Hour 2: Bob Wischusen & NFL Picks

Summary

Summary of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" Podcast Episode: "Hour 2: Bob Wischusen & NFL Picks"

Release Date: January 7, 2025

In the second hour of the "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" podcast, hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg engage in a lively discussion with guest Bob Wischusen, delving into various NFL topics, coaching prospects, and playoff predictions. This episode blends insightful sports analysis with the hosts' trademark humor and camaraderie, making it an engaging listen for sports enthusiasts.

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1. Music Meets Sports: Herb Alpert and Biggie Smalls ([01:37])

The episode kicks off with a playful debate about the possibility of music legends Herb Alpert and Biggie Smalls ever meeting. This light-hearted conversation sets the stage for the hosts' unique ability to intertwine different cultural references.

• Peter Rosenberg [01:37]: "Do you think Herb Alpert met with Biggie?"

2. Bob Wischusen's Grueling NFL Schedule ([04:17])

Bob Wischusen shares insights into his hectic schedule during the New Year's sporting events, highlighting the challenges of covering multiple high-stakes games simultaneously. He expresses admiration for fellow broadcaster Kenny Albert's relentless work ethic.

• Bob Wischusen [04:17]: "Kenny went from Washington, D.C. colony, Knicks, Wizards game, left that night, drove from D.C. to New Jersey to call Sunday, the Giants Colts game... you're a machine."

3. Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets' Quarterback Dilemma ([07:06] - [09:56])

The conversation shifts to the New York Jets' quarterback situation, specifically focusing on the potential return of Aaron Rodgers. Bob emphasizes the importance of evaluating Rodgers' performance over the entire season rather than isolated incidents, advocating for a comprehensive assessment based on team success.

• Bob Wischusen [07:06]: "You have to look at the whole sample size. You have to... So like it lets you know a hundred percent that Cam Ward is going to be available at number seven."

Alan and Peter discuss the uncertainties surrounding reports about the Jets moving on from Rodgers, highlighting the complexities of decision-making within the team.

4. Rex Ryan's Potential Return to the Jets ([09:55] - [21:12])

A significant portion of the episode delves into the speculation surrounding Rex Ryan's possible return as the New York Jets' head coach. The hosts analyze Ryan's previous tenure, his relationships within the organization, and the potential impact of his return on the team's dynamics and fan base.

• Alan Hahn [19:01]: "But as a guy who likes a good story more than anything, Rex coming back would be a lot of fun. It could go up in complete flames."

• Peter Rosenberg [22:20]: "Rex looks at it and laughs like, I already know how to handle that."

Bob acknowledges Ryan's ability to rejuvenate the team's image while also addressing the challenges based on past performance.

5. Front Office Moves: Potential GM Candidates ([20:47] - [22:33])

The panel discusses General Manager Ian Rapaport's report of interviewing John Eric Sullivan from the Green Bay Packers as a potential candidate for the Jets' front office. This move is seen as strategic, potentially bringing effective team-building strategies to New York.

• Bob Wischusen [20:30]: "They hit the reset button really well... And Jordan Love, that's a very interesting name. That also is a name that would tell you that Rodgers is gone."

6. Playoff Picks and Friendly Bets ([27:18] - [33:26])

In a spirited and entertaining segment, the hosts decide to engage in making playoff predictions with competitive stakes. They outline a point-based system for their picks, discuss potential consequences for incorrect predictions, and introduce the idea of getting tattoos as part of their friendly rivalry.

• Bob Wischusen [28:03]: "If I finish last, the tattoo gets covered with a new show."

The discussion showcases the hosts' camaraderie and adds an element of fun to the analytical discourse.

---

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with the hosts finalizing their playoff pick system, emphasizing teamwork and friendly competition. They reflect on the dynamic nature of sports management and the ever-evolving landscape of the NFL, leaving listeners anticipating future episodes filled with insightful analysis and engaging discussions.

• Peter Rosenberg [33:04]: "We're on the way."

Overall, "Hour 2: Bob Wischusen & NFL Picks" offers a blend of deep sports analysis, insider perspectives, and the hosts' signature humor, making it a must-listen for fans eager to stay informed and entertained.

Transcript

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[Don Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Alan]

It's like a bootleg version of poor Herb Alpert. I'll send you guys the right one tomorrow. I'll get you right.

[Bob Wischusen]

I still like it, though. It's still bonks.

[Alan]

No, but you just got its titty. Yeah, of course.

[Bob Wischusen]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, could. Could we work on the equalizer a little bit?

[Alan]

Yeah, just a little tad. I'm gonna get it right for you.

[Bob Wischusen]

Sound like my. What I have.

[Alan]

I had a 80, 85 Oldsmobile.

[Bob Wischusen]

I didn't have an 85 Oldsmobile. I had a 78 Oldsmobile. Yeah.

Oh, wow.

I was guessing Delta 88.

[Alan]

Wow.

[Bob Wischusen]

This thing was a beast. Huge. I had. But no, this car that I had had a base cannon in it. It was a 84 Firebird.

[Alan]

Oh, look at you.

[Bob Wischusen]

Yeah, and it was a little tinny. That's why I got the base cannon, because the speakers were so like. It's like, come on, this has got to get better.

[Alan]

What year did you have the 84 Firebird?

[Bob Wischusen]

What are we talking about, 92, 93.

[Alan]

Oh, yeah. You were killing it.

[Bob Wischusen]

Oh, my God.

[Alan]

You were running Long Island T Tops. You kidding me?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you think Herb Albert met with Biggie?

[Alan]

Do I think Herb Alpert met with Biggie? No. Do I think that Herb Alpert's with us?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Still with us, yes. He's 89. We should get him on.

[Alan]

So I would love to get him on.

[Bob Wischusen]

He'd be tremendous.

[Alan]

Exports.

[Bob Wischusen]

I doubt.

[Alan]

Yeah, I doubt he ever met him, but I'm sure he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So there wasn't one of those, like, you know, like. Like, just like that. Not ask for permission, but just kind of like, you know.

[Alan]

Well, you have to clear it. You have to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but just to have a conversation.

[Alan]

Well, Biggie was probably gone. No, no. Definitely gone.

[Bob Wischusen]

Huh.

[Alan]

Biggie hypnotized came out right before Biggie died. So they definitely never met.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Even in the process. Like, when you got it. He was alive when he tried to get approval, obviously.

[Alan]

Yeah. They probably approved it. And then everything got signed and then Biggie D. It would be interesting to ask him how much did that record? Biggie's hypnotized.

[Bob Wischusen]

Change your life, Bring him sort of like a new generation.

[Alan]

That's the biggest.

[Bob Wischusen]

Well, you mentioned Michael McDonald, right?

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Bob Wischusen]

Well, what about Warren G?

[Alan]

Yeah, yeah, that's a big deal. Turns out people appreciate him. Speaking of big and huge.

[Bob Wischusen]

Yes, I'm trying to get there. And thank you for dragging us there. You know what it's time now for? It's the Bob Wishes and Report, brought to you by Infinity Bob. How are we doing?

I'm learning a lot today.

Are you? Did you ever have a base cannon in the back of your head?

I have a lot of takeaways.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You do?

[Bob Wischusen]

Let's hear them.

[Alan]

Yeah, I want to hear your feet for feedback. Go ahead.

[Bob Wischusen]

I had no idea that basically Alan on a treadmill and me at a fish show was a lateral move.

[Alan]

Yep.

[Bob Wischusen]

You'Re right. I lock in very focused.

[Alan]

Hey, speaking of which, Bob, did you make it to any of the shows over. Over the New Year's run?

[Bob Wischusen]

How was it?

No working?

No, no working.

[Alan]

All bowl games, huh?

[Bob Wischusen]

Work and hockey. I was in Salt Lake City, the Jets game in Buffalo, Fiesta Bowl. So I was working all the way through the run, Bob.

I worked with Kenny Albert during the break, and Kenny did this thing, and I was thinking of you. Kenny went from Washington, D.C. colony, Knicks, Wizards game, left that night, drove from D.C. to New Jersey to call Sunday, the Giants Colts game, called that game. Then after that game got on flame, went to Chicago for the Winter Classic. And I said, you're a psycho. He showed me three cards, three different sports of three different things. He's gonna be calling in the next four days. And I'm like, you're a machine. And I imagine this is what Boba Shoes and lives through on a regular basis at this time of year. So you probably do the same thing.

I was having a laugh kind of at ESPN's expense as well, because day after Christmas flew to Salt Lake City. I did Utah, Colorado on the 22nd.

[Alan]

You throw out the record books when they get to hell.

[Bob Wischusen]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. It's a rivalry game. Blew on the 28th to Buffalo, 29th, did Jets, Bills, immediately ran right out of the stadium, back to the airport on the night of the 29th, through from Buffalo back out to Phoenix and had the Fiesta bowl on the 31st. And the haha, of course, schedule wise was the Salt Lake game was the second half of an ESPN double header I was going to do. Jets build on Sunday. Take a wild guess where the first game of the doubleheader that night was in Buffalo. Buffalo.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Would have been nice.

[Bob Wischusen]

Who schedules your. Who schedules this?

[Alan]

Exactly.

[Bob Wischusen]

I'm sitting in Salt Lake City watching a game also broadcast on our air.

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Bob Wischusen]

Away from where the jets were going to be staying the next day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That is not nice.

[Bob Wischusen]

Yeah.

[Alan]

Bob, were.

[Bob Wischusen]

Whatever, you know, were you, were you.

[Alan]

Impressed at all by Rogers on Sunday?

[Bob Wischusen]

Four touchdowns. How could you not be sure? I mean, he kept playing, they kept playing. So yeah, I mean like. But one nice thing about covering them this year, and this obviously is a small silver line that's there is just every week you went into every game thinking that you might have a competitive football game to call. And most weeks we did. Now, most of those weeks it was a heartbreaking loss that we covered. But you know what happened in Buffalo, like being down 40 to nothing. There were only a couple of those this year. Like, that was few and far between. So, you know, again, very small silver lining. But if you're calling the games, you'd like them to be competitive and for the most part they were.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The frustrating thing about analyzing his season is you look at the overall numbers and you say that should be good enough with the talent that the jets had to be a playoff team and that he is very far down the pecking order of reasons why this team was only a five win team and you should bring him back. But you could also dive deeper into the numbers, Bob, which we do. And look at the beginning of the season and the winnable games in which he did not play well and did cost them games. So when you look at it, do you look at those early four games where he cost them or, or do you buy into the games at the end of the season and say, that's the real Rogers, we got to bring him back.

[Bob Wischusen]

No, you have to look at the whole sample size. You have to. That's the only way to be fair about analyzing it going forward. Now I am a definitely of an open mind for all the people that are immediately like, you can't bring them back. It didn't work. What are we doing? You have to move on, he's too old, blah, blah, blah, whatever you want to say. Very, very rarely do I then say, okay, then what? And someone has a clear cut answer to that question. So like it lets you know a hundred percent that Cam Ward is going to be available at number seven. And there's your succession plan. And all right, Tyrod Taylor can be the quarterback. And I mean like, or you know for a fact that the Vikings aren't signing Sam Darnold and the jets are number one on his wish list. Nobody, nobody knows the answers to any of those questions. So how can you definitively 100% say don't bring him back? But having said that, you have to be fair about what the year was. And yeah, I'm like Bill Parcell. Zimmer asked, he was asked one time, what is the definition of a good quarterback? And he said, the only things that you need to know about a good quarterback are two things. Does he get his team in the end zone and does his team win the game? That's it. I don't care about any other stats he can throw for a thousand yards. If he spends every game checking to the exact right run play, calling out the perfect protection, moving his pieces around so that we score. I don't care if he throws the. I don't care if he throws those five touchdown passes the whole season. If we're in end zone and we win the game. He's a good quarterback. So, you know, too often this year, unfortunately, the jets didn't get in the end zone and didn't win the game. So I understand, like, the performance level wasn't there. But I am certainly not going to close the door on Aaron Rodgers being a quarterback next year. Because just like me saying to someone, okay, if not Aaron Rodgers, then what? Right now I don't have an answer that's better than Aaron Rodgers to that question either.

You're only as loyal as your options. I think that's where we are right now when it comes to Aaron Rodgers. And that's the same exact thing that I said yesterday. Just tell me who your other option is than if you are just so dead set, which it sounds like some reports say that the jets are just going to move on from him. A lot of the reporters just feel that way. And if that's the case, who is the guy? Because you owe it to the rest of this roster to make sure you have somebody in place. Because you can't go back to where you were two years ago when you had no answer at quarterback. And it's bad enough.

Do any of the reports, do any of the reports that say they're 100% moving on from him, then answer the question.

No, they don't.

This is where they'll go, right? No, they don't. Which means they don't know that they're definitely moving on. From him. Also, the same people that are saying that have no idea who the decision makers are going to be.

Yes.

How they would feel about Aaron Rodgers.

And that's the next thing I wanted to get to, which is Rex Ryan had his interview today and I don't know if you heard it, but yesterday morning he was pretty certain that he was getting the job. And when asked why, he said, because I'm the best man. There's nobody close. I'm the best guy for the job. And when you think about it, with all of what comes with coaching this team, whether it's, you know, the owner, the market, the media, the expectation, whatever it is, you gotta admit, when they go to people with no experience, it feels like they do get chewed up and spit out. Whereas Rex does have a case to make, when he might make his case today by saying, I know already what to expect. I'm not gonna come in wondering how it's gonna go. There's no adjustment for me to make other than whatever I did at the end last time around. I know not to do this time around. Do you think that Rex is a legit candidate for this job?

I think he's a legit candidate because of his relationship with Woody. I think Woody really like Rex and that's fine. I mean, because Rex is really likable. I really like Rex. No one's life would be made more entertaining than mine if they brought Rex back.

[Alan]

Great.

[Bob Wischusen]

You know, and look, that's the last time they had playoff success. Right. So that's real life. Time they made the playoffs. So that's real as well. But there is a little bit of revisionist history going on for those that think that Rex is a no brainer candidate and he should be at the top of the heap. I mean, the 14 year run that they're on right now, the first four years of that 14 year run that started them on this spiral were Rex. So like, Rex coached the team for six years, he didn't coach it for two. And I think the one thing where Rex is up on his soapbox.

[Alan]

Good point.

[Bob Wischusen]

Kind of taking, you know, kind of inadvertent, if not direct shots at Robert Saleh, Joe Douglas, Jeff Ulbricht, you know, the country club atmosphere would end the minute I walk in the room. We need to play with pride. This whole Aaron Rodgers, you know, Cabo San Lucas, this is out the window. I'm changing everything. Well, I'm old enough to remember that Rex took over Eric Mangini's locker room, which was filled with high character guys and led that locker room to back to back championship games. And then Rex started to have some influence over the roster. And that's when guys like San Antonio Holmes showed up and the locker room went off a cliff. Right? So, like when Rex is saying that, you know, we need discipline, we need the pride of the jets, we need it like it was when I was the coach and I'll reinstall that. Well, I mean, I was in Miami when San Antonio Holmes basically threw a temper tantrum in the huddle and his teammates kicked him off the field. Like I've talked with guys that said that the Jet locker room was a circus the last couple of years that, that Rex was here. So now having said that, I am all for guys learning lessons and getting better and having a chance to then become a different guy if they're given another opportunity. Like, I don't look at the two years in Buffalo that Rex had there as some kind of separate job. I almost look at, he'd almost be a second time head coach because he didn't have a chance to learn a lesson. He went right from the jets right to Buffalo, right. So he didn't really have a chance to kind of look in the rearview mirror, correct the errors. Now he's had a long opportunity to sit back and say, all right, here's maybe what I did wrong and here are the things that I would do differently if he has learned and he can. But that would be my first question in that interview. Now, what would you do differently from when you were here last? Let's remember, like it didn't end well the last time you were here. Why would we think lessons have been learned and what are those lessons? And if he gives really good answers to those questions. Yeah, like, Rex has a lot of positives about him and I would be incredibly entertained if he came back and was the coach. But I think you have to be fair and look at the full picture of what happened when he was here before you just kind of jump on that bandwagon and say, yes, bring him back.

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[Alan]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Alan]

Before we let you go, I do have some something sort of unfortunate to share with you, Bob. Someone has reached out and told me that the 1229 MSG show was the best garden fish show this person had seen in the 71 garden fish shows that they've attended.

[Bob Wischusen]

Wow. I believe it.

[Alan]

You could probably guess who the person.

[Bob Wischusen]

I saw the set list. It looked pretty good.

[Alan]

You could probably guess who the person is who shared this with me.

[Bob Wischusen]

The Brownshire.

[Alan]

No, no, it's Ballard. Sorry, there are two people. I forgot. Yeah, it was Ballard, not Brown. But yeah, he said the number one. So we're sorry that you missed it, Bob.

[Bob Wischusen]

That's all right. I mean, you know what, at some point when you guys are on the air long enough and you have some type of your own musical festival and I get to come watch like, I don't know, like a Kenny Loggins, Dan Fogelberg, Christopher Cross, triple.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. He passed away way.

[Bob Wischusen]

I'll enjoy that. I'll be, I'll be the guy, you know, right there in the front row with my lighter playing back and forth all the songs that you guys apparently love more than more than the rest of the world.

Puff, Puff, Pass.

[Alan]

All right, later, Bob. Thank you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you, Bob.

[Bob Wischusen]

Bye.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's in denial.

[Alan]

By the way.

[Bob Wischusen]

He loves you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who doesn't like a good Dan Fogelberg?

[Bob Wischusen]

Absolutely.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Olang Zeid.

[Bob Wischusen]

Yo, that's.

[Alan]

Do you know, do you know that when I reference, when I reference to other people in my general world, how my parents listened to like no music that resembled anything like soulful or black music related. It was always sort of like folky, whiteish stuff. The reference point of I want to make the person laugh and have them go, who are you talking about? Is Dan Fogelberg. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know one Dan Fogelberg song. I just remember the song.

[Bob Wischusen]

You'd know. You'd know.

[Alan]

You really think so?

[Bob Wischusen]

If we played them, you'd know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know three of them.

[Alan]

Three.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Bob Wischusen]

Yeah.

[Alan]

This show may have to take a turn from logins to four.

[Bob Wischusen]

Not today. All logins, all day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So we can do whatever we want.

[Bob Wischusen]

That was the Bob shoes and report brought to you by Infinity Experience, the Infinity lineup at your Tri State retailer today. Interesting what he had to say about Rex though.

[Alan]

You know, I was going to say, you know, Bob's obviously in an interesting spot, voice of the team and whatnot. And he certainly didn't completely poo poo the idea because like he said, we talked about this some yesterday. The interest and conversation that comes with Rex Ryan is appealing for those of us who have to cover and talk about this football team. But I really, I mean it was such a basic sort of point, but really hit hard. All we think about is two championship seasons with Rex. You don't think about the full six year run.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he's so right because a lot of people believe that the reason they went on those runs was because that was a Mangini team. Then he started to get his hands involved in it because remember it was, we got to win now. So let's get Braylon Edwards, let's get San Antonio Holmes, let's just, we got to win now. And some of those guys didn't fit, Holmes didn't fit and they got exposed. So it almost was like once it became his team, it kind of went south. But he did coach in two championship games. It's like putting the band back together. It is the last really great time with the Jets. I think the fans get excited about that, but I think Bob's just trying to remind them, you know, there was the 2011, the 99 yard touchdown catch by Cruz that derailed their season. 2012, 2013, 2014, there were losing seasons and he was apart 14 years without going to the playoffs. The first four wrecks. So. And what changed over the last? And he also failed in Buffalo. Let's not forget that too. So, hey, listen, I think he might deserve a shot. I wouldn't do it, but I think he's going to get a shot.

[Alan]

You do think so, huh? I do as of this. Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

At this moment I would say that I think he's getting an excellent shot.

[Alan]

How soon do you think, if you believe that? So let's keep going. Now, when do you think we'll find out that Rex Ryan is coach of the New York Jets?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's see. Interview today by the end of the week.

[Alan]

End of the week. You think we go into playoff games this week?

[Bob Wischusen]

Well, because they don't have a general manager.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think that matters.

[Bob Wischusen]

I think they want to do it together.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't. I think they're. I don't think they. If it. If it works out that way. I think they look at it as two separate entities.

[Bob Wischusen]

Oh, no. I agree. So I think they're announcement if they like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, I think Rex goes in. The reason he's so confident he's got a relationship with the owner. I think it's a toxic situation. But not to Rex. He can light up a room if you interview him. I'm sure if you felt good about Rex, you probably feel great after the interview. Vrabel's probably going to ink a deal with the Patriots pretty soon, I would think. I think you might find out by the end of the week because who else is. Vrabel's not coming here. He's going to go to the Patriots. Can we agree?

[Bob Wischusen]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ben Johnson's going to stay in Detroit. They're not interested because. Or he's not going to stay in Detroit. He's not coming to the jets because they realize he doesn't want to come to the Jets.

[Bob Wischusen]

Right. So what are your other options, what you're saying?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. So what are you waiting on?

[Bob Wischusen]

Brian Flores is somebody that's now going to start taking interviews now.

[Alan]

Real quick to the point you were just making though, Alan. About GM Ian Rapaport reported today the jets are expected to interview John Eric Sullivan, the Packers VP of player personnel.

[Bob Wischusen]

This is interesting.

[Alan]

Who was a key, key guide to Guta Kunst in Green Bay, was the guy who spotted Jordan Love and is someone who Packer fans like really credit as being a big part of building it. You really can't think of a team in this league that is better built than the Green Bay Packers. They're right at the top.

[Bob Wischusen]

They hit the reset button really well.

[Alan]

Really?

[Bob Wischusen]

I mean really like went from Rogers controlled team that was getting older to Christian Watson and like the way they flipped that team and then became more of a run game with a lot of faith in Jordan Love and development. And Jordan Love, that's a very interesting name. That also is a name that would tell you that Rogers he gone.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan]

Well, that. That would be a really, really big piece, right?

[Bob Wischusen]

Yeah. Yeah. So that is interesting.

[Alan]

That would be. That would Be. That would be a fascinating situation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Woody is a fan. I think Woody gets caught up in Rex. I think Woody likes Rex. And if he's got. He's the guy making the decision. I really think that he's. Rex has got an excellent chance.

[Alan]

But wouldn't that mean who's gonna tell him no? Doesn't it feel like Rex coming back would also spell the end of Rogers?

[Bob Wischusen]

Yeah.

[Alan]

So together, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, I can't say no to.

[Bob Wischusen]

That until I've talked to Rex a lot. I can't say absolutely no. I think Rex would want it on his terms.

[Alan]

But didn't his tune sound different the other day when he started saying it?

[Bob Wischusen]

That was very interesting. His whole. All of a sudden, his speech on.

[Alan]

Get up on get up all of.

[Bob Wischusen]

A sudden sounded different than the guy I talked to about a couple of weeks ago.

[Alan]

So all of a sudden, in a couple of weeks, Rex Ryan is telling us two things. I'm going to be the next head coach of the Jets. And by the way, I don't think Rogers fits in here anymore. That can't be coincidence. That had to be based on information he's already got. Otherwise he would have been spoiling his chances to get the job.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You gotta realize the reason why Rex is a great insider for the Jets. He's got a relationship with Woody.

[Bob Wischusen]

He talks to Woody and he can handle it. All the stuff that was written in that the athletic about all the quote, unquote dysfunction in that organization, Rex looks at it and laughs like, I already know how to handle that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But also, Alan, even if he couldn't handle it, even if he's disgusted by it, this is his last best chance of getting back in the NFL's head.

[Bob Wischusen]

And he knows it. He's told me that he knows it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So even if he had a problem with it, it's still better than not having a job. That's why I laugh at these people. Like, what are you talking about? The jets job isn't good. Belichick wanted it. Rex wants it. Mangini wants it. Well, what options did those three guys have? Belichick had to take a job in North Carolina. Nobody's banging on Mangini's door. As bad as the Jet job may be, it's only one of 32 if you want to get back into the.

[Alan]

League, man, call me stupid. And there's certainly a great possibility for disaster here. But as a guy who likes a good story more than anything, and I think, Alan, you're the same type of way. Rex coming back would be a lot of fun. It could go up in complete flames. But the setup on paper for a great story is amazing. And also for a fan base that's dejected. My social media is filled with people posting videos of them throwing out their Jet stuff. Rex Ryan is a great guy to galvanize a base because he considers himself and has publicly on television a part of Jets Nation. It's not a bad PR move for a team that really needs some positive press.

[Bob Wischusen]

He would do. He would try to sell what Dan Campbell sold when he arrived in Detroit. And. And the one thing that is different, obviously, is that Rex was already here. We've already seen it before. He's hoping and Bob reminded us, but he's hoping you'll forget four years, remember the first two and how fun it was. And I'll bring that back. I will say this in Rex's defense because I do like the man. He's learned. He knows what went wrong. He knows what he did wrong. He's a different. He's a different person now than he was then, like all of us are. And so he believes that that experience. I learned what not to do. It'll be better this time around because I am not the same guy I was then. He spent a lot of years in the media. He has been involved in the NFL, covering it, watching it, talking to people in the media. I think he's learned a little bit about the mistakes that you make. So for a second time around, it could be very interesting. But Peter, I agree, when it comes to what we do for a living, it's the best thing that you could possibly have because he will have media eating out of his hand. He will have headlines. He will be bombastic, all the things.

[Alan]

And I'll have fans excited too.

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Bob Wischusen]

Now.

I sent you the text.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Stand up and fight.

[Bob Wischusen]

I mean, this is the show theme song, son. This is the show's theme song. I'm telling you.

[Alan]

Not the actual theme song.

[Bob Wischusen]

No, no. You know what I mean, though.

[Alan]

But it's the mantra. This is the mantra.

[Bob Wischusen]

Mantra. Okay. I don't mean it's the song we should play as the theme. I mean, it's like this is it. It's incredibly related relative to all three of us. Don't you think?

Yeah.

[Alan]

And I don't even think relative's a word. And yet I know exactly what you mean.

[Bob Wischusen]

Relative.

[Alan]

It doesn't matter. It worked. Just go back to relative.

[Bob Wischusen]

Relative.

[Alan]

No, it fits. It's our time.

[Bob Wischusen]

Strategery, strategy.

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Strategery.

[Alan]

God, I missed. That was the Will Ferrell Bush is. There was a time in life when. Anyways. No, that song. This is it is. You could argue it's the number one Kenny Loggins banger.

[Bob Wischusen]

I would say number one. And Don missed it. But it always has been a song that I've always gravitated to.

[Alan]

But now it hits different.

[Bob Wischusen]

There was something about today because of the discussion we had on the chat. And I just decided, all right, play me a playlist while I get this workout in. And so I went through a bunch and this one came up. And so I'm like, locked in listening to the lyrics as I'm doing whatever I was doing. And that's what I stopped and I texted you guys right away. Like, boys, listen to the words.

[Alan]

This is. This it is.

[Bob Wischusen]

This is our song.

[Alan]

Let me tell you right now, this is it. S3 in my jukebox. It's a true all time banger. Now, the one thing I want you to remember, Alan, but we're not going to get caught up in this just because that was the song that Michael Spinks walked to the ring to before Mike Tyson came out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

91 seconds.

[Alan]

That doesn't mean. No, listen. That doesn't mean it can't be our song. Song. But he felt the same way. He was like, no, this is my song.

[Bob Wischusen]

No, he did. Yes.

[Alan]

He said, this one speaks to me.

[Bob Wischusen]

He took one hit and was like, this ain't it. This ain't it. This clearly ain't it.

[Alan]

This ain't it.

[Bob Wischusen]

Speaking of it was. So we have. We're going to do our playoff picks. We have already got our three pointers locked in. Although I was bullied into mine.

[Alan]

What's yours, though, Allen?

[Bob Wischusen]

I am taking the Vikings Monday Night Football.

[Alan]

You like the Vikings. And they're. They're favored by one.

[Bob Wischusen]

One and a half.

[Alan]

All right, Don, your three point play is The Commanders. You love the Commanders.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Love them. 3, 3. 3, 3.

[Alan]

You want to marry them, spend a lifetime together. And then. But. And then. But. But it's also love.

[Bob Wischusen]

Speakable.

[Alan]

So.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So unspeakable.

[Alan]

So you're saying it's dirty.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You can't come back from.

[Alan]

But no, it's. It's dirty and raunchy. But it's also based in real love.

[Bob Wischusen]

Yeah.

[Alan]

This is a true relationship.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is something I desperately want.

[Alan]

Well, like you're. What you're saying is it's going to be filthy. But then you want to take them home to mom.

[Bob Wischusen]

They'll be cuddling after.

[Alan]

It's the whole thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, this is.

[Bob Wischusen]

It'll be rough, but then they'll be cuddling.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's not a one night stand.

[Alan]

No. I want you to be my mother.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Debauchery. To be a nightly.

[Bob Wischusen]

That's things you'll do in a hotel but never at home.

[Alan]

No. And I am going with the Ravens. The Ravines, if you will.

[Bob Wischusen]

Ravines.

[Alan]

The ravines are minus 10 against Pittsburgh. Listen, maybe this will be the time when Pittsburgh finally wakes up and decides to start playing football. But to me they look like a team that's mentally kind of broken. And Baltimore.

[Bob Wischusen]

But Baltimore always finds a way in the playoffs to let you down.

[Alan]

That's so true at home. But don't you feel like this is the year where. At least in the round one. Yeah, this is it. And at least for one round, I think the Ravens look like what they've looked like all year. I think they roll this weekend.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the 10's a lot.

[Bob Wischusen]

Huge, that is.

[Alan]

And guess what? They're going to crush it. What was the number? What was the number against the Giants? Sixteen and a half. What'd they win by?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'll remind you.

[Alan]

35, 14.

[Bob Wischusen]

All right, so anyways, so then what's going to be our playing goal if we're going to wipe away clean your previous life and your previous bets and all that stuff? Yes, we are going to now, as a show unit, get together and make picks throughout the playoffs. At the end of the playoffs, whoever has the most points obviously wins. Whoever has the least points, what happens? But what do you win first? I'd like to win something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I'm excited about this because this guy has a tattoo. Cause he lost a bet.

[Bob Wischusen]

That's right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is real punishment.

[Bob Wischusen]

Tell you what.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not the wimpy stuff that we did on the show.

[Bob Wischusen]

If I finish last, the tattoo gets covered with a new show. I'll put that on the table. What are you putting on the table?

[Alan]

He very. But hold on, hold on. He's pulling a K. Just.

[Bob Wischusen]

This is a K. What is a K?

[Alan]

The K is turning losing into winning.

[Bob Wischusen]

How's it go?

[Alan]

Because I know you want to cover.

[Bob Wischusen]

That tattoo anyway with another name, with other people's names. No, I want to cover it with like. No, I want to know. I want to remove it, to be honest with you.

[Alan]

Swear. So this wouldn't be a win for you. Slight upgrade.

[Bob Wischusen]

It's not anything.

[Alan]

Okay.

[Bob Wischusen]

I'm just putting on the table, thinking you guys would appreciate that I would do something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I do. That's why I'm excited.

[Bob Wischusen]

Have it removed, which is so much easier. To put another tattoo on top of a tattoo is a lot of work and would need to be a bigger tattoo. Do I really want that?

[Alan]

Okay, fair. You know what? You convinced me.

[Bob Wischusen]

Yeah.

[Alan]

So. So.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So we'll start and then we'll do the playoffs and the super bowl and maybe we'll get a few exotics.

[Bob Wischusen]

Should we.

[Alan]

Should we do. Well, let's talk about this for a moment, though. We can. We can finalize it maybe over the next day or two. Do we want to pick every game, though, since we're making up for loss? All right, we're picking every game here on end.

[Bob Wischusen]

Every game.

[Alan]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then.

[Alan]

And that means what?

[Bob Wischusen]

Points.

[Alan]

Hold on. But what does that mean?

[Peter Rosenberg]

A four point play in week one.

[Alan]

Oh, does it, Don, how about this? How many games are this weekend?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it's wild cards.

[Alan]

It's four total. Yeah, Four total. Yeah. So is it. It's a four. Four point. Three point. Two point. One point. Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If we're doing that, then I'd like to switch my Commanders to the 4.1.

[Alan]

Oh, you see what he's doing?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you guys have the guts?

[Alan]

No, of course I'm going right with four.

[Bob Wischusen]

I made.

[Alan]

I meant to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I guess Alan's the one.

[J]

By the way, there's six games on.

[Bob Wischusen]

And also, I am not being bullied into it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So there's. Right, it's six.

[Alan]

I thought there was more than four. That's right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So you want to. Do you want to do all six or just do. So you want to have a six point play?

[Alan]

That's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'll make the commanders my six point play.

[Alan]

Hold on, hold on, hold on. Or do we just keep it 3, 2 and 1 and then the other three games are 1 points?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Boy, you take the fun right out.

[Alan]

No, no, I'm just asking.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I thought this show was going to be Something I'm asking.

[Alan]

So. So every week. Hold on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No break.

[Alan]

So are you saying that every week we do the picks?

[Bob Wischusen]

Yes.

[Alan]

The total point allotment. The highest point allotment is like the total, total number of games.

[Bob Wischusen]

Yes.

[Alan]

So there's a six point game, a five point game, a four point game, a three point game, a two point game.

[Bob Wischusen]

Yeah.

[Alan]

So you're saying in one week one person who does well could get like a 12 point lead.

[Bob Wischusen]

You could be just right. You almost, almost.

[Alan]

You can win the hole.

[Bob Wischusen]

You could almost win it right out of the gate.

[Alan]

Wait, but then, but hold on. But then that also means you get to the super bowl and there's only one point play.

[Bob Wischusen]

Keep in mind that we're all going to be picking the game, so it's going to be a lot of crossover. And how about this?

[J]

That's not how we've done it in the past.

[Alan]

So what was Super Bowl?

[Bob Wischusen]

We said we're doing that.

[J]

No, no, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The super bowl is always a three.

[J]

We don't have the lowest point. We make it the highest point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The super bowl would be a six point.

[Alan]

So the super bowl would still be a six point play.

[J]

And six and five in the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, six and five in the championship weekend.

[Alan]

Oh, so we'll have a nice big point total.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So how about this? As we start to lose games, we take the lesser point value. So we're going one through six. And then when we get to the divisional round, when we get it down to four games, then we go six, five, four, three. And then when we get to the championship games, it's six, five and the super bowl six.

[Bob Wischusen]

You like that?

[Alan]

I like that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See, that's going around the track. When I'm even thinking about hitting a break.

[Bob Wischusen]

Well done. But I still need to know what will we do, what the repercussions are going to be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, but we've been working. We're already a minute possibly.

[Alan]

We can't do it now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Our producers hammered you in from the eyes.

[J]

I didn't say a word.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but I could see that. I see that.

[Bob Wischusen]

Say a word.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because when you, when your eyes start.

[J]

Bleeding, you don't fall much as you know, 5, 15.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's like swallowing and sneezing at the same time. You can't do it.

[J]

515 I think is great. As long as Jacob could play illegal. We can go as long as you want.

[Bob Wischusen]

Oh, my goodness.

[Alan]

And we'll figure it out. We're on the way, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're on the way.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don, Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Bob Wischusen]

I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good.

[Don Hahn]

Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8A ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.