Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Carr to Jets? & Fraud Alert Friday

ESPN New York Podcast
Date: February 13, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg (Dave Rothenberg filling in)

Episode Overview

This episode tackles two main themes: the persistent saga of the New York Jets’ hunt for a quarterback—this time around rumors of Derek Carr coming out of retirement and considering the Jets—and the always-entertaining interactive segment, “Fraud Alert Friday,” where listeners submit their potential sports fandom transgressions for judgment. True to form, the show features personal banter, hot takes, memorable rants, and sharp, often hilarious listener engagement.

Key Discussions and Insights

Segment 1: The Jets’ Quarterback Dilemma (00:50–18:43)

Jets Need a Quarterback—Again

• The Jets' ongoing quarterback problems are dissected, with speculation focusing on possible arrivals, including Kirk Cousins, Malik Willis, Kyler Murray, and Derek Carr.
• Dave: “Because the Jets have proven when you don’t [have a QB] then you’re not winning very many games.” (02:06)
• The hosts discuss tanking strategies, the risks of aiming for 2027’s draft class, and the reality of having to actually play (and try to win) games this year.

Derek Carr Rumors: Would He Want the Jets?

• Carr’s appearance on the “Homegrown” podcast—where he expressed affection for Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and appreciation for Jets fans’ charity donations—is played and analyzed.
• Don: “Anyone wanting to be a Jet is worth note now.” (03:05)
• Carr’s “two conditions” to come out of retirement: being healthy, and wanting a chance to win a Super Bowl.
  • Don: “That’s two pretty good things.” (04:40)
  • Dave and Don note the Jets fail the Super Bowl contending standard.
• Carr’s options feel limited:
  • He could perhaps serve as a backup for a contender (Seattle, New England, Buffalo), but “what team is he going to take over that is going to be sniffing a Super Bowl anytime soon? Who? Nobody.” (05:43)

Evaluating QB Alternatives: Carr, Willis, Murray, Cousins

• The hosts rank their top options:
  • Don: “Malik Willis, to me, is the most appealing option. And then I would say Derek Carr.” (07:17)
• Dave breaks down Carr’s stats: at age 35, if healthy, he’s a “3,500 yard, 22 touchdowns, 10 picks” kind of quarterback. Good but not transformative.
  • “Car is gonna be your right now, Cousins is gonna be your right now until you figure it out. But Murray, maybe he writes himself…you feel that way about Willis.” (09:15)
• They agree the Jets are caught in a classic dilemma: get a bridge QB and miss out on a top draft pick, or tank and potentially “pull an Arch Manning” if he doesn’t want to play for the Jets.
• Don on the state of the franchise: “It is a complete, complete crapshoot again going into this year…just assume they will be one of the worst teams in the league.” (12:09)

Technicalities: Carr’s Contract; Willis' Free Agency

• Listener clarification: Carr has a year left with the Saints, Jets would need to acquire his rights.
• Willis’s contract status is sorted out: he's an upcoming free agent, making him an attractive, if risky, target.

Why Willis Is Tempting

• Don and Dave like Willis for upside, affordability, and that he’s “an extremely low mileage” QB with something to prove.
  • Don: “It’s the sexiest option out there for them.” (17:14)
• For both, Malik Willis is more appealing than trusting the draft or pinning hopes on a reluctant star coming out of retirement.

Cautionary Tale: Tanking for Arch Manning

• They emphasize the risk that even with the worst record, the star college QB might not want to play for the Jets at all.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Dave (on the Jets’ perpetual hunt): “It’s such a pain in the ass with this Jet team. I swear to God, there’s nothing to do. There’s no answer.” (11:02)
• Don: “Every year that passes, they’re not even any closer to the answer.” (11:08)
• On Carr’s love for fans: “He loves Jet fans because of all the money they donated to the [Valley Children’s] charity…Not so much, I’m trying to get on their good side.” (04:04)
• On tanking: “Go 0–17. Then Arch Manning says, ‘No thanks, I don’t want to be drafted by you.’” (11:00)

Segment 2: Advice, Banter & Listener Interaction (19:41–22:59)

Listener Calls In for Life (and Dating) Advice

• A caller sings happy birthday to Don and then asks, at 33, “How do I find love?” (19:43)
• Dave's advice: “Put yourself out there…they’re not falling in your lap.”
• Don pushes back against the “just hit on women” approach, noting “If that was easy for him, he’s not calling this program.” (22:19)
• Classic self-deprecating banter: “He’s 33, sounding like 68.” (21:01)

Segment 3: Fraud Alert Friday (26:24–52:21)

The Premise

• Listeners submit possible fandom transgressions; the hosts issue amusingly stern (or forgiving) verdicts.
• Don: “I have been a complete and utter fraud.” (26:28)
• Dave: “Are you a fraud? Yes. Well, no, I’m just busy.” (34:44)

Notable Fraud Cases

• Wearing Other Teams’ Gear (31:48)

  • An Australia-based listener (Carlos) confesses to wearing non-NY merchandise (Marlins and Panthers gear) as gifts despite unwavering NY fandom.
  • Dave: “As long as he’s not donning any Red Sox, Patriot, Celtic garb, I got no issue with that. No fraud.”
  • The panel agrees: wearing non-rival gear = not a fraud if it’s a gift and not a betrayal.
  • Alan admits: “I had a Tom Brady jersey…early on that seemed like a pretty cool thing” (33:53)

• Calling Out Don on Cameo Delays (34:10)

  • Listener Jonathan calls in: Don took a week to fulfill a paid video, Jonathan called him out on Twitter.
  • Don rules: “He called me out on social media and got it done…That’s the aggressiveness I was talking about with the last caller.” (34:44)
  • Alan deems Don a fraud for not fulfilling promptly, especially during a slow week: “Of all the weeks he could have gotten it done.” (35:11)

• Switching from Jets to Patriots—During the Super Bowl! (35:53)

  • A listener’s brother quits rooting for the Jets to become a Patriots fan.
  • Dave: “That’s so lame…lame fraud!” (36:40)
  • Panel agrees: worst form of fraud—switching to a division rival, especially during their Super Bowl run.

• Borrowed Fandom for Spite (45:36)

  • Giants fan rooted for the Eagles to beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl purely to spite a co-worker.
  • Dave: “Have the guy killed. Do something. You just can’t be an Eagle fan just because one person irritates you.” (45:37)
  • Don empathizes with the urge, but the verdict is still “fraud.”

• The “Front-Runner” Question—Yankees, Cowboys, Lakers (51:18)

  • Eddie from Long Island complains about people who root for all the most popular, successful teams.
  • Dave: “They’re a Yankee fan, but the same reason they’re a Laker fan or Cowboy fan is because the team won a lot. But they mask it because it just so happens the Yankees are in the place they live. But the logic’s the same.” (51:36)
  • Verdict: Front-running is inherently fraud-tinged, regardless of geography.

• Other Fun Cases:

  • Wearing a Jason Terry Mavericks jersey because you share the name “Terry” (no fraud).
  • Forgetting friends’ birthdays on the radio show (no fraud after age 50!).

Email Bag: Music Debates

• Listeners defend and debate Don’s top 5 greatest rock songs list: sharp takes, some (Tutti Frutti, Purple Haze) called “representative, not great” songs.
  • Alan: “He makes a very compelling argument…in some ways, stronger than your own arguments.” (44:21)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On the Jets’ futility:
  • Don: “It’s a complete, complete crapshoot…assume they will be one of the worst teams in the league.” (12:09)
• On Malik Willis as an option:
  • Don: “It’s the sexiest option out there for them.” (17:14)
• On fraudulence:
  • Dave: “He’s given up on the Jets…joined the enemy in the Super Bowl. Sick, lame fraud!” (36:51)
• Listener fun:
  • Alan: “If you’re a fan of music, there’s no disputing that…the songs Don picked are great. All time great, classic great. No debate.” (43:04, quoting listener email)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jets QB Discussion & Derek Carr Rumor: 00:50–18:43
• Life Advice Call (“How do I find love?”): 19:41–22:59
• Fraud Alert Friday: 26:24–47:07 (extends through episode, with verdicts and fun)
• Greatest Rock Song List Debate: 41:56–45:36
• Front-Runner Fan Fraud & Episode Close: 51:14–52:21

Tone & Style

Hosts are irreverent, candid, and conversational. They blend sharp sports analysis with humor, nostalgia, and plenty of personal anecdotes. Listener interaction—whether via calls or email—is lively, honest, and central to the show’s New York sports radio spirit.

Summary

This episode is a quintessential slice of New York sports talk: deeply knowledgeable, hilariously jaded about the Jets' never-ending misery, and never taking itself too seriously. “Fraud Alert Friday” lets fans and hosts admit, debate, and laugh about the rules (and transgressions) of true sports fandom. The Carr-to-Jets speculation is treated with both hope and skepticism, and by episode’s end, it’s clear: whether it's heartbreak, fraudulence, or a QB conundrum, being a New York sports fan is never dull.