Hour 1: Mike in the Bronx

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Mike in the Bronx

Date: January 7, 2026
Podcast: ESPN New York
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

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Episode Overview

This episode blends classic Don, Hahn & Rosenberg banter with an in-depth discussion of the New York Giants’ head coaching search, focusing on John Harbaugh’s candidacy and the pivotal organizational decisions looming over the franchise. The trio also wades into sports management philosophy, coaching legacies, and injects their trademark humor, especially during a surprise call from Michael Kay (“Mike in the Bronx”)—setting up some old-school ESPN New York theatrics.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Technical Glitches and Banter (00:00–04:12)

• The show opens with the usual ribbing, including jokes about their YouTube video appearance.
  • Alan: “Don looks like old man Winter… the color of your skin, Don, is… is like eggshell. I never see anything like it.” (03:33)
• They joke about Don’s overexposed camera, leading to a running “God LaGreca” gag.
• Early banter includes references to "Whitish Wednesday," music, and their dynamic on visual and audio platforms.

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2. The Giants & the John Harbaugh Sweepstakes (04:13–21:16)

Optimism and Underlying Anxiety (04:13–06:18)

• Don expresses rare Giants fan optimism:
  • “This is probably the happiest that I’ve been since beating Minnesota in 22 in the playoffs. Like, honestly, where you feel like there’s a future here…” (04:13)
  • He lays out why Harbaugh is the favorite and what could derail it (e.g., Bills or Eagles firing their coaches).

The Giants Selling Themselves to Coaches (06:18–07:54)

• Alan pivots the standard “coaches sell themselves” narrative:
  • “I think this for Joe Schoen, he’s trying to sell the Giants… This is rare.” (06:58)
• Don agrees, highlighting that the candidacy hinges more on practical questions about medical issues (John Mara’s health), chain of command, and autonomy.

Chain of Command, GM Power, and Precedents (07:54–11:54)

• The crew debates the Giants’ approach to power-sharing and historic reluctance to fire GMs for coaches. Alan references Ian O’Connor’s opinion:
  • “The New York Giants, they don’t like ultimatums… Parcells wanted George Young gone… the Giants don’t do business that way.” (10:33)
• Don: “If Joe Shane’s gonna stand in the way of John Harbaugh being my head coach, well, then Joe Shane’s gone.” (08:56)

Can Overpayment and Desperation Backfire? (13:32–16:32)

• Peter expresses skepticism about giving a coach “everything they want”:
  • “It just feels like it so rarely… works out… I feel like it’s always like their last retread and it never quite gets… they throw everything at it and nothing happens.” (13:32)
• Don and Alan counter with examples (e.g., Sean Payton, Mike Vrabel, Pat Riley) and contextualize why Giants are in a desperate yet justified position.

The Probable Interview/Evaluation Process (16:33–19:00)

• Don: “Stefanski’s coming in. McCarthy’s coming in. According to reports, Morris has an interview… Kafka doesn’t come under the Rooney Rule… So next week is when you’re going to have at least the four interviews: Harbaugh, Stefanski, McCarthy, and Morris.” (16:55)
• Harbaugh will wait to see what happens with Buffalo/Philadelphia; other candidates are being vetted per league requirements.

Harbaugh vs. Tomlin Debate (17:54–19:02)

• Don’s preference: “I think Dart’s got a better chance to grow under Harbaugh than Tomlin… both are big boys in the room… it’d be close, but for me, it would be Harbaugh.” (17:54)

Perspective: Why the Giants Should Be Excited (19:02–21:16)

• Alan: “This is the Knicks getting Pat Riley in the early 90s… It would be the best hire they’ve ever made in the moment because of the stature of the coach in the game.” (19:02)
• Alan compares fallback option Kevin Stefanski to “getting a date with a great old flame, then getting a text from… Dua Lipa.” (20:15)
• Don: “It just feels like this is going to happen… and it’s been a long time, three years in the making, for a Giant fan to be legitimately excited about his team.” (18:55, 19:02)

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3. YouTube & “God LaGreca” Running Jokes (21:16–25:25)

• Fun with their video feed and Don’s luminous appearance—chat nicknames include “God Lagreca.”
• Peter gives Don technical advice: “If there’s a light… you could maybe put behind the computer, maybe that would help.” (21:40)

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4. “Mike in the Bronx”—Michael Kay Calls In (25:25–34:43)

Kay & Rosenberg’s (Faux?) Friendship Drama (25:25–33:54)

• Peter reads a text from Michael Kay, who feigns being jilted that Peter didn’t show up in person: “You suck. I was so looking forward to seeing you in studio and then you blow it off. Bleep. Bleep, exclamation point.” (23:50)
• The hosts rib over who keeps in better contact with Kay, with Don and Michael joking that Peter has “axed” him from his life.
• Michael: “I have had more interaction with Ebro than Peter Rosenberg in the last month.” (28:22)
• Peter fires back: “This is… I don’t believe you. We have texted on… five different days since December.” (28:29)
• The exchange crescendos with Michael refusing Peter’s offer to buy dinner:
  • Peter: “What if I were to pay for dinner?”
  • Michael: “I’m good.” (29:22-29:29)

Discussion Returns to the Giants: Stakes & Fallout (34:43–35:13)

• Kay: “If they can’t make this happen, Giants fans are going to think they failed.” (31:12)
• Alan: “Think about it: If they land on Stefanski as the fallback… it’ll be unfair to him… he suddenly becomes like, ‘oh, he’s an afterthought now’…” (31:29)
• Michael points out the “identical” resumes of Mike McCarthy and Harbaugh:
  • “Mike McCarthy’s 11 and 11 in the playoffs, Harbaugh’s 13 and 11…” (32:09)

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5. NFL Playoff Seeding Rant (41:19–43:26)

• Griffin in Connecticut calls in to complain about division winners (with losing records) hosting playoff games.
• Alan: “The NFL likes the tradition of the divisions and the rivalries and how important they are.” (42:16)
• Don: “They just don’t want to do it. It is rare… I think the Rams will be okay. That’s why they’re a 10½ point favorite despite the fact that the game is in Carolina.” (43:03)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Don on Giants/Harbaugh:
  “This is probably the happiest that I’ve been since beating Minnesota in 22 in the playoffs. Like, honestly, where you feel like there’s a future here...” (04:13)

• Peter on giving away the store:
  “I just hate the conversation of, like, you give them anything they want… That version of it so rarely works out. That… they throw everything at it and nothing happens.” (13:32)

• Alan on coaching hires:
  “This is the Knicks getting Pat Riley in the early 90s, right? …What he’s saying is this would be the best hire they’ve ever made in the moment because of the stature of the coach in the game.” (19:02)

• Michael Kay on Peter, playfully:
  “I have had more interaction with Ebro than Peter Rosenberg in the last month.” (28:22)
  “I’m good.” (refusing Peter’s dinner shun) (29:29)

• Peter’s pop-culture coaching analogy:
  “Stefanski is the equivalent of, you’re recently single and you found out that a girl who you really found attractive in high school is divorced… And then you get a random text… My name is Dua Lipa. Do you want to go to dinner?” (20:15)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–04:12 – Show opens, on-air video/tech jokes
• 04:13–13:32 – Harlem’s candidacy, Giants optimism, coach/GM power
• 13:32–16:32 – Cautionary takes on “buying” a big coach
• 16:33–19:02 – The shortlist, process, Harbaugh/Tomlin debate
• 19:02–21:16 – Parallels to Pat Riley, why fans should be excited
• 21:16–25:25 – Visual “God LaGreca” joke extended
• 25:25–34:43 – Michael Kay (Mike in the Bronx) joins, playful fight over friendship/texting
• 34:43–35:13 – Giants fallback stakes; McCarthy/Harbaugh resume comparison
• 41:19–43:26 – Call-in: playoff seeding, division winner controversy

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Tone & Style

The hosts maintain their signature mix of sharp sports analysis, deep New York sports roots, running in-jokes, playful roast sessions, and a bit of personal therapy—never straying from their relatable, candid, “friends at a bar arguing sports” energy.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode captures the excitement and anxiety of Giants fans as the team circles John Harbaugh for head coach, with Don La Greca’s infectious optimism tempered by Peter Rosenberg’s and Alan Hahn’s caution and long memory of hype-gone-wrong. The Giant’s coaching search sets off a spirited debate about organizational power, sports culture, and the very nature of fan hope. The mix of inside jokes (Don’s video whiteout, Peter’s offbeat analogies, Michael Kay’s surprise call) keeps the ride funny, and uniquely, New York.

If you care about the Giants, New York sports, or just expert-level sports radio banter, this episode is for you.

Transcript

[A]

Don, I'll be licking the television screen. Licking it like it's ice cream.

[B]

Han. Oh. The type of music I listen to would make you cry.

[A]

And Rosenberg, I expect to be called ball coach. This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.

[B]

This is Don, Han, and Rosenberg.

[C]

The best threesome I've ever heard on.

[B]

ESPN New York, and streaming live on YouTube.

[D]

I don't know if you guys felt it today.

[B]

I did felt it.

[D]

Yeah, when you walked out of the house. I know it's January 7th, and I know it's only 50 degrees, but it kind of felt like, ooh, something maybe on the horizon in the next six weeks.

[B]

Oh, no.

[A]

Are you out of your mind?

[D]

It's.

[B]

No, it's. No, I did not feel that.

[D]

No, I felt.

[B]

Peter, did you feel that?

[A]

He's out of his gourd.

[B]

Walked the dog this morning, and it was still kind of, like, misty and a little bit, like, cloudy.

[D]

I get it. It was foggy when I got up this morning.

[B]

The backyard rink melted. Not great.

[D]

But I'm just saying, driving in the car, I got to crack the window open. It was just nice that it wasn't, like, four degrees outside.

[A]

Well, I.

[B]

Before we go any further, what are we doing here on YouTube? Are we. Is this, like, a joke? Are we making me smaller than everybody? Like. Like, I feel like I should be talking in, like, that little helium voice right now. That. What you guys doing?

[A]

Hold on. There's a lot going on.

[B]

I picked the right camera. No, there's a lot of the wide thing that makes you look tiny. You're doing this to me on purpose, Pusick. I know it.

[A]

Also, is it just me, or is Don completely whited out today?

[B]

Well, I also. Don, are you using your Christmas present?

[D]

Not at home, Because I can use the laptop. He gets mad. That's for a phone.

[B]

Peter. Last time. Peter.

[D]

Just for the record, no more Peter.

[B]

Last time.

[D]

Well, then I got to use my phone, and then that means that I get a bunch of text messages. Why aren't you answering my text messages? Because my phone's my camera.

[B]

You know, your iPad fits in it, too. Just so you know.

[D]

I got it.

[A]

That's why I got it.

[B]

Because it also fits the iPad.

[D]

I don't think so.

[B]

Oh, boy.

[A]

Didn't you. Didn't you try to do something nice?

[B]

You know, this is what you get.

[D]

It's for the road.

[B]

Just say, can't be bothered.

[D]

No, it's very sensitive. It's almost impossible. I don't know how anybody could marry.

[A]

This Man, I hear what you're saying.

[B]

I got a couple reasons why, but honestly, it's. It's just. It's not that hard. It should be easy to put together.

[D]

It's not. It's not about it being difficult.

[B]

This is an awful, by the way, visual.

[A]

I just went to YouTube. I just went to YouTube, and Don looks like old man Winter. I mean, the color of your skin, Don, is. Is. Is like eggshell. I never see anything like it.

[D]

I don't know what to do.

[A]

And then Alan looks like a little. A little man child.

[D]

They fixed it.

[B]

Thank you, Anthony.

[A]

We're on our way. Don't you worry, folks.

[B]

That's so funny, though.

[A]

Oh, Alan's back. Allen's got Alan in business.

[B]

It looks.

[A]

We're all the same size now. Don is just still. Like, someone poured white out.

[D]

Honestly, I don't know.

[B]

Honestly, do powder all over you like you. Somebody dumped talcum powder on you.

[D]

I don't know what to do.

[B]

Why.

[A]

Why is it like this?

[D]

What do you do?

[A]

You know what? We're gonna get it right.

[B]

Let's not peel back the curtain here, okay?

[A]

Yeah. Because it's not easy to set up.

[B]

A three shot when the three shot is not there when the show starts.

[A]

Well, that's.

[D]

Oh, real quick.

[A]

That doesn't have anything to do with Don's whiteness, does it?

[B]

That has nothing to do with that. But if I had this shot, which I was trying to set up.

[D]

Ready?

[A]

I can't fix the. I can't fix Don's whiteness.

[D]

See, this is on the unfortunate station that Peter used to be on. This is Whitish Wednesday. Yeah, this is.

[A]

You see yourself now, Don? Are you seeing it?

[D]

Yes. This is the face of white.

[A]

This is Whitish Wednesday right here, and.

[D]

It is Wednesday, so it's perfect.

[B]

When Don asks me, how does he look, as long as his face is.

[A]

On the screen, I take it as.

[B]

A win, and I say, we're good.

[D]

Faults that. Me. How do I look? He says, fine. You look fine.

[B]

Because I don't know if we can fix this.

[A]

So I say, we're good. If I don't see Peter, I go.

[B]

Peter, where are you? He goes, I got it.

[A]

And then he pops up.

[B]

That's something I could fix.

[D]

I think people are here for the. For the audio of it all. So this is what we're looking at. We'll try to fix it at some point, but I got it. It's. It's. As a Giants fan. Go ahead. This is probably the happiest that I've been since beating Minnesota in 22 in the playoffs. Like, honestly, where you feel like there's a future here, when you start reading all the reports, we're going to have Gary Myers on at five and Ian O'Connor was on with K earlier today. All roads point to John Harbaugh being the next head coach of the New York Giants. He wants it, Giants want it. And the only thing to stop it from happening, guys, is if for some reason Buffalo gets humiliated in Jacksonville and the Bills job becomes available because they are done with McDermott, Philadelphia gets embarrassed in their game and they decide to move on from Sirianni, which I don't think is impossible. I know people laugh at it. We kind of laughed about it when it was brought up yesterday. Don't rule that out. And if that job became available, certainly Harbaugh would choose those two places over the Giants. Can we agree on that? Yeah.

[B]

You want to go to the place you're going to win right away? Yeah.

[D]

They're places with quarterbacks. There are places that can win right away. And the Giants, even if you love dart, you know that you're at least a couple of seasons away from competing at the level that Philadelphia and Buffalo can compete at. But right now, those do seem like Hail Marys. And you have to feel like if you're a Giant fan, that this. There's a very good chance this is going to happen. And why wouldn't you be happy? As much as I like McCarthy, as much as serious, as much as other coaches can grow on me, John Harbaugh is the guy. And to know that they've got the inside track on it has to make you feel really good if you're a Giant fan. And as the hours pass by, it just feels like it's getting closer and closer to being a reality.

[B]

I think what we said, what we said yesterday, I believe a lot of times coaching searches are. You're interviewing coaches, you're seeing if they're the guy. I think this is the opposite. I think the Giants, as I said yesterday, I don't you guys agree or disagree? I think this for Joe Shane, he's trying to sell the Giants to whether it's. It's Stefanski today or whether it's going to be Harbaugh at some point. Gary Myers was. I know Ian o' Connor was also. They were thinking maybe by the weekend, if not sooner, maybe even by tomorrow. But that's what they're going to be doing, right.

[D]

Well, they've got to go through their due diligence. Right.

[B]

No, I'm saying they're selling their. This is rare. Usually you're. The interview is sort of. Are you the guy for us? Tell us your plan. How would you help? This is. No, here's what we've got here. Do you want to. You want this?

[D]

They're selling themselves.

[B]

I think in this case, I agree.

[D]

With you, but I don't think it's as deep as that. If I'm John Harbaugh, all I need to know is I hear John sick. How sick is he? What's the plan going forward if, God forbid, he does not survive this battle? What's my relationship with Joe Shane? Is he getting a contract extension? Am I going to be able to buy the groceries? Are we going to work in tandem? Am I going to answer to him? That could all be answered in a phone call. Like, I think he wants the job. I think he's attracted to the Giants. I think he's attracted to the city. He's attracted to Jackson Dart. All those things are. Why are you such a filth bag? Honestly, it's just really.

[A]

You don't often hear it said that way.

[D]

Because we're going over the pretense. Is the job attractive?

[A]

Attractive. Right. No, I hear you.

[D]

So once we've established that. Right, take the sex off the table. But you can't do that because you're a filth pack.

[A]

But when you land it, when you went. All right, when it went to Jackson Dart, Allen, that was the one when I couldn't take anything.

[D]

Well, you know what? It's just like the salt and pepper. For Peter, sex is always on the table.

[A]

That's right. It's always there, folks.

[D]

It's always on the table. But my overall point, if I may continue, is that I think he sold on the job. It's just that he needs some. He needs some questions answered. And that's what I would. As much as. For me as a Giant fan, if I was a head coach, this is the job that I would want. But that's. Those are the questions I would have is like, who's my boss going forward? You know, how sick is John? What is the game plan if John were to not be able to make the decisions for the franchise and all I would think that could be answered in a phone call. Once that's all cleared up, I think that he would be cool with the job. Again, I can't get into his brain, but all the reports seem to be he likes what he sees. The only thing he wouldn't like is, all right, what's the. What's the chain of command here? Which I don't know. Do they know the answer to that? But you get that cleared up and I'm sorry, I don't care how much I respect Joe Shane. If I'm John Mara, if Joe Shane's gonna stand in the way of John Harbaugh being my head coach, well, then Joe Shane's gone. And I have to figure since when they announced he was coming back, no contract extension was attached to it. This was the scenario that they were thinking about. I am not going to lose out on a great potential candidate because of Joe Shane. So I can't imagine that be a stumbling block. Can you work with Joe Shane? I'd love to work with Joe Shane. Okay, we'll give him a contract extension. You know what? I think we could do better. All right, Joe, you're gone. Isn't it that simple?

[B]

If you're John Mara now, Ian o' Connor was on with Kai. I think we do have the sound there, right? Because that was something that Kate did ask him about. Is like Joe Shane, like his job is tenuous. If it's just what John Harbaugh wants, you give him whatever he wants. And if he wants his own people, you give him his own people. Right. But Ian kind of had an interesting take about. And now again, Ian's done books. He's been in the Harbaugh house. He is. He's got pretty good intimate knowledge of the thinking here.

[D]

Right?

[B]

So I don't know, guys, if we have that cut, let's play that. Because to me, that, that, that lets you know what Joe Shane's role will be in all this.

[C]

I think they think about it, but.

[A]

You know, the New York Giants, they don't like ultimatums like that. They have a certain way of doing business and they've.

[C]

They've done it that way where the.

[A]

Gm, they don't allow a coach to do that to, to a general manager. And listen, I mean, Parcells wanted George Young gone because George Young initially wanted Parcells gone after his bad first year, he wanted to hire Howard Schnellenberger, if you recall that. Now we're going back 100 years, so the Giants don't do business that way. And I honestly, Michael would be very surprised if Harbaugh did that. Now if he does, they've got a real decision to make.

[C]

Stefanski is a pretty good fallback candidate.

[A]

But he's not John Harbaugh. And I just don't think it will come to that.

[B]

So he doesn't think it'll come to that.

[D]

Well, I don't think you'll be in an ultimatum where I'm not taking this job unless Joe Shane's fired, but it might be. Please tell me that I'm going to be a part of the process and that I could veto draft picks and free agent signings that Joe wants to do. I want to work hand in hand with this guy. If not, maybe actually be his boss.

[B]

Doesn't it work that way? Didn't Brian Dable tell Joe Shane or we couldn't get Cam Ward get me this guy. And Joe Shane got him.

[D]

Well, that's ultimately the job of a general manager is to get the players the coach wants.

[B]

Right.

[D]

But there's also a pecking order, I guess, when there's a face off to be won. The Giants organization always seemed to be in line with, well, there's the owner, there's the general manager, and then there's the head coach. They've never been as collaborative as you hear the jets, where it's all hands on deck. They seem to have a pecking order back in the day. And demands aren't usually thrown around by the subservient, which usually was the coach. Is the analogy he gave with Bill Parcells. Bill Parcells was not going to be telling George Young what to do. It was gonna be the other way around. Things evolve, things change. Bill Parcells didn't have the equity that John Harbaugh has when Bill was with the Giants, when he first came to the Giants. John Harbaugh is a veteran. He's in his early 60s. The Giants have their hat in their hand right now. They've come off three miserable, embarrassing seasons. They've got to make this work. Joe Shane is not George Young. Okay, we all agree on that. So I think that both could be true. Where the Giants are going to be like, hey, you don't start making demands, but we can work around what you want. You are going to be a coach that's going to be allowed to buy the groceries. You're going to be a part of the process. And if Joe Shane doesn't like it, well, then, Joe, honor the last year of your contract and then you're free to go. But I don't think John wants guys walking in here, especially when they have no ties to the organization and start making demands. But as Ian said, John Harbaugh doesn't look like that kind of a guy. But if he gets offers other places, if Atlanta gives him everything under the sun, does that job become more Attractive to him.

[A]

You know, can I just say one thing out here that I really hate about these situations? What is that whenever a situation comes up in which a desperate team needs a head coach and a great head coach becomes available, I just hate the conversation of, like, you give them anything they want, they want to do this, you do it. Not because I don't understand it, but it just feels like it's so rarely what ends up then working out. That version of it so rarely works out. I feel like it's always like their last retread and it never quite gets. They throw everything at it and nothing happens.

[D]

Well, like, kind of in. Not a coaching situation, Peter, but kind of like the way the jets treated Aaron Rodgers.

[A]

Exactly. That's.

[D]

That.

[A]

That's the playing equivalent. But we see it with head coaches, too. Oh, if Sean Payton's willing to go, you give him absolutely anything. And obviously right now it's working out for him there in year two. But, like, I've just seen these situations happen, guys where they're desperate for that coach who showed he was a winner and. But in fact, there's a reason maybe also. And I know I'm playing Devil's Advocates because yesterday I was very excited about Harbaugh, and I still am, but oftentimes there is a reason they've been let go from the place that they've been.

[D]

At for a very long time.

[B]

All right, Jimmie Johnson going to the Dolphins, right? Like, that's just. You take a guy that has a resume and you hope it works out, right? Mike Vrabel going to the Patriots. That makes sense. Right? But they fired a guy after one year because he became available. And they were like, we can't not have that guy, even though there's history.

[A]

But there's such a real history there.

[B]

Well, because he played there, but it didn't work out in Tennessee and, you know, like, he was good there, but there were issues. But there are certain situations, especially from a desperate franchise, where this is exactly what you do. And if you're the Giants, this is exactly what it is what you do.

[A]

I just don't like it.

[B]

You could wait, like, first of all, they got to go through the. The interview process. You've got to go through the Rooney Rule, you know, regulations. So you're going to talk to a bunch of people, you're going to bring in people. So there isn't going to be, like, you can't immediately hire them and just end the process. You have to go through it.

[D]

Right?

[B]

And so that's why this isn't going to happen fast, but you should know pretty quickly. You should know, but you still got to do your process. Because if you're saying, well, what if Mike Tomlin becomes available if the Steelers lose, as we all kind of expect they probably will, I don't think you can wait. I don't. I don't think you can wait. I think if he says to you, I want the job, I want to coach the Giants. Another thing that Ian said was when he had talked to, I think it was Jim about, oh, maybe. No, he was talking to John about Jim and potentially taking a Giants job. And he's like, do you think he'd be interested? He's like, it's the New York Football Giants. Like, of course, like, as if. Like that's held at a different esteem, which is what we were wondering yesterday. So to me, you don't wait for a Mike Tomlin. If you can get him, you get him and then you're done.

[D]

Well.

[B]

And you can't regret it later.

[D]

I think from the Giants perspective, as you said, they got to do their due diligence. They're going to. Stefanski's coming in. McCarthy's coming in. According to reports from Morris's camp, he's got an interview lined up with the Giants and that's going to check the Rooney rule because Kafka doesn't come under the Rooney rule because he's already with the organization.

[B]

Right.

[D]

So you got to go outside the house for a minority candidate. So they've got to do those interviews. And they should do those interviews. Of course they should talk to those guys. So next week is when you're going to have at least the four interviews, right? Harbaugh, Stefanski, McCarthy and Morris. Anybody else that you want to interview that we're not thinking of right now? And then I would think any waiting is going to come from the Harbaugh camp because Harbaugh might want to wait and see. Let's see what happens in Buffalo. Let's see what happens in Philadelphia. Let's get through the first week of the playoffs. And that's going to happen anyway because all of these interviews are going to be done next week. So we're already know if Philadelphia and Buffalo will be available because both of them lose, then those guys will probably be fired on Monday or Tuesday even before those interviews happen. So this does feel good. I mean, things could happen. Hey, maybe Tomlin shakes loose and the Giants pivot because maybe the Giants would rather have Tomlin than Harbaugh.

[B]

But would you Rather have. Who would you rather have?

[D]

I think I'd rather have Harbaugh. Why? Because as much as I fought the Steeler fans in the last year or so of their complaints and watching the Steelers, it does look like their offense really struggles to function. And I think Dart's got a better chance to grow under Harbaugh than Tomlin. I think both are big boys in the room. I think both of them are tremendous professional coaches. But you can't completely ignore the fact that under. Under Harbaugh, we saw him get the most out of Flacco. You got to give him something on Jackson, right? And under Tomlin, it's been. It's really. It's been Roethlisberger, and then what? As far as just trying to figure out the quarterback, you know, finding a quarterback that's going to be able to help them get to the promised land, and that hasn't happened. So it'd be close, but for me, it would be horrible. But I don't know what the Giants are thinking, you know, so. But. But it just, as I open the show with guys, just feels like this.

[A]

Is going to happen.

[D]

And that's what gets me excited. And it's been a long time, three years in the making, for a Giant fan to be legitimately excited about his.

[B]

Team, to feel like you can get the best candidate available. And it's a true. Like we always say, if you're going to fire a coach, who are you going to hire, right? Always. Who's going to be the next guy? And you can't say, oh, anyone's better. And an inexperienced guy, you don't know what you're getting. This is totally different. Like, this is. This is the Knicks getting Pat Riley in the early 90s, right? Like, that's what this is. This is. This is that kind of a move. Now, it's not. It's not parallel, because Pat Riley came in with championship rings and, you know, Harbaugh has won and it's 13 years ago, but, I mean, as far as somebody of that cachet Ian called it, it would be the best hire at the time, like, for the Giant, the Giants have made good coaching hires, but we found out later they were good coaching hires. What he's saying is this would be the best hire they've ever made in the moment because of the stature of the coach in the game. And so that's why you should be excited, it should be exciting. And really, the fallback. Think about this for a minute. Your fallback could end up being Kevin Stefanski. Which that's not terrible. But of course it will feel like a bit of a loss, but you'd still be getting a good coach, so you've got pretty good options here. Already out of the gate.

[A]

Stefanski is like, let me. Stefanski is the equivalent of. You're recently single and you found out that a girl who you really found attractive in high school is divorced. She looks great, she's got three kids, but she looks great. She's got a good life, she's lovely. You always thought she was really cool and you ran into her at the bar and you have a date and then you get a random text and it says, hey, I know I don't know you, but we have a good friend in common. John, My name is Dua Lipa. Do you want to go to dinner tonight?

[D]

That's.

[A]

That's what this is. That's John Harvard.

[D]

As the fan.

[A]

He is Dua Lipa.

[D]

But there's a couple other things I want to throw in about the Harbaugh situation. 1-800-919-3776 tons of calls to get to. We got a list coming up at.

[A]

430 like you dream about.

[D]

Gary Myers is going to be joining.

[A]

Us at 5, who I do dream about.

[D]

We have ENN at 6 and we got a full frontal today. We got a full vehicle till 7 o' clock until.

[B]

And we've got. I'm in the chat and Don, some of the. You're being called God Lagreca.

[D]

Well, we got to figure this God look reck.

[A]

I like.

[B]

Very good. And it's of course God Lagreca calls Devil's games. That's great. Don is five steps away from heaven. And the one suggestion is if Don put. Don should just put on a white sweater and just complete the look.

[D]

Yeah, I should complete the look.

[A]

I think during the break. What I'd like you to do during the break, Don, is wipe off the lens on your computer thoroughly, ideally with some thing that's meant to do that. And then perhaps if there's a light of some sort that you could maybe put behind the computer, maybe that would help.

[D]

All right, we're gonna work on that coming up.

[A]

God bless.

[D]

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[B]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[A]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[B]

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

[D]

Never got into the dead. Does that make you a bad guy?

[B]

No, it doesn't. Because I'm with you, bad guy. I, I, I respect their, you know, the longevity, I guess, but I, I, it never was something for me.

[A]

Just their longevity feels like a shot.

[B]

No, no, no. I, I was trying to think of other things.

[D]

No, I, I, I respect the, the, the vibe and how dedicated the fans are. Like, I think it's a cool thing. It's just, I just don't dig the music, that's all.

[A]

Yep, I have, I have an update from, for you guys from Crazyland.

[D]

Go ahead.

[B]

Crazy land.

[A]

Yeah. AKA Michael K. Oh, boy. Anthony, why am I no longer on video? Did I do something?

[D]

Yeah, something happened.

[B]

Oh, don't, don't worry. I'm pip squad. I'll get there.

[D]

All right.

[A]

You know, good old pipsqueak Pete wants to get on camera. You know what I mean? Tell me this, tell me this isn't the most caister thing you've ever seen. I get a text from K saying you suck. Bleep.

[D]

What?

[A]

Not the word. No, no, no. Not the worst thing. Don't imagine the worst, but still something I have to bleep at. Okay, you suck. I was so looking forward to seeing you in studio and then you blow it off. Bleep. Bleep, exclamation point. Now let me just real quick because we like to give everyone the real what's going on here. The real Don is traveling to Pittsburgh later. Alan has to be at MSG for the Knicks vehicle. And recently when that happens, I go in studio anyway because I enjoy being with my friends Anthony and Jacob. And frankly, I have a one year old and a wife here and I like going to work. It's quite nice to leave the house in the afternoon. However, Natalie is going with Laura Stiles to the Nets game tonight as Laura is hosting the Latin night Noche de Latino or something, whatever it's called. And she's gonna be. So Natalie is going to have a lovely dinner at the Crown Club and she's leaving early. Anyways, the point is so last minute, I hit up John and say, hey, do you mind if I help out Natalie. And work from home today. It would be useful. And John, being the mensch that he is, says, yeah, the guys are gone. Handle your business.

[D]

I got you.

[A]

No person, no soul on earth ever said to me, you know, Michael's going to be in on Wednesday. He's really looking forward to seeing you. I have no information, Don, that would tell me anything about this. And then as I continue to joke back and forth with him, and I'm saying, you know, oh, lol, let's get a meal sometime. No, I'm good. I'm good. You obviously don't care for our friends. Is he an absolute maniac?

[D]

No, it just sounds like Alan a little bit. Just very sensitive or just.

[B]

Or maybe instead of being sensitive, maybe it's just that we share our feelings regardless. Like, that's okay and I are both very much like. We wear it on our sleeves. We don't hold anything back. We don't hide it from you. If we got a problem, we got a problem. We're gonna talk about it. We get through it.

[A]

Talk about it Tuesday. But today's Wednesday, Alan. And even you would admit this is a bizarre thing, though. How would I have known he was looking forward to seeing me?

[B]

Well, first of all, you know that he's breaking busting chops, you know? You know, that's all he's doing.

[A]

You know, but as a wise woman, AKA my wife, always said, there's truth in every joke and a part of it. He's kidding on the square. Like Don.

[B]

He's.

[A]

You know what it is? It's his childish way of saying this. Here's the normal thing. Oh, hey, man, I was looking forward to seeing you today. I'm bummed you decided to work at home. That would be a normal expression of feelings, except it would then be him being vulnerable. Don, by explaining he was just saddened he didn't get to see me.

[D]

We do have somebody that wants to chime in on this. Mike in the Bronx. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Mike?

[C]

You know, let me address this to Don and Alan. All right, so I'm no longer on the afternoon show, and I know that brings. Makes me worthless to Peter, but I have kept a relationship with Don and Alan. Peter has axed me out of his life.

[D]

I don't even.

[C]

I don't even exist.

[D]

Oh, okay.

[C]

I can't help him anymore. I can't help him anymore. In fact, I think he's glad I'm gone.

[A]

Wow, this is so insane. You know, I don't believe A word of it. I do not believe you have more contact and relationship with Alan and Don than me. I think this is horse.

[C]

I absolutely do.

[D]

I had a long. I had a long back and forth over the weekend with Michael.

[A]

Oh, let me ask you this.

[D]

I'm not going to give you any details. Did you know that Michael had a little bit of a personal issue, family wise? It could have affected travel. Did you know that? No, you don't know that because you don't stay in contact with a man.

[C]

So now you're done.

[A]

So Don, complete hack that he is, is now just taking Michael's side now that Michael's on the phone?

[D]

No, because now it's turned. Now it's turned to. Yeah, I was completely on your side for what happened today. But now that Michael's telling me that you haven't stayed in touch with him over the last year.

[A]

And you believe it? And you believe it.

[D]

Well, he's never.

[A]

And you believe that. Why can't you just say that you were.

[D]

Alani.

[C]

Were conversing today, back and forth.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

And you and I don't converse. We don't. We don't have any chats back. No, no, this is a lie. This is a lie. It's. I could pull up the guy. Listen, a lot of the things we talk about we probably wouldn't share on the air, but I guarantee you, if I look at my phone, there's a recent conversation.

[D]

Yeah, but let me put it this way.

[B]

Donna.

[C]

Peter. Donna Allen.

[B]

You ready for this?

[D]

Yes.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

I have had more interaction with Ebro that Peter Rosenberg in the last month.

[A]

This is. I don't believe you. We have texted on 1, 2, 3, 4. We have talked on five different days since December. Yeah, but like, that's not bad. Five. Five different days we communicated since December. Al. That seems like a normal amount to talk to for a Spirinac.

[D]

Screenshots don't count. He wants actual personal interaction.

[A]

So why didn't he tell me? Why didn't he say, hey, I'm going to see you on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to it.

[C]

You know why I didn't tell you? I'll tell you why. Because it's a test.

[D]

And it sounds like a test that he failed.

[A]

This is. And then I say, let's get dinner sometime. And what does he say? No, I'm good.

[D]

Well, because. Because you obviously.

[C]

Well, that's from the dime dictionary. I love that comeback.

[A]

What if. What if I.

[D]

What if I.

[A]

Because I know you're a big Schnur and Very cheap. What if I were to pay for dinner?

[C]

I'm good.

[D]

Wow.

[A]

This hurts, Michael. This is.

[C]

I'm so serious about this, guys, that the last thing I wrote to him. Hashtag sad. Tell Natalie I said goodbye.

[D]

Oh, yeah. Mm. Wow, that's a. That's a bit much. Yeah. Usually you're in on Tuesdays, though, so. I thought I was gonna see you yesterday. Oh. Because I haven't seen you in a while, so. I do miss you. Everything.

[C]

You know what? Because, you know, because of a personal issue going on, I had to change the day. But Peter doesn't know because he doesn't give up.

[B]

No.

[A]

I. I didn't know. You didn't share with me there was a personal issue.

[D]

Well, because you're not having any interaction, right?

[A]

You know what? When you're wrong, you're wrong. I feel. I feel badly. I don't like how I've carried myself. And I hope that you. I hope that you don't decide, in fact, to end this friendship. But I can see that I've hurt you greatly. And I'm apologizing for it. I'm very sorry.

[B]

Hey, Michael, I'll be in Friday.

[D]

Will you. You know what?

[C]

If I know you're in on Friday, I might actually come in.

[D]

How about that?

[B]

I might come in early.

[C]

I really enjoy your company now.

[B]

I'm coming in early just to hang out.

[A]

See that.

[D]

Well, I hope you had a tremendous holiday, Michael.

[C]

The hotel was awful, but other than.

[B]

That, I heard this story.

[C]

I'm sully.

[D]

I'm sorry to hear about that. And a great show. Ian was a great get. It's an exciting time to be a Giant fan right now. I really believe this is going to happen.

[C]

I thought you'd be happy with this.

[D]

But you agree? It just feels like this is going to happen.

[C]

Well, I'll tell you what. The pressure's on the Giants now. So I said this on the show that when it happened, I said, wow, it's like a gift from the gods to the Giants. They don't have to go with a young coordinator or something like that. But it's also the biggest curse. If they can't make this happen, Giants fans are going to think they failed.

[B]

Think about actually, if they land on Stefanski as, like, the fallback he'll have. He'll, like. It'll be unfair to him because with like, in context, he would have been the best candidate available, but because of Harbaugh, and who knows, if even Tomlin becomes available, like, he suddenly becomes like, oh, he's an afterthought now and he's almost like a fail. We failed. So we ended up with this guy who only happens to be a two time coach of the year who somehow tried to survive as Cleveland.

[C]

A fun thing for you guys to look at if you compare Paul Bl and Mike McCarthy. Like nobody's even considering Mike McCarthy. No Giant fan wants Mike McCarthy.

[D]

Well, I do.

[C]

Their resumes are incredibly similar. Incredibly. Mike McCarthy's 11 and 11 in the playoffs. Harbaugh's 13 and 11. He's won like two or three fewer games in his career. He's won one Super Bowl, Harbaugh's won one. But nobody considers McCarthy a guy. You have to have is, you know.

[B]

It'S a great point. And the one thing that I would add is that McCarthy already has experience coaching in a crucible type place in Dallas where Halbaugh really, you think about it, he was handed a baton of a thing that was already set up and he was good enough to not screw it up. But he had unbelievable infrastructure around him with a great owner, a great front office. And so everything was ready made for him in what McCarthy had to live through in Dallas and still win 12 games a year for three years.

[D]

That's a little different. The only thing I disagree with Michael is that I've been on McCarthy and what I teased going into break was a little tidbit about this, that I think the natural pivot if for some reason they lose out on Harbaugh, that The Bills fire McDermott or the Eagles fire Sirianni and he decides to go there are. I think McCarthy is the perfect pivot for what you just said. They're pretty much identical. And the thing that I like about McCarthy is I don't mind that he didn't win in Dallas. Nobody wins in Dallas. Dak Prescott hasn't won there. Tony Romo didn't win there. Nobody's won there since Jimmy Johnson. You know, Baltimore has always been a very stable franchise. But for him to be able to not win in Dallas to me is more of a reflection on what's been happening in Dallas over the last 30 years. More than a reflection, poor reflection on him. And I think if they do lose out on Harbaugh, I do think Giant fans will be disappointed, but less so if they pivot to McCarthy than Stefanski or somebody else.

[C]

So you're not high in Stefanski?

[D]

I'm not, No, I am.

[B]

I'm the one that Alan.

[A]

Alan was very excited.

[B]

Really good hire. Really good hire.

[C]

He's young he's won 11 games twice in Cleveland, a playoff game, which they never do. And if you look at the last couple of years, I mean, they saddled him with Deandre.

[D]

Watson.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, Deshaun Watson.

[D]

I mean, that.

[C]

That was a dumpster fire from the beginning. And then the Shador Sanders situation. Not good.

[D]

No.

[B]

So Michael, in the. In the group chat, Jay said it'd be funny if Mike in the Bronx got pulled over during his call into the show.

[D]

Well, that wouldn't be nice at all.

[C]

It would be funny. I better hang up. So bye, Don. And bye, Alan.

[D]

Bye.

[A]

Wow.

[D]

Happy, Michael.

[A]

Thank you, Michael. Thank you. And, you know, you know, I got a tweet from one of our great, loyal listeners who made a great point about Michael, which said, you know, let me quote him directly in Peter's defense in this K conversation. Peter just lost a job. His life has been a bit chaotic. If Kay was a good friend, shouldn't he be the one reaching out to Peter at this time?

[D]

You should have read that while Michael was on. I'd like to hear the response.

[A]

It would have been another lie.

[D]

Well, because now we know why he was in touch with Ebro. So his first instinct was to reach out to Ebro and not you?

[A]

Well, I saw Michael that day. So I did see him once that day, the day of our event. But he could still, you know, after something like that, you think someone might.

[D]

Check in, like a chat call, a.

[B]

Little bit of, hey, how you doing?

[A]

Yeah, how's the back of your belly? You know what I mean, for a sleigh ride.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

That's the day you ask about the belly for sure. Especially the back of the belly. All right, so it was nice to hear from Mike in the Bronx.

[B]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[A]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[B]

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

[D]

All right, let's hear from you. 1-800-919-3776. Level of excitement that Harbaugh might be the next head coach of the New York Giants, and what the pivot would be if it doesn't happen. Got to be patient, though, people. As Alan said, this is not going to happen overnight. I know there's rumblings could happen this weekend. I really don't think it's going to happen until earliest, guys, next Friday. What do you think?

[B]

Usually, yeah. Like, here's the thing. What jobs? Because as we've seen, the reporting, more calls have come to his agent than there are jobs open, right? So if there are, let's say two or three teams that have called to inquire, that might even say, hey, we don't know what our situation is going to be yet. If you're interested, you know, don't agree to anything. We want to talk to you. What would. What teams would be the ones that he would wait for that could be a threat to the Giants. If you don't think. If you think they are the leader in the clubhouse because of who they are, their status, they do have a quarterback. It is New York, right? Then what other team would make him hit the pause button? Because you know what? I might want to talk to that. That place.

[D]

Well, obviously Buffalo and Philadelphia, but it may not be a place.

[A]

Let's stop with Philadelphia. Can we?

[D]

I don't know if we should really.

[A]

Come on, people. I'm sorry.

[D]

He almost lost his job, guys. He almost lost his job a couple of years ago. All right? There's a lot of dysfunction there. Remember that? That was it. A month ago they had a team meeting that didn't include their quarterback. Now they're so immensely talented. They still find ways to win games, but there's a lot of dysfunction there. I'm with you, Peter. I don't think it's going to happen. But you lose beyond saying forget about it, you get embarrassed 50 to nothing this week. I mean, I doubt that's ever going to happen. But.

[A]

And that's what I'm saying.

[D]

Players are screaming at each other. I'm just saying that there is a scenario. It could happen, but.

[A]

Yeah, but there's. That scenario exists for practically everyone there. If you get completely embarrassed in the first round, I mean, maybe not McVeigh or Shanahan, but like, I just think it's so incredibly unlikely. And I do think not for today because it's not the main story, but I think at some point there's more of a conversation about what's up with Jalen Hurts and his relationship with other players. To me, then it's about the coaches dysfunction. There's no chance he's going to be. Sirianni's going to anywhere.

[B]

I think you're both right. And I think why Don is right is because the one thing we know about not just the Eagles, but also High Roseman is he doesn't wait when it's time to do something right. Like when it's starting to go wrong or a player is starting to get older. There's a. Like he very rarely will. He'll always Find that the next guy. The next guy, very good at that. And so I don't think that, like, if Sirianni is slipping, if there's an issue there, whatever is going on there. But I'm also agreeing with Peter, like, he's been very successful. They know him. He's got his. They keep changing his coordinators because, you know, for good reason, they are popular. So you can make a case either way. It wouldn't shock me, I guess, either way. How about that? But you're both right in the cases you're making.

[D]

But I'm just answering your question. Those would. If that even you said Philadelphia, Buffalo, Buffalo. And then the other one that I think Buffalo's real. The first thing that popped to my mind when I saw that there were more calls than jobs open was Tampa. Like, it feels like we're good with bowls, but if Harbaugh would give us the time of day, we'd let bowls go. Now, would Tampa be more attractive than the Giants would? Weather's much nicer. Good team, winnable division. You're going to be in a position where you're going to be a chance to win your division next year. Good quarterback in Baker Mayfield, healthy. I still say the Giants would have the inside track over Tampa, but again, I can't get into Harbaugh's brain. But those would be the three places that I guess could be a challenge. Tampa, we could find out immediately because they're not in the playoffs. Philadelphia and Buffalo are both going to play this weekend. That's why I say the earliest to get Abbott is next Friday. We got playoff games on Monday. Tuesday, we may get an announcement about Tomlin because the Steelers are playing on Monday. So then by the time you get to Wednesday interviews start happening. You're probably going to get interviews next week with the Giants and by Friday. That seems to be where the news cycle of announcements are. Yep. Then you have the presser on Monday where there will be no playoff games because then you're after divisional weekend.

[B]

Right.

[D]

And I get. I'm not. I'm not predicting it'll be Friday. I'm saying that's the earliest I think we're to get. It's only Wednesday, so we're probably still nine days away from any kind of an announcement.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. So I think that's about the right.

[D]

Timeline, but this will definitely be worth the wait. Yeah. All right, let's go to the phones. 1-800-919-3776. Always a pleasure to talk to Griffin in Connecticut. How are you Sir.

[B]

Hey, guys.

[C]

First off, happy New Year.

[D]

You too, man.

[C]

I, I got a problem with the playoff seating and stuff. And I talked to my brother this weekend. The problem is I don't like that these bad teams that win their division because their division sucks get to host playoff games. I don't. I got a problem with Carolina 8 and 9 because they win their division because everybody else sucks in the division. You get to host the playoff game. I know. Maybe you're. There's no way where you could change it or you could find a way to change it. Maybe you could do like the NBA format, the top seven.

[D]

Like.

[C]

I'm just trying to find out a way where these home teams don't get to host playoff games when they're so bad.

[B]

And that would be. We talked about this yesterday, about a Tuesday.

[A]

That's the only, that's the only upsetting part.

[B]

It's the. We didn't have Griffin yesterday. Right. But. But honestly, I was more. I was thinking about it the more. It's like he just made the NBA comparison. The one thing that happened in the NBA since that is that divisions mean nothing. They have them, but you never see those standings. You only see the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference because one through eight or now one through 10 is all that matters. The NFL likes the tradition of the divisions and the rivalries and how important they are. We talk about the, the AFC north, we talk about the NFC west, the NFC East. We talk about these divisions because that's the history. They've had opportunities to vote on this. I think the Lions were the last team to push it. No one else jumped on board.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

It's just something the owners are never going to change.

[D]

It's a real thing. I hear you, Griffin. Thank you for the phone call. That's why it was my talk about a Tuesday yesterday. You could have the Rams be the home team and then move forward from there, but they just don't want to do it. It is rare. It does happen on occasion and under 500 team makes it. But, you know, I think the Rams will be okay. That's why they're a 10 and a half point favorite despite the fact that the game is in Carolina.

[B]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[A]

I don't want to know how the.

[B]

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.