

It was a front jump. Not a bad one.

[Rosenberg]

But the Trump stuff, you gotta at least meet me halfway on this. Is that people get apoplectic because they've already got a dog in the fight. So it's not about football. It's about they love Trump or they hate Trump and that's where their opinions formulated them.

[Alan]

You're not hearing me clearly. I agree with you on that. That's why my point is, and I think Alan sees what I'm saying here. If you know whether you love him or hate him, if you are aware that the person I'm going out to do this thing for is a lightning rod and you're here to be loved by the entire market, the smartest thing to do would be come up with a creative reason to not do it. Yeah, that's the smartest thing again to do that.

[Don Hahn]

But I'm not, I'm not in. I'm not squarely in on that because again, I'm not here to be liked by the whole market. I'm here to win. So I start there. My brand matters. So what I look like when I'm doing in something that sounded like a fun thing to do. If that was what he wanted to do. Cuz maybe he. Maybe that's what he likes. Maybe he has a respect for the office of the president. He wanted to be part of it.

[Alan]

It wasn't in the office of the president, guys. It was a campaign rally. It was a cheerleading event. This was not. This was not a government.

[Don Hahn]

You're missing what my point.

[Alan]

No, but it's relevant. It was a cheerleader. Because you're saying he was a cheerleader.

[Don Hahn]

Slow down.

[Alan]

But I'm saying it was a cheerleading event.

[Don Hahn]

Slow down. It was introducing someone. That's all it was.

[Alan]

But at a political rally.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan]

Not at the White House.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't say at. I said you were requested by.

[Alan]

But it's. I'm just trying to explain There's a difference.

[Don Hahn]

This is what I'm doing. I'm taking a name out that triggers you and I'm saying an office because that's what it was to him. And all I'm saying is. I'm just saying you turned it into. Right. But. But I didn't like how he looked. Not what he did.

[Alan]

And I didn't even notice.

[Rosenberg]

It's just kind of the goofiness of I know you.

[Don Hahn]

For me, that's all.

[Alan]

It was slightly goofy, I hear.

[Rosenberg]

And I know you personally, so I know that you're intellectual enough to have a conversation without getting emotional about the subject. But most people don't. So the people that loved it loved Trump. The people that hated it hated Trump and they were motivated by their hatred or love for the President.

[Alan]

I wasn't.

[Rosenberg]

So it really was not agree. So it really. So you're never saying 24. Right? But he's thinking.

[Don Hahn]

But he thought this was.

[Rosenberg]

Hey, but you know what?

[Alan]

He's around people to go do the roughhousing at WWE.

[Rosenberg]

But for all we're. But we're at it at 5050 and we're looking at it. He's a polarizing figure. But to him and the people that he surrounds himself with and the people that he knows at the Giants, Abdul Carter might have been the outlier he probably was. So he's probably thinking this isn't polarizing. It seems like everybody wants me to do that. I got a lot of teammates that are Trumpers. I've got the. For all I know, the Giants ownership is. If I had to bet, I would think that most ownerships in the NFL probably are Republicans. His parents probably are Republicans.

[Alan]

I doubt he thought any of this this far from.

[Rosenberg]

But I hear what you're saying. No, but it shows you he probably didn't even. The president's asking me to do something.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Rosenberg]

He might not even have thought I was polarized.

[Alan]

You're proving my point. You're proving my point. I'm sorry that I'm on the guys that I'm such a sycophant for the guy. You think Jayden Daniels does anything by going. I just feel like doing that. He understands he has a hundred year history on his head and that's how he operates. I have an entire area that thinks their lives are run through me. That's what you need to be as starting quarterback.

[Don Hahn]

That's why as we'll zipper this shut. Right? We'll do that.

[Alan]

That was a good point I made.

[Don Hahn]

No, no, it's very good. Because what you just said there, that's what I'm saying. Okay, this sounds like fun.

[Alan]

That's it.

[Don Hahn]

And it's like Jackson, there are things now jumping off the boat sounds fun. That's what that's where I'm going is things that you're looking at because I'm, I'm college kid having a great time because all these people love me. I can do whatever I want and they're still going to love me because that is college football. Right. He is now not in that place anymore. And starting this season, everything he does is going to be under that microscope that I want to see how he handles it.

[Rosenberg]

But the organization, but usually organizations that are buttoned up and the Giants are a buttoned up organization.

[Alan]

Well, they always were a buttoned up organization.

[Rosenberg]

Well, I'm just not the last 10 years, as long as Pat Hamlin has anything to do with that organization, players are not going rogue. Okay? That's the point I'm trying to make is they may not be buttoned up as far as what's been happening on the football field is concerned, but if they didn't want him to do it, he wouldn't do it.

[Don Hahn]

That's true.

[Alan]

That's true.

[Caller/Listener]

Alright.

[Rosenberg]

So let's not make like he didn't go rogue. He may not have asked, but believe me, if they wanted it stopped, that's why I want to leave it out of the equation. Because even the decisions that are made above are being made by who they like and who they don't like. What people think is controversial or not. There are people in the Giants organization. Well, you know, the organization. I don't see this being a problem. What's the problem? He's the President of the United States. You see what I'm saying? It's like he may not look at it as being polar. There are a lot of people out there that don't see it being polarizing because they look at it, their whole neighborhood voted for him. They only know people that voted for him.

[Don Hahn]

What's the issue again? Again. But that's just one piece of the puzzle, right? And as we look forward now, that's what I want to see is how he deals with this.

[Rosenberg]

And because it's a new world for

[Don Hahn]

him and I thought he dealt with it wasn't. That was fantasy world last year. Everybody won in the play then. He played well. He was a celebrity everywhere he was. He was sitting courtside at the Garden. He was showing up at every event and he was celebrated because that's how it was in college, too, right?

[Alan]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

But that's going to stop now because now we want you to win. That's what matters. Now it's not the stuff doesn't matter. You being a cute kid who can smile.

[Alan]

Oh, and you lost that game. You threw for 300 yards.

[Don Hahn]

You're the best dude.

[Rosenberg]

That stuff falls apart out.

[Alan]

I'm with you, and it's over.

[Don Hahn]

And now all that matters and all he's going to be judged by is winning.

[Caller/Listener]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

That's it. All the other stuff.

[Rosenberg]

And that goes for everybody because he's gone. Anybody that had a problem with what he did are going to love him when he starts winning, because it's not going to matter.

[Don Hahn]

You just want him to win.

[Rosenberg]

And the people that had his back, when they start losing, they're going to lose them, too. That's what it was about. They're not going to win right away.

[Don Hahn]

But what you said at the beginning of the show about how can they go from four wins to eight wins, Right. You said that. And that's what made me trigger my head and that just maybe say, this kid has no idea what's coming because everybody's thinking, you got to win games. And if he's not winning games, it starts to become. And I don't think this kid's good enough. And I think he doesn't do this shit.

[Alan]

And then you want to talk about responding to things that are tough. It's one thing to deal with a quick controversy involving the president, whatever. Yeah, you play it okay. You made a critical interception. You've lost three straight. You're heading into a divisional game. Your season's on the brink. Every question's about you. That's when questions start.

[Don Hahn]

Getting this one veteran on the defense as a defense, held the team to 17 points.

[Alan]

Says a little something that sounds like,

[Don Hahn]

you know, we just need to be smarter on the other side of the ball. We don't get that turnover now. We don't have to go back on the field. And now it's a. Hey, Jackson, you know, so and so said this and now and I worry about it.

[Rosenberg]

I don't think they're going to win a lot of games. They're ranked 23rd in talent. Neighbors is probably going to miss the first month of the season. There's going to be an adjustment period with a new coach and a new system.

[Don Hahn]

But you have a. I just want it to function.

[Rosenberg]

I want it to function. Go win five games, but at least show me that you are. You're well coached and you're moving in the right direction and then I believe they'll find the talent. You'll see, but we'll see. I do think there's going to be bumps in the road. There always are. There were bumps for Eli. Yeah. He went from missing the playoffs and almost getting killed in Baltimore to winning 11 games the next year, but they got shut out in the playoff game. He threw like four picks. He faced tons of adversity early on and he handled it. Will he be able to handle the adversity that everybody ends up going through? Not everybody's damn Marino. And playing in the super bowl in his second year. A lot of them have to go through a lot of bumps in the road.

[Don Hahn]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

Check responses for accuracy. Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan]

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.

[Rosenberg]

Jets we mentioned according to ESPN, ranked 25th as far as talent is concerned, but ahead of the Dolphins, so they're not dead last in their own division. But Bart Scott earlier today on Barton Carlin, which you can hear Monday through Friday from 10 to 1 right here in ESPN New York, was very bullish on the jets offense.

[Don Hahn]

I think the jets offense has the possibility to be the beginning of something special. I don't know if Geno would be able to see it all the way through, but this is one of the most, in my opinion, personnel wise on paper, this is one of the most, in my. In my opinion, exciting collections of talent on offensive side of the ball. I will put them top seven with anybody in the league.

[Rosenberg]

But the one. The one thing I'll push back on

[Don Hahn]

seven in the lead on offense is

[Rosenberg]

on offense, he's not sure that Geno Smith's going to see it through. So who will? I mean, you can have all this array of talent, but you're not getting quarterback play. What good is that?

[Don Hahn]

I don't know. Right. I don't know what he means by now.

[Rosenberg]

I didn't. I didn't hear the cut before I played it. I assumed he was talking about, well, Geno Smith's going to play like he did in Seattle a couple of years ago. Throw for 4,000 yards and he's dealing

[Don Hahn]

with a lot off to talk about a quarterback dealing with a lot off the field right now.

[Rosenberg]

But I don't. If you tell me Geno Smith's going to play like he did in Seattle, then I would agree with Bar because there's talent there and they should be able to score some points. But I don't know that Geno Smith is going to play that way.

[Don Hahn]

Who's it going to be?

[Rosenberg]

Well, it might still be Geno Smith, but he might not be thrown for 4,000 yards. Being great. Might be the Geno might be more like the Geno Smith we saw with Vegas.

[Don Hahn]

Who's their backup now? They drafted Clubnik, right?

[Rosenberg]

Mm.

[Don Hahn]

So they got him. But did they sign a veteran backup that. That I had missed?

[Rosenberg]

Not that I'm been a little busy.

[Don Hahn]

Jets backup quarterback. It's zappy.

[Alan]

Is it still.

[Caller/Listener]

That's it.

[Rosenberg]

That's the veteran.

[Don Hahn]

He's not going to play. It's going to be club Nick. If Geno's bad or gets hurt, it's going to be. I'm going to go with the kid.

[Alan]

John, I think we should. I don't want to get anyone in trouble, but there should be some sort of like, HR conversation. We should.

[Don Hahn]

Limitation on jet conversation.

[Alan]

No, I just want to get a blood test on Bart seventh. We need to see what's going on.

[Don Hahn]

Look, he's hot, all right? He's high at work. Wait, off the air. He changed it to 12th. Does that make you guys feel any better? Let Me defend a little bit. Just a little bit.

[Alan]

I don't have to do that.

[Don Hahn]

Him going top 10 was a bit much.

[Alan]

A bit.

[Don Hahn]

Him saying I don't know who the quarterback. I know but first we know you know who it is.

[Alan]

Do you?

[Don Hahn]

And numbers wise he's been impressive. Okay. That's true.

[Alan]

Is he going to make it? Will he have another. Will there be another arrest or a third incident between now and then stuff.

[Don Hahn]

Their offensive line though is one of the best in the league. It's very good. You can't deny that their running game is very good. You can't deny that they have depth at running back for days. And Breece Halls one of the best wide receiver wise a little thin but Garrett's we know is elite A.D. mitchell could be really good. Their tight ends are good. People are excited about Sadiq. I just. For me it just goes back to. Once again is Ken Gino show you what he showed you in Seattle before the disaster of the Raiders which is probably more Raiders and that bad offensive line than it was him. They have a really good offensive line which gives Geno a chance to be a good quarterback. But again, I don't know if I'm. I'm not excited about the potential of what they can be and I don't know how much depth they have.

[Rosenberg]

Well, Bart said in the cut, you know, Gino may not see it through.

[Don Hahn]

That's what I don't know.

[Rosenberg]

It sounds like he's just saying no matter who's a quarterback, this is going to be a good offense and I have to push back.

[Don Hahn]

Here's what he means that they might not win a lot of games anyway and at some point they'll probably go with club.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

That's all I can think of.

[Rosenberg]

But you're not going to be a top seven offense with a rookie quarterback.

[Don Hahn]

Did he say top seven in what they produce or did he mean talent?

[Rosenberg]

Well, I'll play it again. It's only 21 seconds.

[Don Hahn]

I think this offense has the possibility to be the beginning of something special. I don't know if Gino would be able to see it all the way through. That's what he did. But this is one of the most in my opinion personnel wise on paper. This is what one of the most in my, in my opinion exciting collections of talent on offensive side of the ball. I would put them top seven with anybody in the field talent. So first thing he meant was they have the potential to one day be. And then he said but I don't know if Gino will see it through. Meaning Gino's here short term. By the time they reach a point of this offense growing up because they're still very young, Gino might not be the quarterback. That's what he meant by that. Not this season. Then he's saying top seven and I guess later said 12 collection of talent. He's not saying they're going to be offensively top seven or top 12. Does that make sense?

[Rosenberg]

No, it makes sense. They've got top. Listen, I've got top 10 personnel.

[Don Hahn]

I speak fluent Bart, but I don't

[Rosenberg]

care about how much talent I have unless I could put it together and win. Plus, it's not like these guys are going to be hanging around forever, right? Like, so, I don't know, like, is that. Are they going to be that talented while you're waiting to find the quarterback? Like, that sounds like a very sad story that top 10 talent eventually fades as this team scrambling to find the next quarterback to take advantage of.

[Don Hahn]

That's true.

[Rosenberg]

It's not exactly putting me in a good place. Quarterback is just too damn important. Let's go to Billy and Hartford. You're on Don on a Roseberg. What's up, Billy?

[Caller/Listener]

Hey, guys. How you doing?

[Rosenberg]

Good.

[Caller/Listener]

I used to call you guys all the time. Alan Han. You're doing a great job with these guys.

[Rosenberg]

So I just want to let you know. Thank you. Special.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah. I just wanted to say about Jackson Dart, I think that Parcel's favorite line was, you don't want to be a celebrity quarterback. And that's what I think this might be turning out with Jackson Dart. That's just my opinion.

[Don Hahn]

It's a great line.

[Rosenberg]

It's. Billy, it's.

[Don Hahn]

It's.

[Alan]

It's on the table.

[Rosenberg]

It looks as the problem. And I remember. And I remember I'm always sensitive to this because it kind of happened with Odell. He became like a star before, you know, that catch made him into such a big star. And way ahead. Matt Harvey, remember, like, he's posing naked in the New York Post. I'm like. I remember at the time, like, really? He's made like three starts already. That's what New York does to you. They love to put you on a pedestal. You know, Also New York loves to do. Knock that pedestal down.

[Alan]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

Right down. So that's the thing you got to be careful of. This is in Utah. Right?

[Don Hahn]

This is an Ole Miss.

[Rosenberg]

You're not playing for the Salt Lake City Jammers. This is the New York Giants.

[Don Hahn]

The Salt Lake City Jammer.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. Why not?

[Don Hahn]

I like that.

[Rosenberg]

What was the name of there? I'll give you $5 if you name. What was the name of the Arena League team? I don't even know. No, it was an. There was an Arena League team.

[Don Hahn]

I believe there was.

[Rosenberg]

Our former program director became their play by play guy, Kevin Graham. Okay, Kevin Graham was before you.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Rosenberg]

See, when you come with the furniture, remember, everybody, limo driver. Ed, you're on ESPN New York. What's up, buddy?

[Don Hahn]

What's up, Ed?

[Caller/Listener]

Hey, guys, how you doing? How you doing today?

[Rosenberg]

Good.

[Alan]

What's up, Ed?

[Caller/Listener]

All right, well, listen, you know, everybody's going gaga, gaga over this young man. See, this is the promise. What happens is someone like him, that was also a Johnny Manziel that we know about. Yeah, until he be like Mahomes. Listen, until he be like Mahomes and win and come in all this fame and hanging out and all this other kind of stuff and jumping off this and that. Listen, he only. He only won a few games last year. Giants didn't win nothing, okay? And until he shows me, and don't be a tourist that has farts, concussions, and he's on that field player. But until then, he's not a bonus guys. And everybody's acting like this kid is a wonder of the world. He's not, okay? So I want everybody to stop doing what they're doing because the kid haven't won nothing. Now, you know what? If they keep on doing what he's doing, he's gonna be out the league just like Johnny Manziel. Because everybody wants to party and have a great time and got him. He ain't Joe Namath. What do you think you got New York or something? Come on, man.

[Rosenberg]

Also, Ed, everybody else like he wants him. Ed, you know damn well that if Joe Namath tried to pull what he pulled 50 years ago today, he wouldn't have become Joe Naman.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, my God.

[Rosenberg]

No, but social media and all that, believe me, it's a different world. God bless Joe. But he was born at the exact time he should have.

[Don Hahn]

He needed to be born, right?

[Alan]

Oh, yeah, he knows.

[Rosenberg]

But no, he brought up Johnny Manziel. And listen, I don't think the kid. Here's the difference, all right? I don't think there's anything. He's not a bad kid, all right?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, nobody's saying he's a bad kid.

[Rosenberg]

And he's just somebody that. I think he's getting caught up. It's easy to get caught up.

[Don Hahn]

That part.

[Rosenberg]

It's very easy to get caught up in New York.

[Don Hahn]

No, no. He. He. He's. He's got a little drunk off it. He really enjoyed it. Cam did, too.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

I think Scott also got a little drunk off, which is fine. The Giant season was garbage. End of the year, they just wanted to have fun, have fun, live it up, all that stuff. But what's coming this year, I'm wondering if they really know because of Harbaugh. If they hired. What's the guy blowing?

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

Exactly right. If they hired.

[Rosenberg]

Are you familiar with the work of David Blow?

[Don Hahn]

If they hired David Blow. I know, but it's funnier.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

If they hired him. No, there'd be. It's zero expectations. It would still be just all about, hey, this kid's fun. At least I have a young quarterback. That's fun. But now because of Harbaugh, there's this sense of, no, you're supposed to be better. The Giants are going to be back.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And that's a lot for you to live up to at the age of 23. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan]

I don't want to know how the

[Don Hahn]

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 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.

[Alan]

Hi, Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. Are you looking for a beach read this summer? May I suggest your big wireless bill? It's got suspense, mystery, a slightly flat emotional arc, and a shocking twist where you realize you've been overpaying the entire time. Fortunately, though, Mint's story is better. Every plan, $15 a month, even unlimited. That's it. Happy ending, zero tears. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment

[Rosenberg]

of 45 for three months, $90 for six months, or $180 or 12 month plan required.

[Alan]

$15 per month.

[Rosenberg]

Equivalent taxes and fees. Extra initial plan term only greater than 50 gigabytes. Me slow when network is busy.

[Alan]

See terms.