Hour 2: Bob Wischusen joins the show

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summary: Hour 2 featuring Bob Washozen

Release Date: January 14, 2025

Introduction

In the second hour of the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast, ESPN New York legends Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg are joined by special guest Bob Washozen. The episode delves deep into current NFL discussions, focusing primarily on the New York Jets' coaching search and the future of quarterback Sam Darnold. Personal updates and interactions with callers add depth to the conversation, providing listeners with a comprehensive analysis of the topics at hand.

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1. Show Updates and Personal News

At the outset, the hosts share personal updates, explaining Alan Hahn's temporary absence due to his sister's passing and Peter Rosenberg's anticipation of his daughter's birth. Don Hahn mentions, “[Alan Hahn] have family obligations,” ensuring listeners are informed about the show's current dynamics.

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2. New York Jets' Coaching Search

Exhaustive Hiring Process

Bob Washozen initiates the discussion by questioning the Jets' extensive hiring process for their head coach and general manager positions. He remarks, “why not interview everyone and then pick kind of from a no stone left unturned standpoint” (02:31) to emphasize the thoroughness he's observing.

Separation of GM and Head Coach Roles

Don Hahn notes a shift in traditional hiring practices, stating, "they'll have a general manager before they have a head, but the general manager won't necessarily have a say on who the head coach is going to be" (04:10). This sparks a debate on whether separating these roles benefits or hinders team cohesion and success.

Discussion on Coaching Candidates

The conversation pivots to high-profile coaching candidates like Mike Tomlin and Bill Belichick. Don Hahn muses, “if I were the jets and I could give up the seventh overall pick for Mike Tomlin, I'd do it in a second because Tomlin is a guy that just, he doesn't have losing seasons” (13:00). However, Bob Washozen counters this by expressing skepticism about trading high draft picks for established coaches, arguing for the potential of finding equally competent coaches through their exhaustive process.

Impact of a Great Head Coach

Both hosts agree on the profound impact a head coach can have on a team’s performance. Bob asserts, “the coach makes a tremendous difference and you know, anybody would be crazy not to want Mike Tomlin to coach their team” (15:39), highlighting the importance of securing top-tier coaching talent.

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3. Sam Darnold’s Future and Performance Analysis

Recent Performance Struggles

A significant portion of the discussion centers on Jets quarterback Sam Darnold. Bob Washozen critiques his recent performances, stating, “I was terrible. He was awful” (05:50). However, he also defends Darnold’s overall season, noting his impressive statistics: “4,300 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions” (28:54).

Market Implications and Potential Moves

Bob speculates on Darnold’s future, hoping that his recent struggles will position him as a coveted asset for the Jets: “I hope it crushes his market to the point that the jets are the only team that can get their hands on him” (05:56). He emphasizes Darnold’s resilience and accountability, stating, “he never for one second throws a teammate or a coach” (05:56).

Comparisons to Past Quarterbacks

Don Hahn draws parallels between Darnold and legendary quarterbacks like Dan Marino, reflecting on how media scrutiny has intensified: “We live in a world now where...it gets you more noticed to be the guy that sits there and dunks on Everybody and has the hot take” (09:18). This comparison underscores the evolving nature of player evaluations in the modern era.

Callers' Perspectives

Listener Vinnie Staten Island supports Darnold, emphasizing his successful season and questioning the fairness of criticism: “There's a Viking fans though, Bob, for example... he’s still Case Keenum, journeyman, backup type thing” (23:20). This highlights the diverse opinions among fans regarding player performance.

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4. Modern Sports Media and Player Evaluation

Shift Towards Immediate Criticism

Bob Washozen laments the change in sports media, where instant hot takes often overshadow nuanced analysis: “people's opinions and analysis was just much more realistic and measured back then” (09:18). He argues that this shift has led to a more superficial understanding of player performances.

Impact on Player Reputation

The hosts discuss how this media environment affects players like Sam Darnold, where a few poor performances can significantly tarnish reputations despite overall solid seasons. Bob emphasizes the importance of context, stating, “We have to look at the totality of this season for a guy like Sam Darnold” (09:18).

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5. Management Decisions and Patience with Coaches

Case Study: Houston Texans

Dan Reflects on the Houston Texans’ coaching history, using Gary Kubiak’s tenure as an example of organizational patience: “he took over in 2006, his first five years... no playoffs in those five years” (27:08). This serves as a contrast to the often short-lived coaching tenures in more established franchises like the Jets or Giants.

Fan Base and Organizational Expectations

Don Hahn adds, “it really depends on...how patient the fan base is” (27:26), highlighting that organizational patience varies based on team history, fan expectations, and existing infrastructure.

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6. Callers' Opinions and Additional Insights

Vinnie's Support for Darnold

Vinnie Staten Island commends Bob’s balanced take on Sam Darnold, arguing against the harsh criticism Darnold faces: “Everybody's talking about how Sam Darnold... we have to look at... did Detroit and the Rams both come out with a great defensive scheme” (22:45). This reinforces the notion that individual performances should be evaluated within the broader team context.

Monty’s Input

A caller named Monty briefly comments on Darnold's performance, expressing frustration over negative narratives despite statistical successes: “people talking like, Darnold's good through 35 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions... that’s a good season” (27:54).

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7. Concluding Thoughts

The episode wraps up with the hosts reiterating their support for evaluating players like Sam Darnold more holistically. They emphasize the importance of understanding the full scope of a player’s season rather than isolating poor performances. The discussion underscores a call for more measured and contextual analysis in sports media, advocating for fair assessments of player capabilities and contributions.

Don Hahn concludes with a positive outlook on Darnold’s potential, stating, “There is value in 4,300 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions” (29:29), encouraging teams to recognize and invest in his abilities despite recent setbacks.

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Notable Quotes:

• Bob Washozen (05:56): “I hope it crushes his market to the point that the jets are the only team that can get their hands on him.”

• Don Hahn (13:00): “If I were the jets and I could give up the seventh overall pick for Mike Tomlin, I'd do it in a second because Tomlin is a guy that just, he doesn't have losing seasons.”

• Bob Washozen (09:18): “people's opinions and analysis was just much more realistic and measured back then.”

• Vinnie Staten Island (23:20): “There's three quarterbacks out there that are free agents... Sam Darnold... getting away from the Jets and getting away from the Giants, horrible coaching, that'll be good somewhere else.”

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Conclusion

This episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" offers a thorough exploration of the New York Jets' strategic decisions regarding coaching hires and quarterback evaluations. With insightful analysis from Bob Washozen and engaging discussions among the hosts, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved in team management and player performance assessments in today's sports landscape.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

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[Bob Washozen]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Bob Washozen]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Bob Washozen]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers 401.

[Don Hahn]

Of the big city. Don and Dan with you till 7:00. Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg have family obligations. We told you about Alan's sister passing away. So we hope to have him back on Thursday. Meanwhile, Peter's awaiting the birth of his daughter. Could happen at any moment. We'll update you as it happens. So Dan's been nice enough to exchange his night show for this show. We'll take up a little 7Ty Butler till 8:30. And then it's Rangers and the Avalanche from Denver, Colorado. Now time for the Bob Washozen Report. And it's brought to you by Infinity. Bob, you caught a break. Bristol gave you a break. They screwed you over on that Buffalo situation a couple of weeks ago. But now you got a nice car commute to your game in Jersey. Very nice, right?

[Bob Washozen]

Games are lovely. I'm so happy for Peter. Any word how he's feeling?

[Don Hahn]

Well, the baby was due on the 25th, I think, but the window was like two weeks before, two weeks after. And he text us earlier saying it's all happening. We haven't got an update. What was our last update, guys? About like what, 1:30, 2:00 now? You've been down this road many times, Bob. So when could we expect word?

[Bob Washozen]

Anywhere from now until like 6:00 tomorrow morning.

[Don Hahn]

Okay, so hopefully it's not, hopefully it's not a large window.

[Bob Washozen]

I mean, the one thing, the one thing I can guarantee based on experience, the baby will come. It will arrive.

[Don Hahn]

That's right.

[Bob Washozen]

But it will arrive. She will arrive on her clock, on her time frame, not, not on Peter and not on his wife's.

[Dan]

Now, Bob, I don't know if I was talking about it earlier in the show. Mine is actually set for Thursday at 3:15. I'm just curious, when is your interview set up with the jets to be the head coach slash general manager?

[Bob Washozen]

I would take the payback if they wanted to throw it my way. That's fine for that, you know, I guess. I don't know. I mean, are they being too thorough? Like, it just seems like no matter what road the jets go down, they will be lampooned and made fun of by people who want to lampoon and make fun of them. I don't know. I mean, to me, like, why not interview everyone and then pick kind of from a no stone left unturned standpoint rather than sitting there going, huh, I wonder what would have happened if we would have talked to, you know, ex candidates. So that's fine. Like, I mean, I think they already knew that they were not going to end up with Ben Johnson because he wants to go where a very set quarterback scenario is. But outside of that, like, why not talk to everyone that you think is a worthy candidate?

[Don Hahn]

You have any kind of hunch at all or feeling who's got the inside track for the head coaching job?

[Bob Washozen]

Zero. I have no idea. But maybe they interviewed probably half the people that they want still to interview because they have to let the process of the playoffs finish up, right? I mean, there's still, it seems, what, four or five, six different names floating out there of guys that can't even talk to them or haven't been able to talk to them yet up until now that they haven't been able to talk to. So yeah, I don't, I don't have any idea. And maybe there'll be a second round of interviews. You might get a better idea if all of a sudden you find out that people are being brought back in for a second chat.

[Don Hahn]

And it looks like, and we talked to Rich Samini and just by the process of the way the interviews are going, that they'll have a general manager before they have a head, but the general manager won't necessarily have a say on who the head coach is going to be. I'm old school. The old days in sports. General manager hires his guy as the head coach. The jets do a little differently. A lot of matter. A lot of organizations do it this way. Do you like the separation between GM and head coach?

[Bob Washozen]

You know, whatever works. Like, right. I mean, like to say that I definitely like it one way or the other implies that, you know, that they're either picking the absolute right or absolute wrong road. You know, to me, I would imagine if they have a GM before they have a coach, that the GM would then be brought into the discussions at least somewhat on who he thinks the next coach should be. Even if the owner, of course, is normally the case might be making the final decision. But you know, I just would like them to get the two best people that they can put their hands on so that way they can move forward and then find a quarterback. Which is really the never ending quest for the jets to try and figure out what who is going to be at the most important position because that is clearly the biggest roster unknown right now going into next year.

[Dan]

Speaking of the quarterback and a quarterback that we know pretty well, he didn't have a good game last night. We're talking about Sam Darnold didn't play all that well in the season finale against the Lions either. How much do you think that's going to impact his market this offseason? And maybe what his future has in store.

[Bob Washozen]

Oh, I hope it crushes his market to the point that the jets are the only team that can get their hands on him and then bring him here 1,000%. I would have every minion that I could muster if I were the jets to put every whisper in everybody's ear. Going to see Sam last night. He was terrible. He was awful. You have no chance to win with this guy and then see if you can get his price down to like the low 20 millions and then sign him to a five year contract after he won 14 games this year and bring him here tomorrow. That would be my take. I would have no problem with Sam Darnold with a Jet quarterback starting next season. It's amazing to me how many people wait in the weeds with certain players. And Sam is, for whatever reason, I don't know why, but he's on this list. There are so many people that wait in the weeds for him and some other guys to have a bad moment or a bad game just so they can dunk on him after that one bad moment or that one bad game rather than looking at the circumstances. I mean, obviously he showed this year in the large sample size that the circumstances of the Jetson Panthers situation that he was in were very difficult hands to be dealt. And once you got him good players, he's a good quarterback and you can win. Now this is the first time that he was ever on this stage in this big moment and he didn't play well. He's also not the first quarterback to have that happen to also. And this is also, I think, characteristic of all the people that like to dunk on him. Does anybody look at the pass protection or the answers they had for him, hot routes and whatnot, when the Rams were blitzing and see if he was maybe built a pretty difficult hand on the majority, if not all of those sacks. Did he make mistakes yesterday and last night? Of course he did. He'd be the first. And you know what? This is the best part about Sam. He will stand in front of his locker and own every single sack. Even if none of them were his fault, he'll own all nine of them. Because he never for one second throws a teammate or a coach or anyone under the bus. He always takes full blame on his shoulders. I didn't hear what he said last night, and with 100% confidence, I bet he stood at the microphone and took the whole thing on his shoulders. But if you, if you go back and watch those sacks, you're going to tell me they were all his fault. That's, that's crazy. So, yeah, I, I, I hope everybody, nobody wants them after last night's game. And I hope the jets have a chance to bring him back.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, there's no question. It is kind of funny now that we live in a world and we're talking to Bob with shoes in his weekly spot here on 90 on 880 ESPN, is that you wonder how Dan Marino would have navigated through this having not won a Super Bowl. When we were growing up and we saw Dan Marino tearing it up, we all thought, yeah, too bad this guy hasn't won a Super bowl. To where I think in this era it would be, well, this guy can't win the big game. I mean, clearly Dan Marino can't be in the conversation because look what happens in the postseason. We live in a world now, look what's happening with Aaron Judge in New York. And that it's all about if you win that ring and if you don't, then all the reasons why you're just not good enough. And nobody ever wants to look at the other extenuating circumstances and how damn hard it is to win.

[Bob Washozen]

Yeah. And I think just when we were growing up, you know, it's the blessing and the curse of technology and social media and every single person that wants to have a podcast and like screen their opinion into a microphone now has an outlet to scream into a microphone and get their hot take out to as many people as they possibly can. I think people's opinions and analysis was just much more realistic and measured back then. So you're right, like a more realistic, level headed approach to a career like Dan Marino rather than now. It's boring to say what was said about Dan Marino 25, 30 years ago. It gets you more noticed to be the guy that sits there and dunks on Everybody and has the hot take. And it kind of dumbs down the narrative, dumbs down the conversation to the point that it's just the next person with the next hot take. Rather than looking at the totality of this season for a guy like Sam Darnold. And I mean, how many teams in the NFL need a quarterback? Yeah, certainly the Jetson Giants are both on the list. You tell me now, based on what happened last night, that a guy that won 14 games this season and really in his first ever big playoff moment struggle, there's going to be no demand for that quarterback, no one out there is going to offer him like starter money. You're out of your mind. There's definitely going to be a general manager and a coach that's going to say, yeah, give me the guy that just won 14 games. I'll roll the dice with that guy and see if we can get another good year out of him and then give him a chance to learn from being on that stage so the next time he's out there, he has a chance to go play well. And so yeah, I totally agree. I think we live in a world now where, you know, everybody that wants to kind of get noticed has to have the all or nothing comment to make. And Sam Darnold didn't have an all or nothing season. He had a very good season that ended badly. But it doesn't mean that the good season now doesn't exist.

[Dan]

I think Viking fans though, Bob, for example, like they witnessed this not too long ago with a guy like Case Keenum.

[Bob Washozen]

Right?

[Dan]

Case Keenum was a guy who won him double digit games, won him a playoff game, but he's still Case Keenum, journeyman, backup type thing. I wonder if they have that apprehension that, oh, this is Sam Darnold, he's really no different than that type of a player.

[Bob Washozen]

Oh, and look, they have a player on their roster that they obviously have a tremendous amount of belief in that they went and got towards the top of the draft that was supposed to be their guy. There's also a lot to be said for having a quarterback on a rookie contract and now spend the next three years with a quarterback that's not making a lot of money. I mean that that's a real thing in a salary cap sport. That's probably the biggest reason why the jets moved on from Sam Darnold and drafted Zach Wilson. Right. Even if there was some debate, there was the idea that, well, you know, we having a cheap quarterback also matters. So if the Vikings move on from Sam, like Both things can be true. They can be right about JK McCarthy and have their guy for the next 10 or 15 years. And Sam also can go somewhere else in the NFL and be a good quarterback, right? What's the best time of day to get a deal?

[Don Hahn]

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[Dan]

Big deal meal.

[Bob Washozen]

You get to choose from four entrees like the supreme croissant and five tasty.

[Don Hahn]

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[Dan]

So hurry in or take your time.

[Bob Washozen]

You've got all day at Jack. Every bite's a big deal.

[Don Hahn]

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[Dan]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Bob Washozen]

That would be a really good debate in the room. I would probably not. I would probably think that I could get a good head coach through my hiring process and then give that coach the seventh pitch and have another really good player hopefully on the roster, if not a quarterback. But I mean, there's definitely merit to the thought. There's no question. I think if the jets were a team that was going to consider that, they probably would have just given the keys for the kingdom to Bill Belichick when he called and they didn't do that. Right. I mean Bill Belichick has every bit the resume of any history of the sport. He called and asked for the job and they pretty similar. Three I got you. I'm just saying like the jets brought in a 41 year old quarterback so, you know, at least for immediate success, if they thought it was going to make that much of a difference then they, you know, I think they probably would have pushed that button. But yeah, I mean look, the coach makes a tremendous difference and you know, anybody would be crazy not to want Mike Tomlin to coach their team.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Just that I look at it with the Belichick analogy, Bob, is that, yeah, age is part of it. Also. I don't have a general manager and we know that he wants to buy the groceries and maybe he takes up too much of the room as a reason why they didn't want to do it or you know, maybe Woody was ticked off of what happened, you know, 25 years ago or whatever. But I just don't know if you're going select a guy at 7 that's going to have an impact the way a great head coach would have with this organization. And there's going to be a lot of unknown because it does sound like the direction they go. They don't seem interested in Mike McCarthy. They wouldn't make a deal with Pittsburgh to bring in Tomlin. They weren't interested in Belichick of going after somebody that has never done it before. And there's always that kind of scary proposition. I think Aaron Glenn's going to do a fine job, but I don't know that for a fact fact because he's never done it. So that, that's the scary thing to me is the unknown as far as just knowing what I'm going to get with a Mike Tomlin and having zero idea what my seventh overall pick is going to be.

[Bob Washozen]

Yeah, I mean look, that's. Mike Tomlin is the only real known quantity of any like the seventh overall pick who the other coaching choice would be or Mike Tomlin. You have a lot more information about Mike Tomlin than you do about the other two. So that's no doubt that's a, you know, it'd be a really fun conversation to be a part of. To be a fly on the wall in the room and hear that debate would be interesting.

[Dan]

Which of these two underdogs in the NFC next week, Bob, do you give a better chance to going in and pulling the upset? Washington or the Rams.

[Bob Washozen]

Washington would be. Yeah, I'm, you know, I think they're a more complete team if I had to pick one of the two. I think the two home teams are both going to win, but, but I would pick, I'd pick Washington if they can keep the game close. There's something about Jaden Daniels in the closing moments of these games that he has that in quality and he seems to find a way. You know, the calmness with which he plays that position as a rookie is amazing. And like to me that's the biggest thing, right? Like it's, it's that I got this quality about him that's, you know, uncoachable. Like it's just inherent in him. You know, he was my favorite quarterback coming out the guys that I saw. I had multiple LSU games and you know, you want to talk about a guy that ran a pro style offense in college and made pro throws and stood in there against SEC defensive lines and got, you know, sawed in half and still delivered balls into pro windows. He was just, you know, he was, he. I mean, I didn't think he was going to be this good this fast. Right. But I was a believer and, and I'm even more of a believer now.

[Don Hahn]

You have a feel on, on Sanders or Ward?

[Bob Washozen]

Say it again.

[Don Hahn]

You have a feeling on Sanders or Ward?

[Bob Washozen]

You know, I didn't do Colorado at all, so I'm seeing Chadur Sanders the way everybody else sees him. I always feel so much more confident giving an opinion about a quarterback who I had in a game or two and had a chance to talk to coaches, sit with my analyst, watch some game tape, you know, hear the things that you don't hear or see when you're watching a game on television. Taking a guy in. So Sugar Sanders, it looks like he's got all of the tools. Pam Ward, my opinion is if he has the right coach and he can be coached, I think he also has that kind of it quality about him where when it's chaos and his eyes stay downfield and he has that confidence and that quality about him like that I got this ability. But one thing about Camborg this, we have to coach him is if you go back and watch a lot of Miami, you'll see him bypass the throw that easy and that you have to take in the NFL to try for the home run that a lot of times in college you can hit. But in the NFL you're asking for trouble if you're trying that over and over again and like it's okay to singles and knock some guys in from second base. You don't have to rip at every 95 mile an hour fastball and try and jack it out of the stadium. And he's kind of got that mentality as a quarter I'm going to bypass that guy that's wide open 5 yards to 7 yards in front of me and is going to pick up a first down because I see a guy that might get open in double coverage 40 yards down the field and you know what, screw it, I'm just going to rip it in there and try and hit off the run. And he's got that, you know, but that would have to be coached out of him. But there's something to be said about a guy that's got the confidence to do that all the time now coming to the pros.

[Don Hahn]

So while Bob is using on the call with PK Suban 7:30 tonight, ESPN plus Disney plus and Hulu Devil's Home for the Florida Panthers. You do a great job. I'll be watching until I got my Ranger coverage I got to deal with. But man, have a great call tonight. We'll talk to you next week.

[Bob Washozen]

Thanks. Appreciate it, fellas.

[Dan]

Thank you, Bob.

[Don Hahn]

That is Bob Washozen and the Bob Osin Report is brought to you by Infinity Experience, the Infinity lineup at your Tri State retailer today. So check that out on espn. Good matchup between the Devils and the Panthers. Devils won the first matchup earlier this year and I haven't noticed as much. PK Suban doing an analysis. I've seen him in the studio, but Kevin Weeks is going to be in the studio. PK is going to be at the arena calling the game against his old team or with his old team with Bob Wash using. Let's dive back into the phone calls at 1-800-919-3776 before Anthony chimes in with en.

[Dan]

Can I say something real quick, real quick about what Bob had to say about look, I respect the hell out of Bob, you know that he's a friend, he's a colleague, he's the best. But he said that he wouldn't give up the number 7 pick from Mike Tomlin. The reason again, and you know that I would do something like that.

[Don Hahn]

Sure.

[Dan]

But by deciding not to, then you have to hit on two fronts. Like as Bob said, number one, you have to hit on the number seven pick and make sure that that guy turns out. And then you also have to hit on the head coach, the one that you're going to hire through this exhaustive process so it's almost like you have to do double the work as opposed to, if you're trading the pick away, you're getting a head coach that by and large, you know what you're getting. He is a known commodity. Right.

[Don Hahn]

And I, I think their lack of interest is because they know that Tomlin wouldn't come here, but I. Steelers would never allow. But you're so.

[Dan]

What they have.

[Don Hahn]

But you're so right about now, I got hit in two fronts. I got a hit on the seventh overall pick and I get a hit on the coach.

[Dan]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

And listen, they're not thinking this way, but they haven't gotten this right in a long time.

[Dan]

It's harder to hit on the coach than it is to hit on the player they've drafted. Okay? They just haven't hit on a coach.

[Don Hahn]

And speaking of which, Vinnie Staten island, you're on espn, New York. What's up, Vinny?

[Bob Washozen]

Hey, Don. I thought Bob's take was absolutely great on Sam Donald. It's amazing. Guy won 14 games. And I'm listening to Boomer and Geo this morning. They're saying he's going to be a great backup somewhere else. Guy won 14 NFL games. And what really amazes me is there's three quarterbacks out there that are going to be free agents next year. All came out of the jets and Giants between Daniel Jones, Sam Donald and Zach Wilson. And that getting away from the jets and getting away from the Giants, horrible coaching, that'll be good somewhere else.

[Don Hahn]

I agree with you, Vinnie, but let's see. Let's see what Zach Wilson ends up being. Let's see what Daniel Jones ends up being. But. But we saw Sam win 14 games. I'm with you. I listen. It's a little disconcerting the way things went down in Detroit and in LA or Arizona, but I think it's an organizational thing. Like Dan said it perfectly two years ago, the Giants wiped the floor with him. Take a look at that game the Giants play in Minnesota. Same coach, different quarterback, you know, so Minnesota hasn't been able to get it right in the postseason for a long time either. So. And just like Mike Tomlin, I'm going to take a quarterback that's won 14 games rather than take a flyer on a. On a quarterback in the draft that I may not love. Or trying to figure the reclamation project of Justin Fields, or trying to see if maybe this will finally be the time that Kirk Cousins can win me a championship. I think Sam very much is in the conversation. No question, Dan. He cost Himself, millions.

[Dan]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

But as far as getting a three year, $120 million contract. Yes, please, I'll do it.

[Dan]

Out of those three guys that he mentioned, I mean, barring an injury or something crazy, I think Sam Darnold has the best chance of being a week one starting quarterback for some team in the NFL next year. I mean, I think Daniel Jones is a backup somewhere. I mean, aside from an injury during training camp or something that you can't plan around. And not Zach Wilson.

[Don Hahn]

No. But in their playoff games, Daniel Jones and Zach Wilson with a third emergency quarterback. Right. So they've got a lot more to prove. So I think that was a bit of a stretch. But the idea that Sam Darnold's now a career backup because he had two bad games against teams that. Listen, the lion game, that was a tough spot. All right? The Lions are, I think, the best team in football, and you're in Detroit and it's a buy on the line. That was a tough spot. And if everything else worked out and he was the reason that they lost the game, maybe you'd have more of a conversation. But there was a complete breakdown. They couldn't block. He did not play well. But Bob is right. He did not play well. But there was a lot of other things going on in Minnesota, and a lot of things have been going on with Minnesota for a long, long time, man.

[Dan]

And I said, you know, again, don't sleep on the fact. I really believe what the Rams did last night, what they did earlier in this season. They took the blueprint that Aaron Glenn and the Lions defense put out there to slow down Minnesota. Look, Aaron Glenn could very, very well be the jets head coach in a few weeks. We have no idea. But I think that also bodes well in their favor.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, there's no question.

[Bob Washozen]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Bob Washozen]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want.

[Don Hahn]

Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Don and Dan here on Don Han in Rosenberg. Alan will be back on Thursday. Peter waiting for the birth of his child as Natalie went into labor, in case you missed it. So, still waiting word. Checking the phone to see when little Guadalupe is going to be officially with us. So, Dan, you had something to say before the break?

[Dan]

Well, it's like, you know, we talk about coaches and how long of a leash they should have, right? I mean, how patient should a team be? How do you know to move on, for example? And I was thinking back and I pulled up the early days of the Houston Texans. Now, it wasn't that, that long ago, but in NFL circles, it is a long time. But Gary Kubiak, remember, he's, I guess, been the most successful coach still that they've had in Houston. He was their second coach all time in the history of the franchise. So he took over in 2006, his first five years. Six wins, eight wins. Eight wins, nine wins. And then back down to six again. No playoffs in those five years based on that resume. Now, first of all, I don't even know if he'd get all those five years, but he's probably not getting a 60 or. Right?

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Dan]

Well, he got a 60 or they won a division, and then they won the division again the following year. So it's just funny how, like, what's accepted at a certain period of time with these organizations and coaches, because, like, nowadays you're not getting that much time, especially if you haven't taken a team to the playoffs in five years.

[Don Hahn]

I know, but it really depends on, you know, where your organization is at, how patient the fan base is. So they were an expansion team. There wasn't a lot expected. Like, there's a lot of things that go in to being Texans as a fo, as opposed to the jets or the Giants or, you know, Steelers. Like, every organization is kind of on its own path. This should be an interesting call. Monty in Woodbridge, you're on espn New York. What's up, man? Monty. Oh, Monty.

[Dan]

Monty.

[Don Hahn]

Well, I thought it would be interesting. So why. Why are people talking like, Darnold's good through 35 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions. So. So stop it. All right, that. That's a good season. So. But I guess, you know, with. With that kind of a comment, I'm not surprised he couldn't operate the phone. Mark in Andover, you're on espn, New York.

[Bob Washozen]

Hey, guys, thanks.

[Don Hahn]

Call always.

[Bob Washozen]

So I just want to make a point. Everybody's talking about how Sam Darnold, how bad he looked in his final two games of the season. We have to look at in the hole with the Vikings is, yeah, they're 14 and four on the year. There are four losses. They came in week seven and eight. Those two losses were to Detroit and followed again by the Rams. And their final two losses were again Detroit and the Rams. Now, is it that Darnold just looked horrible, or did Detroit and the Rams both come out with a great defensive scheme to affect the way he played? I mean, he had a great season and he's going to earn himself A big contract, in my opinion.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, well, listen, he won't. He won't earn himself as big a contract if he had beaten those teams and they were still playing. But I'm with you. I see value in 4,300 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. You're right. I mean, I think the jets would take that. I think the Giants would take that. I think most teams would take that outside of Kansas City, Baltimore and Buffalo. Okay, those are really good stats. And I think he's going to put up similar numbers the rest of his career. I do think he's a good quarterback. He did cost himself money, Dan, but let's not just completely knock him off the table.

[Dan]

He made the Pro bowl this year. That doesn't happen by accident. So he had a good season.

[Don Hahn]

And if you're going to kill him, then why not you kill the coach in the organization? Was Sam Darnold the only reason they lost that game last night? Where was the protection?

[Dan]

Right? I mean, Sam Darnold had a better season than CJ Stroud, and CJ Stroud still playing football and his team. But I think that, you know, if you look at their body of work this year, Sam Darnold was a much better quarterback.

[Don Hahn]

Let me ask you this, Dan, but we're both Sam Darnold fans, so maybe we're not the person to ask. But I will ask all the people to think that he sucks if I told you that he would have the season. He had 14 and 3, 4,300 yards in the air, 35 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, will lose in Week 18, cost themselves the buy and lose their first playoff game. Do you think that's possible? They would probably say, no, he's not going to do that. He's not. That he's not going to get them 14 wins. He's not going to. He's not going to throw for 4,000 yards and 35. He did. So the caller's right. All right. He could. He cost himself money, but he lost to two teams. And I think the teams that they lost to, they were out coached and outplayed the Rams. It's interesting because 14 wins compared to 10. But, you know, Detroit. Did you give him much hope going to Detroit winning the game? I didn't think they were gonna lose 37 to 9, whatever it was. But. But the point is, is that they lost a better. The better team in the Rams. I don't think anybody should be surprised what the Rams did. They had won a Super bowl in recent vintage. It's a great quarterback, great head coach. They had a chip on their shoulder. With everything's happening in LA and having to move the game and all, I'm not surprised. I think that's a Viking problem more than it's a Sam Darnold problem.

[Dan]

You get sacked nine times, you're not beating anybody. Wasn't that like a playoff record to nine sacks? And we said it. I mean, say what you want, he's not going to point the finger at anybody. But look, you know, in his private hour, whatever, he'll tell you he held the ball too long on Sunday, he did not play.

[Don Hahn]

No, I don't think anybody is saying that he played well. But we're also saying that he's not the sole reason they lost the game. And I still could see value out of his 2024 season.

[Bob Washozen]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Dan]

I don't want to know how the.

[Don Hahn]

Sausage is made, but I just want to know.

[Bob Washozen]

Sounds good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8.

[Dan]

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