Hour 1: Tomlin Steps Down

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – "Tomlin Steps Down" (Jan 13, 2026 – Hour 1)

Overview

In this episode, Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg react to the breaking news that Mike Tomlin has stepped down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers after a blowout playoff loss. The trio reflects on Tomlin’s legacy, the unique stability of the Steelers franchise, and the seismic shift his departure signals for Pittsburgh. They also dive deep into the latest on the Giants’ coaching search, with John Harbaugh emerging as the prime candidate, and dissect listener perceptions of "historic franchises." Other segments touch on Aaron Rodgers’ uncertain future, playful musical debates, and a surprise Hall of Fame nod for Alan Hahn.

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Main Segments & Key Insights

1. Mike Tomlin Steps Down: End of an Era in Pittsburgh

Timestamps: 03:21 – 06:57 / 21:34 – 25:15

• Immediate Reaction: The guys react in real time to the unexpected news Tomlin is leaving. Don sees this as the end of a remarkable Steelers tradition: "Noel retired. Cower retires. Tomlin steps down. All three in the Hall of Fame. All three coached their entire careers in Pittsburgh." (05:15, Don LaGreca)
• Steelers Stability: They marvel at 57 years of only three head coaches, all departing on their own terms, all never fired.

  “You rooted for a team that in 57 years had three Hall of Fame coaches and never fired them. … At least you could have took pride and you weren’t like everybody else, grabbing coaches all over the place.” (21:56, Don LaGreca)

• What’s Next for Pittsburgh? Peter admires the "standard" the Steelers have held for over 50 years and wonders if they can find a successor with "Steelers blood." Alan and Don are skeptical, noting that continuity of leadership of this sort is likely over.

  "Now, there's no obvious coaching candidate that has Steeler blood. Right? There really isn't…so that's going to be interesting to see what happens in Pittsburgh." (05:25, Peter Rosenberg)

• Steelers Fans’ Sentiment: The hosts acknowledge many fans are glad Tomlin is gone after lengthy playoff droughts, but Don and Alan argue that the franchise’s stability should also be valued.

  “But there is something about stability and not embarrassing yourself, and the Steelers have been able to do that compared to the two franchises we have here in New York.” (25:00, Don LaGreca)

2. Giants Coaching Search: Harbaugh vs. Tomlin Speculation

Timestamps: 06:57 – 18:29

• Giants’ Priorities: Don says fans are laser-focused on John Harbaugh, not pivoting to Tomlin even if he were available:

  "Are you thinking, oh, forget Harbaugh, I want Tomlin. And I said, no, I'm focused on Harbaugh." (07:30, Don LaGreca)

• Ian O’Connor Joins: The New York sportswriter gives an inside scoop, putting the Giants "a slight lead" over Atlanta and Tennessee in the "Harbaugh Invitational," likening it to a golf tournament.

  “The Giants, I believe, have a slight lead right now … but there is…a lot of golf to be played. The in-person meetings still have to happen.” (09:22, Ian O’Connor)

• Harbaugh's Allure to Giants: O’Connor details why Harbaugh is intrigued by NY – the Mara family's reputation, big-market allure, and the Giants’ storied history.

  “He understands the allure of the New York Giants and their storied place in the history of the league. … John Mara is as revered as really anybody. And John Harbaugh is very well aware of that.” (10:05, Ian O’Connor)

• Personnel Power in NY: Discussion about whether Harbaugh would demand GM-like authority. Consensus: he’ll want significant say, but not total control.

  “He does need to be given some say in who’s going to be on his football team. … You have to give him some say in personnel. And I do think Joe Shane realizes that.” (12:49, Ian O’Connor)

• Other Team Interest: Atlanta may be tempting due to their easier division, while Tennessee’s first overall pick is an X-factor. Still, the Giants are perceived to be ahead—though not by much.

3. Aaron Rodgers: Is This the End?

Timestamps: 20:14 – 23:19 / 31:47 – 36:13

• Uncertain Future: Rodgers’ interception and playoff loss raise retirement questions. Don notes, "He’s already reached out to McAfee…that could have been his last game ever." (03:35, Don LaGreca)
• Rodgers on Playing for "Two Great Franchises": Rodgers references only the Packers and Steelers, omitting the Jets—something the guys find brutally honest but not a snub:

  “He couldn’t just say three? No, he’s trying to make a point. I played for two great historic franchises and the packers receive. Why should I have to dumb it down … just throw the jets in when the jets aren’t there?” (34:13, Don LaGreca)

• Fan Reaction: The hosts agree Jets fans should not take offense—“If you take this personal as a Jets fan, that’s a you problem.” (36:13, Peter Rosenberg)

4. Defining a “Historic Franchise” – Giants Debate with Listeners

Timestamps: 46:21 – 52:37

• Caller Jim’s Rant: Jim from Queens disputes the “storied” label for the Giants, calling their history overrated and citing mismanagement and underwhelming stars.

  “I got a problem with you guys. Keep calling the Giants like this storied franchise… their best player they still bring out in front of fans was a cokehead perp.” (46:21, Jim)

• The Hosts’ Defense:
  • Don and Alan argue that “historic” isn’t the same as “currently great”, citing NY’s championships, 100-year tenure, and foundational role in the NFL.
  • Alan compares legacy teams division by division, asserting only a few teams (Steelers, Patriots, Cowboys) have greater claims to “historic.”
  • Peter: “Rangers have four Cups… but they are a flagship original six franchise… The Knicks… are an original flagship franchise. That’s why it was moronic with the Giants.” (51:47)
• Takeaway: The hosts urge fans not to conflate “historic” with “model” or “successful at this moment.”

5. Lighthearted Moments & Off-Topic Banter

Alan Hahn’s Hall of Fame Surprise

• A caller reveals Alan is being inducted into LIU Post’s Hall of Fame; Alan is surprised but characteristically humble:

  “Alan, you’re humble, but you deserve it. … Sometimes you need to take a look at what you’ve accomplished.” (39:14, Marvin/Don)

Beatles & “Wings” Music Debate

• The trio gets sidetracked debating the solo records of Paul McCartney and George Harrison, musing on Wings’ catalog and dissecting song trivia with the same mix of sarcasm and music-nerdery they bring to sports (28:34 – 31:14).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Don on the Steelers’ unique legacy:
  “57 years, three coaches. Chuck Noll retires, never coaches again. Hall of Fame. Bill Cowher never coaches again after retirement. Hall of Fame. Tomlin’s going to the Hall of Fame.” (21:34)
• Peter, on the changing NFL landscape:
  “Now, unless someone… has Steeler blood… there’s no obvious coaching candidate… So it’s going to be interesting to see what happens in Pittsburgh, the end of what feels like three generations of great coaching.” (05:25)
• Don, pushing back on “historic franchise” gripes:
  “You can’t tell the history of the NFL without talking about Mel Hein and Sam Huff and Y.A. Tittle…there’s a history. What don’t you understand?” (52:12)
• Alan, on Hall of Fame surprises:
  “You gotta watch your back. Something’s coming, right? Just keep your eyes [open]… It rains, it pours, within two or three days I thought somebody was punking me.” (41:54)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening banter & Tomlin news reactions: 00:00 – 06:57
• Steelers legacy & what’s next: 21:34 – 25:15
• Giants/Harbaugh coaching search: 06:57 – 18:29
• Aaron Rodgers’ future & legacy: 20:14 – 23:19, 31:47 – 36:13
• ‘Historic Franchise’ debate with callers: 46:21 – 52:37
• Music banter & Wings discussion: 28:34 – 31:14
• Alan Hahn’s Hall of Fame call: 38:15 – 41:14

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Tone & Style

The conversation is a blend of sharp New York sports analysis, playful sarcasm, pop culture asides, and deeply knowledgeable banter. Don brings historical gravitas; Alan balances analysis and humility; Peter injects hip hop and WWE flair with plenty of comic energy.

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In Summary

The episode delivers a compelling live reaction to a seismic NFL event—the end of the Steelers’ legendary coaching succession. The hosts dissect what this means for both Pittsburgh and the broader league, while also immersing listeners in the fevered Giants coaching sweepstakes. Sprinkled throughout are lively debates on sports legacy, celebrity news, and the personalities that define New York radio.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

Don, there's no tush push if you're.

[Alan Hahn]

Not pushing the tush.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Han, I want you protecting my blind side. And Rosenberg.

[Alan Hahn]

When I was seven, I was riding shotgun and smoking cigarettes.

[Don LaGreca]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.

[Don LaGreca]

The best threesome I've ever heard on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube.

[Don LaGreca]

Fast approaching 301 in the big city. Don Lagreca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg. We call it Don Hahn and Rosenberg sometimes. What do we call it other times?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Dhr.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't know. Care for that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're not allowed to do that still.

[Alan Hahn]

I thought he meant the Case show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Going back to last week.

[Peter Rosenberg]

People still call it that.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, when I.

[Michael Kay]

Well, no, I.

[Alan Hahn]

Actually the problem is when I say, you got to go. I got to go to the K show. And I go, I'm sorry. I mean, I mean, my show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

It's not the case.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's just easy for you to say.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And then my wife chimes in and goes, huh? I like the K show. I went, but this show has my name in it. No, still prefers the Case.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's clearly me. And that's all right.

[Alan Hahn]

You always make it about you.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, he's also uncomfortable because Michael's in studio.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Michael's watching this whole conversation. So. Yeah. Staring daggers right at him.

[Don LaGreca]

Who's gonna be.

[Alan Hahn]

I think the question.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Every day I'm waiting for him to do what Don did to you. You know, hey, get up. Right. I went down to that to you last week.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, it was last week.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, get up.

[Alan Hahn]

It's my seat.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm waiting for it. It's coming. You know it's coming.

[Alan Hahn]

It was tough.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe he'll drop a. See ya maybe.

[Don LaGreca]

That was the nicest get out of my seat ever.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was it?

[Alan Hahn]

It would have been nicer if he didn't do it. Well, let me sit there. But instead he said, you know what? I've had enough.

[Don LaGreca]

Michael's curious what's going on.

[Alan Hahn]

He's looking up with curiosity.

[Don LaGreca]

It was a big giant day after the Giants lost a game. It was Monday and it was a Monday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was Black Monday.

[Alan Hahn]

Michael's wearing, by the way, the leather.

[Don LaGreca]

Seth Rollins was coming in at 3:30. So the decision was, well, let's just have Peter.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, no. And you were. Yeah, you were not well.

[Don LaGreca]

And I was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Your voice wasn't great.

[Don LaGreca]

My voice wasn't great. But then I started saying, you know, the Giants had another bad loss. I got a really big opinion. So When I came into the studio, I asked Peter to just get out of the big seat and I'll lead.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it was a tough moment because you think he could have just sat down here in the loser seat and said, hey, I'm gonna just. Hey, Peter, if you don't mind, let me just, let me start things off. I'm hot about the Giants. Nope. Oh, of course. But no, that wasn't enough. He said, get up, get out, go get your shine box and go sit over there.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, listen, I didn't want it to be that way, but if it, if it came across that way and got him out of the seat quicker. And I think Michael, knowing me for going on 25 years, probably appreciated that. A little initiative that I had.

[Alan Hahn]

Sure. Yeah, I think so. Michael. By the way, Michael is wearing the same leather jacket he Wore to the 96 Yankee parade. I love those photos. I can't believe you kept it. That was the trench. Yeah, that was, that was the leather.

[Don LaGreca]

He was feeling it. 96.

[Alan Hahn]

No, like, well, a lot. So were other people.

[Don LaGreca]

His rotation.

[Alan Hahn]

Every. Everyone was feeling. Let me tell you, everyone was feeling something back then. You know what I mean?

[Don LaGreca]

I mean, he's young, he's on a parade float. The team that he grew up worshiping, doing play by play, won the championship jacket.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. If you, if you can't score with.

[Alan Hahn]

All that going on with a man on third base every day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, speak.

[Don LaGreca]

Daryl Sitler, that on that he knew that there was a 10 point game coming that night. Are you kidding me?

[Alan Hahn]

Now, speaking of which, I felt that way coming into the show today because when I saw the old tweet that Mike Tomlin is calling it a day in Pittsburgh, I went, oh, well, show's done. Let's start speculating. And it's been ruined for me because.

[Don LaGreca]

Then that's the jumping off point. Because when you see the news that Tomlin's got, and we weren't surprised, basic on the performance yesterday, they were blown out by the Houston Texans, and I don't think anybody was surprised. And Aaron Rodgers last throw is a pick six and that's got a stick in his crawl because it looks like he's done. He's already reached out to McAfee about with @ least the words that that could have been his last game ever. But to Peter's point, we find out Tomlin steps down and that was reiterated by the Steelers, that this was not, you know, mutual. He stepped down and it feels like he's done now. Does that mean he can't change his mind in a couple of years. The Steelers have control for two years, and that's on pause. So if he goes to television for the next decade, when he decides he wants to coach again, Steelers could be like, all right, I want compensation. So we saw what happened with Bill Cower. Everybody assumed Bill Cower was going to get back and play, go to tv, play that reindeer game for a couple of years. Well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He had a personal issue that he wanted to get away from football for. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

But he never came back. Because it's intoxicating. Right? You get to stay near the game. You get paid a ton of money. There's no pressure. And then time flies, man, especially in this sport. All of a sudden, 53, still young, a Super bowl championship head coach, and then three years later, nah, you know, where we've moved on, we're good. Yeah, you lost your last seven playoff games. You haven't won in a long time. You know, goodbye. And that's how I kind of feel like this is going to go down. Noel retired. Cower retires. Tomlin steps down. All three in the hall of Fame. All three coach their entire careers in Pittsburgh. It's.

[Michael Kay]

It's.

[Don LaGreca]

Crazy, the lineage that is now, I think, over. And you brought up the point, Alan, off the air. It's going to be different now in Pittsburgh. It.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Has to be, because they carried a standard for well over, what, 50 years from coach to coach to coach. And now, unless someone, you know, again, Vrabel going back to New England kind of brought back a little bit of that, what Belichick and all them had set up for all those years. So maybe they can find somebody along those lines. But right now, there's no obvious coaching candidate that has Steeler blood. Right? There really isn't. Isn't that. So that's going to be interesting to see what happens in Pittsburgh and you know, the end of what Phil feels like. Three generations of great coaching and success. But this all has to do now with it in New York is what comes next. And I'm telling you, like he. Mike Tomlin is somebody that everybody will still reach out about whether. Whether he wants to step away and take time, if he wants to dabble in tv, if he just wants to do some other things but still be involved in football. It doesn't seem like a guy that he's very young for a coaching age, early 50s, 53. So it's not like this guy's just going to call it a day, But I don't think he's jumping to another team and Pittsburgh probably wouldn't want that. So Sean Payton went away and a team that in the Denver Broncos that wanted to bring him in had to pay a hefty price. It was a late first round pick and a second round pick that they had to send to the Saints so that they could hire Sean Payton. And you can look and say, how'd that work out? Right. And in three years it's worked out really well. So.

[Don LaGreca]

You get right away, but eventually no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it never does happen right away. But so that's probably going to be the rate if you want to make a move like that. The Giants are not going to pivot at this point. John Harbaugh is there guy, they're all in on him. So what happens next year is going to be interesting for teams that still aren't sure about their coach but haven't made a move yet. The jets would be a team in that place, but I mean he's going to have way better options than the jets next year if the jets decide that Aaron Glenn is not the coach. I.

[Don LaGreca]

We had that millisecond, right, like, oh, Tomlin might be in play. And then John Winthrop, our pinhead suit, asked me, don, you're a Giant fan. Are you pivoting right now? Are you thinking, oh, forget Harbaugh, I want Tomlin. And I said, no, I'm focused on Harbaugh. I think the offense could be better under Harbaugh because I do agree with a lot of the Steeler fans. From an offensive standpoint, things were very stale for a long time. But if for some reason Harbaugh slipped through the Giants fingers, yeah, then I would probably want to bring a Tomlin in. But that's completely off the table now and the focus can be on Harbaugh. And we heard if you weren't listening earlier, and you should, the Michael K Show, which began today at 1 o', clock, had Ian O' Connor on and he talked about Harbaugh and how close it is. He's got really good connections there, doesn't he? He really feels like that's the guy to follow on what's going to happen with Jim Harley. John.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Harbaugh, he's the only one to follow. He knows. He's got intimate knowledge clearly on both sides. It's.

[Don LaGreca]

Not like he's getting fed information by the Giants. No, he's got, he's got connections within the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Harbaugh campaign, personally knows John. He is, he's, he's been to his house, he's interviewed him like there's. There's a very intimate thing. He knows everyone, which is why that, that's, you know, ioc. That's.

[Don LaGreca]

The guy to follow. No, he. For.

[Alan Hahn]

Sure. I'm a huge fan. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

He was on TMKs. Where do the Giants stand in pursuing Harbaugh? I.

[Ian O'Connor]

Just did something on a little while ago, the John Harbaugh Invitational. I had the Giants in the second round with a slight lead at six under. I had Atlanta and Tennessee at five under. Tennessee. Now I did think all along that Atlanta would be the most serious threat to the Giants fans because of Matt Ryan, because of Bijan Robinson, because of. Really.

[Don LaGreca]

And.

[Ian O'Connor]

This might be the biggest thing. The Falcons have the easiest road to a division championship, that division. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

So.

[Ian O'Connor]

And Harbaugh knows that. But what do you think of Penix as your future quarterback? He's had three ACL injuries in his college and pro career already. And is he as good as Jackson Dart and Cam Ward? Probably not. So my understanding is Tennessee is going to be right there. And the Giants, I believe, have a slight lead right now, I would say over Tennessee and Atlanta. But there is, as I said before, a lot of golf to be played. The in person meetings still have to happen. The Giants. What I would say to Giants fans is you're in a really good position right now, but still have a lot of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Work to do. All.

[Don LaGreca]

Right, so how does Harbaugh view the Giants? John.

[Ian O'Connor]

Harbaugh, he's had a lot of respect for John Mara through competition committee meetings and issues. And he understands the allure of the New York Giants and their storied place in the history of the league. And it's like that doesn't need to be sold to him. The Mares as an ownership family, he knows and his agent knows that they are particularly John Mara, just widely respected around professional sports, not just the NFL. And listen, Giants fans have a right to be dissatisfied with ownership. And looking at the results on the FIELD since that second Super bowl, the last 14 years largely have been really bad. And John Mara has to own that. And he does. He's one of the few owners, I think you know, this Michael, who responds to emails and letters to fans because he does really feel their pain. And so he needs to be judged on that without question. But around the NFL and the way he treats people, John Mara is as revered as really anybody. And John Harbaugh is very well aware of that. All.

[Don LaGreca]

Right, so Ian says they've got the lead in the clubhouse. Ian says that Harbaugh is impressed with the Giants Respects the Giants, has a relationship with the Maris. So what can go wrong? Right? What can go wrong? You know what can go wrong? The most hated man in Giantsville, and that's Joe Shane. Could Joe Shane Ian be a reason why Harbaugh passes? Is.

[Ian O'Connor]

The Joe Shane thing going to be an issue? I don't think so. At the end of the day, and so far it has not been. Harbaugh has liked his conversations with Joe Shane and he does want personnel, say in power. He doesn't need total control of the roster. I don't believe now somebody else might tell you differently, but that's not really how John Harbaugh is wired. And, and look, in the past he's had to work with Ozzie Newsom, one of the best GMs to ever do it. John didn't have absolute control of the roster certainly when Ozzie Newsom was in place in Baltimore. And Eric Dacosta is considered one of the five best GMs in the league right now and was one of John's best friends, at least before he got fired. And I know I was at Harbaugh's house once and he pointed to DaCosta's house. They're basically neighbors. So he's worked with GMs before without absolute power. So I don't think he's going to need that. But he does need to be given some say in who's going to be on his football team. And let's face it, Michael, if you're going to give this guy million a year to come in a guy who has been a consistent winner over 18 years, been to the playoffs 12 times, won eight road playoff games, he's done everything in the past 14 years the Giants haven't done. You have to give him some say in personnel. And I do think Joe Shane realizes that. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, that's exactly what, how it's supposed to work. If somebody of his stature and his status is going to have as close to final say as possible. But he's not. We've seen in the past when the head coach has front office responsibilities. Belichick couldn't do it right. Parcel struggle with it. The best ones all struggle with it, but that doesn't mean that they can't have an input while you do all the work. And Joe Shane, that's how it's gonna have to work. We, but we know he worked with Brian Dabel that way. Brian Dabel had players he wanted. Joe Shane's okay, I'll get him. And that's how it Works. So I don't see it being any different. I don't know why it has to be such a big deal, but to think that somebody of his status, of John Harbaugh status would come in and just whatever Joe Shane says, we know that's not gonna happen that way. We know it's going to be a collaborative, which we all hate that word these days, but that's a real thing. That's what it's gonna be about. And that's what Joe Shane has to sell to him. These are all the things we do. And.

[Don LaGreca]

Why was there any indication that it would be any other way? There.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wasn'T. Who.

[Don LaGreca]

Gets credit for dart? Like, whenever people go, well, give Joe Shane credit. He traded back into the first round to get Dart. Everybody's pivot to that was, well, he was just getting Dable's guy. I mean, that's what a general manager is supposed to do. Right. So you really think John Harbaugh wants to come in in the biggest city in North America, a Giants team. It's a complete mess. Coach and also play gm. No, he just wants to know he's going to have a say. He's going to have a seat at the table. Of course he's going to have a seat at the table. He.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

He's.

[Don LaGreca]

Gonna get made at least $20 million a year. Really think it's gonna be like, well, no, Joel, Shane says that they should do this, so. Sorry. Jon, shut up. No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Come on. Right, right. So.

[Don LaGreca]

When we talk about power, when we always go back to that parcels quote, well, I want to be able to buy the groceries. I think we take that in the literal sense of that means you're gonna do all the work. No, you've got scouts. Your general manager's gonna have a say. All Bill was saying is that if there's a face off, I need to win that face off. And why wouldn't you, if you're Joe Shane, give your coach making $20 million a year. Way more than you, by the way. Even if he gets a contract extension, it's not even approach $20 million a year. Have that guy have his say. Give that coach the guy he wants. Very.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Easy to do. So.

[Don LaGreca]

I. Very easy to do. You know, I'm a Giant fan and I want this to happen. This is my guy. How does this not happen? Well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ian's got them as the fav. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

He.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did this golf thing on Twitter, which was funny. And he's got them as the favorite, the lead dog. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

But.

[Don LaGreca]

Just to stroke ahead, Atlanta of Atlanta and Tennessee. So think about it. Atlanta and real. How.

[Alan Hahn]

Can that be just a hair ahead of Tennessee. But.

[Don LaGreca]

That'S what's scary. That's.

[Alan Hahn]

That's crazy. I.

[Don LaGreca]

Don'T even believe isn't that scary. But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, see, if you really want to. Want to break it down, Atlanta, as you know, as he explained, Penix has had two ACLs in one leg and now he's got an ACL injury in the other. Okay, he's not young. Came into the league older now. He's not old, but also is yet to.

[Don LaGreca]

Have a lot of miles, is yet.

[Alan Hahn]

To have a full year where he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Showed you he has it. And there's that. They have Kirk Cousins and that's their quarterback situation right now. Now there's a ton of talent around that. They really do have a lot of offensive talent. Their defense wasn't bad this year. So that is attractive because not only of all that, you have a division that is not nearly as much of a slugfest as the NFC east, but this is a guy who's coming from the AFC north who's used to the slug fest, right? Then you have really stable, very locked in ownership with the NFL, Right. The Giants have all the above as well. They have stable ownership, don't they? They have a quarterback, a young one who's just getting started. They are in a division that is, okay, very competitive. But which way are the Eagles going? Which way are the Cowboys going? Commanders are trending up. Even though they had a down year, you had to expect. They're going to. They're going to trend up. But still, if there was ever a time to get into the NFC east, it would be now. It's not when the Eagles aren't at their best like they were for the last couple of years. They're going through it right now. The Eagles are the Cowboys. I don't know what to expect from them. But.

[Don LaGreca]

Since when does a great coach or a great anybody choose the path of least resistance? I'm going to go to Atlanta. Because.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You go to the best situation. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Exactly. That we. I think that's an important distinction, though. Best distinction doesn't necessarily mean easiest path. The best situation, I should say, is you have a quarterback in place, you have an ownership group you like, you have a market with. So there's a lot of different things. I'm with you, Don. I don't think it's ever going to be, oh, this is the easy play. But that could be seeing an opening. If, you know, for example, this isn't The Harbaugh who took the job in Baltimore 20 years ago, he's only going to do this for what, 10 years? This is the last job. This isn't the first job. I'd love that. So you'd want it now. Exactly. That.

[Don LaGreca]

Would mean you had a hell of a run. You'd.

[Alan Hahn]

Love that. So you do want to get into a place where you feel like you can.

[Don LaGreca]

Compete right away. Sure. Right. But I just think the whole idea, well, I can go to Atlanta and I can go. I can go eight and nine win the division. He can't think. There's no chance of thinking. I don't think that's going to play. Tennessee's interesting because they do have a first overall pick in Cam Ward. Again, we didn't get to see that much of him this year, but he's special, though. He does seem like he's. They.

[Alan Hahn]

Believe they love him, but they're. But, but we're a. Not short of. The whole league was raving about him. It wasn't that this year. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We don't. We.

[Alan Hahn]

Didn'T leave. Bad.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Team. The.

[Alan Hahn]

Team was horrific. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

He.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was frustrated. He was trying to speak up as a leader. He was taking some hits as well, like lumps. I mean, not like actual hits, but he was taking some criticism by the way he was playing because they were poorly coached and that was a tough situation. But he comes into the league. Everybody really loved him. It was the consensus, number one, by the way. Meanwhile, in Baltimore, not only is Steve Biscotti talking about Lamar Jackson as I want him as my quarterback going forward, he's also saying that he's been involved in talking about the next head coach. He's been. And in fact, if he wants to be part of the final interview process, we would love to have him there. What does that tell you? Not going anywhere. Well, what does it also tell you? There was clearly a decision to make between two people. Oh.

[Don LaGreca]

No. And they chose the quarterback. And they chose the quarterback. That's why, you know, they were talking on the show at 10 o'. Clock. Barton Carlin. Sure. About if you're the. If you're the jets, you know, trying to go find a veteran quarterback rather than drafted quarterback. We've had that conversation. Yeah. And that Lamar Jackson could be available no more. Jackson's not gonna be available. No chance. They made their decision. If John Harbaugh stayed, then Jackson's in play. Yes. Jackson's not going anywhere. So they've made their decision. I'm keeping the quarterback. And with all of his flaws. Go find another Lamar Jackson, a two time mvp. Yeah, like he might be on the downward spiral here, but he's still a very good quarterback. And when healthy can be very dangerous. We'll find out if they made the right decision or not. Now a few other things and we want to open up the calls at 1-800-919-3776. We're going to play some Aaron Rodgers a little bit later on. It could be the end of an era. And I know he's like Jagermeister. You either love him or hate him. There's nobody that's on the fence about Aaron Rodgers. Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Although I might be the example. Do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You love Jagermeister or like you tolerate Jagermeister? No.

[Don LaGreca]

But there is no tolerance. Love. I think you either love it or you can't stand it. I don't know any people that can take it or leave me. You love Jager. I like that licorice flavor. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

That.

[Don LaGreca]

Like hit of Robitussin. I like that. Yeah. I'm.

[Alan Hahn]

Grossed out by it. I.

[Don LaGreca]

Like it. I'm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good right now. I'm fine. So.

[Alan Hahn]

You are on the fence with it. I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don'T, I don't hate it at all. You're.

[Alan Hahn]

Ruining Don. But.

[Don LaGreca]

It'S not like I'm ruining what you're doing. If I had a choice, 100%. And it does look bad that my two hosts are the exact. I went. No.

[Alan Hahn]

I went with hate it. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

You hate. I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hate it straight up. However.

[Alan Hahn]

With Rogers, I'm a little more complicated because he drives me nuts. But I love the way he plays the game. But.

[Don LaGreca]

You know best. He's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Compelling. There's.

[Don LaGreca]

A lot of people the most. There's a lot of people that were very happy to see the way that it ended last night. Oh, it didn't end well. Yeah, I got current Jet wide receiver probably among them, I believe. But it is, it could be the end of something, you know, pretty significant. So whenever you see greatness come to an end, you've got to talk about it. He spoke. We're going to hear from that. But one last thing on Tomlin, at least for this segment because we'll take calls on it too, because it's pretty significant. 57 years, three coaches. Chuck Noll retires, never coaches again. Hall of Fame. Bill.

[Alan Hahn]

Cower.

[Don LaGreca]

Never coaches again after his retirement. Hall of Fame. Tomlin's going to the hall of Fame. I mean, think about an organization. And I know the Steelers bitched and moaned about him, but you rooted for a team that in 57 years, had three hall of Fame coaches and never fired them. Never fired them. They.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All walked away. He's.

[Alan Hahn]

Following the same thing. Yep.

[Don LaGreca]

It is. And to Allen's point, it's going to be different. Because now you're kind of like everybody else. I know you haven't won a championship. Seven straight losses in the postseason. I understand that frustration. I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do. But.

[Don LaGreca]

At least you could have took pride and you weren't like everybody else, grabbing coaches all over the place, firing this guy, firing that guy, this guy resigns, this guy embarrasses you. Who's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The next coordinator that fails? What.

[Don LaGreca]

The jets and the Giants have lived through over the last decade, that there was a stability there. And unless you look out a fourth time and the next coach is going to follow in line with the previous three, and the odds of that are astronomically against you, that you will now have become like everybody else, like a dog looking for a bone, just trying to find that next coach, and it's going to be a guy that might not work. And now you're back in the other firing and this guy not doing the job. It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Where we thought the Patriots were going to go, and then they got variable. So.

[Don LaGreca]

There is something to that. And listen, I know it's all about winning now, and all we care about is lifting the Vince Lombardi Trophy. But there is something to be said about an organization that literally, for a half a century, did not embarrass themselves, handle themselves with class, or the gold standard of how to run a franchise. I know we get caught up in the Vince Lombardi Trophy and that's all that matters. But just like Aaron Rodgers might have thrown his last ball, it might be the last time that we can hold the Steelers to that standard. Good luck finding the next guy. And maybe you will, and maybe we'll be talking about. Can you believe 75 years, just four coaches. Yeah, right. But in all likelihood, you're going to be a squirrel trying to find a nut like every other team has been. And just a laundry list of coaches I like to. Baltimore's there, too. Yeah, Baltimore. Baltimore.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Went back to back with two coaches that just. They were there for a long time. Like, think about that. That, like, you had Billock and then you had Harbaugh, and they have done nothing but be every year competitive, every year, the right standard, and now they're trying to figure out who their next quarterback's, who the next coach is going to be, and their quarterback is involved in it, which is. That never happens. It shouldn't happen. But that's what that's where they are. Quick.

[Don LaGreca]

Thought. Didn't really put that much thought into it. But considering how the Giants were blown away by him and how close the Mares and the Rooneys are, wonder if Antonio Pierce will have a shot at that job. Brian.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Flores is a name that everybody's saying.

[Don LaGreca]

No quarterback though, so is he going to want to really want to go somewhere where you know, Pierce trying to get back into good graces. Interviewed well with the Giants, the relationship between the Giants and the Steelers, and I just wonder if that could be the next guy. But we've got to listen. That's Pittsburgh's problem. But I but there's so many Steeler fans in New York. They're a national team and it just, it's going to be odd. They.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All got what they wanted done. Danny.

[Don LaGreca]

Got what he wanted. Yeah. And now and I listen my friend Carmine too. They're celebrating today and I get it. You haven't won. Crazy.

[Alan Hahn]

That's.

[Don LaGreca]

A record seven straight losses in the postseason and last night was not close. But there is something about stability and not embarrassing yourself, and the Steelers have been able to do that compared to the two franchises we have here in New York. Watching.

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[Michael Kay]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I.

[Alan Hahn]

Didn'T listen to anything you just said. Catch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Don LaGreca]

Alan said, oh I love this song. It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Such a great song. Hold.

[Alan Hahn]

On, I don't remember it. Is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It?

[Don LaGreca]

It's so hard as we're going to break into our music, as we usually do, to really grade the four solo acts for the Beatles because is Paul McCartney and Wings really a story solo act? I.

[Alan Hahn]

Mean it was amazing. It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A group. That's.

[Don LaGreca]

A group. But he gets credit for what he was able to do after the Beatles. George.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Had a group briefly, but George was mostly. Well.

[Don LaGreca]

George was a monster right out of the box. Yes, he was the first to have the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Huge that's banned on The Run, by the way, by Paul McCartney. Yeah. It's.

[Don LaGreca]

Really good. Hi.

[Alan Hahn]

Paul McCartney. Wings.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So.

[Alan Hahn]

Good. Band.

[Peter Rosenberg]

On the Run. Band.

[Alan Hahn]

On the Run. But I'm really growing, like Wings, I think. Yeah. My old age. This.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is. This is a. This was also a song. Starts slow, but then it picks it. Like, it has three different parts to it. It's a symphony. Well.

[Alan Hahn]

You remember when I came in, Don, and told you I now loved Let Him In. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Which.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't remember. And really know that everything I keep hearing from Wings is pretty good. Brother.

[Peter Rosenberg]

John in the song is a reference to Lennon. I.

[Alan Hahn]

Don'T think it is. I think it is. No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I thought. I.

[Don LaGreca]

Believe. I looked. I.

[Alan Hahn]

Looked it up. You.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Looked that up. I did, because I did, too. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You did. Yeah. Years ago. I was wondering if Brother John is a reference. I think you're wrong. And.

[Alan Hahn]

Apparently it was Martin Luther. Brother.

[Don LaGreca]

John. I.

[Alan Hahn]

Don'T think either is about Brother John. I don't know, but let him in. Let him in. John's.

[Don LaGreca]

Still alive. Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And the song is about letting people into heaven.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. And so I don't think. I don't think it's about Brother John. You know what I'm saying, Don? I.

[Don LaGreca]

Hear what you're saying. Listen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A radio. He's.

[Don LaGreca]

Our resident Beatle guy. A.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Radio DJ could have lied to me many years ago. I believe I heard it. Listen.

[Alan Hahn]

As much as I love the dj.

[Don LaGreca]

You never know. Kevin Patullo, fired as the Eagles OC Shock. Kevin.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Stefanski, meanwhile, meeting with the Atlanta Falcons today.

[Michael Kay]

Did.

[Don LaGreca]

You think he can end up in Pittsburgh or. No. Because it's the same division. I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don'T think the same division thing matters. But that's. I.

[Alan Hahn]

Don'T know. For.

[Don LaGreca]

Him, it. I think Harbaugh wouldn't go to Pittsburgh, but. All.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, so just quickly. Most people believe it was thought to be John Lennon. However, it could be his wife Linda's brother, John Eastman. There you go. Well.

[Don LaGreca]

We'Ll never know. See?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, ask Paul sometime. He's.

[Don LaGreca]

Still with us. He's definitely still with us. But he had the early career before Wings, and the best example was, maybe I'm amazed, was a Paul McCartney solo vehicle. But then the song sounds much better with Wings. Yes. Much.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Better. Yes. Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

I saw Wings once. You did? I did. At Bonnaroo. What? But I didn't know any of the songs. What? Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

How do you not know any of the song. Any.

[Alan Hahn]

Of them? When I saw them perform. I don't remember at the time. This was like in 2011. 2012. I don't remember 2011. I don't remember knowing any of the stuff.

[Don LaGreca]

He was playing. I. So I would have thought it would have been where. I didn't know that was Wings. Oh, I heard that song. I didn't know it was Wings. Not. I don't know any of these songs or.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I apologize. It was McCartney. But he did. He was doing a lot of Wings. Okay. Stuff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Where was this? At.

[Alan Hahn]

Bonnaroo. Damn. Yeah. Aaron.

[Don LaGreca]

Rodgers spoke. The first thing he said was, has not made a decision about his future. Yeah. Just.

[Aaron Rodgers]

Get away. And then have the right conversations. And.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, he likes to milk this stuff. Right. Like, he's gonna, like. But again, he should learn from last year when no one cared, remember? Like, oh, maybe he'll go to Pittsburgh. And then eventually we just spent the whole summer of not really talking at all. I.

[Alan Hahn]

Would kind of tell him, like, dude, if you want to play, I would say you plan on coming back and talking to Pittsburgh about it right now. What.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do we think of the theory, though, that has been floated out there, that he would be the guy that, like, what Philip Rivers did this year, but a little more ready for it. Like, instead of, you know, the Roger Clements thing, instead of, you know, doing the whole training camp and all that crap, team gets. Has an injured quarterback and I just stay.

[Alan Hahn]

Ready, you know, like, we always speculated that would happen with him and the Niners, the Rams, you know what I mean? Because.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He seems like a guy that while he probably knows this is it, I just, like, Joe Flacco was the same way. Flacco was done and then was called. You know, they broke. Broke glass for an emergency. And he came in, he showed you he.

[Don LaGreca]

Could still play and rock. I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don'T know if he knows life without football. It's been his whole life. And.

[Don LaGreca]

He could still play. He still has an arm. If he could play someplace that could protect him. You can win games with Aaron Rodgers. You're winning a Super bowl with Aaron Rodgers. I don't think so. But if you were just looking for some stability at the quarterback position, I think you could supply that for the foreseeable future. I'm not going to tell you what this cut, I'm not even going to tease it. I want you to hear it and tell me what you think. All right, you ready, guys? Aaron Rodgers. I.

[Aaron Rodgers]

Was fortunate to play in Incredible football city for 18 years, and I never took it for granted and enjoyed that time there and then. This has been a really beautiful back end to that first 18. You know, to be able to be here for a year, you know, this is a special place. You got tradition, got excellence, got all time greats. You know, you just look around the stadium tonight just to see the fans. You know, there wasn't a big splattering of Texans fans and there's a lot to be said for that. You know, there's only a few really special places in the league that have the tradition and the town and the organization. And I'm thankful to have played for two of them. How.

[Don LaGreca]

About that last part? Two of them. You almost have to respect it. Actually, I do respect it. I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Mean, honestly, he's not wrong. Well.

[Don LaGreca]

And that's why I respect it. What about the Jets? He couldn't just say three? No, he's trying to make a point. I played for two great historic franchises and the packers receive. Why should I have to dumb it down for the other two to just throw the jets in when the jets aren't there? Right.

[Michael Kay]

He.

[Don LaGreca]

Was only there for a couple of years. It was not very productive. They didn't win. Did.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, Bob say I played for three great franchises? No. Red.

[Don LaGreca]

Sox, Yankees and what, the Rays? Yeah.

[Michael Kay]

He's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not going to include the Rays with the Red Sox and Yankees, same thing. So.

[Don LaGreca]

You'Re going to call him a nozzle for just not being the guy that's just going to just throw out superlative oh3 great organs. Like no, I think he. I don't think he was taking a shot of the Jets. I just think he was just being little. I played for two of the great organizations. I agree. One.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of them. I agree. This does not. As a Jets fan, I don't think this personal. You.

[Don LaGreca]

Would be the first person asked. No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not. None of this. He's not wrong. He's not wrong. Now if he had played for the Giants in between for a year, then you.

[Don LaGreca]

Could maybe take. Then.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'd be a little annoyed because I'm like, wait a minute, this is one of the flagship franchises. Like you don't do. He knows exactly what he's doing there and he's only recognizing that. I don't think he's even thinking about the jets when he's saying these. I think what he's saying was, you know, the packers are a brand and the Steelers are a brand and I got to play for two of the best brands in the sport. It's pretty cool. I don't think this is a shot at the jets if anybody wants to think it is. I think he's just stating the obvious. And we now have a firm grasp of the obvious, which is the jets are not considered to be a brand franchise in the NFL. And.

[Don LaGreca]

Listen, he's not a kid. You know, he's established himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. No matter how you feel about him, no matter how you feel about his politics, how big a nozzle he is, the fact is he's got the right to be able to give his opinion. And is it that crazy a thought that. You know what? He played for three teams and two of them were great, and the one that wasn't great, everybody agrees, isn't great? No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If.

[Don LaGreca]

You, if you got to play the PR game. He does. Trying to compliment the packers and the Steelers. If.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You take this person as a Jets fan, that's a you problem. And.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Well. And you're. And.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You'Re delusional. Well.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, how could you clearly that you, you think he would include now if he, if, if, if he had said three historic. Would.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Be disingenuous. If.

[Alan Hahn]

He would be disingenuous. If he had said, I played for three historic franchises. Sure, the jets are historic. They have a part. A part in football. Historically.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Bad. They've been around a long time. Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

The first. Yeah. But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Their super bowl does have historic value.

[Alan Hahn]

But they can't be considered great. No, that's not reasonable. And.

[Don LaGreca]

He also could have went the route of, hey, I played in three great cities, right. Pittsburgh, New York. Well, you could have said cities, and he said exactly what he wanted to say. Yes. And here's the thing about Rogers, and I don't want to open up a whole Jets Rogers conversation, but honestly, the only thing I believe he did wrong, if you're a Jet fan, is he got hurt. That.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wasn'T even his fault. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

And you got rid of him. It.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was the. He.

[Don LaGreca]

Didn'T walk out. He didn't say, I want to get out of this dumpster fire. He wanted to stay. Jet said, go. So he left and he went to the playoffs for Pittsburgh. It.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was the fault of whoever called for the cut block just led to Leonard Floyd jumping on him and snapping his Achilles. Whoever called that the cut block, that was it. Because it was. That was this dumb call. There's.

[Don LaGreca]

Another thing Roger said, but I want to save it for a little bit later on in the show because it does open up a really interesting conversation on the state of our business, on the state of our country. But I want to save it for a little bit later on because I want to get to these calls. Wait.

[Alan Hahn]

Are we getting into the state of our country? I have a lot to say. Oh.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Boy.

[Alan Hahn]

Well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right. No.

[Alan Hahn]

Go ahead. It was a joke. Don't. No.

[Don LaGreca]

I know, and I want it. I want it to be there as a joke. But the more you expand, then. Then there's no more. There's no more jokes. Let's go to Marvin in the Bronx. You're on espn. What's up, Marvin? Marvin.

[Marvin (Caller)]

Hey, guys, I gotta make this announcement. You gotta give me time. You're sitting next to a Hall of Famer. Thank.

[Ian O'Connor]

You. Alan.

[Marvin (Caller)]

Hahn. Right?

[Don LaGreca]

Alan.

[Marvin (Caller)]

And I are both graduates of the same school. And I was talking to the athletic director yesterday, and I want to announce it to the public. Alan Hahn will be inducted into the next hall of Fame, LIU Post, which was formerly CW Post. I've been pushing it for years. Congratulations, Alan. Is.

[Don LaGreca]

That true? Did you know this? That's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Marvin (Caller)]

And the athletic director told me. Allen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wanted to refuse it. I. I just. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Allen.

[Marvin (Caller)]

You'Re humble, but you deserve it. You're the finest example of people who have graduated from school, and you represent as well, through the media, all through the country. And I've been pushing. You know. You know, I've been pushing this for years. I've been. I've gone out to the school and said, you need to induct him in the hall of Fame. But I want to say congratulations. You've been humble about it. You've hit it. But, guys, you are sitting next to a Hall of Famer. Wow.

[Don LaGreca]

That'S deserved. And he is a very humble person. But you know what? Take a bow, my friend. That's.

[Alan Hahn]

Awesome. It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a very nice honor. It's.

[Don LaGreca]

A great honor. He's.

[Marvin (Caller)]

Going to emcee. He's going to emcee the program. I was told. I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was like, well, not only that. How about. I'll.

[Marvin (Caller)]

Just, like, wait as far as a lifetime Giant fan. Harbor coach. Yeah. Hey, guys. Thank you for the time. Alan, congratulations. Thank.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You so much. Wait.

[Alan Hahn]

Hold on. So, real quick, you're going into your high.

[Peter Rosenberg]

School'S hall of Fame? No.

[Alan Hahn]

No. College.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Long Island University. Liu's.

[Alan Hahn]

Hall of Fame. Yeah. And you're hosting the event at which you're going in. Well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The least I could do. Is that right? Wow.

[Alan Hahn]

This is a guy. This.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is. This.

[Alan Hahn]

Is one night when you're supposed to sit there, sit back, be honored. Yeah. And he goes. Because.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm so like that, he goes, let.

[Alan Hahn]

Me do something. Let me grab the mic. Let me help out a little bit, because.

[Don LaGreca]

He honestly doesn't believe he deserves this. No. You.

[Alan Hahn]

Know what I hope? I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don'T. You.

[Alan Hahn]

Know what I hope? If it was me. Let me be honest. Not me. If it were Michael K, you know what he would do? He would say, it's really nice that you're honoring me, and I appreciate that, and, in fact, I'd be happy to host the event. And they went, oh, my God, that's such an honor. He went, my business manager will be in touch. Ten grand will be a great night. And that way, it's at least not a.

[Don LaGreca]

Waste of my time. Right? Exactly.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

There's.

[Don LaGreca]

Got to be some monetary. There's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Got to be some. Instead, I'm going to work on the arm.

[Alan Hahn]

For no reason and feel embarrassed, and.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe they'll give me a dinner. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Alan's.

[Don LaGreca]

Not about the kwan the way that Michael was, but no. Great. Congratulations. See, I could spray. Look.

[Peter Rosenberg]

At him. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Look at him. When.

[Alan Hahn]

Did it happen? You're.

[Don LaGreca]

Humble. You don't. You're embarrassed by this. I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don'T. Take.

[Don LaGreca]

A look. Take a look. Sometimes you need to take a look at what you've accomplished. I know you're always thinking about the next thing, what you're currently doing, but you take a look at. I go around. Give.

[Alan Hahn]

Me another LIU hall of Famer, Brian Kilmeade.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you know him. Do.

[Alan Hahn]

I? You.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don'T watch Fox, so you don't know him. Oh.

[Alan Hahn]

He'S on. He's on Fox News on Sports Phone. He's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A soccer guy. He.

[Alan Hahn]

Was a Sports Phone guy. Was.

[Don LaGreca]

He really? Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

How.

[Peter Rosenberg]

About that? From.

[Alan Hahn]

Sports Phone to the. How.

[Peter Rosenberg]

About that? Yeah, he's a soccer player there, though. There's a lot. That's.

[Alan Hahn]

Really. That's really cool, though, man. You should take that in. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

But I did now, how? You're so cool. All.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, so within days, right. Elliot Charles, the athletic director at liu, called me to tell me about this. Two days later, I heard from the Suffolk Sports hall of Fame, Suffolk County, Long Island. And so this, the LIU one, is in March, in May, Suffolk hall of Fame, called you. Were.

[Alan Hahn]

You that good in high school? Isn't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It crazy? Because it has nothing to do with sport, with what I did. Oh, it's just a life in sports kind.

[Alan Hahn]

Of a life in sports. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So that's more about that. Like, Rich Samini's in the Suffolk hall of Fame. Got it. So. But I was amazing. Like, I went arranged in pours. It's like within two or three Days I thought somebody was punking me. I'm like, all right, wait a minute. No.

[Alan Hahn]

That'S cool. You know what it means? You know what it means? You.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Got to watch your bet. Something's coming, right? Just.

[Alan Hahn]

Keep your eyes. What.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is it? Why are they always like some. Two bad things. One, two good things. One bad thing. Is.

[Alan Hahn]

That what you tell them the third one is. After the second one, they take you out back. That's it for. That's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Enough. Hey.

[Don LaGreca]

I thought he was gonna get made next. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I was getting made. I've seen this before. Work.

[Don LaGreca]

On There was nothing. I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Walk in, there's plastic on the floor.

[Alan Hahn]

And then Robert De Niro's kicking the phone booth. You.

[Don LaGreca]

Know what I mean? Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

We'Ve seen it before. It.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Happens. Well.

[Alan Hahn]

How did they not see that comment, by the way? In retrospect? Jimmy. How did Jimmy, of all people in retrospect, not see that they were gonna. And.

[Don LaGreca]

I gotta tell you, you know how I love that movie? You.

[Alan Hahn]

Love it more than anything you've watched 100 times, maybe 120. That.

[Don LaGreca]

Scene bothers me to no end, continuity wise and acting wise. Oh.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no. First.

[Don LaGreca]

Of all, you're Robert De Niro. You can't cry. That was a really fake artificial cry. That's.

[Alan Hahn]

An interesting take. That's.

[Don LaGreca]

An interesting tape. Take a look at it again. No.

[Alan Hahn]

He doesn't cry. You're.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. And the other thing is that they shot him in the face so his mom couldn't open the casket at the funeral. What did they present the body to the police? That thing's six feet under. They never found a body to bury.

[Alan Hahn]

How.

[Don LaGreca]

It. That bothered me from the second I saw the movie. Is like they couldn't. They'd have to close casket at the funeral. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Don LaGreca]

Funeral. There's no funeral for Tommy. It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

An empty casket. That's a great. I.

[Alan Hahn]

Never. What.

[Don LaGreca]

A great Take somebody and there's gonna.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Be a body. Barry. Because all you thought about was how, like.

[Alan Hahn]

How sad that is because you'd already seen the mother and you knew the mother, even though he was disgusting the mother. You.

[Don LaGreca]

Feel bad. Have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That make sense. Have.

[Don LaGreca]

It make sense. No.

[Alan Hahn]

It'S a great. Now it'd be interesting to go to the book and see if there's any validity to it. You've read the book, I'm sure. Well.

[Don LaGreca]

Then it. Obviously, if there was a funeral. It didn't. I have not read the book. No wise guys. Fraud Friday. I know. Well.

[Alan Hahn]

Don'T stop. And.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I read books. Ah.

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[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast. I.

[Alan Hahn]

Didn'T listen to anything you just said. Catch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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

[Don LaGreca]

Don Han and Rosenberg with you until 6:10. At that time we're going to hand it off to St. John's Marquette. Let's get back to your phone calls at 1-800-919-3776. Let's talk to Jim in Queens. You're on ESPN, New York. What's.

[Jim (Caller)]

Up, Jim? What's up, guys? I got a problem with you guys. I got a problem with you guys. Keep calling the Giants like this storied franchise. Were they so pathetic back in the day that the NFL had to save them? Like they've hired some of the worst coaches in the NFL. McAdoo, Ray Hanley, get him with a punchline. Their best player that they still. That they still bring out in front of fans was a cokehead perp. Okay? Eli Manning was half the people they say he was overrated. Okay, stop saying their stories. They've.

[Don LaGreca]

Been around forever. They're.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A flagship franchise.

[Don LaGreca]

He said, well, no, but they also went to four straight championship games in the early 60s. They won titles in the 30s and in the 50s. So there is a hit. When you say historic franchise, we're saying they've been around since the, the infancy, since 1925. They're 100 years old, Jim. Not.

[Jim (Caller)]

Even just that. But.

[Alan Hahn]

Jim. Not.

[Don LaGreca]

Even just that. And.

[Alan Hahn]

I hate the Giants. I'll go through division by division if you want. Tell me the teams whose legacy you take before theirs. It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not many. They have four Super Bowls. Four Super Bowls. I.

[Jim (Caller)]

Get it. I get it. They won Super Bowls. But let's not make it like this. They're the barometer of what? A great franchise. No.

[Don LaGreca]

They'Re not that. No, he said historic franchise. They.

[Jim (Caller)]

Awful. They had to be saved by the NFL. Jim.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You'Re. Jim, you're. First of all, who's your favorite team? The.

[Jim (Caller)]

Jets. Okay. I thought it doing it, though. Oh.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It does. No.

[Don LaGreca]

It does. Every franchise. What about the Dallas Cowboys? The Dallas Cowboys, an historic franchise. Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All.

[Don LaGreca]

Right, they haven't. They've won, what, like three playoff games in the last 30 years? No championship in three decades. Their owner had a white house, so all their players and so that. Is that historic? Yeah.

[Jim (Caller)]

But wait a second, Jim. You're dialing it up right now. But you're dialing it up is a joke right now. But that doesn't mean right now. As.

[Don LaGreca]

Long as he's been the owner. But we're talking about two different things. They're obviously have hit hard times. Yeah, like the Yankees weren't an historic franchise when Stump Merrill was their manager. I'm.

[Jim (Caller)]

Not saying let's not make them like they're the best.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, see, you're, you're. That's.

[Jim (Caller)]

Why not a franchise. You want to. You want to style your franchise? Nobody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, wait, wait, wait. Jim, again, this is. Your jets fan is showing because you're taking something that's being said and you're amping it up to 100, which is not what we did. You're hearing it that way because it bothers.

[Jim (Caller)]

You league a long time. It.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Bothers you that somebody says something nice about the Giants while the jets right now are a laughingstock in an embarrassing franchise. No.

[Jim (Caller)]

No, no, no, no. You're a Jets fan, right, Alan? Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I am. Yeah. But I can acknowledge that the Giants. Giants.

[Jim (Caller)]

Yeah. But they're not that great of a franchise. Well.

[Don LaGreca]

Right now. But.

[Jim (Caller)]

They have a history. But.

[Don LaGreca]

Jim, they have a history. There's something about the history of the job. Well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who has history matters? You.

[Alan Hahn]

Know, I'm gonna ask him. Hang up on Jim because he's annoying, but.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, he's a moral. He's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Saying the same thing over. So.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm gonna. I'm.

[Alan Hahn]

Just playing a little game with you guys. Real quick. Division by division. We'll.

[Don LaGreca]

Be quick. Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

In.

[Alan Hahn]

The AFC east, we all agree the only team better than the Giants historically now is the Patriots, right? Yeah, they've surpassed them at this point. The greatest run of all time in a short span. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

But they almost didn't exist for the first 50 years of the franchise. No, for the last 20 years about that. But before Chuck Noll got to pick. You know, the Steelers go back to the 20s. Yeah, I know. But nobody cared out there in 69. Like.

[Alan Hahn]

Let'S just be fair with that. So we agree. Patriots, you'll take the Patriots. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Would.

[Alan Hahn]

You take the Patriots at this point? You would take their trophy room and probably.

[Don LaGreca]

Have their all run franchise. Their.

[Peter Rosenberg]

New money. Their new money. Now.

[Alan Hahn]

Here'S, here's interesting. The AFC north, obviously Cincinnati and Cleveland are out. Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Giants still have a better legacy than the Ravens. Even with what the Ravens have been, it's still too short and it's only two rings. Yeah, but one ring. No.

[Don LaGreca]

No. The Ravens. The Ravens. The.

[Alan Hahn]

Raven. But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They'Re new money also, so. So.

[Alan Hahn]

You'Re taking them and Pittsburgh. Yeah, taking Pittsburgh. Okay.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You are taking the. So.

[Alan Hahn]

It'S two AFC South. Nobody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nobody.

[Alan Hahn]

AFC West. Broncos.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Over the Giants. No.

[Alan Hahn]

Just under. Right?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Broncos have no. Just.

[Alan Hahn]

Under in. In the. In the NFC East. Now that, that is interesting, right, because the Cowboys have been now bad for so long. But how many rings of the Cowboys have? Four.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Three, four. So.

[Don LaGreca]

The Cowboys. Yeah, no, the Cowboys are at five, five, six Is the record, right? Or. Yeah, six. So I guess you're five. I think they're five. So.

[Alan Hahn]

This but the east is complicated. All.

[Don LaGreca]

We said because historic franchise. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. Because.

[Don LaGreca]

They'Ve been around for over 100 years. They've won four Super Bowls. They've got championships before there was a Super Bowl. Yeah, they're going through a tough time. Just like the Steelers went through a tough time. The Cowboys are going through a tough time right now. The Patriots almost didn't exist before Bill Parcells got there. You want to talk about a checkered past? Take a look at the Redskins history before. You know, they got to The Super Bowl 14, right. No, essentially it was a Super Bowl 7. Excuse.

[Alan Hahn]

Me, the Super Bowl 7, essentially the Redskins run is like a 20 year period. Like.

[Don LaGreca]

A 20 year period. And.

[Alan Hahn]

Then Sammy Ball 70 years before. But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There'S historic. There's the idea of being an original. The idea of being a flagship. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

All.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That stuff matter. The rang. The Rangers have four Cups. They haven't won one in forever. Right. But they are a flagship Original Six franchise of the NHL. Right. The Knicks. The Knicks haven't won in over 50 years. But they are an original flagship franchise of the NHL. That's why it was moronic with the Giants. All.

[Don LaGreca]

Jim is misunderstanding. Nobody said the Giants are a model franchise. Nobody has said they're the greatest franchise. We just said they're a historic franchise. Because they are. They're a hundred years old. They've got four Super Bowls. They've played in five Super Bowls. They're established. There's a history. You can't tell the history of the NFL without talking about Mel Hein and Sam Huff and ya tittle that. Because there's a history. What don't you understand? No.

[Alan Hahn]

He didn't. Oh.

[Don LaGreca]

No. You know, you don't understand because you don't understand. That's.

[Alan Hahn]

The problem. No.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, you wanted to get my goat and you got it. You want to grab on and hang on because there's a lot to grab to.

[Alan Hahn]

I can tell you that. Both.

[Don LaGreca]

Hands, both of them. Quite a goat. I.

[Alan Hahn]

Don'T understand what that means, but I will tell you this. It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A goat already. Boxing.

[Alan Hahn]

Is backed on. Yes, it is. At Madison Square garden. Saturday the 31st for the ring six. Okay. Teofimo Lopez versus Shakur Stevenson. Going to be a hell of a fight. Power versus precision on boxing's biggest stage. And ESPN New York has your chance to score tickets on the ESPN New York app. Just find the contest tile, submit your entry. It's all brought to you by Madison Square Garden. This is one fight you will not want to miss. Get tickets [e-mail] and catch every round live on Daz. All.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. We're up with you till 6:10 because then we've got St. John's basketball. So Ian's at 5:50 today. Talk about a Tuesday at 4:30. Don Han and Rosenberg, ESPN New York. Thanks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

For listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I.

[Alan Hahn]

Don'T want to know how the sausage.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is made, but I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN ESPN New York app and your smart speakers. Before.

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