Don, Hahn & Rosenberg: Fraud Friday & Alex Monaco

Episode Date: September 12, 2025
Hour 2 Theme:
This episode centers on the constant push-and-pull of leadership decisions in New York sports—especially around the Giants’ future, quarterback decisions, and the job security of GM Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll. The crew also holds their popular “Fraud Friday,” judging fan behavior, and welcomes betting expert Alex Monaco for his insight on the NFL and upcoming fights.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Giants' Leadership Dilemmas: Saving Your Job vs. Doing Your Job

• [00:44–05:55]
  • Alan Hahn introduces a debate: Should a GM or coach prioritize short-term self-preservation or the long-term health of the team? The conversation zeroes in on Joe Schoen (Giants GM) and Brian Daboll (coach), with the team struggling and rookie QB Jackson Dart waiting in the wings.
  • Quote (C, 01:18):
    "Isn't part of saving your job doing your job? ... You did what was right by the kid. You did what was right by the organization. They didn’t see it. We do. We’re going to hire you."
  • Peter notes the damned-if-you-do/damned-if-you-don’t aspect:
    Quote (B, 02:28):
    "You’ll also get the people that say, well, you had Dart on the bench... You didn’t know what you had in him."
  • Discussion expands to the differences between making popular decisions and making correct ones—using examples like Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia and Russell Wilson’s early Seahawks tenure.

2. Evaluating Joe Schoen's Tenure (and the Barkley Fallout)

• [05:46–09:16]
  • Schoen gets credit for draft picks (Thibodeaux, Dart, Abdul Carter, Malik Nabers).
  • Main criticism: The Saquon Barkley situation—both the move and the PR optics, especially dismissing interest from the Eagles and the perception of coldness in “Hard Knocks.”
  • Quote (A, 07:42):
    “He had a little bit of smugness on ‘Hard Knocks’ about it too... It was a smart, intellectually it was smart, I get it. Business, career decision, not that smart."
  • The crew agrees: long-term GM success requires tough decisions, but presentation and people management matter for fans.

3. Should Rookie QBs Sit or Start?

• [09:27–12:59]
  • Caller Jose advocates for sitting rookie QBs (citing Aaron Rodgers, Mahomes).
  • Don La Greca counters that readiness is individual and driven by circumstance:
    Quote (C, 11:07):
    “When you're ready, you're ready. But the one thing I could tell you is I’m going to err on him not being ready because 23 other teams didn’t want him... Preseason doesn’t change everything."
  • The panel notes hype around preseason is often misleading; urgency to start Dart will rise if the offense stalls.

4. Giants O-Line and Franchise Problems

• [13:11–17:38]
  • Caller Paul says Schoen shouldn't be excused for repeated O-line failures, even if the QB pans out.
  • The show debates: is the O-line a “coaching issue or personnel issue?” Consistent failures across administrations suggest systemic coaching or development issues.
  • Quote (C, 14:30):
    “Why is the offensive line failing? … Did you always draft the wrong player or did you not coach him up?”
  • Injuries across the league offer no excuses: good teams survive them, bad teams collapse.

5. Injury Luck and NFL Parity

• [17:38–21:51]
  • Alan observes that only the consistently elite teams (Ravens, Bills, Eagles) weather injuries every season.
  • Don notes:
    Quote (B, 21:32):
    “Can you imagine in New York: double-digit wins over a course of every year? ... That kind of sustained success [is rare here].”
  • The conversation touches on the emotional toll for fans and how rare durable, successful stretches are for New York teams.

Fraud Friday

(Begins at 29:30)

Format:

Write-in and call-in cases are presented before “Judge La Greca,” who rules if the behavior is “fraudulent fan” conduct.

Case 1: Adopted Home Town Teams

• [30:25–33:04]
  • Matt S. (moved from NYC to Atlanta, roots for Braves/Hawks/Falcons unless against home teams)
  • Ruling: No fraud (Don La Greca: “He didn’t give up on his teams. He still roots for his teams against those Atlanta teams.”)
  • Alan: Slight asterisk if pretending to root for Hawks vs. Knicks (“You can’t possibly root for Trae Young [if you’re a Knicks fan].”)

Case 2: Sports Hiatus During College

• [33:10–37:13]
  • Bill (stopped following the Yankees 1996–2000 for “better things”—e.g., social life, relationships)
  • Ruling: No fraud—as long as he doesn't claim Diehard status.
  • Quote (C, 35:53):
    "He's only a fraud if he really considers himself a Die Hard fan. Because a Die Hard fan wouldn't walk away for four years..."

Case 3: Letting Your Child Switch Teams

• [37:16–40:21]
  • Ryan: Son Kenny (age 9) wants to stop being a Jets fan; considering Bills or Giants.
  • Ruling:
    • Kenny—Fraud if he flips after already declaring.
    • Ryan (the father)—Not a fraud for letting his kid choose. Better for Kenny to love football, even if not as a Jets fan.
  • Quote (C, 39:07):
    “If he flips teams, he’s a fraud... But as a father, you gotta let him make up his own mind.”
  • Alan: “I would rather my daughter never watch a down of football than become an Eagles fan.” (40:30)

Betting Preview With Alex Monaco

(Starts 42:23)

Key Insights & Picks

• Jets (+7) vs. Bills

  • [43:44–45:06]
    • Monaco strongly likes the Jets to cover:
      • Home dogs of 7+ are 18–2 ATS in early-season games since 2022.
      • Bills run D looked suspect; Jets are at home; bounce-back spot for Buffalo could mean trouble, but trend is strong.
    • Quote (D, 43:44):
      “Not only am I on your boys this week with the points ...as long as your boy Aaron Glenn sticks to week one, we have to lean the Jets.”

• Giants (+4.5) at Cowboys

  • [45:06–46:22]
    • The Giants are heavy dogs, but Monaco likes their defense to keep it close.
    • Public is heavily on Dallas, which he says might be a trap.

• Chiefs vs. Eagles (Super Bowl Rematch)

  • [46:46–47:49]
    • Loves Mahomes as a home underdog (rare spot), Chiefs off a loss, Andy Reid’s history in these contexts.

• Ravens (-11.5) vs. Browns

  • [47:49–49:07]
    • Monaco says it’s a big number, but leans Baltimore—historically, Lamar covers well as a big favorite, especially vs. the AFC North.

• Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford

  • [49:07–51:35]
    • Monaco: Tempted by the draw at 11:1 odds as both are tremendous; not confident picking a winner given the value and styles.
    • Alan: Leans Crawford at plus money, thinks he’s closer to his prime than Canelo.
    • Quote (A, 51:00):
      “When you see maybe the best fighter on earth and...a guy who's still a little bit more prime than Canelo, I'm taking Crawford at plus money.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• La Greca’s Riff on the Giants’ O-line:
  (C, 14:30)
  “Did you always draft the wrong player or did you not coach him up?”
• Alan on New York team suffering:
  (A, 21:32)
  “Can you imagine in New York, double-digit wins every year?”
• Fraud Friday call-outs:
  (A, 32:02 — On Knicks fans in Atlanta)
  “You can’t possibly root for Trae Young and say you’re a Knicks fan.”
• Don on parenting and fandom:
  (C, 39:07)
  “Let him make his own decision. You want it to be natural...something worse than him being a fraud is him not loving football anymore.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:44] Giants’ GM/Coach Job-Saving Debate
• [05:46] Joe Schoen’s Resume & Saquon Barkley Fallout
• [09:27] Should Rookie QBs Start?
• [13:11] Giants’ O-line, Personnel or Coaching
• [17:38] NFL Injuries, Team Success
• [21:32] Sustained Success in NY Sports
• [29:30] Fraud Friday Begins
• [30:25] Atlanta/NY Split-Loyalty Case
• [33:10] College Years Fan Hiatus
• [37:16] Letting Kids Switch Teams
• [42:23] Interview with Alex Monaco
• [43:44] Jets/Bills Betting Talk
• [45:06] Giants/Cowboys Line
• [46:46] Chiefs/Eagles Preview
• [47:49] Ravens/Browns Line Discussion
• [49:07] Canelo vs. Crawford Preview

Tone

Lively and irreverent, the trio banter as both insiders and diehard fans: passionate, occasionally argumentative, but always anchored in genuine love for New York sports. Fraud Friday invites self-deprecation and playful policing of fan culture, while Monaco’s insider betting angles give a sharp, strategic edge to the episode’s second half.