← Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
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- [00:02]
Alan Hahn
When the holidays start to feel a bit repetitive, reach for a Sprite Winter.
- [00:06]
Jordan Raanan
Spiced Cranberry and put your twist on tradition.
- [00:11]
Alan Hahn
A bold cranberry and winter spice flavor fusion Sprite Winter Spice Cranberry is a refreshing way to shake things up this sipping season and only for a limited time. Sprite. Obey your thirst.
- [00:25]
Peter Rosenberg
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [00:29]
Alan Hahn
That sounds like heaven to me.
- [00:30]
Jordan Raanan
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New.
- [00:35]
Peter Rosenberg
York app and your smart speakers.
- [00:38]
Alan Hahn
All right, game time is brought to by Telev Ordoo Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time. Alan.
- [00:43]
Jordan Raanan
Yeah, it's Tully time. It's totally time.
- [00:49]
Alan Hahn
No locals in action. When I say no. None, zero, zip, nil.
- [00:53]
Peter Rosenberg
None, locals.
- [00:54]
Alan Hahn
None locals. But the Niners are playing the Colts on Monday Night Football on ABC and ESPN Disney plus Hulu in your mind's eye, Susan. And that's again 8:15 tonight. Monday night Football Tullamore Dew. The original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew honey. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew response can.
- [01:20]
Peter Rosenberg
I mean, it's Christmas week. This is our Christmas. Last Christmas show before Christmas. I can have a T on the air, can I?
- [01:27]
Alan Hahn
I don't know, ask John our pinhead suit because I, I thought so, but I don't know.
- [01:31]
Peter Rosenberg
I mean I, it's your, you know, I got, you know, I got the, the cabinet right behind me, brother, so.
- [01:36]
Alan Hahn
I know you do, but. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. All right. We're being told I am not going to partake. But while we're waiting for Jordan. Yeah, he's got a lot going on. But we're gonna get Jordan Ron on, on in just a second. But as we wait, let's go back to the busy phones and let's talk to Bill in Florida. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Bill?
- [01:57]
Jordan Raanan
Happy holidays. I was the Ford Friday guy with the Indiana Penn State conflict.
- [02:05]
Alan Hahn
Friday. Okay, I think I.
- [02:10]
Jordan Raanan
Know actually you called me a fraud, but Alan was saying that he was non committal about it. But in any event, I have a question. I think the problem is all, I agree that Joe Shane should go, but one of the big problems that I see is the scouting department of the Giants. It's not just that there's misses on players. Some of the players that they draft, they have horrible attitudes. I mean, you can go back to Eli Apple, you can then go to Kadarius Toney. And obviously we're talking about different general managers and I'm shame.
- [02:54]
Alan Hahn
But ultimately, Bill. Ultimately, Bill. Scouts can only scout and hand it off to the general manager. The general manager is the one that makes the selection. And you just mentioned three players that were literally drafted by three different general managers. So we can blame the scouts, but, you know, the general manager's got to do diligence as well. And we'll see if any changes are made there. We wanted to get Jordan on, of course, the book which I read cover to cover, which was tremendous, the curated history of the New York Giants. Jordan Ronan joins us here on Don Hunter Rosenberg, it sounds like you got your hands full, so we do appreciate you giving us a couple of minutes, buddy.
- [03:30]
Jordan Raanan
Yeah, no worries. I mean, I didn't think that they actually wanted me to go in with my daughter to this doctor's appointment. She's a teenager. She clearly did not want me in there. And they forced me to go in for a quick little back check, you know, check on her back.
- [03:46]
Alan Hahn
Okay.
- [03:47]
Jordan Raanan
Spine.
- [03:48]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
- [03:49]
Jordan Raanan
So nothing.
- [03:49]
Alan Hahn
Nothing.
- [03:50]
Jordan Raanan
Nothing like serious. Just like a real, you know, checkup stuff.
- [03:53]
Peter Rosenberg
Sorry.
- [03:53]
Jordan Raanan
Mix up.
- [03:54]
Peter Rosenberg
All right.
- [03:55]
Alan Hahn
And if everything. Like most teenage daughters, I'm sure there's a lot of things she doesn't want you involved in as a dad.
- [04:02]
Jordan Raanan
Right?
- [04:03]
Alan Hahn
Absolutely.
- [04:04]
Jordan Raanan
She's like, why do you have. She asked me, she literally said, why did you have to come?
- [04:09]
Peter Rosenberg
Well, this is. This is when you need her to really just use the teenage rage and say, take it out on the doctor.
- [04:14]
Alan Hahn
Yeah.
- [04:15]
Peter Rosenberg
Tell him, why does he need to be here? Everybody will just back off. Nevermind, forget it.
- [04:20]
Alan Hahn
Anyway, Jordan, I'm apoplectic about the job. Well, I shouldn't say that I was apoplectic. Now I'm just dead. I mean, I think that my fan, like, there's no poll, so I don't even know how to react to what's happening anymore. And I think a lot of Giant fans are the same way. But I wanted you to be able to cross some T's and dot some I's if you don't mind. Okay. Joe, Shane's future, is it pretty much locked in because John's sick? Like, I know there's not a lot of information about John's condition and all that, but you. The statement made after Dabel was fired was that Shane was going to lead the pursuit of a new head coach. Is that because he's the man or is it he's the last man standing? I just want to know what not only his stability with the organization, but is it just a case of because John's in the situation that he's in, there's literally nobody else to do this.
- [05:18]
Jordan Raanan
Yeah, well, I wouldn't say there's nobody else to do it. I think, look, John is. John is dealing with an illness, right. He's come out. He said he's dealing with a battle for cancer. I believe it's, you know, he's going through some serious stuff and has things that are, I'm sure, greater than football.
- [05:35]
Alan Hahn
Yes.
- [05:37]
Jordan Raanan
Let's be honest. Like, you know, in the grand scheme of things, that is way more important than the New York Giants or football to him and his family and everybody. So. But he has been in the office over the past few months. He still comes in now, maybe not on an everyday basis like he used to. Chris Mara, I know he's the one who. You can say, well, who's, who's, you know, who could take over for John? Who, who could do some things and pick up the slack? Well, Chris Maurer is the one family member, or at least his sibling, I should say, who's in the building on a fairly regular basis. Like, you see Chris Mara's car there when you walk into the Giants media room. Moses. Okay, so that's John's brother. And then the nephew, Tim McDonald is a part of the front office. I think that's pretty well documented. He's one of Joe Shane's basically top lieutenants. So he's there every, you know, on a regular basis. You know, he is a everyday employee of the Giants. So there are people that can step in and pick up the slack now in regards to Joe Shane and his future. Yes, I think that was part of it also. Like, what, what use does it really do to get rid of the general manager during the season? I don't think there was a rush to do that. They thought. They think. I don't know how much that still exists. I mean, they do think there's a good young core. That's what it said in that statement. They think that Joe Shane has developed a good young core. But part of the thing was, okay, well, yeah, you know what the organization, the program is source. We need to make some changes. We think with better coaching, it will produce better results. Now, obviously, the results have not improved. They are.05 with Mike Kafka as the head coach. Now, in the meantime, Aldo Carter was benched twice during that time. I don't think that reflects well on Joe Shane. Neither does getting blown out on a Monday Night game. So, you know, speaking to people close to ownership, it sounds like Joe Shane's seat is very, very hot and it's going to be. It's going to be hard for him to survive this as well. At this point, I think they would have preferred it, but seeing where everything's gone, even since Brian Dabo was fired, I think it's going to be hard to justify. They're 5 and 27 in the past two years.
- [07:57]
Peter Rosenberg
Jordan, that's. That's what makes this so delicate. What you said obviously, about John and his situation and why we all have to be, you know, respectful to it, but there still is business to run and somebody needs to run it. And, you know, having Chris and Tim take over, that doesn't really generate a lot of confidence. Right. So with that in mind, shouldn't there be some type of league or somebody that can step in and help? Because the first thing you have to do, do if you're going to clean house is clean house before you hire anybody. So that like. And then it becomes who's going to then do the interview process and hire whoever it is you're going to hire to take over and get this thing back on track. We all agree it needs to be somebody with experience. So that, that's sort of, I think, where we're at right now.
- [08:54]
Jordan Raanan
You're going to feel me, Alan, I really don't see. Think you're going to see the league step in.
- [08:58]
Peter Rosenberg
It doesn't make sense.
- [08:59]
Jordan Raanan
And I know Roger Goodell was there to some of the games recently and people are, you know, making coming up with theories. I think Roger Dale was at the game yesterday because it's. Some of his family members happened to maybe be Viking fans. And so he was in the game. He knows a lot of people there. Like, that's kind of what I had heard on that. So I don't. I wouldn't expect that part of it from the situation. And then you also have to remember, think back to the last coaching search, okay, Chris Mara, that was part of the interview process and some of the candidates. So he was there. Tim McDonald was obviously part of the interview process, too. Not that he sat in any interviews, but remember the lawsuit that came out with Brian Flores and all the texting with Bill Belichick? Whoops, sorry. Wrong, Brian. Yeah, Tim McDonald was the one that was reaching out to some of the candidates at that point. That's, you know, documented stuff. These guys have already been involved to some degree.
- [09:57]
Peter Rosenberg
Well, I find it interesting, Jordan, that, that, that Tim has Been Shane's right hand man like you mentioned. Right. He's been around for two minutes around for what, 12 years. He's worked his way up to his credit. It's not like he was just handed a job he's had to work his way to get to here but four years as the right hand man of a GM who could be out. Who's to say he's not like, you know what, I've learned enough, let me be that guy.
- [10:25]
Jordan Raanan
I don't think that's something that they want to do. Remember when they, if you go years back Chris Mara wanted to be the general manager and John said you can't hire family member in that job because then that you can't, you can't basically can't fire that person.
- [10:39]
Alan Hahn
Right?
- [10:40]
Jordan Raanan
Yeah, yeah So I don't think that's something that they would want to do. I don't think that's where this is headed. I think the future and this is just me guessing here, guesstimating I think the future I'm talking years down the line is that Tim McDonald is basically running the team in basically John's role but that would just be a guess for me. I don't think anybody really knows how it would pan out if they had to make a change at the top of the ownership ladder. So although I do believe you have to have a plan filed with the leak.
- [11:15]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
- [11:15]
Alan Hahn
And again I don't know the extent of John's battle but we are talking about a man in his early 70s, you know so I would think there has to be some sort of a plan in place And I keep going back to the statement Jordan when they released Dable of his duties that Joe Shane was going to lead the pursuit of a new head coach. So with all the different things in place Shane was listed as somebody that was going to lead, not be a part of lead this. So I'm wondering and this is my little conspiracy theory Jordan and hear me out, was Kafka supposed to be the guy when they made this move did they believe that they were going to give Kafka the road to be the head coach and that it would make sense for Shane to stay as the general manager and keep that stability that John was looking for and did he drop the ball by not winning a game since he took over?
- [12:07]
Jordan Raanan
Yeah, I think in a perfect world they would have, you know, even, you know, they're sitting at 3 and 2 right now. It will look a lot better they could justify to themselves hey you know what? We don't want to overturn the whole thing right now, especially with everything going on. I think that was, it was sort of wishful thinking that maybe that it can go that route. But I also think they were fully aware that the likelihood was that they were going to have to go out and find a new head coach.
- [12:33]
Alan Hahn
And not knowing who was going to lead that charge though, like as you just said, like there's no, no, it's still a hot seat for your general manager. I mean, this is dysfunction to me that goes beyond John being sick. Like there's is, is there a plan? There can't be wishful thinking. There can't be. I hope this happens. I mean, there has to be some kind of stable decision making. Otherwise you might have just kept Dable there. Because at least if you kept Dable there, there's at least the perception of that I don't screw my quarterback up and he's digressed since Dayable's been gone. I'm not complaining that Dable was fired. He deserved to be fired. But they made the situation worse.
- [13:12]
Jordan Raanan
He was also, he was also concussed for table left. I mean, not that you want to laugh about that, but that, you know, he's so. He's coming back from the concussion, so obviously you don't really want him to run as much coming off the concussion. Brian Dable was running him. This was part of the complaint.
- [13:25]
Anthony Puccio
Right.
- [13:26]
Jordan Raanan
He was basically running power runs down three scores to make it look good at the end of games. Right, right. That was, that was part of the complaint. So we're going to sit here revision and sissy how he regressed. A lot of it has to do with, hey, he has to learn how to play in the pocket better, like in order to be the quarterback. I think everybody wants him to be that. People hope he can be. He's going to have to be able to do that.
- [13:48]
Alan Hahn
So if we're trying to teach him how to play the quarterback position, explain to me the game plan yesterday when all he did was hand off.
- [13:55]
Jordan Raanan
See, this is where I disagree with you. I think that is an out of control narrative that has already developed this idea that he's just going to hand off every play. So the first two drives they run the ball consistently.
- [14:07]
Anthony Puccio
Right.
- [14:07]
Jordan Raanan
By the way, they run it down into the low red zone to the eight, I think was the eight yard line both times, right?
- [14:12]
Alan Hahn
Yes.
- [14:13]
Jordan Raanan
So over the final two and a half, three quarters, he actually. So they're, they're a goal there. And actually I could totally see the logic. You Want to slow down Brian Flores pass rush. Right. And they did. They ran the ball effectively. Those two drives should have gotten more points. They're inside the 10 yard line, they end up with three points. That's obviously huge mistakes by them and, and that ends up costing the game. But then over to basically the next three quarters, they threw more passes than they ran. Now you could sit there and say, well, they only threw 13 passes. Okay, yeah, I understand. But that's because a, they committed five penalties when they went to pass the ball. Right couple, those are pass interference. So it's not all Giants. Right. And then five times he didn't, he ended up getting sacked. So there's 10 other pass plays that they called. So they basically called, you know, 20 plus pass plays over the final three quarters of the game.
- [15:06]
Alan Hahn
I know. So I really don't think this idea.
- [15:08]
Jordan Raanan
That, this idea that they never. They didn't let him pass the ball. No, they just weren't effective. They threw 20 something times and ended up with 33 yards passing.
- [15:16]
Alan Hahn
No, I get it.
- [15:17]
Jordan Raanan
But it was very ineffective and they couldn't catch the ball.
- [15:21]
Alan Hahn
I know, I understand that. But how many passes did he throw in the first half? And it wasn't like they were scoring a ton of points. I understand that it was effective running the football, but they still didn't score. It just, it seemed a little over the top, the amount of runs early in that game especially. And again, I'm not for tanking, but obviously in a game that doesn't mean anything, you know, developing your quarterback to me is more important than, you know, gaining a bunch of yards and trying to win a football game at the expense of your quarterback's growth.
- [15:48]
Jordan Raanan
I think they were very concerned coming into this game about Brian Flores defense with a beat up, banged up offensive line, which by, by the middle, you know, by the middle of the game was playing with three backups and having him basically just sit back there and get pummeled. So their goal was to try to slow that down and then go into the, get into the passing game. Okay, that's fair. Obviously didn't fully work because you, like you said, they end up with six points on offense. But I don't think that was the plan and I don't think that's kind of what happened there. He went back. They called 20 plus pass plays in the game on a day, by the way, where it was windy. Like that's also the other thing, the numbers, like the later we get in the season, the windier it gets, the harder it becomes to pass the ball. And you saw that with both sides. I mean, J.J. mcCarthy was struggling with his accuracy in that first half, tremendously. Jackson dart threw a pass. He's got to learn to drive the ball through the. He loves to throw that, like, touch pass. And he basically got Wanda Robinson, you know, pummeled on one of those because he kind of hung one up in the air. Should have been a deep completion. Should have been a deep. A big completion in Darius Slate in the second half, which he dropped. So there were plays there to be made. While I don't think Mike Kafka called this great game, and I agree with you, he hasn't exactly represented himself great. He's 0 and 5 as the head coach. I don't think it was as egregious as it's become because you look at the final numbers and you see 33 yards and 13 passes.
- [17:15]
Peter Rosenberg
Jordan, how much are you just trying to get to the finish line here? I could hear it in your voice. Like, you know, the only thing that matters is the next next order of business, right? Like, come on, I can hear it in your voice.
- [17:28]
Jordan Raanan
I mean, I, I had nothing at the press conference yesterday. Nothing like nothing after the game, the Kafka. Like, I, I been there. No, it's like you just, you know, you can only, you know, pound to beat the dead horse so much, right? It's like it's over.
- [17:41]
Peter Rosenberg
It's over.
- [17:42]
Jordan Raanan
The season's over. You're 2 and 13. You keep losing. Like, he's the, he's just the standing coach right now. We're going to sit here and nitpick his every decision. Like, why? Like, everybody knows he's not coming back.
- [17:55]
Alan Hahn
So for what you, from what you know, Jordan, right now, I mean, we're finishing up week 16 tonight. When the season is over, is John in a situation where he's going to be making a decision, making an announcement? Is he going to be leading the charge here? Do you believe when the season's over on what the Giants are going to do and what direction they're moving into.
- [18:19]
Jordan Raanan
The decision to fire Brian Dabo was made by Steve Tisch and John Mara. Okay, that was a month ago. So I would expect, barring things to change, which obviously can happen at this point. Right. But barring things to change, I expect them to ultimately be making the final decision about whether Joe Shane returns and who the next head coach is. And by the way, the one thing you're hearing a lot of lately is Marcus Freeman, who I think is kind of A very intriguing name here. And Notre Dame head coach, by the way, Tim McDonald, as I mentioned before, a significant voice in the front office. Tim McDonald, if you go look at his resume, worked at Notre Dame before he came to the Giants and has very strong, strong ties, strong relationship to the Notre Dame program. Marcus Freeman is going to be part of this coaching search to the point where you hear things behind the scenes about, you know, maybe he's looking around at, you know, what a staff would look like if he did end up becoming the Giants coach. So I think that's a serious candidate to watch as we move forward here. Jeff Hafley, also another guy, Boston College. The Giants are very strong Boston College side, so he's the coach coordinator at Green Bay, plus Boston College. You could connect a bunch of dots there. The Giants in there and their whole organization with connections to Boston College. Chris Nee is also in the front office. Where did he come from? He worked at Boston College a few years ago under Jeff Halfley. So I'm sure he knows him very well. And, you know, I'm pretty sure he had a very strong relationship with Jeff Halfley. So these are just some connecting the dots and names that I would very closely monitor as we move forward here.
- [19:59]
Peter Rosenberg
So, Jordan, the. This, this is this week's game could decide the number one pick in the draft, right? Players don't care about that stuff. Obviously, that's not something where you're going to see any kind of business decisions being made. I'm not going to ask you to suggest any of that. But I am curious, though, because A, it's. It's something that I've seen said elsewhere and I think is ridiculous. But you might have a different opinion. If the Giants get the number one pick, there's obviously two choices. One is to take a quarterback and start over. The other is to take that pick and turn it into multiple picks and build your team that way. Could you see a scenario where they take door number one?
- [20:43]
Jordan Raanan
That's a hard one for me to say that I could see that happening. It would have to be the perfect, perfect combination of events. You know, the guy that comes in here basically demands it or wants it. You know, like, think about it. The only time it really happened in recent history was Arizona, right? And Josh Rosen, by the way, he stunk. He couldn't play. And the coach that they brought in happened to be the coach of the guy who's going to be the number one overall pick. So, yeah, if Kirk Signetti ends up as the Giants coach, sure. I think it absolutely could happen. Otherwise, I think he has too many supporters in the Giants building. Jackson dart of people who think he's going to be a good high end quarterback, that they would want to do that and take a risk on another guy because you know, we've seen eight ask the jets how long it could be until you find anyone that's half decent. Right?
- [21:38]
Peter Rosenberg
Yep.
- [21:39]
Jordan Raanan
I mean what are they, what are we on like 50 years for the Jets? I mean Chad Pennington's the best they've ever had basically.
- [21:46]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah. So I was, I was hoping you'd kill it.
- [21:48]
Alan Hahn
I don't think.
- [21:49]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, thank you. I was hoping you'd kill that because I can't believe I'm hearing it from some places and it just blows my mind.
- [21:55]
Jordan Raanan
Well, here's the thing, Alan. We could sit here and tell you that it's not going to happen. That conversation is going to happen whether we want it to or not.
- [22:03]
Peter Rosenberg
Oh yeah.
- [22:03]
Jordan Raanan
Over the next four months. Like there's no stopping it. You might as well just embrace it to a degree. You can't stop it.
- [22:09]
Peter Rosenberg
Nothing like the pro day season. All Mendoza has to do is just to have one. Just throw one. One ball against no defense and have everybody's just mouth agape. Right. Or, or do something. He was on his knees and he threw it 50 yards. There'll always be something from a pro day that someone's going to go crazy about and it'll turn into these, these hilarious rumors about whether or not they should or shouldn't make that pick and move on from Jackson. Doyle, I think it's lunacy. I'm glad you said what you said. It made me feel a lot better.
- [22:40]
Jordan Raanan
Let me say this though. If you're a Giants fan and you do end up getting the number one pick, what you are rooting for and you are rooting so hard for throughout the college football playoffs is Fernando Mendoza or the Oregon quarterback or Ty Cincinnati. You want these guys to absolutely light it up.
- [23:00]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
- [23:00]
Jordan Raanan
Because that is what would increase their value. I'm not sure right now.
- [23:04]
Alan Hahn
As we stand.
- [23:05]
Jordan Raanan
I know everyone thinks the Giants are going to get this gigantic call. I don't know if they get the 1 pick. I don't really know if Fernando Mendoza has that cachet at this point. You know, he's kind of a non mobile quarterback who wasn't really this super, super high end prospect coming into the season. So I don't think you're going to get like three first round picks for Fernando Mendoza. As things stand now.
- [23:28]
Alan Hahn
I really don't well, Jordan, thanks a lot. Good luck with your daughter.
- [23:31]
Peter Rosenberg
Good stuff, bud.
- [23:33]
Alan Hahn
And I suggest anybody out there for a last second gift, get Jordan's book, the curated history of the New York Giants. It's phenomenal. It's an easy read. So if you got a Giant fan in your life and you're looking for a stocking stuffer, if you're looking for a last second gift, I'm telling you it'll be a home run. It is worth it. And if you got a Giant fan in your life, it's sheer ignorance not to gift it it.
- [23:55]
Jordan Raanan
You'd be a moron.
- [23:56]
Peter Rosenberg
I got it right here about there. Holding it up for everybody to see right now.
- [24:00]
Alan Hahn
Right there.
- [24:02]
Jordan Raanan
Be hosting DPA and Rothenberg the next two weeks starting tomorrow.
- [24:07]
Alan Hahn
How about that? All by your lonesome.
- [24:11]
Jordan Raanan
Tomorrow. Dan Grassland and Jake Ashman. I think for the rest of the, you know.
- [24:16]
Alan Hahn
Wow.
- [24:18]
Peter Rosenberg
Jet Giant misery coming together. Nothing like it. Riveting. For real.
- [24:23]
Alan Hahn
Great job.
- [24:24]
Jordan Raanan
Exactly what that is.
- [24:26]
Alan Hahn
All right. That's Jordan. Happy holidays to you buddy. And we'll talk to you in the new year. I don't know if I feel any better. I mean there are, there are adults in the room, you know, McDonald Snee, Chris Mara, like. But he said there's no real plan. You got to get it to the league. We wish nothing but the best for John. But you know, when you're fighting cancer in your early 70s, it's not great but it. But at least there are adults in the room. But you know, I just go by the statement they made. The chain was leading.
- [24:56]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, I don't.
- [24:57]
Alan Hahn
And now he's a guy that is basically his seats on fire if he's going to come back.
- [25:01]
Peter Rosenberg
And that's why you asked the question about the league. And it's not again, you're not taking over the franchise but you're providing assistance. If an owner is as sick as John is or battling with if there's something going on there and it's like there's really no one at the helm. It does behoove a league to like do something to support the franchise. I, you know this is not saying they take over the franchise but we have seen this in past years. But in those in extenuating situation situation. That's all I'm saying. It's not about taking over. It's more or less just like providing whatever guidance is necessary to just make sure you go through the process the right way.
- [25:45]
Alan Hahn
I think when, when, when when Pete Roselle got involved in 1979, the world was a different place. The NFL was in a different place. Yes, it hurt the league that one of the flagship franchises, the New York Giants, had the dysfunction they had. You know, I don't think, I don't think the NFL cares anymore about big market, small market. They're doing just fine with the jets and Giants being a dumpster fire for a decade. So I don't think there's any motivation there. I don't know if Roger Goodell has the kind of relationship with the owners the way that Roselle did. You know, I think there's a different headspace, there's a different pecking order as far as things are going. If there's legal trouble, that's one thing. But I think all of these commissioners kind of want the owners to figure it out themselves and not get involved unless finances are going sideways, like what happened with the Arizona Coyotes and in the NHL or with the racial situation with the LA Clippers a decade ago where sometimes they have to step in. But right now, because you can't get your ducks in a row, I don't know if the league feels like they've got to do anything about that.
- [26:50]
Jordan Raanan
Hey, Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. You know, one of the perks about having four kids that you know about is actually getting a direct line to the big man up north. And this year he wants you to know the best gift that you can give someone is the gift of Mint.
- [27:03]
Anthony Puccio
Mobile's unlimited wireless for $15 a month.
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Jordan Raanan
Now you don't even need to wrap it. Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment.
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Alan Hahn
Of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes. If network's busy, taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.com as you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by.
- [27:53]
Jordan Raanan
So good, so good, so good.
- [27:55]
Alan Hahn
Give big Save big with RACC Friday.
- [27:58]
Jordan Raanan
Deals at Nordstrom RAC.
- [27:59]
Alan Hahn
For a limited time, take an extra.
- [28:01]
Jordan Raanan
40% off red tag clearance for a total Savings up to 75% off. Save on gifts for everyone on your.
- [28:07]
Alan Hahn
List from brands like Vince Cole, Haan.
- [28:10]
Jordan Raanan
Sam Edelman and more. All sales final and restrictions apply. The best stuff goes fast. So bring your gift list and your wish list to your nearest Nordstrom rack today.
- [28:21]
Peter Rosenberg
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [28:25]
Alan Hahn
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [28:26]
Peter Rosenberg
Catch the show on demand whenever you want.
- [28:29]
Jordan Raanan
Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. This is.
- [28:36]
Alan Hahn
We're going to run football all over ourselves today. I did consume a lot of football back in the day. Pre kids in my underwear.
- [28:42]
Jordan Raanan
The NFL binge. You watch every game you baby.
- [28:45]
Alan Hahn
Are you watching the NFL Bing just driven by Ramsey Mazda? Presenting it today to you is the lovely and talented Anthony Pusick.
- [28:54]
Anthony Puccio
Oh, well, thank you guys. How are we doing?
- [28:56]
Alan Hahn
Oh, you kidding me? I'm disgusted. Sick to my stomach about football. I need a cleansing.
- [29:00]
Anthony Puccio
I understand completely.
- [29:02]
Alan Hahn
And they were something that begins with a D. There were. And I need. I need out of town football to wash out the local from my colon.
- [29:09]
Peter Rosenberg
Oh boy.
- [29:11]
Anthony Puccio
Listen, there was a lot of good football on the screen over the last two days.
- [29:15]
Alan Hahn
Not a lot of it in the. In the.
- [29:16]
Anthony Puccio
None of it in the New York area.
- [29:17]
Peter Rosenberg
All of it on Red Zone.
- [29:19]
Anthony Puccio
And it's been such a busy day. We haven't even addressed the elephant in the room and that's Peter Rosenberg's pick. We'll get to that a little later.
- [29:25]
Peter Rosenberg
But speaking of elephants, let's go back.
- [29:27]
Anthony Puccio
To Saturday night, shall we? Because his commanders in the Eagles game, there's not really much to write home about there other than Marcus Mariota getting hurt. You're gonna have Josh Johnson most likely on Christmas Day for Netflix. I'm sure they're gonna love that.
- [29:38]
Peter Rosenberg
But the Sunday night, no matter who's quarterback you could be quarterback, it's still going to beat the NBA.
- [29:46]
Anthony Puccio
I don't think they'd want to want me a quarterback. I'm just telling you right now. An improbable win for the Bears on Saturday night.
- [29:52]
Jordan Raanan
Snapper Caleb.
- [29:53]
Alan Hahn
Play fake. Looking to throw.
- [29:55]
Jordan Raanan
Going deep.
- [29:56]
Alan Hahn
Searching for DJ Moore over the shoulder.
- [29:59]
Jordan Raanan
Catch made. Touchdown Bears. It's over at Soldier Field. The Iceman cometh. The iceman Taketh a 46 yard spiral to the end zone to DJ Moore.
- [30:13]
Anthony Puccio
Our friends at ESPN 1000 on the call. Bears come back to beat the Packers 2052-16 and OT to take the NFC north lead.
- [30:20]
Alan Hahn
That was not nothing.
- [30:21]
Anthony Puccio
That was.
- [30:23]
Alan Hahn
Listen, you're not supposed to get onside kicks anymore. That's not supposed to happen.
- [30:27]
Peter Rosenberg
Well, who said it in the group chat. It was funny. The thing about the having what? The helmet that he had. It was the.
- [30:37]
Anthony Puccio
Oh, when you have the helmet that you. The extra padded helmet.
- [30:40]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah. Probably not the guy you want on the hands.
- [30:43]
Anthony Puccio
I believe that was Romeo Dobbs. Had a great game up top.
- [30:45]
Peter Rosenberg
He had a great game. But that like just definitely should not be an infielder.
- [30:49]
Anthony Puccio
Well, I would. I would say that if you're worried about collisions because you're wearing that helmet. Of course, whether it be for concussion history. Concussion.
- [30:56]
Alan Hahn
He didn't see it.
- [30:57]
Peter Rosenberg
He looked up.
- [30:57]
Anthony Puccio
Probably wouldn't want to be on the hands team.
- [31:00]
Peter Rosenberg
No.
- [31:02]
Alan Hahn
It is amazing that that football can do that. It's not supposed to happen. These teams with no shot of winning, finding ways to win. That game was over, man. Oh, over. And that wasn't catch in overtime with.
- [31:14]
Anthony Puccio
Malik Willis, by the way. Yeah, who by the way, Everybody that isn't in our group chat should know. Oh, I think Malik Willis could save the jets too. It's amazing what we see. Backup quarterbacks on contending teams can save us.
- [31:26]
Peter Rosenberg
He did look good in green. I'm just saying. And why not just keep taking Packer quarterbacks so you get it right?
- [31:32]
Anthony Puccio
Caleb Williams, big game, major part of the comeback. Was this a signature moment for you?
- [31:37]
Jordan Raanan
It was a great moment. I got a lot of great coming up. You know, I think it's a signature moment for us as a team to.
- [31:43]
Alan Hahn
Be able to build this confidence. A signature moment for us.
- [31:46]
Jordan Raanan
We are at 11 wins and everything.
- [31:48]
Alan Hahn
At the tip of our fingers.
- [31:49]
Jordan Raanan
Exactly where we want to be.
- [31:50]
Alan Hahn
I'll put it that way.
- [31:51]
Anthony Puccio
Another MVP of that game, underrated Kairo Santos. He kicked some really tough field goals. He did in that Chicago wind.
- [31:57]
Alan Hahn
That was tough.
- [31:58]
Peter Rosenberg
The one that looked like he was aiming left and then it went just inside the right.
- [32:03]
Anthony Puccio
Brady on the telestrator said he's got to kick it this way to go there. And that's exactly what it looked like. Madden. It was exactly what.
- [32:10]
Alan Hahn
It was exhilarating that game. And I got to be honest with you, I completely. I plum forgot about the first game.
- [32:17]
Anthony Puccio
Oh, I think. I think the commanders did too.
- [32:19]
Peter Rosenberg
I'm good.
- [32:20]
Alan Hahn
Listen, Commander's Eagles was not on my radar really to begin with and it.
- [32:24]
Peter Rosenberg
Was like oh, sir.
- [32:26]
Alan Hahn
Because I was just. But. But Packers, Bears, like that was something to look forward to and it did not disappoint remotely. And geez, who had the Bears winning that division? Man, when you had. When you go in the years that the Lions and the Vikings had and all the prognostics. The packers were the super bowl favorite and it's going to end up being the Bears.
- [32:46]
Anthony Puccio
Man, I'll take another one of those. You kidding me?
- [32:48]
Peter Rosenberg
By the way, just sneaky thing that happened in that first game that nobody watched at least here on this show was that the Eagles did something hadn't been done in over 20 years.
- [32:56]
Anthony Puccio
What would that be? I know Saquon Barkley had a good.
- [32:58]
Peter Rosenberg
Game winning the division.
- [33:00]
Anthony Puccio
Oh, that's right. Dan Graziano loves this stat.
- [33:02]
Peter Rosenberg
There has not been a repeat champion.
- [33:04]
Anthony Puccio
Of the NFC East.
- [33:05]
Peter Rosenberg
NFC East. This is the first time in I think whether Eagles the last team to do it. Right, right.
- [33:10]
Anthony Puccio
Well that early. Those early 2000s teams, the 0304 is that area.
- [33:15]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
- [33:15]
Alan Hahn
The McNabb.
- [33:16]
Peter Rosenberg
McNabb. The Flying McNabb.
- [33:17]
Anthony Puccio
The one that made the one. The team that made us the super bowl. Proudly.
- [33:20]
Alan Hahn
But it helps when like two of the franchises in the division like just basically evacuated everything during the course.
- [33:28]
Anthony Puccio
A lot of colonoscopy themed NFL.
- [33:34]
Alan Hahn
Every bit of matter out of their.
- [33:36]
Anthony Puccio
Pants brought to you by Fleet. Anyway.
- [33:39]
Alan Hahn
And then all the Cowboys, you know and then there's the cat. And the Cowboys aren't one of them, but.
- [33:43]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, that's great.
- [33:45]
Alan Hahn
The commanders, how many? What? What's the commander's record right now?
- [33:50]
Anthony Puccio
They have five wins. Am I giving them too many?
- [33:53]
Alan Hahn
You might be giving them too many. I'm just gonna check. Cause they.
- [33:56]
Anthony Puccio
I know we thought they could take a step back. I didn't think we expected this. And of course Jaden Daniels being hurt.
- [34:00]
Alan Hahn
But before Daniels got there.
- [34:02]
Anthony Puccio
They're 4 and 11.
- [34:03]
Alan Hahn
They're 4 and 11. So there's a chance they can lose 13 games, right? Yeah. So they lost 13 games back in 24 or 23. Then they get Daniels. They win like 13 and now they might go back to losing 13 again. Like this is a roller coaster ride here in Washington.
- [34:21]
Anthony Puccio
Yeah, it is not. It is not. Peters had a rough week. That didn't help.
- [34:25]
Alan Hahn
Listen, losing the quarterback was a good portion of the problem.
- [34:30]
Peter Rosenberg
Yes.
- [34:30]
Alan Hahn
To say it's the complete problem.
- [34:32]
Anthony Puccio
No, there's. There's something going on there. Yeah, definitely something going on there. By the way, everybody, don't look now but there might be a new best team in the afc.
- [34:42]
Alan Hahn
Two receivers left, one to the right. Etn the running back shotgun for Trevor.
- [34:47]
Jordan Raanan
Dropping looking, throws it out of the battle.
- [34:49]
Peter Rosenberg
That's etn.
- [34:50]
Jordan Raanan
Probably make it remiss.
- [34:51]
Peter Rosenberg
I was gonna.
- [34:52]
Jordan Raanan
Touchdown. Touchdown. Touchdown. A 10 yard touchdown pass to Travis Etn. The Jags have extended the lead. How good is that?
- [35:02]
Anthony Puccio
On 10, 10 XL and 92.5 FM, the Jacksonville Jaguars. We mentioned this game saying who's gonna be the team that we believe is for real? Well, the Jaguars made a statement 34 to 20. Absolutely dominating. They did the Broncos. And keep in mind, earlier in the week, Broncos head coach Sean Payton referred to Jacksonville as a small market team. Well, head coach Liam Cohen, he remembered that.
- [35:24]
Jordan Raanan
Yeah, great team effort.
- [35:26]
Peter Rosenberg
Just thankful that, you know, a small.
- [35:27]
Jordan Raanan
Market team like us can come into a place like Mile High and get it done.
- [35:31]
Anthony Puccio
I don't think that there was a worse start to a coaching career as Duvall, but that is aging very, very well. Liam Cohen knows how to run an offense. And Trevor Lawrence looks like the guy everybody thought he was going to be coming out of Clemson.
- [35:46]
Alan Hahn
Well, isn't it interesting that like the two. I wouldn't say train wreck press conferences, but like curious press conferences.
- [35:53]
Anthony Puccio
Dan Campbell and.
- [35:53]
Alan Hahn
And Campbell with the, you know, biting knees. Now it's starting to run out with the Lions.
- [35:59]
Anthony Puccio
We'll get to them in a second.
- [36:01]
Alan Hahn
But it was a nice run. And now Jacksonville on a nice run. I don't know if I want to be dubbed the best team in the AFC until we actually are the best team because the Bills, they were. And you barely beat Cleveland. But Jacksonville is part of the conversation. You don't go to Denver and beat up the Broncos. Right.
- [36:17]
Anthony Puccio
That defense, pretty good too. That's something else you got to keep in mind. So that Jaguar team has a chance at least to get the number one seed in the afc. Another team that's going to be here later in the binge will have something to say about that, I'm sure. But the Jaguars look legit. But we have to get. And I don't know if we're going to be able to do this all on the binge, but what the heck happened in Detroit?
- [36:35]
Jordan Raanan
Jared leans in.
- [36:36]
Alan Hahn
There's the snap on fourth down. Jarrett back. Jared, step it up. Jared looking throwing end zone.
- [36:40]
Jordan Raanan
It is caught by Amon Rock shy.
- [36:44]
Peter Rosenberg
Of the end zone.
- [36:44]
Alan Hahn
He flips it back to Goff, who dives into the end zone for the touchdown. There's a flag that came in. Two flags. Here comes Carl Cheffers. The officials have finally broken.
- [36:55]
Jordan Raanan
We're going to get the call right here.
- [36:56]
Alan Hahn
Is this game over or not?
- [36:57]
Jordan Raanan
The game is over.
- [36:58]
Alan Hahn
So the pass interference called against Ahmed Ross. St. Brown.
- [37:02]
Jordan Raanan
There is no score. There is no score.
- [37:05]
Alan Hahn
Negates the touchdown, which they got when he flipped it back to Jarrett, who ran in and an offensive pass interference is how this game is going to end.
- [37:12]
Anthony Puccio
Now, that call was 37 seconds, but the real time of that was probably a whole half hour. You probably could have watched a small miniseries of a show how long that.
- [37:21]
Alan Hahn
Took, because I'm doing the double game. But I think at that point, it was before the double game started. Right. So I'm watching it. And then I don't know if people realize this. If there's one game left on red zone, and that game is nationally televised, Red zone will shut down and not air it.
- [37:43]
Peter Rosenberg
They send you to that.
- [37:45]
Alan Hahn
They send you to that game, which you should be able to have. But unfortunately, the only thing, the only option for me at the. At the Rock was red zone. So luckily I found somebody with a phone and we're watching the game you. And I'm like, what's that? What is taking so long? Go to the individual who threw the flag. Why did you throw the flag? Oh, offensive pass interference. Game over. I don't know. It should take 15 seconds, not three minutes, however long it took. Like what? So I'm thinking, all right, it must be on the off the call must be on the defense. And now they're trying to sort out whether they're going to allow the. The touchdown because forward progress looked like it might have been stopped. And I thought they were having a debate about that. And then they just say the game is over. Allen explained to me what took so damn long.
- [38:29]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, I think they were trying to figure out timing, like whether or not did it cross before penalty, all that stuff. But he clearly pushed off. So there's your penalty and there was nothing else to decide. Was there time on the clock? Did they have to do that? I have no idea. All I know is that wasn't the egregious bad call. No, it was the play before where they claim there was a pick said that really there. I mean, look, we all know that they do those rub routes, right? Like, they do that all the time. They just happen to call that one. And there was contact both ways. So it not like to me, that's the one you don't throw a flag on. Why are you looking for that in that moment when you never. It's like calling them. It's like calling traveling or calling a cheap touch foul in the last 30 seconds or the last possession of an NBA game when you know, you don't call it all game. Don't call it now. So that's the one you And I both had this game. So you. I was, you know, locked on it. The Knicks are. And I'm still like, locked on this. Because I would have been 3 0, by the way, if I would have. If they were to score that touchdown. And it was like that I was losing it. Like, what the. How do you call that? And then that next play happens and I just. That I was checked out.
- [39:43]
Anthony Puccio
You guys know what my response was? Yeah, I was watching the Rangers flu game.
- [39:47]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
- [39:48]
Anthony Puccio
Really?
- [39:48]
Peter Rosenberg
You really are a broken man. Anthony is broken.
- [39:52]
Alan Hahn
And you know what's funny? He sends the text message. I didn't realize I was watching the Rangers flu game. So when I go to check the score of the Ranger game, I'm thinking they're winning because I think a flu game, I think a Jordan, literally everybody's.
- [40:06]
Peter Rosenberg
Sick flu game means overcoming, like something terrible.
- [40:10]
Alan Hahn
So when I'm seeing this, it's one nothing. I'm like, all right, that sounds like it's a literal flu game. Yeah. Literally have with Jordan.
- [40:17]
Anthony Puccio
Everybody was sick. Anyway, that was a somber 97. Won the ticket, by the way. That's why you didn't hear the excitement from the Pittsburgh.
- [40:25]
Alan Hahn
Since they chanted Tomlin's job.
- [40:27]
Jordan Raanan
You know, by the way, another over.500.
- [40:31]
Anthony Puccio
Season, you're probably looking at the possibility of the Steelers winning that division.
- [40:35]
Peter Rosenberg
What a horrible coach. Yeah.
- [40:37]
Anthony Puccio
Yeah. I'm not sure if Mike Tomlin's going anywhere.
- [40:39]
Alan Hahn
I don't know how these Steeler fans can, like, stomach these. These seasons.
- [40:42]
Anthony Puccio
We've got one more, fellas.
- [40:44]
Peter Rosenberg
Okay.
- [40:44]
Anthony Puccio
And it was a good one last night. Sunday Night Football sure was. Looked like even without Lamar Jackson and Tyler Scoop, Huntley, would he look good, Green?
- [40:51]
Alan Hahn
I thought we were losing this game, Allen.
- [40:53]
Anthony Puccio
But no, no.
- [40:54]
Peter Rosenberg
Yes.
- [40:55]
Anthony Puccio
He didn't lose it because Drake, man, the Patriots, they found a way to come back.
- [40:59]
Peter Rosenberg
And now with Huntley in the gun.
- [41:01]
Anthony Puccio
Before a second and 15 from the.
- [41:02]
Peter Rosenberg
27, Baltimore trying to keep its playoff hoops alive. The snap is back. Huntley looks to the right. Nowhere to go there. Throws it over the middle.
- [41:09]
Jordan Raanan
Catch by Flowers.
- [41:10]
Peter Rosenberg
He runs to the 30 yard line.
- [41:15]
Jordan Raanan
Big hit by Caleb on Chason.
- [41:17]
Anthony Puccio
Hustling after the play. The angry mob in 90. The sports hub.
- [41:21]
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, my goodness. What was happening in that booth, Donnie?
- [41:24]
Anthony Puccio
That was Scott. Scott Zolak was mauling Steppage.
- [41:27]
Peter Rosenberg
Well, it always happens with him, I should say. Right. That always happened.
- [41:30]
Anthony Puccio
Well, the pats were down 11, beat the Ravens 28, 24. Clinch a playoff spot.
- [41:34]
Peter Rosenberg
What I tell you about Drake May boys said this in August.
- [41:37]
Anthony Puccio
Who does he love more? Don Drake May or Shedor Sanders?
- [41:40]
Alan Hahn
Oh, you know what?
- [41:41]
Peter Rosenberg
The Drake May.
- [41:42]
Anthony Puccio
You think it's Shador?
- [41:43]
Peter Rosenberg
It's Shador because could you have a.
- [41:45]
Anthony Puccio
Chance to get him?
- [41:46]
Peter Rosenberg
Well, he's wearing the wrong uniform. But it I am disgusted with myself about how much I really do appreciate what's happening in New England. I hate it, but I can't deny that I don't respect it. Vrabel goes there. They get this kid. They have gotten him right. It Josh McDaniels knows what he's doing. Like this. Like again, it's not that hard. You look at New England like, see, that's it. That's all you got to do.
- [42:12]
Anthony Puccio
Well, it gives you some hope at least if you're a Giants fan, does it, that you have a quarterback. Drake made it not look like this last year. Well, he looked better than Jackson Dark did. But if you think you have a quarterback that shows signs and you think that the coaching is the problem now, the Giants have way more problems than just the coaching. But can you get a coach in there? And I'm not saying that they're going to win the nf, the NFC east, but at least be a serviceable slash possible playoff team with the right coach for the Giants. That is what you have to strive for, in my opinion. And that, lips to God's ears, is the NFL.
- [42:42]
Alan Hahn
That's the NFL binge. And it's all brought to you by and driven by Ramsey Mazda. It's the experience of driving into Mazda and buying a new Mazda from Ramsey Mazda. Choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Got a lot of calls to get to talk about wheat 16, the wild games and how it doesn't feel like there's there. There are no great teams.
- [43:02]
Peter Rosenberg
That's a fact. Yep.
- [43:03]
Alan Hahn
But like how many very good teams are there? Kind of crazy. And do you think it's cool or does it frustrate you like it does? Alan and I this message may be shocking to many millennials. If you are one, you might want to sit down right now. Loads of people are searching the following on low rise jeans, halter top, velour, tracksuit, hookah shell necklace, disc belt. You likely placed these in the dark of your closet in 2004, never to be seen again. But if you can find it in yourself, detect dust them off. There are a lot of people who will give you money for them. Sell on depop where taste recognizes taste. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast.
- [43:49]
Jordan Raanan
Smart move being financially savvy Smart move.
- [43:52]
Alan Hahn
Another smart move, having State Farm help you create a competitive price when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling. Just another way to save with the personal price point plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state.
- [44:07]
Jordan Raanan
Coverage options are selected by the customer.
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Alan Hahn
Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state. There's a reason Chevy trucks are known for their dependability because they show up no matter the weather, push forward no matter the terrain and deliver. That's why Chevrolet has earned more dependability awards for trucks than any other brand in 2025, according to J.D. power. Because in every Chevy truck, like every Chevy driver, dependability, dependability comes standard. Visit Chevy.com to learn more. Chevrolet received the highest total number of awards among all the trucks in the J.D. power 2025 U.S. vehicle Dependability Study Awards based on 2022 models. Newer models may be shown. Visit J.D. power.com awards for more details. Chevrolet Together, let's drive thanks for listening.
- [44:45]
Peter Rosenberg
To the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.
- [44:48]
Alan Hahn
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [44:49]
Peter Rosenberg
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us Where?
- [44:53]
Jordan Raanan
Wherever you get your podcasts.
- [44:57]
Alan Hahn
Not the greatest day, apparently. Tomorrow supposed to be some snow. I know everybody wants to get into the Christmas spirit, but to have a day of travel difficulty so close to Christmas is not ideal either. So hopefully everybody will be safe. This is our last show.
- [45:12]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, can I. Can I. While we're saying this, yes, we didn't get a chance to have that day I always like to have, but I do want to acknowledge it here and then continue throughout the rest of the show to shout out all of you who work in the delivery business, whether it is the U.S. postal Service, whether it is an Amazon driver, UPS, FedEx, all of you. I'm probably missing a few of the companies at this point, but everybody that is. You're working extra. You're working overtime. This is obviously your super bowl time in that business. But a lot of you are the reason why so many of us don't have to. It's a lot easier now to buy presents for people we care about, to get things for our loved ones. And instead of having to run out to stores and spend that extra time being stuck in traffic and the frustration of it all, it's so much easier now for so many people to just order things and those boxes pile up on all of our stoops and in front of our doors and you are the reason why. And so I just want to salute all of you in this business because it's not easy. These are exhausting hours. And I love the fact that so many of you used to call in my old show with Bart and tell stories about how if you saw the UPS driver and you were FedEx guy, you cut him off or you would park in front of him so he couldn't get out so you'd stay ahead of him on the route. Like the competition was so much fun. But again, salute to all of you who have keep this thing moving and keep the holiday season basically energized. So thank you to all of you out there. This is your time of year and I hope once we get to the other side of the holidays, you do get a little bit of rest and also a nice little bonus check as well for all the work you got to do.
- [47:02]
Alan Hahn
Boy, it's bailed me out of many occasions because, you know, especially with the, the jobs that we have and some of the travel, you know, really cuts into just, you know, going to the mall and carving out three, four hours to do shopping. It's really difficult. So being able to get stuff delivered is just, it's a godsend for a lot of people. So, you know, shout out to those people that also have families and also have lives and they also have shopping to do too.
- [47:28]
Peter Rosenberg
That's right.
- [47:29]
Alan Hahn
So they're making the effort. My brother in law worked at UPS and I remember just this was the busy, busy time for him. So I can imagine it is for everybody. Let's get to the busy phones. Let's go to Lewis in New Jersey. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Lewis?
- [47:44]
Jordan Raanan
Hello, guys. First, I just want to wish you guys a happy season. Glad you guys came in. We appreciate you guys. Love you guys.
- [47:51]
Alan Hahn
No problem.
- [47:51]
Peter Rosenberg
Thank you, Louis.
- [47:53]
Jordan Raanan
Yeah, I did want to say though, you know how we like to talk about movement on this show. And yesterday I'm on the ESPN app and the headline is that the Broncos wide receiver has movement. And yes, I chuckled, I chuckled until I realized, oh, he's hurt. And as a paraplegic, you know, I felt awful.
- [48:13]
Peter Rosenberg
Like you didn't want to make a joke of it. Yeah.
- [48:16]
Jordan Raanan
And then I really, I mean, and then I noticed that that's how they describe every one of these guys get hurt. It's all about if they have movement. And so like my mind now goes to a different place thanks to you guys.
- [48:25]
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah, it's our fault.
- [48:27]
Jordan Raanan
Yeah, that's movement. I was, I'm calling to talk about the Mets because I think sometimes when we talk about this. I know Don, you're, you're very much, you just want to see what this plan is, right? But I think if you go on social media, I've never seen anything like this before. The Mets have been posting like a gift. It's like their 10 day gift guide. Every day they post another thing, a suggestion for what you can get your Mets in, you know, for Christmas. And there's literal emoji middle fingers as replies. And when you read the replies, I think either Stearns or Cohen did not realize that this many Mets regulars getting dumped. Even though I don't think anyone is that except upset about McNeil going. It's just another one of the players. I think attendance is going to be awful next year. And I, I also believe that the real plan here, there's a lot of people are doing the allegations with. That's the only reason Cohen bought the Mets is the casino. I don't know if any of that's true or not, but I truly believe because you heard Cohen calling anybody that thinks that he's not going to have the same budget an idiot. And his, his words were not great and not received well. And I think behind the scenes the Mets are cutting budget. That's all I think of this is that they are going to go in next year with a lower budget because you can't do this and expect the fans to follow along.
- [50:00]
Alan Hahn
They are, I don't, I don't know where there is any evidence that they'd want to cut budget. He's worth $23 billion, John.
- [50:09]
Jordan Raanan
Can I push back on that though? Can I push back on that? Back in 2022 when the Mets went in playoffs, they failed and Cohen went into full salary dump mode, right? Since then we talk about Cohen and all his money but at the end of the day the Mets right now, yes, they have the second highest budget, but it's nowhere near Dodgers.
- [50:31]
Alan Hahn
I mean when did they, when did they dump budget in 22 when they.
- [50:36]
Jordan Raanan
Traded away Verlander, Scherzer and everybody.
- [50:39]
Alan Hahn
How much money he ate on those contracts to move? I'm aware, I'm not because you said that they. That's not a salary dump. That was just to cut ties. And he, because he used his wealth to be able to move them. He wouldn't have been able to move them unless he ate a ton of money off of their contracts. They were cooked and he moved them and he's been proven right. Those guys haven't done anything.
- [51:02]
Jordan Raanan
I'm not saying that Don, here's what I'm saying to you. Last year when the Mets were season started, I said to all my Mets friends, Mets aren't making the playoffs this year. And my reason was very simple and they almost made me wrong, was that the starting pitching is awful. It will not hold up. This is not a starting pitching of a professional football team. Sorry, professional baseball teams, you don't. If you want to be a player team, you don't start with that starting pitching staff. It was always going to fail. And do you have any idea how much money at this point would have to be spent to fix this roster, to turn it into a playoff roster?
- [51:37]
Alan Hahn
That's why I don't think they're doing it. But you say there's no plan. Louis. Yeah, attendance will be bad if this. There is their roster going into next year.
- [51:46]
Peter Rosenberg
Four months to the start of the season.
- [51:47]
Alan Hahn
We've got a long. Can we see what it is first? And thank you for the phone call before we start destroying them. And listen, fans are going to flip out because fans enjoy being miserable. Fans always think the other shoe is going to drop. Especially Met fans, especially Jet fans that haven't won in a long time and have had a lot of dysfunction. All right, can we see what the pivot is if this is their roster on opening day? Again, I'll be right there with you. Mad as hell and wanting to rip into Stearns and rip into Cohen. But why do you think he's getting rid of these guys? And why would Cohen worry about saving money? You think this is anything to him compared to the money that he's trading along in his regular life? Yeah, the casino thing, that's not going to be until 2030. All right. And I think he does want to win. He's letting Sterns build the team that he wants to win. And these guys you want to hang on to so desperately. McNeil because he won a batting title, and Nimmo because he runs to first base after he walks and because Alonso hit the home run against Williams. They didn't win with these guys. Let's see what he does. But to say there's no plan to say that Cohen owns a team, sit on $23 billion and is looking to save money and cut payroll. It might make sense for the Yankees because of different financial constraints. That doesn't make sense for Cohen and Allen. The salary dump of 2022. Do you know how much he ate in money from Verlander and Scherzer to.
- [53:04]
Peter Rosenberg
Get rid of them and also turning them into prospects that they got back because he wanted.
- [53:09]
Alan Hahn
Because the first thing he said on opening day when he got the job was that I want to be able to rebuild the minor league system.
- [53:15]
Peter Rosenberg
That's what that was about. Right? Look, we'll get plenty of this and plenty of calls in the 5 o' clock hour for sure because there was a lot of different news. If you're just joining us, Jeff McNeil, according to Jeff Passon, will be traded to the Oakland A's for a low level pitching prospect. And the Mets are sending money to the A's to cover a lot of what's left on McNeil's contract. So clearly just paying to get him out of here. That's just another player now away from this team. They still waiting for the rebuild part. I mean, you were breaking it down. What now is coming next? It has been very cold there on the baseball front, but the football teams, the baseball, the Knicks getting another win. Jalen Brunson listed is out tomorrow night in Minnesota. And more, Don, it's gonna be a very busy five o' clock hour. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter.
- [54:07]
Jordan Raanan
Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8.
- [54:10]
Anthony Puccio
80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app.
- [54:13]
Peter Rosenberg
And your smart speakers.