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Don LaGreca
Talk about stepping up.
Peter Rosenberg
Bang, bang.
Don LaGreca
It's time to level up your game. Introducing the all new ESPN app. All of espn all in one place. Your home for the most live sports and the best championship moments.
Alan Hahn
The electricity is palpable.
Don LaGreca
Step up your game. With no annual contract required. It's the ultimate fan experience. Level up. For more on the ESPN app or at stream.espn.com sign up now. Don, one day you're not gonna play football anymore. And if there's a God up above, it'll be soon.
Alan Hahn
Han. Huge. No, but big. Yeah. And Rosenberg.
Peter Rosenberg
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Don LaGreca
This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.
Alan Hahn
This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.
Don LaGreca
The best threesome I've ever heard on.
Alan Hahn
ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube.
Don LaGreca
Happy Halloween, everybody. Don Lagreca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg. We call it Don Hahn and Rosenber. Everybody's having a happy Friday on the last day of October. Halloween, all dressed up in costume. Gonna miss the kids because I'm in LA at the ESPN affiliate out here in la. Tremendous studios, right? And Peter's been here many times. Right in the heart of LA Live. Alan's @ the Garden. Peter is whereabouts unknown. Somewhere in New York on my apartment. Well, I don't think we have to disclose the actual location.
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry. Sure, yeah. Right side. The Upper west side.
Don LaGreca
All right. Look at that. We are. We are. We've got it all covered right across the country, how everybody's doing. All right.
Peter Rosenberg
I'm great. You know what I'm saying? And if you're watching on video, Don, you know what it's called? It's called buying in. It's called not half assing it. It's called bringing it today. And that's what I've done because I care. And I. This is who I am. And for everyone who's there on YouTube, I'm there for you on this Halloween. So we went with the Dalmatian theme in the family. As I told you, my outfit's a little rapug. I'm not going to lie. This isn't the most expensive Dalmatian costume that exists, but guess what? I'm. I'm merely an accessory. With Natalie being Cruella de Vil and Maya and Bear both dressed up as Dalmatians. I'm really just sort of a nothing here. But Happy Halloween. Styled to be here. And I mean, even though we're hanging on by a thread, it is still technically Donna Football Friday. So we've got that going for us.
Don LaGreca
It's Just a sad football Friday for me because pretty much, I wouldn't say all my childhood, but certainly my teenage years really just falling in love with football. Giants 49ers, man, that was, that was all you thought about that week? It was Niners week. Still, to me, one of the greatest non division rivals the Giants have and maybe one of the best rivals in the NFL. Not within the same division. Giants Niners certainly is up there too. But I mean, Cowboys Niners are certainly up there. But like Giants Niners, eight times they met in the postseason, Peter, with six of those times the winner going on to the Super Bowl. And now it's a nothing burger. An absolute nothing burger. Plots out now. I mean, injuries galore. All you're doing is kind of analyzing your quarterback, even though there's not a ton of talent around him to analyze. Niners are all banged up. They're not a great team. They're supposed to be, but they're not. So what? There was a period of time when this is all we'd be talking about. Giants Niners, second half of the season getting underway, possible preview of a postseason matchup. Nothing.
Peter Rosenberg
Nothing Eggs. Listen, I feel you, Don. I've been there many years. I have had, you know, many a season that is over by Halloween and you're just thinking about, you know, oh, let's see what this player can do. Let's see what the quarterback has, you know, and again, at least in the case of the Giants, you know, you do have something built in this season and that is getting to watch your quarterback develop week by week, no matter who you play, no matter what's at stake. And with the, with the last loss, I really think not as much at stake as you, as you would have hoped. And really the last two, with the heartbreak in Denver followed by the loss to Philadelphia, this is, you know, you're not going to be rooting in the same way where you go, maybe we sneak into the playoffs, but really what would that have ultimately done for you long term? I think it's really, we said it a while ago, it is all about what you can learn about Jackson Darth. And there is still plenty to learn about seeing him go up against a team that is always as well coached as the Robert Sala 49er defense. So there is something to watch there and at least there's some sort of entertainment. You could be the jets, who fortunately give their fans a break this week, but where you're really, you're not watching a quarterback who's going to be there. You know, and we'll talk about the trade deadline as the show goes on. There's probably a lot of, you know, hopefully if you're a Jets fan, the pieces you'd normally be watching, Don, you almost hope, are gone. Odd, because that would mean they're at least in earnest, trying to do something.
Don LaGreca
Well, that's where we're going to have the jumping off point. We want to hear from you at 1-800-919-3776 and and you know, jets have the buy, so there's really nothing to get into as far as the game is concerned. But with the deadline coming up on Tuesday, there's so much conversation about what you do with Breeze hall, what do you do with some of the movable pieces that they have there. And I think the question before you start to ask yourself, Peter, who do we trade? Do we trade these players that they have? They got good, young players. You can get something for how long is this going to take? What year will the jets be competitive for a postseason spot? Is it next year? Is it 27? Is it 28?
Peter Rosenberg
That's what you have to ask yourself.
Don LaGreca
Because right now they don't have a quarterback. They will be in position, you would think, to select in the top three of a year where it doesn't look like it's a great quarterback crop. That doesn't mean a great quarterback can't come out. But right now, we don't have a Trevor Lawrence. We don't seem to have the. The Eli Manning, the guy that is the quintessential number one. Pikmin Doza looks like he'll go number one, but he doesn't look like he's one of those generational talents you have to tank for. So you might get the quarterback, but you might not. But let's just say for sake of argument, you get the quarterback and you draft him. Well, unless you completely catch lightning in a bottle with the jets, never do. It's still going to take at least a couple of years for that quarterback to turn the corner. So if I'm Breece Hall, I'm thinking, like, trade me. Do I want to be here for the next two, three years not having a quarterback and then developing a quarterback? And then just as I'm hitting my prime, you know, we're not ready yet. And now when we finally are ready, I'm going to be 27 years old, 28 years old, and I'm going to be at the tail end. So it's almost a Saquon Barkley situation. Do you Want to keep Reece hall, to just keep things com. You know, cosmetically competitive? Or do you kick all your talent down the road and say, let's get rid of these guys, let's bring in picks and then redraft talent that can really pop once we have our quarterback, once we're ready to be competitive. So the question is, Peter, how long before this team is going to be competitive?
Steve Novak
Oh, God.
Don LaGreca
Right.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah. I mean, yeah. Yeah, you're right. And I. And you're at a situation right now where here's the hardest part. Here's why you are in hell as a fan, Don. You can't even answer it. You can't actually answer when you don't know who the quarterback is, when you don't know who the head coach is. Your weapons that you have here may not be here. Maybe you'll keep one of them. How can you reason? So I guess what I'd answer. So if you were telling me I had to answer that question, like you're not just asking it to ask it. We want an answer. When will the jets compete? I would say the answer is, like, four years from now. So how could it be sooner than that when you don't. I suppose they end up stumbling somehow into a quarterback that people don't really know about that turns out to be one of these. Immediately impactful. Well, then we're having a conversation in two years, Don. But what's the likelihood of that?
Don LaGreca
Not. Not very likely. It could happen. I mean, it kind of happened in Houston. They. They found somebody right away and were competitive immediately. But when does it ever break for the Jets?
Peter Rosenberg
Right.
Don LaGreca
The other. The other thing is. You brought it up. All right. Is there a veteran out there that can take advantage of the talent that they have now? Kind of what the jets did in 2015 with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Is there somebody that can be that bridge quarterback to either groom the kid we draft so we can be competitive while he's doing that, or just be our quarterback until we can figure out our plan B. Until we can draft or find that young quarterback. Who is it? Is it tua? They're blowing it up in Miami. It appears the pieces are starting to fall. GM Gone. You know, eventually coach is going to be gone. Their season is over. I mean, is Tua that guy? Do you take a chance on Tua? A, can he win? B, can he stay healthy? Who else am I missing?
Peter Rosenberg
Anybody else? Don? The four scariest words in professional sports. TUA in New York. I mean, I'm sorry. Of all the teams that you Would wish for TUA to get a chance to go to. How dare you even wish that on that man. He's already gone through enough in his life. This is a franchise where quarterbacks go to die that we cannot do it to. Has been through so much physically already. I pray that that seems like such a terribly. That seems like an impossible combination we don't want to see. So can't picture that. What else is there, Don? Give me something else. Who else could you stumble into? I mean, Alan said it the other day, would you be better off if you don't know what you're going to have? Let's say the quarterback's not there this year. Are you better off just trying to bring in other start building the other pieces and you go get a Marcus Mariota, some other backup who show they're decent and just say, hey, be our guy. I. I don't know. I don't know. This is what makes this hell, is that you have no idea. And maybe though, the only thing you could hope for, Don, is that they finished dead last in the league and that miracle win last week doesn't hurt them. Which Don, let's be honest, it probably will. And that the first number one overall pick in this draft will be worth something. How often is it that there's not one, at least one solid guy at the top and they get that guy, whoever that is.
Don LaGreca
And then if that were to happen now, again, it's a big if because it doesn't sound like you're guaranteed to get the first overall pick because I don't know if New Orleans is going to win another game and they're going to need a quarterback. So if Mendoza is the guy, it might go to New Orleans and everybody else. Mel Kuiper said it likely is going to stay in school. And if you got a choice between going to the jets or staying in school, if you're on the fence, you're probably going to lean towards staying in school. So Peyton Manning did to avoid having to deal with the whole I'm going to be the dragon slayer in New York when nobody else was able to do it. Far from can do it. Rogers couldn't do it. Nobody else has been able to do it. I don't want to have to be that guy. The other another failed draft pick with the jets veterans couldn't do it. Picks couldn't do it. You know. So if they do catch the miracle and catch the quarterback and he ends up being good right away, well, then you're going to want to keep the talent you have because then you maybe can be competitive in 26 and 27. But if I'm a general manager, if I'm Muji and I'm sitting there and I look at the history of the jets and I look at how things break, if I'm playing in an analytical world, what are the percentages that I'm going to hit with a quarterback, hit quickly that I'm going to be able to win now with the talent that I have? What's the number? 10%, 5%, 15%? Give me a world where it's worth banking on that happening.
Peter Rosenberg
I can't. I know it's very low. Listen, we. I'm sure we have cuts in there from the last few days, which now we're have to start paying more attention to from Mel Kuiper Jr. And whoever else knows this stuff about, you know, which guy is out there that could actually be the dude, you know, is the kid from Indiana, where is the guy that could. There has to be one who could be legitimately a dude. And then Don, are you gonna beat New Orleans out and get it or is the best thing that happened and we know how you feel, Don, about getting wins where you can get them, but is that is the best thing that's happened all year, which you could tell meant a lot for this team, a 39, 38 miracle win that you had a statistically no chance of winning in the fourth quarter, is that going to be what ends up keeping you from maybe the only guy who's desirable?
Don LaGreca
Draft maybe. And imagine, you know, with the men with the Mangold thing, I still think there was value to that, but who the heck knows if Mendoza is even the guy anyway? But as far as veterans are concerned, Steven Booten's got a very interesting idea. Steve, you get us started off here on Don Hannah Rosenberg. Hey, thanks for taking the calls, guys. I think Tyler Murray, I mean I.
Steve Novak
Know he's a little scary with the.
Peter Rosenberg
Injuries, but Tyler Murray's contract isn't that bad.
Steve Novak
He's still relatively young. And if you know Glenn's one and.
Don LaGreca
Done, go get Kingsbury from Washington.
Alan Hahn
And there you have, there you have the veteran ish quarterback.
Don LaGreca
Then you have a 28 year old.
Steve Novak
Quarterback who can run things for a.
Peter Rosenberg
Little while because Mendoza is not it.
Don LaGreca
He's not it from Indiana. And those other guys are probably going.
Steve Novak
To stay in college.
Peter Rosenberg
Well, let me say two things. One, I do like the Kyler Murray. That, that is an interesting one.
Don LaGreca
That is interesting.
Peter Rosenberg
Should they be ready to move on? I Still think there is a ceiling for Kyler Murray? Like there's no world. We know Kyler Murray, Don. He may not be Aaron Rodgers, but we also know he's not Justin Fields.
Don LaGreca
Right?
Peter Rosenberg
Like Kyler Murray is, is a guy. I don't know if you can get Kingsbury and if that's what you're going to do is put those guys, but that's actually a compelling thought. Now Don even leave Glenn there for.
Don LaGreca
A year and then when he fails again, if he does and then you bring in Kingsbury the next year and.
Steve Novak
Then he doesn't have to learn another.
Alan Hahn
New offense because he already knew that offense.
Steve Novak
I think that's where they should go.
Peter Rosenberg
Thank you for that, man. It's a good way to start off the calls. And real quick, before we continue the calls and bring in Alan Hahn, I want to tell you guys about Amazon Pickup, the ultimate convenience play. We all know Amazon's part of everyday life, but Amazon Pickup takes it to the next level. If you'reif you're pressed for time, you're on the go like I am. You can choose to send your orders straight to a secure pickup location that works for you. Amazon lockers and counters are located near you. No matter where your day takes you, your package is ready when you are. Alright? Life never slows down. So instead of worrying about the timing or schedules, the package waits for you. Now. For me, with nine jobs, a little baby at home, I'm always on the move. And Amazon Pickup gives me the flexibility to grab what I need between shows. So it's that easy.
Don LaGreca
All right?
Peter Rosenberg
You order online and at checkout. Just choose the pickup location that's most convenient. You get an email confirmation when it's ready with instructions to pick it up. It's quick, it's secure and it's always at no extra cost. Check it out for yourself. Go to Amazon.com pickup MVP to learn more. That's Amazon.com pickup MVP guys. I didn't hate that idea though. Not a terrible.
Don LaGreca
I, I don't, I like the first part. I don't like the second part because I, I don't, I don't think their cleaning house with the coach. All right, so I don't think he's going anywhere. So I don't think they're going to bring in a coach for Kyler Murray, so. But hey listen, Murray's got a contract through 28, very lucrative. He signed a five year, 230.5 million dollar contract, 160 million of a guarantee. Now I don't know how it'll all work itself out if, if ever a trade were to happen. But remember, he also has that, you know, four hours of independent study per week in the contract. There's a lot. You're bringing a lot of baggage here. Okay. A lot of things going on with him. It's interesting because there's talent there, but it's a big if around bringing somebody like that in. But the idea that they're going to give up on Glenn right away and make a coaching change for the new quarterback they bring in, and that new quarterback is Kyler Murray, I. I don't like the second half of that. I don't know all the strings attached to that contract. But there's a lot of baggage that would come over. But there'd be a lot of baggage with any veteran you bring in. Because if they're available, Peter, that means that there's issues. You're not going to be able to find the perfect quarterback available because otherwise they wouldn't be available in the first place. But I do think there's talent there. And it's very similar to Ryan Fitzpatrick in the sense. Remember, Ryan Fitzpatrick got a big contract before he came to the Jets. Never lived up to it, and then for one year it all came together, but then it came crashing down. Remember, if I'm going out and getting a quarterback that young, I'm hoping I'm going to have a more than just a blast year. I'm going to want to find my future quarterback.
Peter Rosenberg
Allen, you're a Jets fan. How's it going over there, buddy?
Alan Hahn
I told you where I am at. First of all, thanks for the patience, guys. I apologize for being late here, but we had some technical issues where I'm at. But I still, I look at it as. When it comes to future of, like, if you're looking at it from the Jet perspective, you still have to build with talent. That's what you have to have. And if you have a player that you feel like is part of your plan going forward, this is like Captain Obvious stuff, right? If you identify a player as somebody that we want to build with, then I think you have to before you make any trade decisions. If somebody is contract is up, like a guy like Breeze hall, you got to talk to him. You got to talk to his agent. What's it gonna cost? What are you looking for? What do you think you can get and see if it's. If it's palpable, you do it and you go forward. All right, well, at least we know we have Established our running back situation. Does he want to be here or does he want to escape? And I wouldn't, I wouldn't blame him if he's like, you know what? Give me the hell out of here. I wouldn't blame him, but at least I need to find out. I don't think you just in a vacuum just make decisions. Well, we're, we're not gonna, we're not ready. The timeline for us isn't equal to him because if you have a rookie quarterback next year, then you're going to save money on a quarterback and you're going to use that money elsewhere because what you don't want to do is what you did this year, which is have Justin Fields walk into a locker room that didn't have nearly enough skill around him.
Don LaGreca
Right?
Alan Hahn
Not nearly enough. So with a rookie quarterback, you want to make sure you have as much as you can establish skill. They got to find a second wide receiver. They have Garrett Wilson and Breeze hall should be also a high end, talent, running back piece. You know, tight end is an area that I think they like Mason Taylor, but you've got to make sure you have talent. You can't just let him walk out the door because, well, our timeline isn't up with his. Well, but I think I have a discussion with him.
Don LaGreca
I get it when you're talking about other positions, but this becomes similar to the Saquon Barkley with the Giants is that you're talking about a player that beginning of next year, Hall's going to be 25 years old, right in the prime of his career, and you're going to want him to help whoever the quarterback is going to be, whether it's a draft pick, whether it's a veteran or weight. But I'm going to be paying a lot of money for a running back in his prime and we're not going to be winning. Does that make sense? And then by the time we're going to get set to win, he's going to be 27, 28 years old. And now he's not going to be in his prime anymore. And then we're going to have to revisit his contract. And that now you're chasing your tail like other positions. Say, listen, Wilson could be here for the next decade and a half, right? I mean, it's not, it's not crazy to think that a wide receiver can still excel deep in his 20s, early in his 30s. Same thing with an edge to pass rusher. Same thing with a great defender. But when you're Talking about a running back. Does it make sense for the jets to be paying him in his prime when you're not ready to win? And does it make sense for hall to stay here? If I'm Hall, I'd be like, I don't want to babysit a young quarterback in the prime of my career. Right? Send me someplace where I got a chance to win. Not I'm. I'm getting the tail end of my contract and the tail end of my career, and then we're all of a sudden going to be good enough to win. And now there's going to be something nipping at my heels trying to take my job away.
Alan Hahn
Donnie, you got to have the discussion. That's why I said you got to. At least you got to have the discussion. You have to talk about it. That's the point I'm making. If he says to you what you just said, then you move on. Very simple. Then he wants out of here. He wants a chance to win. He thinks in the open market he can get a big number. The only thing you can do is really franchise him, and that's going to be a big number anyway. So, you know, do you either hold him hostage and franchise him? Because I'm telling you, man, when you're trying to build a team, you're trying to build it with young talent. He is young talent. Like, this idea that, well, he's not on our timeline is ridiculous. You need talent. Well, I don't understand why you let talent walk out the door. It's why it didn't make sense. What the. What the Giants did with Saquon Barkley, it didn't make sense.
Don LaGreca
Well. Well, it didn't. But you look at. When they had Saquon in his prime, it didn't necessarily matter. In 22, it did. But you look at 20, you look at that. Well, he got hurt and they franchised him, though. You franchised him. But the fact is, remember, you had him for six years. Yes, he was hurt, but even when he excelled, you got one playoff win out of him because you weren't good enough. You didn't necessarily have the quarterback or the coaching or whatever to make it work. So that could be a cautionary tale for hall to say, all right, do I want to be here busting my ass, getting 1300, 1400 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns for a team that's going to win six games because we don't have a quarterback, we don't have other weapons, Then I'm going to get myself hurt because I may be the only weapon because they're double teaming Garrett and I got. We're going to run the football. Hey, so I want to go someplace. I want to go like with Sequoia. I want to go to a team that's ready to win now. Take advantage of me in my prime.
Alan Hahn
I get it. And he says that if he. Look, I totally understand what you're saying. I'm getting.
Don LaGreca
Remember, he was one of the guys they didn't lock up. Right. They could have locked him up in the off season the way they did with Sauce and Garrett. They didn't.
Alan Hahn
Especially because he was a second round pick. They had Right. Sooner.
Don LaGreca
Right, right.
Alan Hahn
They chose Sauce, they chose Garrett. You're right.
Don LaGreca
Because those positions to them were more important, you know, and this unfortunate same category of running back.
Alan Hahn
Look, do they, do they see Braylon Allen as, as the replacement now? He got hurt this year, unfortunately, so you're not seeing them share time. So would he have emerged in his second year and really started to, to take a leap and they like, well, you know, we don't have to pay him. We got him. We got Isaiah Davis. Like, we got guys that we feel pretty good about in that running back room. So we can afford to lose Breeze Hall. That's. I think, what you need to know. If they firmly believe that. I don't know enough about that. I'm just telling you, you asked me how do I feel from a Jet perspective, I'm looking at it. If I was in the front office, if I'm in the front office, I want him to tell me, I think I need a change of scenery. I think on the open market, I can get a pretty good deal. I want a chance to win somewhere else. Okay, then we're going to move you. Like, fine, like. But if he's like, you know, I really want to stay here. I believe in it here. I want to be part of this. When it turns around, then, then, okay, let's get to a number. But if the number doesn't fit, all right, we either going to franchise you or we'll just move you. But these are the things you have to do right now. The emotions got to come out of this. All of it. Every fan out there right now that's mad about the jets being bad, it's time to move on. Now. It's about business decisions going forward. Because what you don't want to do is be bad for a long time. You want to keep being bad. It's a new regime. They now have to put their fingerprints on the roster. And on this team, I know we're tired of it because it just happens over and over again. It's a perpetual thing with the Jets. I agree. But that's where I am right now. I have to be in that place.
Peter Rosenberg
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Alan Hahn
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Peter Rosenberg
Not sure where to start.
Alan Hahn
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Don LaGreca
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Alan Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Peter Rosenberg
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Alan Hahn
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
Don LaGreca
Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, fellas, it's tolly time. The Knicks visit the Bulls in their first game at the NBA cup with coverage immediately following. Dan Grasser right here on 880 at 7:30. And the Islanders visit the Capitals at 7. Tullamore. Do the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew. Honey, during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly.
Alan Hahn
What do you think of this setup now, Pete, can you see me? I don't know if you could see me, but. Peter, what do you think of this? Like, is this.
Peter Rosenberg
I like it.
Alan Hahn
Scream Hollow.
Peter Rosenberg
No, no, I love it.
Alan Hahn
I feel like I'm about to sing we are the World.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
I can see the microphone.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
Alan Hahn
We are the world.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah. You sound like Huey Lewis. You sound like. You sound like Huey.
Alan Hahn
What I was doing, I was trying.
Peter Rosenberg
Something that sounded like Huey in the famous clip when he starts singing And Michael Jackson looks at him disgusted, like.
Alan Hahn
What are you doing? You trying to steal this?
Peter Rosenberg
No, because he's just like, you know, Huey doesn't have what you'd call that, you know, the traditional classic pipes.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, well, that was, that was Bruce.
Peter Rosenberg
And that's really Bruce. No, that impression sounded Bruce Bruce.
Alan Hahn
Now, I don't know if this guy's got pipes to sing We Are the World, but I know he's got a shot from downtown that the Knicks could certainly use right now. But instead we're going to use his voice on MSG Networks. The newest addition to MSG Networks, Knicks broadcast team, three point marksman. He had an 11 year NBA career, including the 201112 and 2012-13 seasons with the Knicks. Those were two of the most fun teams that the Knicks have had in the last 25 years. He led the NBA three point shooting percentage at 47.2% in that 2011-12 season. And he'll be on the call for MSG Networks tonight at 8pm when the Knicks battle the Bulls in Chicago. Welcome back to New York and welcome to Don Hahn and Rosenberg. Steve Novak, Novocaine. How's that for an intro?
Steve Novak
You read it just like I sent it over to you. I appreciate that. And I will send that check over that I promised. That was well done and happy to be, I think I really am. This is, this is great.
Alan Hahn
We always follow the scripts here. That's what we do. First and foremost though, for you, the years you had here with the Knicks and the fact that you come back and every time you come in the building, the reception you get, how does that make you feel for a guy that you were part of a fun bench, a fun team, but it wasn't like you were here for 10 years yet. The response you get is always, it's a, it's a loud ovation.
Steve Novak
Honestly, I'm always humbled by it because I think, you know, I think back to when I first signed with the Knicks and look, it was, I was, you know, four or five years into my career, I hadn't really proven myself yet. It was like you're looking for a place to, to make your home and, and that was what it felt like happened to me here was I was like able to prove, I think to myself to the basketball world, you know, what I was capable of, what I was training every day to do. So, you know, that, that to me is when I think about, you know, my time in New York is, is what happened. And we all remember it was Mike D'. Antoni where it's like a guy like me comes in and I'm not getting a stop on every possession, but he's looking over, going, hey, as long as you score more than the guy you're garden. He's like, I really don't care. And I was like, you are my long lost brother. And I was so happy to, you know, get paired up in New York at that time with him. And like you said, those are special teams. I mean, it overlapped at a time with Linsanity and with Melo and Amari and Tyson and Jared, Jeffrey, J.R. smith. I mean those teams like said, I think it was as fun to play, you know, with that style and with that group, I think as it was to watch. And I think that to me it seems like just something that connected with especially New York. But basketball fans, you know, it was, it was a fun style and we had fun and the city was buzzing. So I'm grateful for what that was and, and pumped to be back right. You know, with the Knicks and msg, so excited to get started tonight.
Don LaGreca
And Steve, it's so interesting as an athlete, you're only 42 years old. I mean, you're still really young, but now you're moving on to the second half of your career in basketball. So how has the transition been? How do you think it's going to be now transitioning into being in the booth for the Knicks as opposed to being on the floor in the NBA?
Steve Novak
Well, I'm not sure, but if you saw I played in the alumni game and so you're going to stop throwing that 42 around like that. I just, I got buckets on the Rizzler. I was scoring on a bunch of, a bunch of actors and kids. So I do still have it. I just maybe. No, but to your point, I mean, you really do you realize very quickly that you age out and there's not a lot of sympathy for it. You got to go find something else to do. And you know, basketball is how I grew up and what I do. I grew up in a, in a basketball family. My dad was a high school coach. I, you know, just have had such a passion to play and, and to be honest, to your point, I still do, but I can't do it. So, you know, being around the game and honestly around a team like this that I, that I love, where it is, my NBA home and where I had my most success, I think I'm just, I'm really grateful to, to be a part of this group and you know, to get to, I think build up what they're doing and talk about it and be a part of it is, is definitely the next best thing. So it's pretty cool to be doing the side of it.
Peter Rosenberg
What have you thought about the team both last year? What did you make of the Tibbs decision and, and what do you think of this group and where they are right now?
Steve Novak
Yeah, I obviously think with Coach Tibbs, you know, leaving, I think with the year that it was, you know, some of it doesn't always make sense all the way. I wasn't on the inside at the time, but obviously kind of just understanding that look, there's this expectation that, you know, maybe there needed to be another voice to make this team go even further. And I think, you know, we're seeing so far is, you know, two and two and guys doing some awesome things. And at other times there seems to be, you know, lapses, which I think you, you just would expect, you know, with the transition from a different style, which it did sound like that's what a lot of the guys wanted in the front office wanted. And so I think we're, we're seeing that. And I've played on teams where, you know, there were change. I played for Jeff Van Gundy my first year with the Houston Rockets and then Rick Adeline comes in and all of a sudden we're going from a defensive team to a free flowing, making Reeds offensive team. And you know, it takes time but you know, I do, I think about that team in 2007, eight with Rick Adelman. It was Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, Shane Battier and we, you know, we railed off 22 straight wins that year after kind of taking on a new system. And so I don't think it's all smooth in the beginning all the time, but I think we all know from watching this team last year what it can do. And I think with this group what they're about and I think when, you know, it matters so much to win and to win for the city, I think when you start from that point, you just know guys like Cat, they're going to, you know, figure out their rhythm, their place and, and it's going to get there, but the expectations high. So you know, being two and two isn't where anybody wants to be. But we are still only four games in, so I think a lot of basketball to play.
Alan Hahn
Steve Novak joining us here on the show, making his debut on MSG Networks tonight on the call, the Knicks and the Bulls in Chicago you told me you were at the game in Milwaukee, so you saw the Knicks and Bucs game, and you mentioned cat. But what I wanted to ask you about was what you saw in the second quarter. Because as Mike Brown talks about this system, he said it's going to be a process. It's going to look really good at times, going to look really bad at times. Now, the bad was in that third quarter, the second half. But a lot of that had to do with Kat, I think, forcing shots, trying to get his FGAs up. He only had one shot in the first half. But that second quarter, Steve, that. That might have been the most perfect basketball we've seen the Knicks play in a long time. 45 points. They made 8 of 10 from 3 in that quarter. The ball was moving around. Is when you, when you were watching that second quarter, what were you thinking?
Steve Novak
Yeah, to be honest, I was looking over at my wife sitting next to her watching the game, and I was just kind of looking at her when Jalen was kind of getting in his bag and he was hitting and ones and he was using the glass and then he was, you know, the ball was moving and then it was coming back to him and he was just knocking down shots. And you know, to your point, I think even in the losses we've seen so far this year, New York has been up, you know, I think by double digits in both of those games. And then like you said, then there's lapses and then it goes kind of quiet and then it's maybe a little bit of, you know, I don't know if it's. It gets. You get complacent or uncertainty because it's a newer system. But to your point, I do think that's the emphasis is seeing kind of some of those highs, you know, it's like when you see a guy in college lead the country and rebounding, it's like you just know that that guy is going to probably be able to do it at the next level, even though he doesn't do it every single night. And that is what it feels like with this New York team right now is you're seeing, like you said, those second quarters and even Jalen, I thought, you know, the fourth quarter, that Miami game, all of a sudden it's a five point game with a minute left. And it wasn't for Wiggins, you know, coming back down the court, knocking on a three, making an eight point game. You're like that. It feels like even though they could have overcome that lapse, but I, to Your point? I think that you clearly are, you're seeing what the upside of a Mike Brown offense, and you know this, with that, with this group can be. So, yeah, didn't end up with a win yet, but four games in. I think they like to say that the, the bad teams don't know they're bad yet. And so we'll, we'll see. I don't think the Knicks are one of those teams.
Don LaGreca
No. Now, Steve, you brought up Cat, and it's been a struggle for him over the last four games, especially the game in Milwaukee. And I was just wondering, conspiracy theory wise, and you're a former player, you can answer this, how much it must weigh on Cat. I'm trying to make an adjustment to a new coach. But here we are in Milwaukee, everybody's talking about the Knicks and Giannis, the Nixon Giannis. Cat might be one of the guys that goes in that deal. If it happens, does that creep into a player's mind as he's getting ready, just wondering what his future might be in New York?
Steve Novak
You know, I wouldn't even come close to speculating on something like that. I mean, I do, I think, look, scoring, you know, eight points per cap last game, fewest points he scored since 2023 in Minnesota. I really do. I think, I think back to the start of seasons, you know, myself, and look, I'm not Cat, I'm not Brunson, I'm not those guys. But I think back to what those games felt like. And sometimes, especially when it was a new coach and a new system and just a fresh season one, you're getting your legs under, you're trying to figure it out this year. I mean, there's Abu Dhabi, so who knows? With time changes and all that adjustment and earlier start and a different training camp, I think you just throw all that in and these kinds of things are possible. Just like I think Philly being undefeated and San Antonio being undefeated and Chicago being undefeated, it's like that's the other side of the rock to me, where you're like, you can't really explain that necessarily. And in this case, I just, I do, I think, you know, Cat, he is the greatest, you know, five man shooter of all time. He's that cog that you need for a good team to be great. He stretches the cord, he can shoot it. If he can defend the rim a little bit better, I think you've, you know, you've got what you need. And so, you know, I just, I don't. I would tend to think that you kind of. What you were mentioning probably has. Has much to do with it. You know, Giannis is a damn good player, and Milwaukee's got some guys stepping up with, you know, Rollins having huge games all of a sudden. And so I think teams are feeling each other out and just like Cat is feeling out this system and finding his way. I just, you know, I do think game to game, it is fun to hash through it, but I don't think there's as much to make of this. Haven't seen as much Cat hoops as we have now.
Peter Rosenberg
You played on your share of teams in this. This league that we call the National Basketball Association. Steve, you know what it's like to play for different head coaches. What is it like just on a personal level when you are someplace and you're comfortable and you really do have a relationship with the head coach, and then someone shows up who's a complete stranger, how. Just what is the adjustment like that, personally, for those of us who have never had sort of the coach player role relationship?
Don LaGreca
Yeah, it's.
Steve Novak
It's everything. I mean, you. You hear so many times about guys finding their place, you know, finding their home and where they belong. And, you know, sometimes if you even let guys pick, they pick wrong. It doesn't even work that way, you know, or it's like, I'm going to go here and these three guys are going to be a super team and the coach is going to be great, and you see it not work. And so, you know, like you're describing, I think it's. It's like when there's this common desperation and expectation, and sometimes it includes the front office and the fans of a team, you know, some special things, you know, can happen. And other times, I think, you know, guys just, their skill sets don't always work. And I think about, you know, like, you're describing some of the teams I've been on where there are multiple guys kind of. I'd call it in the same lanes. You know, when I was in Oklahoma City and it was Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and you're like, wow, we're going to be the best. We're going to win every game. And you realize you got multiple guys in the same lane sometimes wanting the same things. And, you know, there was even some of that in New York at times, you know, with the teams I was on. And. And then, to be honest, there's other times where I think you're looking like you're looking at the team we're playing tonight. Chicago where everybody's willing to be in whatever lane they got to be in, it seems like, because it's just working right now. And I don't think that necessarily means that they're going to be that team at the end of the year winning the championship. I think you look at a team like New York and you realize if by the end of this season Mike Brown can work his magic and get all those guys in their individual lanes. And I think last year they showed that, you know, that is the case as far as, you know, this, this group is made up, but just trying to tweak things and get it perfected. But it does matter, you know, that chemistry, those relationships, and just the time on the court when it flows. Easy because the guy is cutting instead of standing there, you know, and so many other examples, you know, I think it's a big deal. And so I think that is, that is part of the magic for this year. If the Knicks can get that going, that'll be, that'll be the difference.
Alan Hahn
Well, I'll tell you what. You, you are now joining a team of shooters, right? You got Wally Zerbiek, you know, Monica McNutt, she put up buckets. She was a three point shooter at Georgetown. I can rebound. Like, don't even look at me like, I will. I can't shoot. Peto can't even reach the rim. But, but with all of us together and Mike Breen, actually, he was a basketball.
Peter Rosenberg
You can't reach through with a basketball.
Alan Hahn
Well, it's, we'd have to pick him up.
Peter Rosenberg
Okay.
Alan Hahn
You know, but, but, but like, like, so I, I don't know, Steve. Like, there might be a day where we all got to get to the park, have a little contest that might be coming.
Steve Novak
I like it.
Alan Hahn
Do you like your chances? Because Wally, Wally will tell you like, nobody can outshoot him and McNutt tells everybody that it's, it's Ewing, it's Iverson, than McNutt. When it comes to Georgetown basketball. I mean, that's, that's the triumvirate there. So what do you got?
Steve Novak
I'm telling you this, I think this to me sounds like, you know, when there's a game that's just not that much to talk about before it. I feel like that sounds like a hell of a pre game show. I think we get out to a park where it's not too windy, we, you know, put a few dollars at half court and we see how it ends up. But I don't know, I feel like Wally has more money than the rest of the US So we probably got to be careful.
Alan Hahn
That's confirmed. Like I said, I'll rebound. There's nothing else I can do. Nothing.
Don LaGreca
Well, good luck tonight. It should be a lot of fun, man. It's a good basketball team. You're joining at the perfect time. Best of luck, man.
Steve Novak
I appreciate it. It's an honor to be back and this is obviously a special time to be with the Knicks. And this is, this is definitely my basketball home and excited to get started. So appreciate you guys having me on.
Peter Rosenberg
Thanks, man.
Alan Hahn
Good stuff.
Peter Rosenberg
And obviously we'll talk to Steve Moore as the season goes on because there's going to be a lot happening at MSG throughout the year. And Speaking of which, ESPN New York is giving you a chance to experience MSG because UFC 322 at Madison Square Gardens November 15th one grand prize winner and a guest will score tickets to the ESPN New York suite hosted by me. You can hit the energy of the Garden, the comfort of the suite and the world class UFC action alongside yours truly. I will not be wearing this dol outfit unless you request it to enter. Find the contest tile on the ESPN New York app and submit your entry. It's all brought to you by Bud Light, the official beer of ufc.
Don LaGreca
Apparently furries welcome is what you're saying.
Alan Hahn
Well, I didn't know you were a furry today.
Peter Rosenberg
Today it's, it's today it's giving furry. That's. That's who I am.
Alan Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Peter Rosenberg
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Alan Hahn
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts now.
Don LaGreca
YouTube TV customers get the sport you love on ESPN back, including college football, college game day, Monday Night football, NBA, college basketball and more. Act now go to keep my networks.com to get ESPN back. Don, Han and Roseberg with you on Halloween. Take up until 7 o'. Clock. Got a really, really big show for you. We've got Fraud alert Friday. Always a gem. 4:30 hits. Different though on Halloween. 5:45 our picks. Was so mad about last night because.
Alan Hahn
Oh my God, you brought it up.
Don LaGreca
Peter, about Thursday and you hinted about liking the Dolphin. Oh, seven and a half big number And I was ready to pounce. Thinking you were going to pick the Dolphins. It was going to be my three point play. I loved the Ravens and then I just completely blank didn't think about it. And then I'm watching the game before the Devils and the sharks. I'm seeing 28, six. I'm like, that could have been my.
Peter Rosenberg
Three point play, by the way. It's, it's the worst at that point then you're just rooting against them. You please don't, please don't have have me miss it. And then you just missed out on it.
Don LaGreca
Biggest Dolphin fan on earth last night at 286 because it's still like early in the fourth quarter. Get a couple of bogus touchdowns, get a backdoor cover, make me feel better because I've actually been hot, but I just can't get my three point play. I went 12 and one last week and my one loss was my three point play on the show. Oh, would have been so nice to just sit back and luxuriate. Three point Don.
Peter Rosenberg
It happened to me last week. I went through it last week. It's a nightmare.
Don LaGreca
Yeah, I blame Anthony. He should have reminded me, should have brought it back.
Alan Hahn
Listen, that, that loss for the Dolphins.
Peter Rosenberg
There you go. Thank you.
Alan Hahn
That was coming.
Don LaGreca
There you go.
Alan Hahn
I was waiting for that. But you see already the GMs out and.
Don LaGreca
Yeah, Greer out 10 years.
Alan Hahn
Yeah. And you know the coach is going to be something. He's gonna be next.
Peter Rosenberg
Well, not yet.
Alan Hahn
But not yet. But it just, you know it's coming. They're gonna do a clean sweep there. Which again you go back to when you fire coaches. You better have a plan. Yeah, you gotta have a plan. And so now that's one we know. I think the average shefty had this a couple of years ago and it's really amazing. I believe year to year in the last, in this century. So the last 25 years, I think the average coaching vacancies in the NFL annually is six to seven. Nothing.
Don LaGreca
Really nothing.
Alan Hahn
Not even a six seven joke. But it is six to seven. No, no, no. Like you didn't react even six is a lot.
Don LaGreca
Seven a lot. I know Every year I don't know the 67 was explained to me. I still don't.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, I don't get it either. But I thought if, either if you weren't amazed that it's six to seven per year, then I thought at least somebody would make some snide.
Peter Rosenberg
Six, seven.
Alan Hahn
But I got nothing.
Peter Rosenberg
There you go, Don. You know, there's nothing to understand about six, seven. I, there's no, it doesn't make any, it doesn't make sense.
Alan Hahn
It's not supposed to make sense, but I wasn't looking for it. I was just looking for some type of response. Instead I got dead air. I thought Maybe I was knocked offline. You don't think six to seven openings a year is a big deal?
Peter Rosenberg
Well, I mean, it's. It's kind of crazy, but I mean, when you think about it.
Alan Hahn
Year, though, per year, man.
Don LaGreca
But it makes sense.
Peter Rosenberg
But think about it. Yet teams in this league don't want to be bad long. That's not how it goes.
Alan Hahn
This is the thing. I think we should do research to see how many of the six to seven per year is this Are like the same teams, the most frequent teams involved. Right.
Don LaGreca
Well, you know, every other year was the Giants for a while.
Alan Hahn
I mean, after five years, you could argue the whole league has changed.
Don LaGreca
Here's the question. Why do I feel like that's low compared to the other sports? Why do I feel like in the other sports it's probably higher.
Alan Hahn
You think baseball managers get fired at a higher rate?
Don LaGreca
I bet you hockey and basketball do. I bet you they get. Per year. It's so easy. I think it's harder to change a coach in the NFL because you're, you know, you're changing game plan and culture. That's why you usually don't see changes in the middle of the year. That's why the Dolphins aren't, you know, gonna fire them because they just don't want the second half of the year to be a complete mess. Like what happened with the jets last year. Like, you can fire a manager in the middle of a baseball season and still win the World Series. It happens in hockey and basketball all the time, too. So I still think even that Even though that 6, 7 is high, it's probably on the low end in the 6, 7. See, I don't know. I don't get what he just did. And I know you're not supposed to get it, but there has to be some sense of following directions or something, right? No, it's. It's.
Peter Rosenberg
It's called these people are more the generation. It's moronville. It's.
Don LaGreca
I don't want to be that.
Alan Hahn
We had our dumb things, too. Come on.
Peter Rosenberg
No, not like this.
Don LaGreca
No, but.
Peter Rosenberg
I want to say this, Alan. There has never been slang dumber than 6 7, where it means literally nothing. I don't think I can recall any other. And people are calling it the word of the year. It's being. Oh, it's a whole thing. It's 6, 7. It has no meaning. It's.
Alan Hahn
No, no, I know. It has no meaning.
Peter Rosenberg
Kids just say take.
Alan Hahn
I know. And react to.
Peter Rosenberg
But our childhood. Was there ever a phrase where when asked to explain it, you couldn't say it. You just went, oh, it's just six, seven.
Don LaGreca
No, no. But we had something.
Peter Rosenberg
It would have something.
Alan Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Peter Rosenberg
I don't want to know how the.
Alan Hahn
Sausage is made, but 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.
Date: October 31, 2025
Hosts: Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Special Guest: Steve Novak
This Halloween episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg, live on ESPN New York and YouTube, finds the trio spread out across LA, Madison Square Garden, and New York. The show opens with musings on Halloween traditions before shifting to New York sports, specifically touching on the Giants-Niners rivalry and the somber outlook for both the Giants and Jets. Major attention is devoted to the uncertain futures faced by both teams, especially the Jets, as the trade deadline looms. Later, the hosts welcome former Knick sharpshooter and new MSG broadcaster Steve Novak, who reflects on his Knicks days and discusses the current Knicks squad. The episode is full of candid New York sports talk, playful jabs, and nostalgia—blending analysis with fan perspective.
This hour sets the stage with seasonal fun before diving into hard truths about the Giants’ and Jets’ futures—pointing out the endless turnover, challenges of NFL roster-building, and the heartbreak of talent misaligned with opportunity. The highlight is the return of Steve Novak, bringing positivity and Knick pride amid the endless churn of New York sports. The episode is essential for fans seeking raw, real, and occasionally hilarious homegrown New York sports commentary.