Hour 1: Harbaugh Introduced

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: Harbaugh Introduced

ESPN New York | January 20, 2026 | Hosts: Alan Hahn, Don La Greca, Peter Rosenberg | Guest: Rich Eisen

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on the introduction of John Harbaugh as the new head coach of the New York Giants. The hosts break down Harbaugh’s introductory press conference, exploring his philosophy, message, and implications for the Giants’ future. The team compares this hire to past preseasons, debates the culture of the Giants, and peppers the discussion with New York humor, digressions about hockey, and a classic “workplace snack heist” whodunit.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Harbaugh’s Press Conference Breakdown

• Theme: Harbaugh’s clear passion for football and authenticity in his message set the tone for his vision for the Giants.
• Tone: The hosts agree Harbaugh’s approach felt genuine, energetic, and confident—unlike some past Giants hires.
• Repetition of “football”: The group counts how many times Harbaugh says “football” as a playful way to underscore his passion.

Notable Quote & Discussion

• John Harbaugh (07:50):

  "We need guys that love everything about football. They love the games, they love the practices, they love the weightlifting, they love the meetings, they love the dining hall. ... If there's guys, you know around that don't love football ... we're probably gonna let those guys go play somewhere else."

  • The hosts quip about counting the number of times Harbaugh says “football” ("That’s one every four seconds!" – Don LaGreca, 08:41).

• Alan Hahn (12:22):

  “He looked like a guy that was genuinely excited, didn’t look like he was putting on an act, had a message. His suit fit. He had a haircut that didn’t look like it was cut with spoons…”

[07:47 – 13:10]

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2. Comparative Analysis: Harbaugh vs. Past Hires

• Past Intros: Previous Giants (and NY) coaches often came off as promotional or inexperienced (“Here’s why you’ll like me”), whereas Harbaugh’s press conference answered “why I took this job.”
• Host Grades: Don LaGreca and Peter Rosenberg discuss their knack for “grading” pressers, recalling past predictions.

[09:01 – 09:53]

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3. Culture and Rebuilding the Giants

• Love of the Grind: The "love of football" isn’t just for the games; it’s vital for the grind—practice, travel, and daily work.
• Culture Talk: Harbaugh discusses “relentless brotherhood” and building from the inside out.
• No False Promises: The hosts like that Harbaugh refuses to set an instant timeline, showing both confidence and realism.

Notable Quote

• John Harbaugh (15:00):

  "Culture is kind of a crazy word ... It's a worldview. It's a shared understanding. ... In football, it's a bunch of guys that see the game the same way ... A relentless brotherhood."

[14:53 – 16:29]

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4. Playful Observations & Style

• Sounding like Biden: Midway, the hosts notice Harbaugh’s delivery and voice is reminiscent of Joe Biden, poking a little fun:
  • “Is he Joe Biden it?” — Don LaGreca (17:34)
  • “When you listen to that clip one more time and think…” — Alan Hahn (18:01)
• Presidential Endorsement: Briefly touch on Trump making supportive comments about Harbaugh pre-hire.

[17:27 – 19:07]

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5. Roster, Quarterback & Team Philosophy

• Impact of QB: Harbaugh speaks highly of Jackson Dart, emphasizing both his skill and “love of football.”
• Roster Reality: Harbaugh and hosts acknowledge talent, but depth and filling holes are still major tasks.

Notable Quote

• John Harbaugh (19:45):

  "The quarterback’s kind of important ... But more than that, I like who he is. And what he's about to me, is about football. I mean, this. This young guy loves football. He wants to talk football all the time. And that's kind of what I like doing, too."

[19:34 – 20:24]

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6. Organizational Structure & Joe Schoen

• Collaboration: Harbaugh’s choice to work with GM Joe Schoen (and the Giants’ willingness to alter their traditional GM/coach structure) showed mutual respect and adaptability.
• Host Take: If Harbaugh likes Schoen, Giants fans should—at the very least—give Schoen another chance.
• Schoen Speaks: Schoen downplays “final say,” emphasizing teamwork and shared vision with Harbaugh.

Notable Quotes

• John Harbaugh (36:05):

  "You see he's a football man. This guy lives and breathes football. ... So I was impressed. Very impressed."

• Joe Schoen (44:39):

  "...That's just, you know, something on a piece of paper doesn’t matter. We need to work together ... It’s always going to be about what’s best for the New York Giants."

[36:05 – 45:03]

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7. How Fast Can the Giants Turn It Around?

• Vegas Odds: Over/under set at 8.5 wins—hosts discuss whether that's realistic for a team coming off a 4-13 season.
• Coaching Impact: Conversation shifts to the idea that a great coach is, in the NFL, almost as important as a great quarterback.

[46:24 – 48:49]

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8. Sidebars & Memorable Moments

A. New York/Canada Hockey Road Trip

• Don updates from snowy Edmonton, Alberta; random banter about “Alberta beef,” airport turbulence nightmares, Canadian beer, and hockey routines:
  • “It was a Bomby 39 in Calgary. Last night we landed on the surface of the moon. It was just a blizzard ...” — Alan Hahn (00:56)
  • “This is the outpost of outposts in professional sports. I mean, it was quarter to nine this morning and the sun still wasn’t up.” — Alan Hahn (03:45)
• The group jokes about a Canadian night out and Don potentially “going full Mark Sanchez.”

[00:23 – 05:07]

B. Snackgate: The Pilfered Trail Mix

• The second half shifts into a hilarious segment as Rich Eisen and the crew try to identify who keeps stealing Rich’s trail mix from the communal cabinet.
• Joking escalation: plans for a hidden camera, references to “To Catch a Predator” (Chris Hansen style), and speculation about office etiquette.
• “If you’re going to grab a man’s nuts, you give him a warning first.” — Don LaGreca (35:30)

[26:10 – 35:35]

C. Backyard Hockey Rink Revelations

• Alan Hahn admits to having a backyard hockey rink at home, surprising the panel.
• Don jokes it finally rivals the oft-discussed “indoor pool” claims.

[40:23 – 44:18]

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Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• John Harbaugh on culture:
  "It’s a relentless brotherhood, having each other’s back, being unwilling to give up because that guy next to you is unwilling to give up... we’ll decide what the culture looks like together." (15:00)

• Rich Eisen on Harbaugh's message:
  “He’s not trying to give you a soundbite. He’s speaking very plainly. And I think that’s because he’s very confident in who he is.” (12:13)

• Don LaGreca on press conference style:
  “He shows up suit and tie, still trying to prove… I bring cachet to this organization you don’t currently have. But I still want to impress everybody here.” (13:10)

• Peter Rosenberg on workplace etiquette:
  “It’s true of everything in life, if you’re going to grab a man’s nuts, you give him a warning first.” (35:30)

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Conclusion

The episode delivers a fun, insightful breakdown of John Harbaugh’s arrival as Giants head coach. The crew praises Harbaugh’s authenticity, dissects his “love football” mantra, and debates whether his presence signals a swift turnaround for the franchise. Lively sidebars blend New York, hockey, and classic office gripes, giving listeners both sports insight and classic trio chemistry.

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Timestamps:

• 00:23–05:07: Canadian travel/hockey banter
• 07:47–13:10: Harbaugh’s press conference, tone, “love of football”
• 14:53–16:29: Rebuilding Giants’ culture
• 17:27–19:07: Sounding like Biden, political quips
• 19:34–20:24: Harbaugh on Jackson Dart
• 36:05–45:03: Harbaugh and Schoen collaboration
• 46:24–48:49: Vegas odds & Giants future
• 26:10–35:35: Snackgate saga
• 40:23–44:18: Backyard hockey rink talk

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For fans: This episode offers both reassuring football insight and the banter you love — “doing football, every day, all the time.”

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

Todd. A lot of virgins working in one room together. A lot can be accomplished.

[John Harbaugh]

Han.

[Alan Hahn]

I just got excited.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And Rosenberg.

[Don LaGreca]

Alan just expressed theoretical arousal about the Dolly Parton puppet. This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg. The best threesome I've ever heard on ESPN New York. And streaming live on YouTube.

[Rich Eisen]

It's 301 in the big city with Don Lagreca and Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hahn. Donnie. Somewhere in the great white north, somewh in Canada. Somehow, some way still connected to us. Donnie, how is, how is the weather? How's the trip going? I know they got a nice win last night. How are you feeling?

[Alan Hahn]

That was, it was, it was great win overtime. Although they did lose Luke Hughes. He's looks like a shoulder upper body injury of some sort. So we'll have to wait and see on that Shocking news.

[Rich Eisen]

Brother gets injured. It never happens.

[Alan Hahn]

But here's the deal. Like it was a Bomby 39 in Calgary.

[Rich Eisen]

Oh, gorgeous.

[Alan Hahn]

Last night we landed on the surface of the moon. It was just a blizzard, but again, they laugh at such things.

[Don LaGreca]

And just snow everywhere coming down when you got there.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah, no problem. No issues.

[Rich Eisen]

No. Was the land. Was the land okay? Did you, did you come down without any.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no issues. They know they're doing up here. And I'm right now in beautiful Rogers Place, the gorgeous new arena of the Edmonton Oilers, which is connected to the hotel I'm staying at, which perfect, absolutely perfect. And, and unencumbered today, TNT's got the broadcast, so got four hours of radio with you guys.

[Rich Eisen]

Donnie.

[Don LaGreca]

And not only that, Donnie, I got good news for you. This is going to make you. I got a free parking spot today. How you like that?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, look at that. Good coming together.

[Don LaGreca]

It was an amazing moment. I saw a guy pulling into a spot and I went, oh, damn it. There was a free one there. And then I pulled up to look at it because I'm just, I'm just that guy. Like, man, you really got a free spot. And then I realized, Don, he doesn't have a free spot. He's pulled on. There are lines there. But in front of the car, in front of him is a full frontal spot.

[Rich Eisen]

That's it. That's a. That's a New York.

[Don LaGreca]

No, that's.

[Rich Eisen]

That's.

[Don LaGreca]

I've been driving here. I've been driving here a long time.

[Rich Eisen]

That's a New York. That's when you recognize. You look at him and you're like, oh, good spot.

[Don LaGreca]

Good job, buddy.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah, good.

[Don LaGreca]

Loser. Now, Don, I got news for you. What day do you get back in?

[Alan Hahn]

I get back be late Sunday night.

[Don LaGreca]

So you could be coming into a blizzard as well.

[John Harbaugh]

So.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, we got that going for us. More snow coming Sunday.

[Rich Eisen]

So. Do you know there was many, many years ago when we flew from Calgary to Edmonton after a game.

[Don LaGreca]

Is this when you were a writer covering the.

[Rich Eisen]

Say that anymore? No, no, actually, Peter, no.

[Don LaGreca]

I drive a dog strap.

[Rich Eisen]

I was on vacation.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, really?

[Rich Eisen]

In January? And I thought nothing better than Alberta in January.

[Don LaGreca]

Good for you, man.

[Alan Hahn]

It's an Alberta beef.

[Rich Eisen]

Oh, why not?

[John Harbaugh]

Okay.

[Rich Eisen]

By the way, that.

[Don LaGreca]

Is that a thing?

[Rich Eisen]

That beer's like moonshine up there.

[Alan Hahn]

They're known for their. The.

[John Harbaugh]

The.

[Alan Hahn]

The stakes up here, so they. Alberta beef.

[Don LaGreca]

I thought that was Alan's single nickname when he was traveling.

[Rich Eisen]

Oh, well, listen, cannot confirm nor deny up there. And why would I want to deny? What's up? So when we landed, Donnie, and I swear I'm not joking, this was one of those like. Like it was propeller. Those jets, like the smaller commuter jets.

[Don LaGreca]

Almost famous vibes, dude.

[Rich Eisen]

Yes. And I literally, and I'm not joking. Never done this before in my life. As we're coming down and the plane is doing. It's dipping, diving, flipping, everything. I said the rosary. You did?

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, really?

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Rich Eisen]

And only time I've ever done that in my life.

[Alan Hahn]

Apparently it worked.

[Rich Eisen]

You're still on a plane.

[Don LaGreca]

Look at us.

[Rich Eisen]

We did land somehow, some way, but, man, so luckily yours was a lot smoother than that.

[Don LaGreca]

I love Canada.

[Alan Hahn]

And I. And Edmonton, you know, obviously they get great team. Conor McGinn Sure. And all that, but this is the outpost of outposts in professional sports. I mean, it was quarter to nine this morning and the sun still wasn't up.

[Rich Eisen]

No. Why would it be you. Would you want to get up when it's that cold?

[Alan Hahn]

Like, you know what? Let me sleep in.

[Rich Eisen]

I'm going to see you in June. But again, like I said, you're there. Get. Get some steak, have a couple of beers. It's. It hits different. So while you're there, just, you know, make sure you.

[Don LaGreca]

He's going to the game tonight.

[Rich Eisen]

All right? No, they don't serve beer.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, now can you have a beer, Don, when you're not working?

[Rich Eisen]

Of course you can.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, not in the press box. If I wanted to, you know, roam around.

[Rich Eisen]

Go roam around. Go see the people. They're nice people up there. Very good people at Canadians.

[Don LaGreca]

You sure you don't want to just, like, you know, go to A steakhouse and watch the game like a gentleman.

[Rich Eisen]

Would it be Don gets loaded. Right? Because he doesn't realize a Canadian beer hits different. And then he rips his shirt off. He's, like, waving it around.

[Don LaGreca]

No, I'm going to go a step further. I'm going to go step further, Don, trust me, nothing can go wrong. I think you go full Mark Sanchez tonight.

[Alan Hahn]

That's.

[Don LaGreca]

That's all I know.

[Alan Hahn]

What?

[Don LaGreca]

Too soon way. Okay, don't.

[Rich Eisen]

You know what?

[Don LaGreca]

Don't go attack an Uber driver.

[Rich Eisen]

Don't do that.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I mean, it wouldn't be frowned.

[Don LaGreca]

Upon, though, Don, if, like, you didn't attacking. No, not attacking an Uber driver. But if you weren't in the press box tonight and you just went to a steakhouse, like, would anyone say anything or just. You just like to go.

[Alan Hahn]

As long as I'm back in time to get on the bus.

[Rich Eisen]

Remember, they're leaving right after the game.

[Alan Hahn]

But you know me, like, what do you think I'm gonna be. Wednesday?

[Don LaGreca]

No, no. Tomorrow.

[Alan Hahn]

Canucks capital. So I'm going to be there. Like, I. I'm just. I love hockey.

[Rich Eisen]

Loves hockey.

[John Harbaugh]

Wait, wait.

[Rich Eisen]

He loves hockey like John Harbaugh loves football.

[Don LaGreca]

I see what you're doing.

[Alan Hahn]

Hockey, Hockey.

[John Harbaugh]

Hockey, Hockey, hockey. You.

[Don LaGreca]

Tomorrow, you get to Vancouver. Yeah, I mean tonight.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Late tonight.

[Don LaGreca]

The team is off tomorrow.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don LaGreca]

The Capitals are in Vancouver.

[Rich Eisen]

Yes. Which means.

[Don LaGreca]

And you're going to write all the numbers down like Blair Witch. The Capitals.

[Alan Hahn]

But I just enjoy the sport, man.

[Don LaGreca]

I wish you love the sport like I do. If you.

[John Harbaugh]

If.

[Alan Hahn]

If you were. If you were in a town to cover raw, and for some reason that was RAW the day before you didn't have to cover, wouldn't you still go check it out?

[Don LaGreca]

It's situational. I am very situational.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, listen, but it's over.

[Don LaGreca]

You get to watch over.

[Rich Eisen]

That's what it is.

[Alan Hahn]

You only have a handful a day. Who knows how? Well, this is all going to come to an end. Yeah, but you know what? Pete DeVito, who does stats for the jets on radio, took the trip. He's a big Devil fan. So I saw him in Calgary last night. He's in Edmonton. You know what I'll do? I'll hang with him. I'll pound some beers with him.

[Rich Eisen]

There you go.

[Alan Hahn]

Then I'll stumble into the press box with, like, 10 minutes to go in the game. They'll carry me out to the bus and it'll be great.

[Rich Eisen]

That's a good hang.

[Don LaGreca]

I like that. Now I just want. I just want you to have some fun. You know what I mean?

[Rich Eisen]

I like it.

[Don LaGreca]

Have a time, Don. You deserve it, for God's sake.

[Alan Hahn]

No, but this is a good time. And you know what? It's times like this, guys, where I know what John Harbaugh is talking about, that you gotta love football. Everybody loves to go out there and play, but it's the travel, it's the grind, the practice, the grind of it. And if you still love it during the grind, then you know that you love the sport that you cover or you play. It's so easy to get excited for the games. Everybody loves the games. I remember Greg Butler used to always say that I play for free. They pay me to practice because the games are fun, but it's everything else. But if that's not fun, if the prep and the video and the practices and the travel and the grind isn't fun, then are you fully committed? So it's like days like this, you know, when you're traveling away from your family, but if you still love it, you know you're in the right place. And so when I was watching the press conference this afternoon, I was thinking about that everybody loves to play the game, but do you love everything else? And John Harbaugh, to me, guys, he pays attention. So if he led with his press conference about the love of football, somebody, some little birdie told him that people didn't love being giants before, and maybe the players didn't really love being a giant or love football. For him to have that accentuated that much in the press conference tells me that that's what he sees wrong with this team. And that's what he want to see change with this team.

[Rich Eisen]

Count the name, count the number of times he says football.

[John Harbaugh]

We need guys that love everything about football. They love the games, they love the practices, they love the weightlifting, they love the meetings, they love the dining hall. You know, they love every part of football, man. And if you love football, guys, if you love football, you're going to want to be here. You're going to want drive in that parking lot every single day. You're gonna want to walk in that, through those doors, you want to walk up in those halls, you're gonna want to get in front of that tape and watch tape every single day, because you're gonna be around a bunch of guys that love what you love. They love football because that's what we're gonna be doing, football all the time, every day. And if there's guys, you know around that don't love football, Joe we're probably gonna let those guys go play somewhere else. Because if you don't love football, you're not gonna love it here. Because we'll be doing football. That's the plan. All right.

[Rich Eisen]

We'll be doing football. That's the plan. What'd you get?

[Alan Hahn]

I think I got 10.

[Rich Eisen]

How long was counting with his fingers up?

[Producer/Staff Member]

I got nine.

[Rich Eisen]

Nine, six. 36 seconds.

[Alan Hahn]

Nine.

[Don LaGreca]

That's one every four seconds.

[Rich Eisen]

And if we're. That's what we're going to be doing.

[John Harbaugh]

That's what we're doing. Football.

[Rich Eisen]

Tremendous. All the time, every day.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, football. The last time I got fired up for press conference because this is all Tonka truck, right? We, you know, we all try to grade the press conference and what does it all mean?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, it depends. The Rosenberg rating is big.

[Alan Hahn]

That is big. And I'd be very.

[Don LaGreca]

Because we've seen Rosenberg. Rosenberg calls it at the presser and generally gets it.

[Rich Eisen]

You did nail the Joe Judge one.

[Don LaGreca]

I got. I nailed Joe Judge so far. I'm a little worried I'm nailing Aaron Glenn.

[Rich Eisen]

I did not like Aaron Glenn.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm pretty good at the presser.

[Rich Eisen]

What do you got? Give us a grade. Want to reveal it later? I have.

[Don LaGreca]

I got. I need more. You give me more.

[Alan Hahn]

At some point we'll have the grade. But I was fired up for Coughlin back in the day because Coughlin spent his press conference talking about that injuries are a cancer and kind of just basically accusing the Giants before he got there of guys that weren't giving the effort to get back onto the field. And next thing you know, Tom Coughlin's would lead him the two Super Bowls. He probably sniffed out the problem of the end of the Fossil era. And I get a feeling that Harbaugh was sniffing out the end of the day.

[Rich Eisen]

Listen, all the things that we want in a press conference, sometimes it's just we want you to speak plainly. We don't. Don't give you proclamations. And the difference. And Donnie, I was talking about this before the show. The difference I felt in this was in the past, especially with our New York teams. Both teams have hired guys who've never been head coaches before. They're almost introducing themselves to you. Here's what I want to do. Here's who I am. And you know all that stuff. And like, this is why you're gonna like me. This is what I'm gonna do. John Harbaugh didn't need to introduce himself. What he was telling you is why I took this job. That's what he was telling you. Not why am I the right hire? Because we all assume that, including him. We all know you're the right hire, but he was giving you the why did I take this job? And I felt like that's where that's like all the other stuff about type of team this is going to be.

[Alan Hahn]

That's all.

[Rich Eisen]

We all know he's going to say that stuff. But the most important things I thought that he said was why, why a 4 and 13 team? Why a franchise that hasn't gotten it right for the most part over the last 15 years? And you know, why take on the challenge in New York.

[John Harbaugh]

What an honor. What an exciting moment. Walk in here and they say New York's a different kind of place. And I would say it's probably true. Man, this is pretty amazing right here. This is incredible. And to see those players back there, see those guys smiling and ready to go to work, that gets me fired up too. So to everybody, just thank you very much.

[Rich Eisen]

You see that? How it's not like this prove myself in New York stuff. He even gave you the wide eyed, wow. Wow, this place is great. Like this is great. Like it's an enthusiasm instead of how much he has to prove. And then again, let me just, let me just get this part in here, Donnie. And then we can both, we can all just react. This will be another quick cut on why he wanted the job.

[John Harbaugh]

One of the most iconic franchises in all of sports. I wanted this job. I think I told you that, Mr. Mayor. I wanted this job. I wanted this job. And to be on the biggest stage in the biggest sport. I know the challenges, I understand the expectations. I know the fans are hungry for a winner. We're here with one mission. To become. To earn the right to be called the world champions in New York. And that's what we plan to do.

[Rich Eisen]

But you do you see, though, it's just, he's not trying to give you a sound bite. He's speaking very plainly. And I think that's, that's because he's very confident in who he is.

[Alan Hahn]

Totally. I don't want to like jump in to how Peter grades these things, but I would think, Peter, what you, what you're looking for, is it genuine or is it an actual. Are you trying to sell something or are you just being yourself? And he looked like a guy that was genuinely excited, didn't look like he was putting on an act, had a message. His suit fit. He had a haircut that didn't like it was cut with spoons. Like, he looked like a coach that belonged, that had a message and he was comfortable and he was genuinely excited. That's what I took from it. Not somebody trying to sell a bill of goods, trying to sell himself. Trying to be something that he's not. Trying to cookie cutter his way through a press conference because he watched this guy do it this way or that guy do it that way. It came off as very genuine to me.

[Don LaGreca]

Here's what I like about it. I like that he shows up suit and tie, still trying to prove, you know, I'm still here to prove something to you guys. Yes, I have a Super bowl ring. Yes, I bring cachet to this organization that you don't currently have. But I still want to impress everybody here because we know John Harbaugh, he carries himself as a pretty casual guy.

[Rich Eisen]

When you see him around every man.

[Don LaGreca]

He'S sort of everyman. But he showed up taking it very seriously and that he's delivering just the very Mr. Joe football now. Not Mr. Joe football. Cool guy, tough guy, Mr. Joe football. I love football guy. And we're going to get love back in this building because that is ultimately what starts to slip away from an organization that ceases to play well. That love of the game, you don't feel it very much. That's why people like Scatter Boo so much and love Jackson Darth, because they, they feel the love from. I think. I think Malik Neighbors fits in that category too.

[Rich Eisen]

Just. They just can't get enough. And you know what?

[Don LaGreca]

That's what you need.

[Rich Eisen]

And we will, for those who are already wondering, like, is Han ever going to talk about the Knicks in that debacle? Yes, we are. We're going to get to that. And I'll just interject before we get back to the Giants. Interject. The Knicks were that team until this season. Something happened over the last couple of weeks because that's what Brunson and all them, they were all, they love football, love basketball. Guys love it, breathe it. They don't need anything else in their lives. This is all I care about. It's all I want. And for the last couple of weeks here, I don't know, since winning that NBA Cup, I don't know what's happened, but that. That's kind of been slipped away. We'll get into that. More John Harbor. So, okay, you love football, we love football. You wanted this job. We wanted you to have this job. Now let's get down to brass tacks. How are you gonna turn this thing into a winner? And by the way, not just how you're gonna do it, how quickly can you do it?

[John Harbaugh]

The second part's impossible to say, but I'm planning on day one. So that's what we'll be shooting for. That's what we'll be working for and fully expect it to happen. You build anything together, you build it from the inside out. It's going to be a reflection. You know, culture is kind of a crazy word. You know, what does it really mean? It's a worldview. It's a shared understanding. It's a vision. It's everybody being on the same page. It's talking the same language, all these kind of things. Same values, same type of values, same type of beliefs. Right. Okay. That's like a social studies class. Maybe we're talking here. So what is it in football? It's a bunch of guys that see the game the same way. It's a bunch of guys that want to play the game together the same way. It's a relentless brotherhood, having each other's back, being unwilling to give up because that guy next to you is unwilling to give up. You know, all these things that these guys believe in. We'll decide what the culture looks like together, every single day by what we do together. All right? And that's how you build it together.

[Rich Eisen]

How do you like that? No promises. No, this is how it's done. He's telling you we're going to. It's got to just come together and we'll figure it out as we do it.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, because listen, he wants to do it right away, but he was very genuine with his answers. There's no. You can't say he hasn't practiced with his team. He hasn't game planned with his team yet. Find out. He doesn't have a roster yet.

[Rich Eisen]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

They haven't even had the draft. They haven't even tackled free agency.

[Rich Eisen]

Although he does love the roster. He did talk about that, too. So does his dad, apparently.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, there's a cold. I mean, you got the quarterback scatter, Boot comes back and he's healthy. Neighbors comes back and he's healthy.

[Rich Eisen]

Good offensive line.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, you got a good, you know, an offensive line that certainly improved in the second half of the season. A pass rush that I think when healthy can be. And coached properly, can be elite. Yes, but you need the depth.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

We went through this with the Jets. Right. We can name a bunch of guys and then that disguises it as, oh, we've got a really. We got a lot of talent. Well, you might have four or five guys that we know and four or five guys that can maybe challenge to be Pro Bowlers, but if you don't have depth, if you. If you don't have it across the board, well, then how talented a team are you? And I think the Giants have some scattered talent that needs to be filled in. But I like that answer. It wasn't some cliche kind of rallying cry. Said it was like, hey, yeah, we'd like to do it right away. But, you know, it's impossible to answer exactly how long this is going to take. You're in a really tough division, and a lot of work has to be done.

[Rich Eisen]

All right, so how do you build this team?

[John Harbaugh]

Our focus is simple. It starts with building a team that is physical and tough, that's capable of over overwhelming their opponent from beginning to end, and especially at the end, that understands how to finish, that is smart and disciplined. It plays the game the way it should be played and that everybody watching it, including those playing it, be proud of.

[Don LaGreca]

I just heard something. I just heard something and I can't unhear it, but I got to tell you.

[Alan Hahn]

Am I right?

[Don LaGreca]

Hold on.

[Alan Hahn]

I want to take it to the air.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm. No. Is he Joe Biden it.

[Alan Hahn]

I text the group.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't see it.

[Rich Eisen]

You mean the way he sounds?

[Alan Hahn]

I text the group. Just a minute. I didn't know if I wanted to take it to the air or not because I'm not trying to be. Pull it. But he sounds.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, no, because politically, he's very much not Joe Biden. But in terms of. But in terms of his talking, he. I'm ready for.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Come on.

[Rich Eisen]

Come on, everyone. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's come together as a team. Listen to that clip one more time and think.

[Rich Eisen]

It's only 10. Actually, this next one is 10 seconds. All right, let me play this one. It's the next one. Anyway. I'm sure it's voice didn't change. This is more the team.

[Don LaGreca]

Younger like 15 years ago.

[Rich Eisen]

First mentality should have started a couple weeks ago.

[Don LaGreca]

He doesn't sound like.

[Rich Eisen]

No, no, no.

[Don LaGreca]

He sounds more like Button. Not as much like.

[Rich Eisen]

But that the mouse just ran away on me. Here we go.

[John Harbaugh]

Nothing will be taken for granted. It will always, always be all about the team. The team, the team, the team. Thanks, dad, for that. It'll always be about that. Now it's time to go to work.

[Rich Eisen]

The thanks, dad, too.

[Don LaGreca]

I remember I was in. I was in Delaware. I was a kid.

[John Harbaugh]

My dad.

[Don LaGreca]

We were at the pool oh, my God.

[Rich Eisen]

That is so funny.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I never noticed that before.

[Rich Eisen]

That's very interesting. It is.

[Don LaGreca]

There's some fun to be had there.

[Rich Eisen]

There is, for sure. We could do side by side. I'm sure we could probably dig up something.

[Don LaGreca]

Biden, I'm not getting around.

[Rich Eisen]

Very benign that he's saying that we could just put side by side.

[John Harbaugh]

Oh, no, no.

[Alan Hahn]

Absolutely.

[Don LaGreca]

You could definitely hear it.

[Rich Eisen]

Come on. There was a Trump question.

[Don LaGreca]

There was.

[Rich Eisen]

In the press conference. There was. Somebody asked because the president did, like.

[Don LaGreca]

Say, lobby for him.

[Rich Eisen]

Right. The Giants should hire him now. So they like, how did you feel about that? And he just kind of was very quickly, just quick joke about how, you know, well, it's a big something, but it's just. He went like. It's just sports, you know, he knew.

[Don LaGreca]

Not to go too far if they talked about that, too.

[Rich Eisen]

But it is. It is funny, though, that he.

[Don LaGreca]

If somebody did ask the question, he's loved by Trump. Sounds like Biden, which.

[Rich Eisen]

Hey, see that? We can all come together. How about.

[John Harbaugh]

How much?

[Rich Eisen]

How much, of course, did the quarterback have an impact on his decision? Because, you know, Jackson Dart is somebody that everybody in New York's excited about. Is John Harbaugh just as excited about coaching him?

[John Harbaugh]

Well, it's a great question because, you know, the quarterback's kind of important. You know, that's. That's kind of a big deal. And I'm excited about Jackson Dart. I've seen your backup quarterback, too, Jameis, up close and personal two years ago, so I saw him complete a bunch of passes. Yeah, I know. There you go. I saw you. I had, you know. Oh, my. Remember that game, right? It's a great game for you. So for you, I mean, the quarterback. You build your team around your quarterback. You build your team around your players and what they do. Well, I like the way he plays. I mean, I like his talent, skill set, all the things he's accomplished. But more than that, I like who he is. And what he's about to me, is about football. I mean, this. This young guy loves football. He wants to talk football all the time. And that's kind of what I like doing, too. So I think we're gonna have a lot of great conversations, and I can't wait to get started with him.

[Rich Eisen]

You know what we're learning? John Harbaugh likes football.

[Don LaGreca]

I've noticed that. He's this guy.

[Rich Eisen]

I think we're really learning this about.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm so glad he wasn't hired by the Knicks, because this is a football.

[Rich Eisen]

This wouldn't have worked.

[Don LaGreca]

No, he's not a basketball.

[Rich Eisen]

No, he's a great coach, but he couldn't coach basketball because he loves football.

[Don LaGreca]

Man. Loves football.

[Rich Eisen]

Really loves football.

[Don LaGreca]

No, he's so into football.

[Rich Eisen]

John Don, at some point though, right, we're going to have. We lost on. Okay.

[Don LaGreca]

Permanently.

[Rich Eisen]

No.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[Rich Eisen]

Thank God, man.

[Don LaGreca]

No, but he, he, this, this guy loves football.

[Rich Eisen]

Loves football.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm not ready to give a full grade yet, but I will tell you this.

[Rich Eisen]

There's more. No, because trading the right way why you can't grade yet is because coming up, we get to now real part of the business, which involves the hierarchy, who he answers to and working with Joe Shane, which is, I think for a lot of Giants fans, those are all the questions, right? Because Joe Shane's presence and continued presence, organization is something a lot of fans were not expecting. That'll be coming up. But one more cut from Harbaugh and this of course is about winning in New York versus of course what he's already done, which is win in Baltimore.

[John Harbaugh]

Well, I mean, the skyline's a lot different. You know, I noticed that right away. No two places, no two people are the same. You know, obviously you meet people in places and circumstances where you find them. So that's what we're going to do. We're going to take every one of those things we meet head on and do the best we can with it every single day. And you know, you say you do the best you can with it every single day. Well, that means a lot when you really think about what that means. I mean, are we really doing our best? Are we really putting everything we have into it for this day? Are we really attacking the day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind? Another level? Is that possible? Is that something that we can accomplish? Can we have the best meeting and the best practice of in the history of the National Football League? Can we? We can if we decide to. Right, guys? We can if we decide to. You know, and when you do that, day by day, you build something, you take it onto the field and you let the chips fly and you go play some ball.

[Rich Eisen]

That's the other thing he said, let the chips fly a couple of times.

[Don LaGreca]

Not fall, not fall.

[Rich Eisen]

He's throwing, Just throwing.

[Don LaGreca]

You're not dropping them.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah, he's just letting them fly. Well, so anyway, that, that's, that's the basics of the press conference. And you get a feel for John Harbaugh, how he's going to be at the podium. And we also have this feel that we haven't had a long time of when you hire a coach with his experience and his resume, that coach is not selling himself to you. What he's saying is, this is why I took the job. This is what I'm going to bring to you. And I felt like he did hit all those notes.

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Rich Eisen]

All right, before we get back to more of what John Harbaugh had to say today and the connection with Joe Shane and how it's all going to work now when it comes to hierarchy there with the Giants, with the New York Football Giants, he liked to make sure everybody understood.

[Don LaGreca]

You get confused sometimes.

[Rich Eisen]

Well, because there used to be a New York Giant.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

So recently.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah, just yesterday.

[Alan Hahn]

It was 70 years ago.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah. Come on.

[Don LaGreca]

Seventy years ago, no one here was alive. But you get the idea.

[Rich Eisen]

I do. I do need to. We do have some controversy going on here.

[Alan Hahn]

I love it.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah, damn right we do.

[Rich Eisen]

And it needs to be addressed.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no.

[Rich Eisen]

Well, this is the second week now, and Jacob is a witness, Anthony's a witness, John Winthrop is a witness. And curiously, he's the only one that's around all day, so you'd think he'd have an idea. And then, Peter, of course you're aware of this as well. Don, I'm not sure how much you're aware of this because this is something more that has come up recently and you've been on the road. So it's two weeks in a row that I have gone to Trader Joe's and picked up a delicious pouch of trail mix.

[Don LaGreca]

We know how you feel about it.

[Rich Eisen]

I love it. And we have like a cupboard in the kitchen area and we've kind of commandeered. Right. We've put our. Our pita chips in there. We have put some other delightful things like granola, crackers. Right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rich Eisen]

Would you say?

[Don LaGreca]

Okay, I have granola. We have multiple crackers.

[Rich Eisen]

What else?

[Don LaGreca]

Cashews.

[Rich Eisen]

Cashew, that's right. Your nuts are in there.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I put mine.

[Alan Hahn]

I saw some manuka honey in there.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah, I have manuka honey there.

[Rich Eisen]

Very, very useful stuff.

[Don LaGreca]

And expensive. Some mango, Some dried mango.

[Rich Eisen]

I put dried mango. Okay. So you get an idea that we've kind of just said, this is our. Our cabinet. And for the second week in a row, a bag that was mostly full When I've come back, which I haven't been here in the studio because of other things since Thursday, it's almost empty again. Okay, so last week when it happened, I bought a new bag. I said, okay, we're gonna watch this now. I'm just gonna see.

[Don LaGreca]

We paid attention.

[Rich Eisen]

We talked Thursday, right. We were here all together Thursday.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Rich Eisen]

But we had. We all had a little bit, but there was still enough that was showing in the clear. Part of the bag came in today. Handful left.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah, Almost gone. Don.

[Rich Eisen]

I mean, I'd rather you just take it.

[Alan Hahn]

Just take it.

[Rich Eisen]

Finish the whole damn thing. Steal it, make it disappear. So even I'm like, wait, did I finish it? No. But to leave it there.

[Don LaGreca]

No, it's just a little bit left. You know what?

[Rich Eisen]

It has to be now. You call. Now you're mocking me.

[Don LaGreca]

It has to be that the person taking it doesn't even think what they're doing is wrong.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I think what I was going to say is that they must think that that's a common area. And they go in there and it's just for the staff.

[Rich Eisen]

The hell it is.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, how.

[Alan Hahn]

If you didn't know?

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And there's a lot of people that work on our floor that aren't people that we have relationships with. You know, the good karma people. And that's a common area. We all share cups, and we've gone into the refrigerator, and I've gotten creamer from there. And so there is a sense in that little kitchenette that that's kind of community. A lot of times cupcakes and cookies are left.

[Rich Eisen]

They're on the counter.

[Don LaGreca]

On the counter. Yeah, sure.

[Rich Eisen]

If I took a nice dish, poured out the trail mix in said dish, and left it on the counter, that's a way of inviting everyone.

[Alan Hahn]

I know, but is it possible you.

[Rich Eisen]

Leave it in the bag and put it in the cabinet, says, this is for later. Keep your grubby hands off it.

[Alan Hahn]

But I go into the refrigerator and I grab some creamer, and sometimes there's some delicious hazelnut creamer that I like to put into my coffee. How do I know that doesn't belong to somebody that they keep refrigerated and they're aggravated and I'm taking it. That's creamer. That's not like.

[Rich Eisen]

Like, that's a. That's an extra. Tell us if someone had a piece of cake in the fridge. Are you going to take the piece of cake?

[Don LaGreca]

Right. That's the thing. Like, we Don. Let me.

[Rich Eisen]

I.

[Don LaGreca]

More than any of Us probably use the kitchen. I go shopping at Trader Joe's. I go shopping at Trader Joe's. I get my stuff. I keep some stuff in the cabinet. I put some stuff in the fridge. I go in the fridge every day. I just got oat milk from the fridge.

[Rich Eisen]

Nice.

[Don LaGreca]

Because they keep oat milk, whole milk, almond milk, skim milk, all there for coffee.

[Rich Eisen]

Essentials.

[Don LaGreca]

Essentials. And everyone shares that. And it's really nice that good karma does that. They keep it stacked. Always stocked up nicely.

[Rich Eisen]

Right?

[Don LaGreca]

When I go in the fridge, I have a little. I've just picked an area that I tuck my little yogurts, and no one has ever touched them. No, I don't touch anything else in the fridge because, you know the stuff you put in there and you wouldn't dare disrespect. I see the cabinets. The same way you're opening a cabinet, seeing that there's an open box of crackers. Pulling it out or nuts or whatever. Pulling it out and just going to.

[Rich Eisen]

Town without just thinking that, oh, this is for me too.

[Don LaGreca]

I think that's crazy.

[Rich Eisen]

So, you know, we're gonna do. I'm gonna set up a camera.

[Don LaGreca]

I love this. I love this plan.

[Rich Eisen]

We're gonna put a camera. We're gonna put it in the cabinet, and everybody that opens that cabinet, your face will be seen.

[Don LaGreca]

I love it.

[Rich Eisen]

And we're gonna go through it, and we're gonna set a trap.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, now, where do you put fresh bag?

[Rich Eisen]

Right there next to the camera.

[Don LaGreca]

But here's the. Here's the deal. Hey, lookreka.

[Alan Hahn]

Open your mouth.

[Rich Eisen]

So when you grab the bag, the camera's gonna see you.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh.

[Rich Eisen]

Because the camera's gonna sit behind the bag.

[Don LaGreca]

I love what you've done.

[Rich Eisen]

The minute someone puts their hands and pulls the bag.

[Don LaGreca]

What if they're just moving it, though?

[Rich Eisen]

There'll be nothing there. We're gonna put it on the shelf. There's nothing on it eye level.

[Don LaGreca]

And we just sit there waiting.

[Rich Eisen]

You'll be exposed.

[Don LaGreca]

Now, do you think?

[Rich Eisen]

And we'll do like Chris Hansen. We'll bring you in.

[Don LaGreca]

What?

[Rich Eisen]

Walk right in.

[Don LaGreca]

What are you doing?

[Rich Eisen]

We're gonna walk, right?

[Don LaGreca]

I was just here for the cookies.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey.

[Don LaGreca]

So I just wanted to. I'm just here to get trail mix.

[Rich Eisen]

You like trail mix, huh?

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah. Here, have a seat.

[Rich Eisen]

Do you know whose trail mix that is?

[Don LaGreca]

I was just on my way. No, no, Have a seat.

[Rich Eisen]

Oh, please, sit down. Have some trail mix.

[Don LaGreca]

You want a trail mix? Sit down. Have some trail mix.

[Alan Hahn]

Thank you.

[Rich Eisen]

That's how we're gonna do. They're gonna put em right on the couch. There's a couch right next to the kitchen. This kitchen.

[Don LaGreca]

When you think about it, it actually looks like Chris Hansen waiting there.

[Rich Eisen]

It has the. It has the. It has the. The island. It has everything that looks like that.

[Don LaGreca]

Takes me back to my earliest days doing having my own talk show on the radio in dc. I used to play this Chris Hansen drop of him going what are you doing?

[Rich Eisen]

Would it be great if actually we.

[Don LaGreca]

Got hands in the dude put a.

[Rich Eisen]

Ring camera in there. I know. And because then when you see it open and you go, you press the button that you could talk to them.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, we get an update on our phone. Oh, someone's looking live and you just hit it.

[Rich Eisen]

Oh, that was you doing. Who do you think it could be? If we had to guess because Bart's already claimed he doesn't. It's not him. And I believe him because he brings his own spread. Like he's got it.

[Don LaGreca]

This bag's got all kinds of sauce in the bag. He's like Hillary Clinton.

[Rich Eisen]

Who else? Who else could it be?

[Don LaGreca]

Well listen, I'm going to assume it's not any of the lovely good karma folks who just like work in the office.

[Rich Eisen]

I can't say that. I can't say that with full confidence.

[Don LaGreca]

Me neither. But I don't know anyone well enough to.

[Rich Eisen]

Accusations fly to.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's go. I can't. I can't. So I'm going to assume it's someone from our world.

[Rich Eisen]

Talent. Talent that knows that cabinet.

[Don LaGreca]

What do you think if you were to guess Anthony or he's probably dealing with something. Jacob, whichever you avail available. Do you lean towards it being talent or.

[Rich Eisen]

Nah, I don't think it's talent, to be honest. You don't think it's talent?

[Producer/Staff Member]

No, I think it's somebody in office.

[Don LaGreca]

How about.

[Rich Eisen]

How about I don't think it's malicious. I think that you guys are taking liberties with thinking that that's your cabinet and nobody's gonna go in.

[Don LaGreca]

Here's why I disagree with you, I must say.

[Producer/Staff Member]

This is why I disagree with Anthony.

[Rich Eisen]

Okay, good.

[Don LaGreca]

Because neither of you open up a cabin and assume it's yours for the taking.

[Rich Eisen]

No, but I don't trust other people.

[Don LaGreca]

But so. But why would other people who know that there are lots of people here they don't know assume that that's communal. You know the only thing that's communal is stuff that's intentionally left out. Or the coffee and creamers that's it. Nothing else is communal here, you know what I mean?

[Rich Eisen]

It's an open bag of trail mix. Someone put their hands in it already. Why would you want to open that?

[Producer/Staff Member]

That's the part two that creeps me out. It's the fact that you know somebody else.

[Rich Eisen]

Would you do it? Like, if you saw an open bag, would you be like, oh, I'm gonna get some of these? Like, you don't even know whose hands were in there.

[Producer/Staff Member]

I can only, you know, there's people.

[Rich Eisen]

You look at, you're like, no way. He washed his hands after he goes to the bathroom. I'm not touching anything.

[Producer/Staff Member]

The one time I even got like, any of Alan Hans bag of nuts, and I'll say it like that.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Rich Eisen]

Wow.

[Producer/Staff Member]

Was when he offered it to me, and I was like, this doesn't have raisins in it.

[Rich Eisen]

I'm good.

[Producer/Staff Member]

That's the only time I touched, like, the trail mix.

[Don LaGreca]

You like raisins?

[Producer/Staff Member]

Yes.

[Rich Eisen]

Those have raisins.

[Producer/Staff Member]

No, but I think the one like, chocolate had chocolate.

[Don LaGreca]

Chocolate's better than raisins.

[Alan Hahn]

Really?

[Producer/Staff Member]

Mm. I need chocolate. I need chocolate or raisins. I'm sorry.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, wow, look at you. Okay, so I'm gonna tell you guys the truth.

[Rich Eisen]

It's you.

[Don LaGreca]

It's me.

[Rich Eisen]

You come back at night.

[Don LaGreca]

If I was working on the weekend and I was like, starving, and it's a Saturday at 10 and I'm stuck in the middle of board hopping a West Coast Knicks game.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah. And you're like.

[Don LaGreca]

And I, oh, is there a chance I'm one. I don't just go, you know what?

[Rich Eisen]

You're like a producer. You're one of the producers. It's like, you got five minutes to yourself. You can't eat. You open the cabin, you're like, damn, that's. I'm taking these guys.

[Don LaGreca]

They got the M and M's. Well, they're not real M and M's at the NNNs in there. About to hit these NNS real quick.

[Rich Eisen]

Listen, if that's it, if that's the.

[Producer/Staff Member]

Truth, I mean, I might have to do now. Yeah, well, I might have to ask the producers.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah. If it is one of the producers and it's happening on a weekend, just tell me.

[Alan Hahn]

Be honest.

[Don LaGreca]

Just don't.

[Rich Eisen]

Hey, man, like, I just. I just grab some.

[Don LaGreca]

Like.

[Rich Eisen]

That's all good, man. You guys work hard, okay? But don't do it on this. Don't do it on the sly and think you're getting. It's true.

[Don LaGreca]

It's true of everything. In life, if you're going to grab a man's nuts, you give him a warning first. You know what I mean?

[Rich Eisen]

Okay. 800-919-3776. So part of the John Harbaugh experience today for Giants fans had to be about why is Joe Shane still the general manager here. There was a lot of people that were hoping that his presence would mean a change in the front office. But Harbaugh clearly, when he met him, spent time with him, was impressed enough with him to say, no, I want to work with this guy. And he talked about it.

[John Harbaugh]

No question, Mike. Probably the conversations themselves is what led me to believe there would be great collaboration. I mean, you know, obviously you get to know Joe and we start talking ball and you see he's a football man. This guy lives and breathes football. His knowledge is deep. He knows the league. He knows the coaches in the league. He knows the players in the league. Probably knows all the scouts in the league, too, I'll bet. You know, he was impressive to me, and it was just really a joy to talk football and really dig into some of the plans that we might have going forward. See, we can build here. So I was impressed. Very impressed.

[Rich Eisen]

So, again, you know, if you want to believe that John Harbaugh is a smart guy and that he's the right hire, as a Giants fan, don't you have to take him for his word? Don't you have to say, all right, if he sat down with him, spent time with him, came away impressed, then maybe I should. I should have a different take on Joe Shane's presence and that front office's presence, despite the fact the last couple of years has been such a disaster.

[Alan Hahn]

I think if you're a Giant fan that hates Joe Shane, you got to give him a second glance based on what John Harbaugh is saying. Because John Harbaugh didn't have to take this job. I'm sure he could have walked in and said, no, I'm bringing my own guy. I don't want to have to work with Joe Shane and probably would have gotten his way. And if not, he'd be in Tennessee right now. He'd be in Atlanta right now. He'd be in Miami right now. He's not. So he obviously feels comfortable with him now. He might have more power than Dable had. He might have final say. But if he likes him, then as a Giant fan, if you like John Harbaugh, don't you now have to like Joe Shane because Harbaugh, or at least.

[Rich Eisen]

Tolerate that and not, not get all bent out of shape. Just think, like, you know, what if, if, if Harbaugh gave him a. A vote of approval, then I, I guess we gotta, like, we gotta let them work together and see if the results get better. Chris Mara, who is very much involved in the hiring process and could be credited as the guy that got it over the goal line, he talked about something that they were resistant to as an ownership group, and that was changing the structure. You know, like the Jets, Woody Johnson's always wanted everybody on the same level. Coach and GM both report to him. A lot of teams do that. Now, I don't always agree that it's the right thing to do, but the Giants have never felt that way. They have always felt like the coach goes to the gm, the gm, then deals with the owner. And not everybody has the ability to say something when it comes to the presence of the owner. Harbaugh wanted that because that's what he had in Baltimore. And the Marist said, all right, you want it, then we're going to change the way we do things. And Chris Maurer explained how that changed.

[Alan Hahn]

Life has plenty of changes, and we've.

[Rich Eisen]

Tried both ways, and we're just comfortable.

[Alan Hahn]

Doing this with him.

[Rich Eisen]

I think with anybody else might.

[Alan Hahn]

Maybe it might not have happened that way, but everyone was agreement, so we're good.

[Rich Eisen]

That's the perfect answer. Don. With anybody else, we're probably saying no, but this guy, we're definitely not going to say no to this guy.

[Alan Hahn]

And I, I appreciate that structure. I'm old school, too. I like the coach to answer to the general manager, general manager, answer to the coach. We've had this conversation many times when the jets seemed like the first team, everything was collaborative. But that was back when you had George Young, Ernie Acorsi, even Jerry Reese, who had been with the organization for a long time. But once you branch out and you start bringing in younger guys that don't have ties to the organization, that think a little differently, think what Joe Shane did when he came in. The biggest compliment anybody had for him is that he updated the systems, he modernized their scouting, because they were old school and they were stuck in the mud. And now it's time to kind of grow up, do it in a better way, modernize the situation. And this is how organizations are run now, not just in football. Everywhere where the head coach has a job or manager, general manager, owner, and everything is now collaborative. And if John. And if that's the way John Harbaugh wants it, then the Giants, who have their hat in their hand trying to hire a good coach. Now, after going over four, then you got to make the change. You got to accommodate.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah. And again, this is the right way to do it in this particular situation because you have a head coach that has been in the league a long time, had great success, and a GM who's younger, and the two of them working together, this could end up working out the best.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Rich Eisen]

This song starts to become relevant somewhere in February, like right around Groundhog Day, when you're just sick. Like, the snow right now is pretty. Like, this weekend. It looks so nice. There was a point, I think, on Saturday where it was coming down like. Like it was a snow globe. It was soft and pretty.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Rich Eisen]

And then. So you. It's fine. We're gonna get crushed again this weekend, right?

[Don LaGreca]

Not necessarily. It could be, like three to five inches Sunday.

[Rich Eisen]

Three to five.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, they start out making it sound like it's crazy. Then you dig into it. You're like, the numbers don't look that bad, but. But it's more than 10%.

[Rich Eisen]

You don't mind it. Right. Like, you don't. And then, because it's nice. And then you get to a point, by the end of January, you're like, all right, enough. Well, good.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, as we said yesterday, I think we might have said this after you left, Alan, but, like, we have. We have now fully ended up getting like the. We always talk about, oh, when are we gonna have a real winter? It's a bit.

[Rich Eisen]

This was. Going through.

[Don LaGreca]

It's been freezing. It's been snowing regularly.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah. The almanac said so.

[John Harbaugh]

It's.

[Don LaGreca]

It's. This is now enough. And now after the snow leaves and Don's, you know, somehow went to Western Canada, and still. I don't. He may be lucky. The temperature today is psychotic. It's awful outside.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah, it's anti.

[Alan Hahn]

Told me the wind chill was, like, one.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, she bundled up the kids and. And also, we can't complain because we've had some pretty mild winters. And I can handle the.

[Don LaGreca]

I can complain. Don't you worry.

[Alan Hahn]

And listen, snow is beautiful. My wife loves snow. But, you know, I think Alan and Peter, you too. There's times we've got to fly commercial, and that can be a problem. We all have. You know, Alan and I have significant rides into the City when we are home. And as pretty as it is, it gets dangerous. Just makes travel just so hard.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah, it's tough. But there's also those mornings you wake up and you look out to your yard and.

[Don LaGreca]

Beautiful.

[Rich Eisen]

Gorgeous. Right? And. And it's. It's great because we also have that backyard rink. And most. Most like last rink. Yeah. Last winter it was literally a pool. Like, it never froze because it just was too warm. We had like one time it froze over. And so it was all this effort and nothing. This year, forget it. You can skate on all the time. It's awesome.

[Don LaGreca]

So you. So, Don, you knew about this?

[Rich Eisen]

Yes. Yeah, we put one up every year. Zach used to skate on. Now Cali skates on.

[Alan Hahn]

Might be the only American to do it.

[Rich Eisen]

Oh, no, no. There's a lot of backyard rinks on the island.

[Don LaGreca]

Is that true?

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

How do you do it?

[Rich Eisen]

Well, it's. It's very simple. It's. It's a tarp that you use, and it's a white tarp.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[Rich Eisen]

And then you just put. You can do it make a frame, right? And you put the tarp over the frame. And then if you want to put boards up, you can. And then you just fill it with, you know, two inches of water.

[Alan Hahn]

Boy, you just made that sound way simpler than I'm sure it is.

[Rich Eisen]

No, it's really. It take an hour or so to put it together, you know, but you do it in late fall and wait.

[Don LaGreca]

For the cold, and then you lay down the water when it's time.

[Rich Eisen]

And then if once it freezes, then you really got it. Now you got to condition it to be smooth. And that's like Stephanie's psychotic with that. She's out there with the hot water.

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Rich Eisen]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. She's nuts. And you do it at night and how often is it getting used when it's frozen?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rich Eisen]

Callie will use it after. Every day, after school. Every day and on weekends. I'll skate with her. Yeah, it's fun.

[Don LaGreca]

Don, I just. I just think that. And you have goals out there.

[Rich Eisen]

We have one.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rich Eisen]

We have one net.

[Don LaGreca]

Don, I just think for how much, you know, conversation there was about your non existent indoor pool. I think. I think. I think Alan having his own hockey rink deserves a conversation. You know what I'm saying?

[Rich Eisen]

Building my own hockey rink.

[Don LaGreca]

That's what it sounds to me. It sounds like you have a hockey rink ring.

[Rich Eisen]

Well, it's not like it's. It's not a 200 by. It's not that it's small or. But it's, it's.

[Alan Hahn]

It's. You have a hockey rink.

[Don LaGreca]

You do have a rink, though.

[Rich Eisen]

It's a little rink. Yeah. Skating rink.

[Alan Hahn]

That is amazing.

[Don LaGreca]

You are.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, I love being Canadian.

[Don LaGreca]

Allen is Canadian.

[Rich Eisen]

No, no, Allen is Canadian. I am part Canadian. You have to. We have Canadian in the family. Yes.

[Don LaGreca]

Wow.

[Producer/Staff Member]

Yeah.

[Rich Eisen]

So that's cool. And that this, this winter makes it like, all right. This is awesome. We can actually use this thing, which makes it a lot more fun. How about we hear from Joe Shane before we get Peter's grade on the press conference? Yes, we did hear from Joe Shane as well. And how about the GM who's used to having final say on the possibility of someone else having final say?

[Joe Shane]

Yeah, and I'm not worried about that. Everywhere I've been, I've been in the league for 26 years. So everywhere I've been, the head coach and general manager work together. That's the only way it's going to work and get on the same page, go through the process again. We've done it everywhere I've been, so I'm not worried about it. Like you said, that's just, you know, something on a piece of paper doesn't matter. We need to work together and we're going to come to the, you know, final conclusion and it's always going to be about what's best for the New York Giants. So I have no problem with that and, you know, I'm looking forward to working with it.

[Rich Eisen]

So they just wanted to be official. That's why the wording had to be in the contract so there wouldn't be any. Any question about it. And maybe it's because if there's another GM brought in that protects the head coach.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. But. But you know, in. When we talk about collaboration, and the jets are a good example of that.

[Rich Eisen]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

Is that the head coach and the general manager were kind of the same. Right. Neither had any more experience than the other. And so there was no real power struggle. And they all did everything collaborative. They could be collaborative all they want. John Harbaugh is going to get his way because he's the big boy in the room. Right. He's the guy that's got the ring. He's the guy that's been a successful head coach. No offense to, to Joe Shane, but he doesn't have John Harbaugh's resume. A resume. Unfortunately, ownership does not have Wellington's resume. So if there's going to be face offs, that going to be one from a Giant Fans perspective. I want Harbaugh to win those face offs. They could be collaborative all they want, but give the guy what he wants. If there's a debate about a player, go with the hardballs player. If there's a debate about a coordinator, go with Harbaugh's coordinator.

[Rich Eisen]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Who's going to start a quarterback. John Harbaugh is going to have the final say. So have all the discussions you want but somebody at the end of the day has got to win the face off. And I think that's where the real good organizations at least have the one guy that's going to say, all right, I've got the final say. I heard you out but now it's my decision.

[Rich Eisen]

What do we think though about how fast the Giants can turn things around? Because that's all anybody cares about.

[Alan Hahn]

We never got to it yesterday. I don't think is there over under Vegas now Eight and a half.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, that's it's. It's crazy guys. They haven't hit eight wins in two years or they're not and their schedule is not right.

[Rich Eisen]

They don't have the hard schedule next year, right?

[Don LaGreca]

No. No.

[Alan Hahn]

Well based on how they've been playing. Yeah. Why should it would be hard Unless you're going to have you know. But that benefit on it.

[Rich Eisen]

But that benefits you.

[Alan Hahn]

But it benefits you. But also tells you that how many wins he's worth. They're saying he might be worth five wins and oh look, the games they BMW in the fourth quarter. How many. So Vegas is saying you probably win those with a competent head coach and you might have won seven, eight games this year. So if it's eight and a half, it's tough to bet the over at nine to go from three wins, four wins to nine. But if you're telling me that they can win eight, nine games you're playing meaningful games in December. You're in the hunt for a wild card spot going to the last couple of weeks of the season. So Vegas is telling you at it's right on the fringe. Right. Eight and a half is the betting odds of them being competitive and then being in a playoff spot. 9 gets you there.

[Rich Eisen]

8. 8.

[Alan Hahn]

Well in this division 8 won't get you a division title.

[Rich Eisen]

The so the Giants have the AFC south and the NFC West. That's their. That's the group they'll be playing against.

[Don LaGreca]

That's good from an AFC standpoint. Not great NFC standpoint.

[Rich Eisen]

So what'll be interesting and it'd be great if the Colts were coming to New York but Daniel Jones thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Rich Eisen]

But they're playing at Indianapolis, so there's that. But you've, you know, again, you've got them. You got the Texans. Colts were good before all the injuries kicked in. You got to play Seattle, you know, in the West. Rams, like Niners. You know that that's not easy.

[Don LaGreca]

I could see the Niners taking a step forward next year. That whole division could be a problem next year.

[Rich Eisen]

Oh, yeah. So it's, it's a point easy schedule. No. But eight and a half.

[Don LaGreca]

Think about what that they're saying about Harbor.

[Rich Eisen]

Right? Eight and a half's a pretty hefty number for a team that was four and 13. But also, as Don said, did blow some games that should have been wins early.

[Don LaGreca]

It's crazy, though, how much we emphasize the quarterback. It seems like maybe the coaches even more.

[Rich Eisen]

I'm telling you, we do emphasize quarterback. I do believe in more than any other sport, head coach matters the most.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Rich Eisen]

I don't want to know how the sausages are made, but I just want to know. It's good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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.