Hour 2: OBJ Back & Weekend Headlines

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 2: OBJ Back & Weekend Headlines

Date: June 1, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Platform: ESPN New York

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Episode Overview

Hour 2 of the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg podcast dives deep into the New York Giants' headline-grabbing signing of Odell Beckham Jr. (OBJ), explores the history and baggage of his first stint in New York, and what his return means for the franchise. The episode also features broader discussions about the challenges of handling star personalities, the evolution of Giants leadership, and transitions smoothly into “Weekend Headlines” covering major New York sports moments, big NFL trades—including A.J. Brown and Myles Garrett—and personal stories about youth baseball. The hosts’ trademark mix of insight, opinion, and humor is on full display.

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Main Theme

OBJ Returns to the Giants: Homecoming or Headache?
The Giants’ surprising move to bring back Odell Beckham Jr. kicks off a rich debate. The hosts unpack the history of OBJ’s explosive first tenure, generational perceptions, organizational growth, and how his return aligns with John Harbaugh’s new regime. The main question: Is this a feel-good story, or is the franchise repeating old mistakes?

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Giants’ Big WR Moves

Discussion kicks off at [01:28]

• The Giants signed Braxton Berrios (special teams), JuJu Smith-Schuster (veteran presence), and most notably, re-signed OBJ.
• Don notes OBJ passed every test, and there’s "no risk" with the signing for a team needing weapons for young QB Jackson Dart.
  • Quote: “If he's able to produce and help the young quarterback Jackson Dart get some first downs… I got no problem with this. I really don't.” – La Greca [01:56]

2. OBJ’s First Giants Tenure: Highs, Lows, and Legacy

Starts at [03:16]

• Rosenberg describes how OBJ’s dazzling rookie success cast a long shadow—turning the Giants into a “player-catering” franchise against their tradition.
  • Quote: “It kind of just turned the franchise in the wrong direction... What OBJ did was bring out the worst in the Giants organization.” – Rosenberg [03:48]
• Iconic moments like the "catch" against Dallas became symbolic of larger issues: unchecked diva behavior and weak organizational leadership.
• Alan points out that OBJ’s talent was undeniable (three straight 1,300+ yard seasons) but thinks the Giants lost their identity catering to him.
  • Quote: “The Giants were never a franchise that let the players run the team... but catering to [Odell], he had no resume. He wasn't Justin Tuck.” – Hahn [06:20]

3. Organizational Evolution: Why This Time Could Be Different

Starts at [08:35]

• The group contrasts the Giants' atmosphere under Tom Coughlin (fighting for his job, caving to star demands) vs. the current leadership of John Harbaugh, who is viewed as stable and unafraid to make tough calls.
  • Quote: “John Harbaugh is not in any fear of losing his job... The second [OBJ] becomes anything of a problem, he's gone.” – Rosenberg [15:44], [18:12]
• Both acknowledge OBJ is older, a Super Bowl champion, and may be motivated by “closure” in New York.

Notable Call-in Reaction

Caller John from Sloatsburg at [17:28]:

• Expresses dismay at OBJ’s return, branding him "a cancer" who could "corrupt" the young quarterback.
  • Quote: “It's corrupt narcissism built into his psyche that is never going to change... It's going to end up hurting my brand new quarterback.” – John [17:37]

Response from hosts:

• Rosenberg argues the risk is low; Giants leadership won’t hesitate to move on if necessary.

4. Generational Divide & Media Box Office

At [19:31]

• Hahn highlights how OBJ remains “box office”—his signing announcement garnered over 1.5 million social views, dwarfing other team news.
  • Quote: “He’s box office. But to the caller—you're thinking of somebody that was young and drunk on his own stardom. He is not that guy anymore.” – Hahn [20:23]

5. Broader NFL WR Diva Culture

At [13:13]

• Both recall how all great WRs are difficult personalities, but success hinges on organizational management—Giants failed at this the first time.
  • Quote: “All the great wide receivers are divas. They just are. And it's all about whether you can handle them or not.” – Rosenberg [13:07]

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Weekend Headlines

Segment begins at [25:59]

1. Rosenberg’s Youth Baseball Update

• Shares pride in his son Marco’s underdog baseball team’s comeback win. Uplifting segment on sports’ life lessons.
  • Quote: “You don't ever, ever give up. And you didn't and you won the game and now it starts tonight.” – Rosenberg [26:53]

2. Alan’s Yankees Moment

At [31:13]:

• Recounts watching the Yankees’ historic 13-run inning—no home runs, just pure offense—a rare treat.
  • Quote: “The Yankees scored 13 runs in the third inning against the Athletics... 18 plate appearances, the most in 39 years.” – Hahn [31:33]

3. Mets Momentum and Rotation Worries

Quick hit at [36:14]:

• Rosenberg and Hahn discuss the Mets sweeping the Marlins and pitching performance concerns as tougher road games loom.

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Big NFL Trades & Analysis

Segment at [42:55]:

1. A.J. Brown Trade

• Details break about Brown going to the Patriots for first- and fifth-round picks ([24:02]).

2. Myles Garrett to the Rams

• Large discussion on the Rams’ acquisition of Myles Garrett, alongside Aaron Donald, making their defense potentially historic.
  • Quote: “[Garrett is] the best in the league... You just wonder, like, why did he sign a deal with the Browns? He's one of the best defenders we've seen in a long time.” – Hahn [45:02]
• Argument: Smart franchises don’t hoard draft picks—they use them for impact stars, exemplified by this move.

3. Russell Wilson’s Pivot to Broadcasting

At [41:27]

• Wilson signs with CBS after reportedly considering the Jets.
  • Quote: “Because he's a phony and phonies do well on television.” – Rosenberg [41:49]
• The hosts debate his likely TV persona and insight.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On OBJ’s influence:
  • “When he made that catch... it created a diva, even more so than most wide receivers. And because the Giants organization... wanted to get another Super Bowl for Eli... they catered to him.” – Rosenberg [04:07]
• On organizational learning:
  • “This organization has changed and won't be taken advantage of.” – Rosenberg [22:44]
• On OBJ’s social impact:
  • “1.5 million views. He’s box office.” – Hahn [20:23]
• On sports parent lessons:
  • “Confidence comes from demonstrated performance... That, to me, is the most important lesson.” – Hahn [29:53]
• On trading for stars vs. draft picks:
  • “Can we stop with the value of draft picks? Currency. It's just money... people look at draft picks like you have to hoard them and hold on to them—for what?” – Hahn [44:24]
• On coaching burnout:
  • “I mean, what more is there to accomplish? It's a tough thing, man... I can't begrudge anybody that might want to get out.” – Rosenberg [49:21]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• OBJ Signing & Immediate Reactions: [01:28] – [06:20]
• OBJ’s First Era Impact/Legacy: [03:16] – [11:49]
• Wide Receiver Room Leadership & Roster Construction: [08:35] – [11:49]
• Handling WR Divas League-Wide: [13:13]
• Caller Segment — Sloatsburg John on OBJ: [17:28] – [19:28]
• OBJ’s Box Office/Memetic Power: [19:31] – [20:23]
• Weekend Headlines Youth Sports: [25:59] – [31:13]
• Yankees’ Historic Inning: [31:13] – [34:10]
• NFL Trades — A.J. Brown, Myles Garrett: [24:02], [42:55] – [46:34]
• Russell Wilson to CBS, TV Personality: [41:27] – [42:55]

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Tone & Language

The hosts reflect their usual banter: passionate, witty, slightly irreverent, and willing to debate but grounded in deep sports knowledge. Listeners get a mix of fandom, old-school skepticism, and pop-culture references, making the episode engaging even for those less familiar with the players or moves discussed.

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Summary Takeaways

• OBJ’s Giants return is seen as low-risk, high-upside, provided new leadership keeps egos and distractions in check.
• The scars of OBJ’s first tenure and the need for grown-up leadership are heavily discussed, illustrating broader truths about NFL locker rooms and organizational management.
• High-profile NFL trades signal a shifting landscape, while local and personal sports stories sharpen the show’s New York identity.
• The episode balances sharp analysis with relatable, family-oriented anecdotes and a stream of memorable one-liners.

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For listeners and Giants fans alike, this episode delivers rich context, cautionary history, and hope for closure as the OBJ era in New York gets a surprise encore.

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

So good, so good, so good.

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[Don La Greca]

This is the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Michael Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don La Greca]

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

[Michael Rosenberg]

Game time is brought to you by Telemar 2 Irish whiskey because when it's game time, Alan. Just one local in action tonight. The Mets face the Mariners in Seattle with coverage immediately following ty Butler at 9. 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 responsibly. We've got weekend headlines coming up at the bottom of the hour. I have booked a guest. Alan has been great booking guests on his own. A lot of nick connections. Obviously during this run I have, I have procured a guest for our weekend headline. So hopefully.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh really? All right.

[Michael Rosenberg]

I'm looking forward to this. Until until then, love it. So obviously a lot of Knicks, a big baseball weekend for the Mets and the Yankees, but what a. What an out of out of nowhere day for the Giants, right? You think? All right, I'm preparing, getting ready for the show and then all of a sudden Braxton Barrio signs a contract. That's nice. Nice weapon, athlete, good for special teams. The Giants been brutal at that forever. Juju Smith Schuster signs. That's a nice veteran. A guy that's kind of been around the blocks, been in the postseason, something I think a little bit of experience. But the big deal was the middle one they did and that was bringing back obj. Shouldn't be that big of a surprise. There was a connection when he played for home Harbaugh in Baltimore. Yeah, they've been flirting and they've been talking about it and to his credit, he has passed every test. They worked him out and it's a homecoming for him. There's a lot of feelings that, you know, unfinished business here as he was unceremoniously traded to Cleveland by the previous regime in Gettleman and he wanted to come back here, he wanted to go full circle and from a football standpoint, Allen, I got no problem with it. I mean, there's no risk. And if he's able to produce and help the young quarterback Jackson Dart get some first downs, he did win a Super bowl in Los Angeles with the Rams. Got. No, I have no problem with this. I really don't have a problem with OBJ being back here. And hopefully, hopefully it'll end better than it ended the first time around. Okay. Of course, what I'm a little surprised about, and maybe it's a generation thing, is how many people are just over the moon about his return and what's the response?

[Alan Hahn]

I haven't seen much of a response to this.

[Michael Rosenberg]

People just excited, exciting memes, you know, he's back home. Oh, this is amazing. I can't believe that OBJ is back. This is great for the organization. Just over the top responses from people about him being back again, I got no problem with that. But I do think there was a younger generation that, hey, they went 11 and 5 that one year with him, that first year with team and it was all because of him and Eli. Eli was just pitching catch to Odell and they go 11 and 5. But what I can't get over whenever I think about Odell Beckham Jr. Is how it kind of just turned the franchise in the wrong direction. And it wasn't all his fault. What OBJ did was bring out the worst in the Giants organization.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow.

[Michael Rosenberg]

When he made that catch on that Sunday night game against Dallas, maybe one of the greatest catches of all time, it created a diva, even more so than most wide receivers are. And because the Giants organization at the time wanted to get another super bowl for Eli and felt they could do it. And Tom Coughlin, hanging on to his job like grim death, catered to him because he was their best player and he was their only chance of greatness. Like I said, you know, he was the major reason why they went 11, 5 that year. And they got spanked by the Green Bay packers at Lambeau because you had the boat cruise. All right. And again, not all his fault. Everybody loves Victor Cruz. He was on that ship too.

[Alan Hahn]

All right.

[Michael Rosenberg]

But I keep going back to the game against the Panthers with Josh Norman. And Josh Norman was just as a fault. Old time Tom Coughlin would have pulled him from the game. There would have been something. But Tom couldn't do it because their only chance to win was if Odell was in there. It just brought the worst out. And so again, it's not all on him. But when I think of obj, I think of what could have been what might have been, not what was, because what was wasn't very good. And I keep going back to that damn catch. They lost the game anyway, so I don't celebrate that catch. The same reason I don't celebrate the Zelopukin goal in Game 7 against the Rangers. As a Devil fan, the same reason I don't celebrate the Chave catch a Game 7 against the Cardinals. Great moments that happened in a game you lost. So a certain younger generation might think how sexy it was. It's not going to go. He's not going to be that. He's not that anymore. But I'm just hoping that he can help them win and just have better closure. I don't mind this deal. I'm not knocking the deal. I would have done it, too. And I do think it has a chance with some grownups in the room now with the Giants organization of not feeling like they ought to hold on to their jobs, to not let it be a problem. But I don't have fond memories of the first time around with obj. I don't. And so I don't celebrate it in that way. I look at it as a nice, solid signing by a guy that knows what he's doing in John Harbaugh to bring out the best and a really talented wide receiver that it's at the end of his career but still might be able to help them do something. But I don't celebrate it for what was, because to me, what was wasn't great.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, the first three seasons were pretty special. 1300 yards a year, at least. And I think it's from there that really set you off. Right. Because that's when he became the crown jewel of the future of the Giants. And there was like the Giants were never a franchise that let the players run, run the team. Yeah, you know, TC had to have that meeting with the players, that this was the turning point for him and those veterans back then, before the super bowl years, where the players wanted more input because he was from the old school. I make the rules you follow, and that's it. And the players wanted to have a little more say. And he's like, all right, you guys are vets. I respect you. We'll have this, you know, collaboration of the veteran guys will come together and you can come to me when there's something the players want and we can talk about it and I'll be more open to it. And a lot of guys, to a man, say from that moment forward, it's when Tom Coughlin and the players really started to develop a better relationship. This is different. This was a young player who was electric, there's no question about it. But a franchise that started catering to him and he had no resume. He didn't. He wasn't Justin Tuck. He wasn't. Guys like that, that, that should have a say. He was new to things. And the whole banana boat thing, that should have told you already that there was no true veteran leadership on that team that would have told those guys, number one, don't do this. Number two, don't post that. Because it's really the photo that got everybody in trouble. If nobody posted that photo, nobody really would have known the story and nobody would have cared. But they posted it. It looked bad and then they looked awful in that game. Remember them going out in Green Bay with the shirts off, too, for pregame? It was stuff like that. Like that's, that's. That's when the Giants stopped being the Giants. And it was a very awkward transitional time for them. It's why Tom Coughlin really had ended up walking away or they moved on from him because he realized like this. I. I can't coach this way. I can't have to cater to players who are going to act this way. I look at that, that, that quarterback room. Now, Don, I asked this question. Who is the adult in the room? In a weird way, you know who it is?

[Michael Rosenberg]

Yeah. James Winston.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, I'm sorry. Wide receiver room. I mean, wide receiver room. Wide receiver room. Who is it? Who's the adult in the room?

[Michael Rosenberg]

The. The adult in the room. It's him. I guess it's Odell. Who else would it be? Neighbor isn't going to be there.

[Alan Hahn]

He's got a ring.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Still a kid.

[Alan Hahn]

He's. But he's also 33 now. He's kind of seen it. He's been there. I'm sure he looks back at some things and cringes a little bit right now, I'm not saying he's going to be this little leader with a big voice, but when you think about it. So Smith Schuster is also a guy, though Matt Nagy knows him from Kansas City. So he must know, like, oh, yeah, he. He can run our system. I know what I can do with him. And this is a good guy to bring in, but juju's a guy that's been. Been good. And he's also been maddening as well. Right. His. Throughout his career, so. And then there's neighbors, which is probably the secret that the Giants are whispering out loud. We don't know if he's going to be ready. And even when he is ready, we don't know how good he can be right out of the gate with this neat thing that's going on with him. So we need to get some vets around our young quarterback and have some talent out on the field so that our young quarterback can do more than have to run, that he's going to have plenty of options to throw to with experience around him so we can protect him not only from himself from running, but also from having just one option to throw to.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Yeah. The first thing I thought of was that they're telling you that they need options because neighbors may not be ready. And then when he is ready, will he be 100% to be? That takes the pressure off that they drafted.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Michael Rosenberg]

And the other thing it tells me is when I see all of what they've done, is that this is a humongous year for Jackson Dart, because I will defend Peter in this one thing, but let's not anoint him yet. But it feels like he's been anointed as the next great giant quarterback. And I think there's potential there, but it can get derailed, you know, and certainly if he has a bad year and you don't have the right weapons, you know it's going to look bad for him. And you got a new head coach and there's expectations and he wants to try to make sure he's got weapons, guys catch the ball for him. So for that I agree. But. And again, I feel like I'm repeating myself, but I really want to send this home, is that it's not a poor reflection on Odell. He's older now, as you said. He's a. He's a. He's a Super bowl champion now. It's different than when he was first here. I blame everything that was created with Odell here. And you go back to that game, to 2015 against the Carolina Panthers. Lost that game 38 to 35. The whole game was Odell and Josh Norman fighting with each other, taking bad penalties. Coughlin couldn't do anything about it, but The Giants were 6 7. They were coming off a win against Miami, trying to climb back in to a wild card spot. They lost that game, dropped to 6, 8, and then they ended up losing out at Minnesota and home against Philadelphia. Finished 6 10. Tom Coughlin was out of a job. This great head coach, who I think deserved to be in the hall of Fame, was forced to make decisions based on what was going to Give him a chance to save his job. Think about that.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Michael Rosenberg]

And it was just all created by this. Of course. He was a singular talent. He was great. They make the playoffs because of him. You just gave all the stats he hit. He hit this city like gangbusters those first three years, but he was box office. But looking back at it, and I'm not even talking about marrying the net and fake dog peeing on the logo in Philadelphia. Like, I'm not even talking about that.

[Alan Hahn]

Philadelphia and stuff.

[Michael Rosenberg]

I'm just talking about.

[Alan Hahn]

He went all in.

[Michael Rosenberg]

He came at the worst possible time for this organization. They were trying to get Eli a championship. It started everything. It started the rollercoaster, whatever. The merry go round of coaches that kept being brought in from McAdoo to Shermer to judge over and over and over again. The wasting of money, the drafting of Barkley, all the things that ended up being huge mistakes at the time were all created because Odell was so good. It gave a false perception of where this team was, and it just never worked. And then they blame him and ship him out as if he was the cancer, not even realizing that they were the problem. They didn't know how to handle this. All right, because they're all divas, right, Alan?

[Alan Hahn]

They're.

[Michael Rosenberg]

All the great wide receivers are divas. They just are. And it's all about whether you can handle them or not. Yeah, they're all gonna.

[Alan Hahn]

They're all gonna be a pain in the ass. It's how you can manage them and handle them and also let them have their moments where they just get. Look, they all get emo. They all get frustrated. They all get. Look at. Look right now at the Eagles. AJ Has AJ Brown been traded yet? Because we know he's being traded June 1st. This is when he's supposed to be traded. It's supposed to be to the Patriots, but it's like, why the hell would you trade that guy?

[Marco Legreca]

Why?

[Alan Hahn]

And then you look at Tennessee and go, wait a minute, you had him and you traded him? Like, but that's what happens with these guys. I mentioned Smith, Schuster. Look at Pickens right now in Dallas. Dallas is like, okay, you gave us a nice year, but we still don't trust you.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Don't. Don't trust it. Couldn't handle. So it's not about OBJ the player. It's just about the circumstances. So I don't look back at that fondly. And that catch is all I. Whenever they show that catch, whenever there's a great catch, and, you know, you watch SportsCenter halftime out. They always bring that catch back as if it's a great moment in Giants history. And to me, it's one of the worst moments in Giants history. That really opened the door to show you just how weak this organization was to handle such a thing. The compromises they made to, to make OBJ be the man, it led to them hanging on to Eli too long. It led to every bad decision, every single one. And it just, it was bad circumstance. So I'm sorry, I can't not think about that when he brings it back. But I'm hoping that maybe there'll be better closure.

[Alan Hahn]

That's with. All right, with that in mind because that is the truth. Sometimes when you have these types of players, strong willed, big personality, command the room type players, you don't have strong leadership, you know what's going to happen, it's going to fail miserably. That player is going to get what he wants and at some point it's going to blow up the whole room. Now he's older, it's many years later, he's more experienced. You don't expect he's going to have this same type of personality. He just wants to be part of something. Right now he can't be the lead dog. But with John Harbaugh now in charge, do you feel better about the franchise when you bring in players like him? And again, I'll say Juju as well. Like, these guys are just, this is how they get. I'm not getting my catches, I'm not getting my targets. I'm not happy. And then you let the world know about it. Do you? And even Jackson, Jackson, you got to manage him too. Now he's, he's starting to feel himself.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

So with that in mind, having a guy like Harbaugh, does that make you feel better? Because you don't think this stuff will get out of control?

[Michael Rosenberg]

Yeah, because, well, the biggest thing is that John Harbaugh is not in any fear of losing his job. Listen, I would have you asked me about Tom Coughlin. I'm like, tom Coughlin's the perfect coach. He's not going to cave. But all of a sudden you're six and you're six and seven. Three games left in the season. The guy doesn't want to get fired, you know, and that look that Coughlin gave John Mara after his press conference and all, it was the beginning of the end of this organization. It really was. You know, because. Because of the fact that everybody was on edge and Tom Coughlin's fighting for his job. John Harbour is not fighting for his job. He just got here. And he also had Odell in Baltimore. It's his idea to bring him in. So again, I got no issue with that. But just like the New Jersey Devils bring intensity on the ice, Viking Pest control brings the same level of protection to your home. And I know this because I use Viking at my own place. The season may be over, but pests are always in play, especially this time of year. You want to barbecue outside, have people over by the pool and the last thing you want is them swatting mosquitoes away and flies and bees and all that. You want to make sure that your home is protected. So it's time to lock it down. As the pest control provider and proud partner of the devils, Viking delivers 45 years of trusted experience to keep ants, cockroaches, stinging insects, rodents, mosquitoes and more out of your zone. Their local team builds a personalized game plan that actually works. And when you bundle pest control mosquito services, you score big. Savings one call, one company. Total peace of mind. Visit vikingpest.com protecting your home inside and out. 1-800-919-3776 your thoughts on this? Let's go to John. He's in slotsburg. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, man?

[John (Caller)]

How you doing, fellas?

[Michael Rosenberg]

Good.

[John (Caller)]

Longtime Giants fan. Been a giants fan for 63 years and today is one of the most depressing days I've ever had in all the years.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Wow.

[John (Caller)]

Odell Beckham, you can call him the adult in the room. The man is a cancer. He's got a bad attitude and he's going to corrupt my brand new quarterback. No matter what you say about. He's, he's grown up. He's been with John Harbaugh. The man's all about himself. He's always been all about himself. That's never going to change. It's, it's corrupt narcissism built into his psyche that is never going to change. You can't coach that out of him. It's going to come out eventually and it's going to end up hurting my brand new quarterback.

[Michael Rosenberg]

John. Well, here's the thoughts, all right? He's near the end. He's been given a lifeline by John Harbaugh, who had him in Baltimore. All right. He was on that Rams team, didn't derail a championship. Actually played pretty well in that super bowl. Helped him win a championship. I don't know if he's mature. I don't. He's older. We know that. And the hope is he's more mature. But here's the deal. The second he becomes anything of a problem, he's gone. There's no risk here, all right? They didn't invest a ton of money. They're not making him the number one receiver. They didn't pay him boatloads of guaranteed money. He's coming here with his hat in his hand, trying to extend his career. He wants to be here because he wants closure. This is the franchise that drafted him. He didn't like the way that it ended and he wants to make up for it. So he's motivated to try to keep his career alive and change the image John, that you have of him, which isn't wrong. But the second he gets out of line, the second he does anything that could mess up Jackson dart, he's gone, man. Like the wind. Like a fart in the wind. He'll be gone in a second. You really think John Harbaugh is going to let him corrupt the young quarterback he's trying to save? John Harbaugh knows better than anybody that this kid hasn't done a thing yet. And he wants to win with this kid. So the second it becomes any kind of a problem, Alan, tell me I'm wrong. He'll be gone. He'll be out the door.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I know.

[Michael Rosenberg]

So what's the. What is the risk?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't like. Again, I don't think he's going to be a problem. I think first of all, here's all you need to know. I had to check because you mentioned it. So I went to the Giants Twitter page just out of curiosity because they announced signing Barrios. You know, they announced Obviously the Beckham one, the original Beckham post, 1.5 million views. They had a follow up post with some highlights of when he was a giant. A million views. The Barrios post, 40,000 views.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Right. And that's the better player. That's the guy that I.

[Alan Hahn]

He could be very impactful. He's. He was. He gets injured a lot. He was injured last year. But yes, he's a multifaceted guy. He can give you. He can play different positions and he certainly is very good on special teams. But it's just kind of like it, it's funny to me, like, like it's just like, hey, Arvell Reese signing his. Officially signing his contract. 171,000. So 1.5 million.

[Michael Rosenberg]

He's box office.

[Alan Hahn]

Tells you all you need to know. He's box office. But to the caller, you are thinking of somebody that was young and was. Was drunk on his own stardom. He is not that guy anymore. So I don't know why you would expect he's going to now be a negative impact on Dart. If he is, then Dart's weak and the Giants leadership is weaker. Well, that won't happen.

[Michael Rosenberg]

And even if it did, and even if he is not changed, then John Harbaugh is. He'll be gone.

[Alan Hahn]

But why did they love him in Baltimore? Why did they love him with the Rams?

[Michael Rosenberg]

That's the thing, is that you gotta understand the other places, they were strong enough, they had the infrastructure and they know that. Listen, Odell's not dumb. He understood where he was with the Giants when they drafted him. He understood the kind of box office he was and he got away with what he was able to get away with. The. That's how. That's how anybody. Everybody blames. Everybody blames the guy that gets out of line, right? And you should. You shouldn't get out of line. But one of the reasons these guys get out of line is because they can sense what they can and can't get away with. And if you're a weak organization or you have a future hall of Fame head coach that's trying to just win games to save his job, people like Odell could take advantage of that. But if you go into a room like the Rams, you go into a room like Baltimore where you're well coached and everybody's got their job cemented and the team's got one goal, and that's to go out there and win a championship. Not to save somebody's job, not to get your future hall of Fame quarterback another championship. That weakness is taken advantage of. If this organization is changed, there won't be anything to take advantage of. And they'll sniff out any issue and let him go. So really, there's no downside. The second he tries to marry Annette, he's gone. The second he tries to pee on a logo, he's gone. The second that he shows up Jackson Dart, he in a preseason game because he overthrew him, he's gone. That's the issue. Right? That's no problem. And believe me, the only way it could be a problem is he becomes amazing. They win a bunch of games and then in the playoffs, it implodes. But, you know, I'll take that chance because I want to see this team make the playoffs. I want to see this team do something. So I'm not even defending whether he's changed or not. Allen I'm saying I believe the Giants have changed and won't be taken advantage of.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Because you don't have a GM who just got extended and a head coach that just got here worried about losing their jobs.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a deal. I also don't know at this point where he is physically. How big of an impact do you think he's going to have on the field? Like, let's not. He's not wide receiver one. He can't be. He doesn't have that left in him.

[Michael Rosenberg]

But he knows that. But he came here, Alan, and to all reports, he passed every physical test and he also passed every mental test. It sounds like he wants to make this work and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. But again, there's nothing to lose here. So am I excited about it? No. I'm as far as John from Slotsburg was that I think it's a disaster. Absolutely not. But I was just kind of curious why everybody thinks that we'll go back to what great catches and losses. You know, I want to see that. I've never been a big guy of getting excited about individual efforts on losing teams. I want to see the great efforts result in wins. So I never cared about that catch because they end up losing to the hated Cowboys on national television like they always do anyway.

[Alan Hahn]

Maybe he'll make a less spectacular catch, but it'll be more impactful for the Giants this year. That's my hope and that's what you hope for. That trade I was waiting for has happened.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

A.J. brown to the Patriots for a 28 first round pick and a 27 fifth.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Oh,

[Alan Hahn]

and that's not even to me the biggest trade of the day in the NFL, by the way.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Oh, we're gonna get into that.

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[Don La Greca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Michael Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don La Greca]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscrib wherever you get your podcasts.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Don Ana Rosenberg, ESPN New York It's 4:30 on a Monday and a new segment we have is called Weekend Headlines where we tell you some of the things that happened that you might have missed over the weekend. And one of the things for me was the town that I live in. The playoffs began on Saturday and Marco's green goblins were down five one in the fourth inning and they had a big six run inning and they eventually won the game 12 eight to advance to the World Series which begins tonight. Game one of a best of three series. Marco went two for two and I think he's going to be on the mound for a time in the game tonight and he joins us here on Donjon Rosenberg. How are you Marco?

[Marco Legreca]

I'm doing good.

[Michael Rosenberg]

All right. Are you ready for tonight?

[Marco Legreca]

Yeah.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Now do you think you're going to win?

[Marco Legreca]

Yes.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Now you didn't think you were going to win on Saturday, right?

[Marco Legreca]

No, because it was a better team than us.

[Michael Rosenberg]

And what did I tell you?

[Marco Legreca]

That I had a chance to win the game.

[Michael Rosenberg]

That's right. Because you don't ever, ever give up. And you didn't and you won the game and now it starts tonight. So you excited about possibly pitching?

[Commercial Announcer]

Mm.

[Michael Rosenberg]

What position do you want to play besides pitcher?

[Marco Legreca]

Probably catcher, first base.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Yeah. Because that's the action positions, Right. Something's always going on. All right, you win today, then you got game two on Thursday and if you win Thursday then it's over if necessary. Game is coming up on Saturday, so pretty excited, right? All right. The nodding your head doesn't work on radio, but the people on YouTube got to appreciate. All right. I know you got some. Mommy bought you some McDonald's which is a great pre game meal for A World Series game.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah, of course it is.

[Michael Rosenberg]

So I'm going to ask you, what is the key to winning this game tonight? What are the keys to winning the game tonight?

[Marco Legreca]

Throw strikes and hit strikes.

[Michael Rosenberg]

There you go. Throw strikes, hit strikes. You spit on the balls on the outside. You don't help the pitcher out. Right now, who's behind you?

[Alan Hahn]

Donnie.

[Michael Rosenberg]

All right, but I saw somebody go get ready for the game. That was Marco Legrecka.

[Alan Hahn]

Wait, somebody is.

[Michael Rosenberg]

But Jalen Legreca.

[Alan Hahn]

There she is.

[Michael Rosenberg]

What is Fawn, who's got a big dance recital coming up on June 27th. But what do you think is going to happen tonight in the big game for the Green Goblins tonight?

[Marco Legreca]

I think they're gonna do good.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Yeah, well, is what you say not good? And what do you think Marco's gonna do in the game?

[Marco Legreca]

I don't know.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Okay, that's tremendous. All right, I want you to have a great day and go. You eat your McDonald's. What? McDonald's.

[Marco Legreca]

You get chicken nuggets.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Michael Rosenberg]

All right, go. Go have fun. All right, I'll see you later. Wave to everybody goodbye. That's Jalen Lagrecca and we're ready for the game tonight. But I was so proud of his big victory over on Saturday and advancing to the best of three series, which begins tonight at 7 o'. Clock.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what? It's. It's also a great thing that you just said to him, too, about playing a team that's better than you. Because there's so many times, you know, you hear this stuff with. With kids in youth sports, especially when they're younger, and you always get that kind of the. There's always the one dad that knows everything about every team in the league, and he tells his kid, this team, this team, forget it. Nobody's beating this team. You know, they got this kid, they got this kid, they tell you the whole thing and they get their heads get psyched out. Oh, my God, this team's really good. My dad said this, and it's like, they don't think they can win. Like, hang on a second. Okay, so they beat these other teams. I mean, they could be you, right? Like, just. Just play it out, see what happens. Yeah, And I love the fact that they got that. That, to me, is the most important. Confidence comes from demonstrated performance. When, you know, wait, we beat a team that everybody said was better than us? We could beat anybody then. And that is the most important lesson. You love to see when that happens. So he. I love that he Said that too. He's like, we beat a team that was better than us. So that was what they thought going in. And then they realized they weren't better

[Michael Rosenberg]

than us all day Saturday. We're not going to win, dad. We're not going to win. They, you know, they beat us during the year. And I was like, it's baseball, Marco. You never know what's going to happen in baseball. The best teams don't always win. And I tried to tell him that you can't go in with that kind of an attitude. And by the time we got to the ballpark, he's like, you know what? I'm starting to feel like we can win the game. And they were down 5:1. But they kept fighting. Usually have rules like any a four run inning, the innings over. Right. But when you get to the playoffs, all bets are off.

[Alan Hahn]

It should be.

[Michael Rosenberg]

And it was only the one inning where anybody scored more than four runs. And it was that fourth inning where they came back and they took the lead. And one of the kids that they hit was a kid that was on the travel team and had beaten them bad the last time and they ended up tortured him for six runs. Because you never know, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Never know. Kid has a bad day and you

[Michael Rosenberg]

just got to be ready. So again, they're going to take on a team that's perceived to be better than them tonight. And all right, you lose tonight, you got another chance on Thursday. So that was my weekend, a lot of baseball, and that was a big day. I was very, very proud of him. He got the, the single that got the big six run inning started and they come back and win. And we'll see what happens tonight.

[Alan Hahn]

That's baseball, Marco. That's got to be the new phrase. I love it.

[Michael Rosenberg]

I like that. Pitch strikes. Hit strikes.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Even better. Spit on the ones on the outside.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

My, my weekend, my weekend headline is something that happened yesterday and it was very special because I got a chance to actually watch it, which is rare this time of year because. Well, actually, you know, as busy as I've been, I haven't had a chance to really just sit down and just take in a Yankees game. Just sit down and enjoy it. Yeah, right.

[Michael Rosenberg]

This was start to finish.

[Alan Hahn]

It's been busy. I've been trying to keep up with them as best I can. I'm normally doing last channel stuff, catch, you know, maybe I'll catch an inning or two in between other things going on, but because there was no NBA to watch, there was no NHL to watch yesterday, I just. And there was really nowhere for me to go. There was no hockey to take Cali to. Everybody was home. We're just chilling. And Stephanie told me, you're taking a day and you're shutting it down. You're doing nothing. So we sat on the couch and we watched some baseball. And I got to see the type of inning that you won't see for 100 years. And it's. It was a. It was, to me, gratifying in one way. The Yankees scored. Everybody knows by now The Yankees scored 13 runs in the third inning against the Athletics. And the record for the franchise was 14. And that was a record that they set back in 1920. So, you know, one more run would have been pretty special to do something like that. 106 years, but still, the fact that they scored 13, 18 plate appearances, which is the most in 39 years, and the first 12 batters reached base, which was the most in a baseball game overall. Major league baseball since 1961, Doc. Wow. So I got to see history. History. And the best part of the whole thing is that they scored the 13 runs. How many home runs did they hit? Nary a home run.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Didn't eat it.

[Michael Rosenberg]

That's the best news.

[Alan Hahn]

And that, of course, is the whole thing about the Yankees, and all they do is hit home runs. And that frustrates me all the time. So it was they. They were stealing bases, they were running. They were taking advantage of. Of bad pitching where you can't throw a strike. And when they do, you make them pay. There was a bloop. A bloop single by Judge. Who's the one guy that's been struggling lately, but just moments. That was just. It was fun baseball to watch. Now, obviously, it's fun on my end. It wasn't fun baseball to watch for anybody that's an Athletics fan, but the fact that we saw something like that said so much about what this offense can be when you're not always looking just to hit the home run. Now, was I happy with the fact that they didn't score any runs in any other inning, which is so weird, right? No, but still, that's an inning. You don't really. You just don't see innings like that. Literally, as I told you, it's been how long since 61? For 40 years and then 106 years. So there's a lot of. There's a lot of special. In that third inning. And I had the opportunity to sit and watch a little bit of history and a nice win for the Yankees to finish up a road trip out in Sacramento. So that's my headline of the weekend.

[Michael Rosenberg]

And not lost in the fact that they didn't score in any other inning. And I was listening to the end of the game and Susan Waldman made a great point because it diced. It's 13 8.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Michael Rosenberg]

You know, Bednar's walking, guys. And Jeff O' Neill had a tremendous at bat. Eventually struck out because it was like one out with the bases loaded.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Michael Rosenberg]

So now you're like, you're like a grand slam away from all of a sudden just a one run game.

[Alan Hahn]

I wanted to leave that part out.

[Michael Rosenberg]

And Susan was like, they don't win easy. They don't lose easy. And it's true. Like even in the loss the night before, walking the ballpark, getting runs off. Like, what did he get? Three runs off a bases load of walking.

[Alan Hahn]

Ridiculous.

[Michael Rosenberg]

And they're losing the game. Six, four. Like they don't go away, but they don't. Even in blowouts, it feels like teams kind of hang around their bullpen is not what it used to be. Bednar is going to be a thrill a minute. I can't wait. Come postseason time, Yankee fans are going to be flipping out.

[Alan Hahn]

Do you think that.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Do you think Brian's going to thrill a minute?

[Alan Hahn]

Like, I thought they found their closer when they got Bednar last year and he, he seemed like a guy that was more of a bulldog. Can handle the pressure this year. He looks lost. Do you think they've got to not once again try to find somebody just in case.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Well, you. If you got to have. You got to have somebody to pivot to. Right. Like you can't have the ball.

[Alan Hahn]

Used to be a closer. But I don't trust him.

[Michael Rosenberg]

No, you don't trust him either. But that's probably the pivot. But, you know, find some help for the bullpen you're going to need. But here's the other interesting thing about Bednar. I don't think it's a fear in New York. Like, I think he's got like ice water in his veins. It's just that I think there's some ineffectiveness sometimes. Like, I don't think it's because he's choking. I think. No, he just, he.

[Alan Hahn]

The one game, he just hung a curveball. Like just curveball. He hung it. It was. What are you doing?

[Michael Rosenberg]

And, and, and you are. Yeah, you're. You're so right about that. So just. It's weird. And listen, the A's. The A's aren't a great team, but they're, they're, they're probably a playoff team because again, the American League is so weak.

[Alan Hahn]

Under 500 too.

[Michael Rosenberg]

But this Yankees, what are we two back of the loss. They're a game and a half back now of the Rays have kind of come back down to earth just a bit.

[Alan Hahn]

You expected, you did expect or at least hope.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Too big of a clip there. Yeah, just a quick pivot to the Mets. They had a really nice weekend. They sweep the Marlins. They've won four in a row. But now they're going out west again. I think this is the fourth time they've gone out west so far and it's June 1st, but that's what happens. You got to play everybody. So they're taking on a Seattle team that's 18 in a row. They're taking on San Diego's one of the best teams in baseball. So if they're for real, you know, come back, go four and two, you know, don't go one and no, don't go one in five on the six game road trip with the Cardinals waiting back at Citi Field and you're making any ground. So the thing about sweeping the Marlins is all you did was make up for getting swept by them the weekend before.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, but still, but it's still something turning now. McLean having a good outing. Can't. That's not nothing either. He needed that.

[Michael Rosenberg]

It was good, kind of. He had what he had like five walks in the first couple of innings. It wasn't vintage McLean, but it's better than the previous two outings. You're right. But they got to get that back on track. So lot going on and we're gonna, we're here for it. And 1-800-919-3776 want to get back to those phones. But you know, two big trades in the NFL as well. The Giants had a big day.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Michael Rosenberg]

But a couple of big deals in the National Football League. It's Don on a Rosenberg. Take you all to seven o'. Clock. Then it's Ty Butler on ESPN New York.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, you know what though, Don? With everything going on right now, I need to tell everybody about my new favorite company, Rings In. As I. As you all know, I'm doing a project at my house now. We got to wait till the finals are over. I did not expect. Well, let's say I shouldn't say I didn't expect because I did tell my contractor that I think the Knicks might be in the finals. So we might have to push this project to like the end of June in early July, but we had to get things ordered early on and one of the places that I went to was Ring's End to get a beautiful French door that that is now on order and on its way. And why did I go with Rings in? Why? Well they have an extensive inventory of built to last high end product lines that the contractors rely on so they do it right, they don't do it over. Ring's End does have showrooms with products you can touch and feel and try so you know exactly what you are getting. They have eight full service lumber yards in Connecticut and Westchester county and 12 freestanding paint centers as well. They are family owned and operated since 1902 so they've been in business for over 24 years with deep northeast roots and they support local builders and communities. And by the way, if you can't get to any of their stores or locations, you can always shop [e-mail] that's ringsend.com get business done with the new

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[Michael Rosenberg]

Apply.

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[NBA Finals Announcer]

This is what everyone's talking about.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Everything's on the table.

[NBA Finals Announcer]

This is what champions come to take. This is what everyone came to see. No do overs, no second chances. No more Mr. Nice Guy. This is winner take ball. And it's all happening now on the home of the NBA Finals. Don't miss it June 3rd on ABC and the ESPN app.

[Don La Greca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Michael Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don La Greca]

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

[Michael Rosenberg]

ESPN New York on YouTube, stream the full weekday lineup live, watch complaints, complete replays, or catch up fast with can't miss highlights. Jump into the live chat, react in real time and make your voice part of the Show. Subscribe to ESPN New York on YouTube now and stay locked in so you never miss a moment quite Today in the NFL, we told you about the Giants moves. Also we should mention kind of local flavor to it. Allen as well is that Russell Wilson had narrowed it down to signing with the jets or go to TV while he inked up a deal with cbs. So.

[Alan Hahn]

And we're all happy for it.

[Michael Rosenberg]

I think Jet fans are probably like, all right, yeah, that's good with that.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't mind. I'd rather him calling a Jet game right. Than actually playing in one.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Yeah. No quarterback room to speak of. But yet still new. No room for you. But he still ends up on CBS so you'll get to see him on television. So Mr. Unlimited will be able to give you all that.

[Alan Hahn]

Do you think he's gonna be good on tv? What do you think?

[Michael Rosenberg]

Yes, I'll. Because he's a phony and phonies do well on television.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow.

[Michael Rosenberg]

I know it sounds strong, but on it. What have we been saying about the guy forever? We talk about there's two. There's Yo Seattle and Mr. Unlimited.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Michael Rosenberg]

You know these. He's kind of and I really do believe that the the reason he wasn't loved in Seattle in that room was because he was a phony. You know, I great player. Hall of Famer in my mind, you know. No question. But I think he's got the right elements to kind of fake it for television. So I think he'll be good.

[Alan Hahn]

I wonder if he'll be a little boring, though. I don't know how insightful he could be. Right.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Like, I guess.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. The storytelling that you need from a good analyst, the wit. I don't know if any of that exists. I think he'll be very cliche driven maybe.

[Michael Rosenberg]

But you know, there's no doubt he's been there. Right. He's won a Super Bowl.

[Alan Hahn]

See, we works, you know.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Yeah. I think if you got the right people around him, it certainly could work. Now, the biggest deal of the day outside of the Brown. Brown going to New England is Miles Garrett going to the Rams. Now if I were to. If I were to ask you, there's no wrong answers because it's all just opinion. But who would you say are two of the biggest or the best defenders in the last decade,

[Alan Hahn]

best defensive?

[Michael Rosenberg]

I won't include J.J. watt because you know, I'm talking about like over the last decade if you want. But J.J. watt could be a guy. Although I think it would be more. He hasn't played in a while.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I mean, I mean Aaron Donald, bang.

[Michael Rosenberg]

That's who I was looking for. Both now Rams. Right. One was a Ram. And yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh my God, like it's so funny. I didn't even think about that. Like I know Miles Garrett's going to a team that has Aaron Donald.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Well did. But I'm just saying that isn't that crazy?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, you know what I mean. Like, like they, they go, they. I mean the rich just get richer.

[Michael Rosenberg]

They just never get.

[Alan Hahn]

It's almost like when, when Stafford does retire, they'll get Patrick Mahomes. Like it'll be something like, like it's almost to that level.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Yeah, it does have that feeling like, like it's not, it's not a direct comp because a little bit of a gap. But you know, it's like you Montana to Young. It's like Lundqvist, the Shusterkin. Like, like it just. But just that you, two of the best defended defenders over the last decade could say they played for the Rams. So Miles Garrett now a Ram. It comes at a price because Jared Verse is not nobody. He's not Myles Garrett. But they also have to give up a first round pick.

[Alan Hahn]

Which 27 next year cares.

[Michael Rosenberg]

But it doesn't. The Rams are going to be competing for a Super bowl, so they'll be glad to give up what could be the 37 again.

[Alan Hahn]

Can I get back to that about draft picks and how can we stop. Can we stop with the value of draft picks? This is the value of draft picks. Currency. It's just money, Don. It's just money, honey. Like, you, like people look at draft picks like you have to hoard them and hold on to them for what? For what?

[Michael Rosenberg]

Moments like this. That's why.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Michael Rosenberg]

See, that's what people don't realize. We brought it up last week talking about the NBA. You use your draft picks to either select a player or use those picks to acquire a player. And that's what the Rams have done.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Michael Rosenberg]

They've upgraded their defense by, you know, trading on not nobody's edge. Pass rusher is really good. Little inconsistent, but still very good.

[Alan Hahn]

Miles Garrett.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Miles.

[Alan Hahn]

It's the best in the league. Best in the league.

[Michael Rosenberg]

You just wonder because everybody wonder, like, why did he sign a deal with the Browns? He's one of the best defenders that we've seen in a long time. He should have wanted out, and he's going to want out. But, you know, what do you think they told him, listen, sign the contract and when there's going to be an opportunity where we're probably going to trade you. Because they're going to want picks, right? Because what they're going to. They're thinking of is that they want to try to compile picks like the jets, like, because they need a quarterback.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Michael Rosenberg]

They think, who knows, maybe. Maybe it'll work out with your guy. But overall, it's been a battle of trying to find their next guy. They're not close. You know, Miles Garrett was going to play out his contract on a team that at best is going to finish 500 or close to it, Right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Michael Rosenberg]

You know, they're going to finish 7 and 10 every year.

[Alan Hahn]

No one in the NFL wanted to see him just mired through. Just being in a. Just going through another season with just a bad team where you're just such a stellar player and. And the team just sucks.

[Michael Rosenberg]

No one wanted. They told him, listen, during this contract, if the opportunity presents itself, we'll send

[Alan Hahn]

you to the right place. Yeah. Boys at the right place.

[Michael Rosenberg]

And now he's. And now. Now I would think, even though there might have been a little something because they, you know, with. With Stafford and all that, and they didn't draft the quarterback, you know, hey, they're going for it, man. Right. They drafted. I'm sorry. They drafted the quarterback.

[Alan Hahn]

They did. Yeah.

[Michael Rosenberg]

There was. There was the issues between, you know, now the. Now coach can feel like, all right, listen, I got a good enough team to maybe squeeze into the Super Bowl. And I tell you, if he wins another Super Bowl, McVeigh, he's gone. He'll be Right there sitting next to. He'll be the guy trying to make Wilson better. He's going to be going, I think he's itching to get out. Yeah, I, he's got this, it's the

[Alan Hahn]

John Madden thing, right? When you start that young you almost feel like you're going to burn out. And that could happen. But if he gets another one, what like so it's be his third super bowl appearance. If he wins, that's his second ring and that, that. Yeah, I mean you could now and

[Michael Rosenberg]

he's so young and he's good looking and he did well in the Campbell Soup commercials. I guess he would do all right on television. Guys have, guys have gotten TV gigs with less experience. But doesn't it feel like the Tiki barber, Jason Seahorn to just know that beyond their, in the case of the players playing career here, coaching career that there is going to be a glorious opportunity at the end of it and he's itching to do it. And you know what? His life is going to completely change from living and breathing football to now following the sport, getting paid crazy amount of money to do what, a tenth of the work.

[Alan Hahn]

But for some of you, work but

[Michael Rosenberg]

not compared to a head football coach.

[Alan Hahn]

But for some of these guys the itch to, to like it, it means more to be in it and to be in the fight and to coach. Like some guys can't, like they don't want to do the media stuff. They do it because they have to, but they're dying to get back in. Then there's some that if you have great success and it just, you kind of hit a wall and it just becomes I, I, I, I can't function.

[Michael Rosenberg]

I could totally see and I think

[Alan Hahn]

he could be one because it wasn't that John Madden story.

[Michael Rosenberg]

Donnie. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Like didn't Madden like kind of burn out?

[Michael Rosenberg]

Well, he burned out. He did. The travel issues, he just couldn't handle anymore. I couldn't fly, you know and I, again, I don't know any of that to be true for McVay, but I just, you look at him and you hear stories about him wanting to get out and you see how hard it is to do and how much time it takes up and he's still young and if he's able to get another super bowl ring, I mean what, what more is there to accomplish? I've got to be Bill Belichick and coach for the next 30 years and break records or do I do like Bill Cower? You get out relatively young, you go work the next 20, 30 years on television, making really good coin, doing, you know, listen, you got to do the work, but a lot less work and a lot less travel that you have to do as a football coach. The one thing like Joe Girardi used to always tell Michael K. When he was doing yes, and he's back to doing yes now. But before he left to go to the Marlins and eventually coach the Yankees again. Is that as close as he was to baseball, you weren't keeping score? It was hard for him to be involved in a baseball game in which he didn't win or lose.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Michael Rosenberg]

And. But some, maybe some figure. I listen, I did it. I'm good. I've accomplished a lot. And now I've got the rest of my life to make a lot of money just being around a game that I love without having to have the stress of sleeping on the couch and getting no sleep and never seeing my family. And for what? To be told I'm overrated? Or to be told that you choked, you know, you didn't accomplish. It's a tough thing, man. It's a tough. I can't begrudge anybody that might want to get out and. And I feel like he's close to doing that.

[Don La Greca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

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

[Don La Greca]

Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.