Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast

Hour 2: Peter's Tables & The List
Date: August 20, 2025
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg (Don La Greca on vacation)

Overview

This episode centers on two main themes:

• Peter Rosenberg’s NFL quarterback “Tables” – a playful take on traditional quarterback tiers, ranking every starting QB in the league based on their recent performance, potential, and respect level.
• Alan Hahn’s meticulously researched “Songs of the Summer” list – examining the most dominant summertime Billboard hits from the last 25 years, and the show's take on why 2025 lacks a clear summer anthem.

Listeners are treated to insight, debate, playful ribbing, and a blend of sports and pop culture nostalgia with the hosts’ characteristic New York humor and candor.

1. Host Dynamics & Show Vibe

• Don La Greca is on vacation; Alan and Peter banter about missing him (00:52–02:11), mock-jealousy, and their own idiosyncrasies in radio.

  • Hahn on Don being away:
    “I don't. I don't. I hope he's miserable and can't wait to come back. Just kidding.” (00:52)
  • Light-hearted “psycho” self-analysis between Alan and Peter, discussing insecurities and vulnerabilities of radio hosts, compared to always-polished, at-arms-length TV style.
    • “What makes Michael really a genius...he’s so honest. It’s what made him a fabulously intriguing talk [show host].” – Peter (04:18)

• Radio vs. TV Authenticity:

  • Alan reflects on how difficult it is to transition from buttoned-up TV/broadcast roles to the authenticity and vulnerability that makes for great daily talk radio (05:27–06:29):
    • “Don’t worry about looking bad. Don’t worry about being wrong. All those things that you’re told as a journalist...that takes a while to break.” – Alan (05:42)

2. NFL Quarterback “Tables”

Segment Start: 08:59

Peter presents his NFL quarterback “tables”—a reimagining of the typical “QB tiers” into wedding table seating assignments (a funny, relatable metaphor). Alan pushes back and offers adjustments, sparking debate over where key quarterbacks belong.

Table Assignments (Peter’s initial list):

Table 1 — The Elite Six:

• Patrick Mahomes
• Josh Allen
• Joe Burrow
• Lamar Jackson
• Added: Jalen Hurts, Jaden Daniels

Table 2 — Next Best:

• Justin Herbert
• Baker Mayfield
• Jared Goff
• Dak Prescott

Table 3 — Solid, but not Elite:

• C.J. Stroud
• Brock Purdy
• Matt Stafford
• Trevor Lawrence
• Jordan Love
• Caleb Williams
• Bo Nix
• Sam Darnold
• Geno Smith
• Aaron Rodgers

Table 4 — Question Marks/Potential:

• Tua Tagovailoa
• Justin Fields
• Russell Wilson
• Michael Penix Jr.
• Bryce Young
• Kyler Murray
• Drake Maye

Table 5 — Unproven/On Thin Ice:

• J.J. McCarthy
• Cam Ward
• Daniel Jones
• The Saints and Browns’ QBs (revolving door)
• Joe Flacco (jokingly perpetual Table 5 member)

Notable Moments & Quotes:

• Peter on Jalen Hurts and Jaden Daniels at Table 1: “I believe he’s the only other quarterback...who could basically win a game by himself. I added Jaden Daniels. I do believe he is that dude.” (10:06)
• Alan’s wedding analogy emphasizes what “Table 1” should truly mean: “Elite should be the best of the best. It’s platinum. You can’t get a higher status.” (15:51)

Alan’s Editorial Changes:

• Moves Jaden Daniels from Table 1 to Table 2:
  “As much as you love him after one season, it's too soon. It’s as if table one’s the family...and you’re going to let a friend you’ve known for a year sit with the family? We’re not doing that.” (15:36)
• Adds C.J. Stroud to Table 2 for back-to-back playoff years.
• Moves Caleb Williams and Sam Darnold down to Table 4.
• Moves Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray up to Table 3:
  “When healthy, [Tua’s] really good...Kyler Murray’s really good, man. He had a good year last year.” (19:33)
• On Table 5:
  “Even the bride and groom won’t go back there. They’re just like, no, no, no, don’t go back there. It’s toxic back there.” (21:36)

On Jaden Daniels and what it takes to be “elite”:

• “You’d agree also, by the way, he turns in the same performance next year — or let’s even call it slightly better — you put him at table one?” – Peter (22:41)
• Alan: “Slightly better. I mean, yeah.” (22:51)

Analytical Approach to QB Stats:

• Alan’s metric: “I always say, what’s your touchdowns vs. turnovers...total touchdowns [rushing and passing] versus your total turnovers [fumbles lost and interceptions].” (23:04)
• Jaden Daniels’ rookie stat: “31 touchdowns total...14 total turnovers. That’s a plus 17...that is the balance you’re looking for.” (24:04)

Why “Tables” over “Tiers” makes for better radio:

• “Think about it — tables are better than tiers. I agree. So much better. Gives me a little flexibility, you know what I mean?” – Peter (24:28)

3. The Songs of the Summer: Billboard Data vs. Sentiment

Segment start: 24:59

Premise: Alan explores if there was a clear “song of the summer” in 2025 (there wasn’t), and runs back the five biggest Billboard hit “Songs of the Summer” over the last 25 years, using weeks at #1 as his yardstick.

Context on Summer Hits:

• “These are songs you don’t necessarily have to love...but you can’t deny that when you hear it, you know.” – Alan (32:17)
• “Let’s hold the mirror up to America and say, ‘This is what you people love.’” (44:24)

Billboard’s Top 5 Songs of the Summer (2000–2025):

1. Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” (2024)

   • 19 weeks at #1
   • “I couldn’t believe it was only a year ago we had a song of the summer of all time in this century.” – Alan (40:09)
   • “My feelings on this song are immensely complicated. Yeah, same. It’s repulsive, the idea...” – Peter (40:56)
   • “It is a song for right now: the country Tipsy is exactly where we are.” – Peter (41:39)

2. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – “Despacito” (2017)

   • 16 weeks at #1
   • “Whenever I go to Besito in Huntington, I sing it. Justin Bieber in this too. Exactly, exactly. But it’s such a feel-good song, isn’t it? Although I don’t know what it’s about.” – Alan (39:13)

3. Black Eyed Peas – “I Gotta Feeling” (2009)

   • 14 weeks at #1
   • “This is a great party song. It’s a great summer song. You put this on, everybody’s getting happy, right?” – Alan (37:34)
   • “It’s a forever wedding banger, right?” – Peter (37:55)

4. Robin Thicke ft. T.I. & Pharrell – “Blurred Lines” (2013)

   • 12 weeks at #1
   • “The video birthed Emily Ratajkowski.” – Peter (35:57)
   • “I love Robin Thicke...he’s a great dude.” – Peter (35:41)

5. Drake – “In My Feelings” (2018)

   • 10 weeks at #1
   • “Everybody knows this song. This is an earworm.” – Alan (34:06)

Honorable Mentions / “Should-Be” Summer Songs:

• Taylor Swift – “Cruel Summer” (Summer of 2023, only 7 weeks at #1)
• Beyoncé – “Crazy in Love” (2003, 8 weeks at #1)
• Harry Styles – “As It Was” (2022, released too early [April] but dominated that summer, 15 weeks)
• Lil Nas X – “Old Town Road” (2019, released in April, 19 weeks at #1)

Show Critique of Pop “Taste” & Pop Music:

• Alan: “Apparently, as a country, we suck at songs of the summer.” (44:02)

• Both hosts mused with some dismay at what dominates the charts vs. actual musical quality:

  • "This is what people like...This is you, Garrett. This is what your people love." – Peter (51:12)
  • "A majority of the people in this country have a very bad taste in music. You're not wrong." – Alan (51:25)

• There’s an open, friendly challenge for listeners to call in with their own nominees and nostalgia from previous eras (48:17–51:59).

4. Listener Reactions

Numerous callers react to the “Songs of Summer” list, mostly critiquing “the list sucks!” (50:00). The hosts clarify that the list is factual, not their personal choice, and empathize with listeners’ sense that recent summer hits have been culturally “meh.”

5. Tone, Humor & Memorable Moments

The episode is rich in New York sports talk banter, and self-deprecating humor:

• On Table 5 QBs:
  “Even the bride and groom won’t go back there. They’re just like, no, no, don’t go back there. It’s toxic back there.” – Alan (21:36)
• On the Cheese of Summer Pop:
  • “It’s a forever wedding banger, right?” – Peter (37:55)
  • “Too many guilty pleasures. That’s my problem.” – Alan (48:03)
• Meta-references:
  • Frequent jabs at Don for being away. (00:41, ongoing)
  • Mock seriousness about how poor the popular definition of “song of the summer” has become. (44:02, 51:13)

6. Timestamps for Key Segments

• Banters about Don and host dynamics: 00:41–04:18
• Radio vs. TV authenticity: 05:05–07:06
• QB Tables: Setup and initial listing: 08:59–14:14
• Allen’s corrections to QB tables: 15:36–22:41
• QB stat debate/discussion: 22:51–24:25
• Songs of Summer segment start: 24:59
• Billboard’s Top 5 run-down: 32:17–44:25
• Listener reactions/calls on music: 48:17–51:59
• Meta conversation on “taste” in music: 51:12–52:42

Summary

This episode is a quintessential “Don, Hahn & Rosenberg” blend of sports debate, authentic and revealing personality, and pop culture commentary — from deep cuts on the emotional demands of sports radio to playful arguments about quarterback hierarchies and cultural taste in music. Whether you’re seeking NFL hot takes or a side of nostalgia and musical crankiness, it’s all here, seasoned with New York authenticity.

Notable Quotes:

• “Elite should be the best of the best of the best. It’s platinum. You can’t get a higher status.” – Alan Hahn (15:51)
• “This is a mirror. This is what people like.” – Alan Hahn (51:12)
• “Think about it — tables are better than tiers. I agree. So much better. Gives me a little flexibility.” – Peter Rosenberg (24:28)
• “Apparently, as a country, we suck at songs of the summer.” – Alan Hahn (44:02)

If you missed this one, you’ll come away knowing exactly how the hosts feel about both quarterback stardom and pop radio, and you’ll be ready to argue your own “tables” or “song of the summer” contenders.