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- [00:01]
Don Hahn
This episode is brought to you by Lifelock. It's tax season and we're all a bit tired of numbers, but here's one you need to $16.5 billion. That's how much the IRS flagged for possible identity fraud last year. Now here's a good number. 100 million. That's how many data points Lifelock monitors every second. If your identity is stolen, they'll fix it, guaranteed. Save up to 40% your first year@lifelock.com podcast terms apply.
- [00:31]
Dan Rosenberg
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.
- [00:35]
Don Hahn
That sounds like heaven to me.
- [00:36]
Dan Rosenberg
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers, Don.
- [00:44]
Don Hahn
And Dan, here on Don Han and Rosenberg. Everybody having a good day? It's the tournament. Everybody's excited about that and we should dive into the tournament update, which is brought to you by swepts, of course. St. John's kicks off the tournament tonight, 945 against Omaha Improvidence, and you'll be lucky if that game tips off at 9:45. But that's what it's scheduled for finals from earlier today. Real quick, Creighton over Louisville 89 to 75. Purdue knocks off High Point 75 63, Wisconsin 85, Montana 66 games in progress. It's all Houston. They're blowing out SIU. Edwardsville 72 to 37. Got a good one late in the first half between Auburn and Alabama State. Auburn's up by three in that one. And we've got McNeese State. They are playing and they're up big on Clemson, 238 with a 6:29 to go. Just a quick update on Auburn. They are at the half now, 41 31. Is the score there, the one versus the 16 in that bracket in the South Region. And that is the tournament update brought to you by and presented by Swepts. Swept offers above the rim Refreshment and is proud to sponsor the Big East Conference. Enjoy the madness. Take a break from the hoops action with a Schweppes Seltzer or Schweppes ginger ale. 1-800-919-3776. Throw some football into the mix if you want. Damn. And just waiting for the quarterback situation. And I thought there was some really interesting stuff. Now. You know Ian O'Connor wrote the book about Rogers. I did read it. I don't know if he had a chance to read it, Dan. It's very good. So he's kind of become like the Roger Whisperer, if you will. And he was on TMKs and a really good job by Jake Asman filling in for Michael today. And Ian was asked, do you think Rogers wants to continue playing in play? But I think the overriding sentiment is he wants to play. And I had a couple of his friends fairly recently tell me they believe he wants to play two years and that this past year with the jets really was almost like a rehab season. And so you know the numbers. I would have preferred the jets keep them if they didn't keep him. I thought Justin Fields made the most sense after keeping Rodgers for one more year. But yeah, I think that. Listen, yeah, as you know, it was horrific coaching. I've been doing this almost 40 years and been in this market a long time. That is one of the worst coaching jobs in any sport in New York I've ever seen. If Mike Tomlin were coaching the jets last year, it's a 10:17 that probably loses in the first round of the playoffs. I think that coaching staff turned 10, 7 into 5 12. Yeah, no question. They went from poorly coached to not coached at all down the stretch. Now, I don't want to excuse Rodgers for poor play early, but you could attribute that to missing the entire season before and he was playing a lot better in the second half of the season. But Dan here in Ian, or even before hearing that cut, I don't see why he would retire now. I can't get into his head. I don't know how he physically feels. He was banged up last year too, beyond the Achilles, but. But I'm leaning more towards him playing two more years, or at least wanting to, than retire. Don't you?
- [04:01]
Guest Speaker
Well, remember at the beginning of 2023, he told the kind of message that he was conveying to everybody was he wanted, he wanted to play two years with the Jets. That's what he said. I told the Jets I want to give him two good years. Well, obviously we know the first year never was a thing because of the injury. And last year to kind of what Ian was saying, I do think it was a little bit kind of like a rehab, get reintroduced to football again, work off the R. So yeah, I'm sure he has some football left. But Don, you gotta, you know, put yourself in his shoes for a second. You know, part of the reason why he came to the jets was because he knew what it would have meant to deliver a winner to this team and he thought he had some football left and he could have gone down in history. They would have built the Aaron Rodgers statue. All those things that we talked about and obviously it came far from ever materializing. But now when you've experienced the jet stuff the last couple of years you're 41 are going to be 41 years of age. Does he really want to play just for the sake of continuing to be an NFL quarterback? Because don't you think the situation has to be right? Like why would you go to a team like the Giants that has no shot of being good this year and potentially get your doors blown off and take a beating just to say I played football at the age of 41. Right. Like what's the gain?
- [05:13]
Don Hahn
I don't know what the I don't know what the Giants offer. I mean I could, I could play the game if you want of maybe he just likes the fact of Dable being an offensive guy. He likes what what Dable brings to the table and thinks he can excel there. Maybe you know, getting a chance to play with neighbors and whoever the Giants might take it three if they decide not to take a quarterback and they end up going after a hunter and having those type the weapons to throw the ball to and also going into a situation where there are no expectations. Right. Like you're not going to Pittsburgh where the expectation is going to be to make the playoffs and win a playoff game with the Giants. I think people look all right, you're going to win seven, eight games. You're not going to go to the playoffs. Maybe he would like to go somewhere where there are no expectations and he can play where he can look like a conquering hero. Just gaining the Giants to go from three wins to six or seven wins and maybe being mathematically alive for a playoff spot in Thanksgiving. And maybe he's looking forward to just playing football and not having the burden of winning a Super bowl or taking the team to the playoffs again. I'm just grasping at straws here because if I'm Aaron Rodgers, I'm going to Pittsburgh. I don't care about the Ravens, I don't care about the Bengals. I'm going to Pittsburgh. It's a stable organization with a really good coach that's got a chance to go to the playoffs. The Giants are a mess but a decision hasn't been made yet so I guess he is contemplating it. Those are the only cons I pros I see with the Giants. Maybe a chance to play with Dable and looking forward to playing where there aren't any expectations. But those are reaches for me. Pittsburgh just seems like the no brainer.
- [06:51]
Guest Speaker
Yeah but there's also other layers to this whole thing too. It's one thing to say, yeah, on the surface I agree. I mean, it's a no brainer, right? Pittsburgh would be the opportunity. You know, there's a foundation there. You know, they have more of a recent history of winning, as we know. But it's also the. Remember how things were catered to him so much the last couple of years here where they basically turned over the entire reins of the offense to him and he could come and go as he pleased and basically when it came to the offense, he could dictate what they were doing in the huddle each and every play. Maybe he's not getting that in Pittsburgh. Remember, Mike Tomlin is the guy who runs the show there. There is that clear line of delineation. I am the head coach. It's my program here. As you said, there was no coaching. There was nothing. He basically decided to call or he was given autonomy to essentially call the shots. Right? So if he doesn't feel he could get that in Pittsburgh, that could be the holdup. I don't think it's anything to do with salary or contract offer. He might just be like, is this the right fit? Because Pittsburgh has a structure in place.
- [07:52]
Don Hahn
But I again, I could be all wet on this. I just think after what's happened the last couple of years, how he's played, I don't. He's got his hat in his hand, I would think to the point where how could he dictate policy at this point? You're gonna be 42 years old. You've hardly played any kind of great football over the last two years. Even your last year in Green Bay, you didn't make the playoffs. It wasn't a great year for you. We blamed it on the thumb. But then you tear your Achilles. All right, not your fault, but it happened. And then you have a pedestrian year overall in 2024. How could he walk into anything and want to dictate policy Day? Even the Giants, who need a quarterback that have been an embarrassment the last couple of years, man, how can he go in and talk to any Shane and Dable and say, this is the way I want it to be. I can't imagine that's it.
- [08:43]
Guest Speaker
Because you know why and you know why he thinks he could probably get away with doing something like that? Because number one, who the hell are Shane and Dable? And number two, as much of a catastrophe as the jets season was last year, Don, they were the Lombardi packers compared to the Giants last year. Because that's how of a Mess. The Giants were right. And so Aaron Rodgers could walk into a building that is dying like the jets were two years ago. Dying for any sort of success. It's like you give the starving man who hasn't eaten in a month a Snickers bar. He thinks it's the greatest meal he's ever had in his life. So this is the Giants, who by the way, you got a coach, you got a general manager who are trying to do anything to win football games and to remain employed there. That's why I think they would be so giddy over an Aaron Rodgers type because let's be real, what elder options are out there. They went balls to the walls over Matthew Stafford and didn't get them. Don.
- [09:35]
Don Hahn
Now it is possible Pittsburgh is a place where offense seems to go to die. Right? So I can see it, I listen. He might be playing a game, you know, he might be somebody that just. But I really don't think there's a lot of attention. We're kind of talking about it because there hasn't been a ton else to talk about. But this is pales in comparison to when he was trying to make his decision before the Jets. Now it's just like, well, make it well, it's football. But no, but nobody is dying for this decision like they were a couple of years ago. Get over yourself.
- [10:09]
Guest Speaker
If that's the case, think about in Pittsburgh too offensively. Okay. And let, let's just say he buys into the scheme there.
- [10:15]
Don Hahn
All right.
- [10:16]
Guest Speaker
Arthur Smith is the offensive coordinator. I don't consider Arthur Smith to be some sort of innovative genius offensively. I don't know what his relationship is with Aaron Rodgers either. But let's think about Arthur Smith when he was in Tennessee calling the plays for Dable. What was that? That was a run first team with Derek Henry. Correct. When they had the success in Tennessee, he went to Atlanta to be the head coach there and he somehow managed to make Cordero Patterson a threat out of the backfield, primarily as a ball carrier. You know, they didn't exactly air it out last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. So you have an Aaron Rodgers who just came from a team last year that was dead last in the NFL in rushing attempts. Why? Because half the time the quarterback was checking out of those run plays because all he wanted to do was throw the ball. So you really think that that philosophy is going to be on par with what they want to do in Pittsburgh? And that's what I mean. He like on the. From the macro level it looks as if the Steelers would be a good marriage for him. But then when you boil it down, is he really want to go along with everything that they're going to say, hey, this is what we want our quarterback to do?
- [11:19]
Don Hahn
Well, Pittsburgh's taking an awful chance because what if he chose the Giants? What would Pittsburgh do? Kirk Cousins.
- [11:28]
Guest Speaker
Well, there's the draft option. I mean, obviously. I mean, Kirk, I mean. Well, see, here's the thing with Kirk Cousins. Remember, we already, March 17th came and went. Falcons paid him a $10 million bonus, so they're comfortable with having him on that roster and paying him whatever the hell he's set to make this year. Unless there's going to be a team that suffers some catastrophic injury, like in the summer, and then they're going to, like, you know, hold them for ransom or something like that. But you, you know, the usual suspects, you know, Jameis Winston's out there, right? I mean, they haven't completely ruled out a reunion with Russell Wilson. So, yeah, it's slim pickings right now. It's not a good place to be. And I don't know if we've talked about this. I've said it, but curious as to what you think. This whole thing about the Giants and their quarterback, you know, what would have been the ideal plan for them, like after Matthew Stafford said, thanks, but no thanks, why didn't they just do what the jets did? Why weren't they more aggressive in bringing in Justin Fields for a couple of years? Low risk, potentially high reward. Why weren't the Giants ever in on Fields?
- [12:29]
Don Hahn
Because I think the Giants, as you put it, you know, Shane and Dable, are trying to save their job and they can't afford to have their quarterback be, you know, Justin Fields, who's not going to work out. Now the jets are taking a chance on Fields. It's not. Not a big financial chance. They're taking, you know, 40 million over two years with 30 of it guaranteed. So if he ends up spitting the bit in the first year, okay, you pivot and you go in a different direction. I think the Giants want better quarterback play in 2025 than what I think Justin Fields may give you. I think for one year, based on what they've done recently, I think Rodgers can give you a better season, I think Wilson can give you a better season. So I think that's why that they. That's why they did that. They're hoping to get as many wins as possible. Hey, listen, Pittsburgh thinks they can win more with Rodgers than Wilson because otherwise they would just sign Wilson. So they obviously want Rogers more than Wilson. Of the veteran quarterbacks available, Rodgers is the best available. However you think of him calling all daydreamers and date nighters. Come immerse yourself in the rich culture of Texas and dig into our mouth watering barbecue. Trailblazers can explore our natural wonders.
- [13:47]
Guest Speaker
And.
- [13:47]
Don Hahn
Beach lovers will wonder why they've never felt so relaxed before. You're invited to discover experiences you can only find in Texas. Visit traveltexas.com and plan your trip today. Let's Texas. However, Louis Riddick on first take doesn't think so. He doesn't think Rogers is worth waiting for.
- [14:06]
Guest Speaker
I think Rodgers had a better job.
- [14:08]
Don Hahn
Aaron is not the player that he used to be. Aaron doesn't get the same allowances, doesn't get the same kind of leash that Maybe he did 10 years ago. Maybe they would have. Maybe Cam Hayward may be saying something totally different. If this was 2015, 2014 and Aaron was playing at that level, he may be saying, look, we'll wait till week one if we have to, but I think this is kind of like, I think it's both things. There's an urgency with some of the veterans in Pittsburgh to want to have some certainty at the quarterback position as far as knowing it is in better hands now and at the same time saying, hey, look, you're not that good anymore. You're not that dude anymore. Well, you're not. And that's why I don't think he would make the demands that Dan you were suggesting he'd make. But at the same time, of the veteran quarterbacks, he's the best option. So if you need a veteran quarterback, whether it's Shane and D trying to save their jobs, whether it's Pittsburgh trying to make a run in the playoffs, Rogers is your best option. So in some, in some ways he does have that ability to kind of sway because it's kind of slim pickings with the veterans. As you said. Gail Cousins is probably locked into Atlanta. I don't know how many games you're going to win with Kirk. Cousins lost a job last year, you know, so listen, how many wins is Winston going to give you? How many wins is Flacco going to give you at this point of his career? So Rogers is the best option.
- [15:27]
Guest Speaker
That's not gonna be NASA Rudolph. I mean they signed him, but he ain't gonna be the guy, you know, he's.
- [15:31]
Don Hahn
No, he's not gonna be the guy they're gonna try. If they just wanted a guy, they would bring Wilson back. But obviously they Think Rogers is better. So they're gonna wait. And you're right, if Rogers decides to go to the Giants or retire, then they'll just sign Wilson to a contract.
- [15:44]
Guest Speaker
And by the way, and I don't care what the numbers say, you know, just watching the games with my own two eyes, Aaron Rodgers had a better season last year than Russell Wilson did.
- [15:51]
Don Hahn
So. Yes, he did. Of course he did. For all of, all of the issues, Rogers, when you look at those numbers, if they had any coaching, they win. Listen, I believe, and you were a lot closer to it to me because you did every game. If they left Salah alone, they win at least two, if not three more games.
- [16:14]
Guest Speaker
I said to, I think I was working with Dave and I think I said the one thing, if you can have like, if you're a Jet fan and you can have a wish, like you have like one wish, it would be to hop in the time, like in, you know, a do over from last season. Hop in the time machine, go back to the morning after the Viking game when they were 2 and 3, and then hit the pause button on the season and let's see how the rest of it played out. Meaning, like, you don't fire Salah, right? If they kept Salah, where would that season have gone? I'm not sitting here telling you they win the super bowl, but I don't think it's 5 and 12 or whatever.
- [16:50]
Don Hahn
The hell it was, the numbers that Rodgers ended up giving you. And I. Listen, I'm not going to sit here and say that I'm all of a sudden Mr. You know, head of the Rogers fan club. He can be a nozzle. There was a lot of games that were his fault. He had the ball in his hands to win that game in London. Didn't do it. But, and, and then the second half of the season, I know a couple of those wins were against, in Jacksonville, in Miami, where the weather was warmer and, and all that. But the fact is, you take a look at those numbers. If I told you he was going to put up those numbers, 28 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, you would have thought the jets would have been a playoff team. And they weren't because they got zero coaching towards the end of the year. They beat Indianapolis, they beat New England, they beat Seattle. If Sal is the head coach, I don't even think Salah was that good, but at least he had some competent ability. Albrecht wasn't, wasn't worthy of being a head coach at that point of his career. It was one of the worst decisions ever made to let Sola go.
- [17:46]
Guest Speaker
And defensively, I mean, I can tell you this with, with certainty. When they made the change, the defense changed. I'm talking about not just the performance of the defense. Schematically, they changed the defense on the fly and to a detrimental effect, of course.
- [18:04]
Don Hahn
No. So. No, it was. It was. It was.
- [18:06]
Guest Speaker
Didn't make a lot of sense, but that's what they decided to do.
- [18:08]
Don Hahn
I. Of the options that are available, I believe Rogers is the best. And obviously the Giants and the Steelers agree because they haven't inked anybody up. Russell Wilson is sitting there wanting a job and has to sit there and wait because Aaron Rodgers hasn't made a decision. Let's go to Danny on Long Island. You're on ESPN New York. Hi, Danny.
- [18:28]
Dan Rosenberg
Good afternoon, gentlemen. Don. I thought the Bruce Willis list was solid. Nothing gets more comments on Instagram than a Don list and I would think it was well over a couple hundred last time I checked. Well done on that. We'd love to see a Clint Eastwood list from Don. That would be. You could have either acting or producing. You could have two lists because he's made as many great movies as he's been in. I've been pondering this like the rest of the Western civilization as to why this is taking so long and what could possibly be thinking. I've come up with a few reasons why I think Aaron would rather play in New Jersey than Pittsburgh and maybe we can his round number one, better bagels and pizza than in Pittsburgh. That's. That's a good two. He likes Broadway shows. He was all over town so he can go to Broadway shows. And three Yankee games over Pirate games is a solid reason to stay in New York. Why would you want to be freezing your ass off in Pittsburgh watching when you could be in a Yankee stadium on a nice October night watching postseason baseball. And last but not least, which we know is very important to Aaron, probably better weed in the New Jersey area than in Pittsburgh. That's very important. Very important. But other than that, we can't come down with a single football related reason. And I can't. I, I can't come to any other conclusion with Pittsburgh other than I think they thought they were going to be able to re sign Fields and he had his feelings hurt, rightly so, the way they treated him and they weren't going to make him a guarantee that he'd be the starter. The jets offered us some money and he said I'm going to go take him out of here. And now the Steelers are Stuck with their thumb, you know where. Because they don't really want Russell Wilson. I certainly don't think that Mason Rudolph was on the bingo card for 2025. Now I start to see articles where the Steelers are perfectly happy. Meanwhile, we all know that that's for public consumption. We're perfectly happy if Mason Rudolph is our quarterback. Nonsense. Mason Rudolph, by the way, is not a bad quarterback. It's funny. I believe in the NFL your fate is determined by where you end up. More than any other sports, Aaron Judge would be in the hall of Fame regardless of what major league team he was on. Mason Rudolph can fire the ball. He's not afraid to throw the ball. When he came in two years ago for an offense that couldn't move, his first pass was an 80 yard touchdown pass to Pickens. He's not. And last year in Tennessee, they were behind so often that he was throwing the ball 40 times a game, which is no good for anybody. I would have been happy six years ago when Orthisberger retired if they decided to go with Mason Rudolph over Pickett. I thought he deserved that opportunity and they didn't. So for them to bring him back, there's no way he's thought of as a starting quarterback. But other than that, I can't come up with anything to explain what is happening right now. The entire world is on hold. I don't know what's going to end first, the war in Ukraine or Russian or. Aaron Rodgers makes a decision and we're all waiting patiently for the big news.
- [21:00]
Don Hahn
He's obviously got to make a decision, I would think before the draft, but that's still several weeks away. Now. I don't know if you saw this. Diana Rossini was on the Dan Patrick show and she was in this. And this is the tweet from the Dan Patrick Show. According to Diana Racini, the Giants are, quote, hoping that Russell Wilson or Joe Flacco decide to come to New York, unquote. So are they waiting for Rogers or are they just waiting for anybody to say yes?
- [21:29]
Guest Speaker
The thing about Rogers, like, you know, the old, you know, like Bill Parcells used to say, like, if you're already thinking about retiring, you're retired already. Well, remember his words, not ours. Two years ago he was 90% retired when he went into the darkness Retreat, right? Came out and he wanted to play for the Jets. Okay? Now here he is again saying he can't make up his mind. He doesn't know what he wants to do. Okay, well, if he's contemplating retirement, don't you think he almost has one foot.
- [21:56]
Don Hahn
Out the door already? Maybe. But, but dig deeper into what Dian said, hoping that Russell Wilson or Joe Flacco want to come to New York. So we're led to believe here that the Giants haven't signed anybody because they're waiting for Rogers to make his decision. But, but, but according to this report, it sounds like no, they maybe they would assign Russell Wilson, but Russell Wilson hasn't committed. Joe Flacco hasn't committed. So how do the Giants think they're going to land Aaron Rodgers if guys like Russell Wilson and Joe Flacco are saying no, they're not showing.
- [22:31]
Guest Speaker
The Giants have offers out to these people and they just haven't accepted them yet.
- [22:35]
Don Hahn
Again. But again, the quote, hoping that Russell Wilson or Joe Flacco decide to come to New York. Well, you can't decide to come to New York without somebody offering you the chance to come, right? You know, I can't decide to go to your birthday party if I haven't been invited. And after the way the show started yesterday, I probably won't get an invitation.
- [22:58]
Guest Speaker
I'm not much of a party guy.
- [22:59]
Don Hahn
So that suggests to me and please tell me if I'm wrong. Anthony Jacob 1-800-919-3776 Based on Diana's quote, they must have been offered deals and they said we'll think about it. So Russell Wilson was there. He talked to the Giants. So if the hoping Russell Wilson decides to come to New York must have meant they made him an offer.
- [23:20]
Guest Speaker
Well, does that also mean then that Russell Wilson is also waiting on what Pittsburgh wants to do? Because maybe Pittsburgh is waiting back and still waiting to hear from Aaron Rodgers whether or not he wants to play football or not. So if he's holding his whole thing up, he's just like, it's like the game of dominoes and these other quarterbacks then can't sign someplace until he decides what he wants to do.
- [23:40]
Don Hahn
But if this report is true, and I think Diana does a great job, so I would tend to believe that it's true, hoping Joe Flacco decides to come to New York to play football.
- [23:51]
Guest Speaker
Or just visit Joe Flacco.
- [23:55]
Don Hahn
I so.
- [23:56]
Guest Speaker
It'S like if that and we didn't know about that one, right? We knew. We knew about the Aaron Rodgers interest. We knew that Russell Wilson was coming in for a visit then. Remember like late Thursday night last week, the report came out that Joe Flacco visited the Giants. If you, as a Giant fan, you went from offering Matthew Stafford $50 million a year to be your quarterback, to then worrying about Aaron Rodgers, to then Russell Wilson and then down to Joe Flacco and now this report. Like you're hoping that Joe Flacco is one of the two guys that says, yes, come be our quarterback. Where's that getting you this year?
- [24:31]
Don Hahn
So they're basically, they're throwing it out to everybody. Hey, Stafford, take our $50 million. Aaron Rodgers taking off or Russell Wilson taking off or Joe Flacco taking offer. And nobody's biting. Now, are they not biting because the Giants are a complete blank show or is it, Listen, I don't feel like babysitting the young quarterback that you're going to draft. Like, I don't know what the reasoning would be. At least Darren Rodgers. I mean, I'm contemplating going to a playoff team. I'm contemplating possible retirement. Russell Wilson and Joe Flacco want to play. So I guess all the, all the dominoes will fall once Rogers makes his decision. So I understand what you're saying, that why do I commit to the Giants when I might have an opportunity to go back to Pittsburgh? I might have an opportunity up until a couple of days ago going to Minnesota. So it could be that. But God can't get anybody. Like Joe Flacco might be like, listen, I really don't even deserve to be in this conversation. If they're offering me a deal, I'll go.
- [25:28]
Guest Speaker
I'm the comeback player of the year, one year removed.
- [25:31]
Don Hahn
Yeah, that's a big one year when.
- [25:34]
Guest Speaker
You'Re Joe Flacco playing seven games.
- [25:37]
Don Hahn
That was a big deal in Cleveland, right? Getting off the couch, getting him in the playoffs. But that'll be going on two years once he starts next year.
- [25:47]
Guest Speaker
Guys, 38 years old.
- [25:49]
Don Hahn
I know.
- [25:50]
Guest Speaker
What are we doing?
- [25:51]
Don Hahn
Well, this.
- [25:51]
Guest Speaker
What are we doing?
- [25:52]
Don Hahn
The problem, the big, the massive problem that nobody talks about in the NFL is the fact that it's a quarterback run league and there's only like a handful of guys that could play the position.
- [26:02]
Guest Speaker
And the other thing too, Don, let's face it, okay? And you'll admit this, even though you're a great fan, the Giants have lost a lot of their luster as far.
- [26:09]
Don Hahn
As, oh, I'll lead the charge. They're an embarrassment. They walk around their chest out because of everything that was accomplished a bunch of years ago. Forget about it. Means nothing. You live in. And now what are the Giants? What are they over the Panthers or the Jaguars or the Texans or any of these other franchises that haven't done squat. They haven't done anything since that super bowl since Eli left. Nothing. Well, ENN is coming up, so Anthony's all ready for that. You want to get the most for your money. That's why more Mazda buyers choose Ramsey Mazda lease a new 2025 Mazda CX5 all wheel drive just 229amonth or buy and get 0.9 APR financing for 36 months. Start shopping now at Ramsey Mazda.com or Ramsey Mazda Route 17 north in Ramsey. Choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Excludes tax, title and registration. 0 Security Deposit VIN S0555242 MSRP 29990 and 33125 Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying Big Wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying. No judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required Intro rate first three months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full terms@mint mobile.com thanks for listening.
- [27:44]
Dan Rosenberg
To the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [27:47]
Don Hahn
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [27:48]
Dan Rosenberg
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [27:56]
Don Hahn
Game time is brought to you by Teleporter Irish Whiskey because when it's game time, it's telly time. The Knicks are back in action against the Hornets with coverage beginning immediately following us right here on 8 80. At 6:30 on 1050 the Rangers host the Maple Leafs. I'll be on the pregame for that at 6:30 as well. The Devils home for the Flames. Islanders home for the Canadiens for a 7:30 face off. Nets will be in Indy to take on the Pacers at 7. And of course St. John's gets their NCAA tournament run going from Providence. They'll take on Omaha and the schedule tip is 9:45 telemore due 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. 1-800-919-3776. Alex Verdugo has a home Dan. He assigns so he's not so he's.
- [28:47]
Guest Speaker
Not homeless anymore is what you're saying.
- [28:49]
Don Hahn
We just odd that you know, we were waiting so long for him to, to get a deal. Rizzo too. And how crazy. Like both of them contributing to a Yankee playoff run to the World Series and then both of them, you know, didn't have a job deep into spring training.
- [29:06]
Guest Speaker
But I think about it Verdugo a year too late because he would have, you know, he would have fit in great this year with the relaxed policies on the no beards and the no facial hairs. He could have went crazy again.
- [29:16]
Don Hahn
So he has signed a one year deal with the Braves. Minimal amount of money.
- [29:21]
Guest Speaker
What's your, what's your excitement level right now like for the start of the baseball season next week? Like if you want to. 10. Where's it at?
- [29:28]
Don Hahn
Oh, it's, it's, it's, it's like 8 or 9 and it'll 10 by the time we get there. Just because, you know why it's starting to feel like the Rangers are not making the playoffs. So usually this time of year, you know, gearing up for the Rangers postseason like last year they were the President's Trophy winners. So you know, who are they going to match up with in the first round? Am I going to get any games in the first round? You know, get kind of just to get excited about playoff hockey. But with Rangers being out, I'll still be excited about playoff hockey, but from a, from a work standpoint, you know, my season will be over and, but so now I'm going to need some baseball. You know, I, I'm not as big a Nick fan as a Met fan. I'm a bigger Met fan. So you know, usually I'll have hockey occupying me in the postseason, but now it's going to be all about the Mets and then what the Yankees are doing and all that. So definitely it's gotten pumped up, especially what happened to the Rangers back on Tuesday. And I got news for you, Dan. Rangers lose tonight, which is a distinct possibility. Toronto's really good. Rangers. Rangers could be three points out of a playoff spot. Montreal's playing the Islanders. If Montreal wins that game, they'll have, they'll have a three point lead on the Rangers with two games in hand. Yeah. And the Rangers have a game against Vancouver on Saturday afternoon and Vancouver is not a pushover, not a great team, but neither was Calgary. And then you got to go out west and you got two more games with Tampa. It if they don't respond tonight after what happened on Tuesday I think they're done. Maybe not mathematically, but you've got to get off the mat after that effort on Tuesday.
- [31:09]
Guest Speaker
Well, let me go back to the baseball for a second because that's what I wanted to ask you something about it. If your life was on the line with the two local teams and you had one choice as to how the season is going to play itself out, both make the playoffs. Neither make the playoffs or one of the two make the playoffs. What, what is the choice that you have to nail to save your life?
- [31:32]
Don Hahn
One, one make the playoffs.
- [31:37]
Guest Speaker
See, I still think both will make the playoffs.
- [31:39]
Don Hahn
It doesn't happen that often that both make it.
- [31:42]
Guest Speaker
Right.
- [31:43]
Don Hahn
So from an odd standpoint, why would you go there with your life depending on it?
- [31:48]
Guest Speaker
Well, because I don't. I've never. At least it's not very often that you're going to find a scenario over the last, you know, 30 years that the Yankees missed the playoffs twice in a three year period.
- [32:02]
Don Hahn
No, they figure it out.
- [32:03]
Guest Speaker
They're making the play.
- [32:04]
Don Hahn
They're going to figure it out. Just because the American League's not great. And listen, these are devastating injuries. You can't lose your ace for the year and not affect you. And listen, Boston, Baltimore, you know, still good team. Baltimore is a good team. They just can't win in the postseason. There's going to be a wild card. If this was the old days where you had to win your division to make the playoffs, I'd say the Yankees would be in a lot of trouble.
- [32:25]
Guest Speaker
Well, remember, statistically, like if you just want to have that argument, like the odds are actually stacked against the Mets. If you just want to talk about history, of course. Right. Because the Mets have only made the playoffs in consecutive seasons. What, twice in the history of the franchise?
- [32:40]
Don Hahn
Yeah, they went back to back just, just 99 and 2000. 99 and 2000 and 15 and 16.
- [32:50]
Guest Speaker
That's it. So we're talking almost 65 years of existence. They've only gone to the playoffs in consecutive seasons twice.
- [32:57]
Don Hahn
Right. They missed the playoffs in 70 after winning the World Series in 69. Missed, obviously missed the playoffs in 74 because they completely fell apart after going to the World Series in 73. You got to go all the way to 86. And they didn't go in 87. Everybody on the starting rotation was on the disabled list at some point during the 87 season. They didn't follow it up in 89 after winning a hundred games in 88. And then you go to oh, six. They followed up oh well, 99 and 2000 back to back. They followed up 06 by having one of the most epic collapses in sports history. What they were seven and a half game lead with 17 to play and ended up losing out there. So they didn't follow up. 06 division title, missing in 07 and. Yeah, 15 and 16 and they would not have done it ever if not for the wild card.
- [33:45]
Guest Speaker
Correct?
- [33:46]
Don Hahn
Yeah, because.
- [33:46]
Guest Speaker
Correct.
- [33:47]
Don Hahn
You know, because they're 16 and two.
- [33:50]
Guest Speaker
Years ago they went 100 games.
- [33:52]
Don Hahn
Right.
- [33:53]
Guest Speaker
Isn't that amazing? They like almost like flies under the radar. They won a hundred games but they didn't make it out of the first round. So you almost like forget about it, man.
- [34:02]
Don Hahn
That's why, you know, you know, getting to our lead today, like St. John's like having that kind of a season, you get bounced in the first round. That's all anybody's going to ever remember is that you didn't follow it up. And they didn't follow it up. They lost in four games to San Diego, missed the playoffs next year, lost 90 games, if I'm not mistaken, in 23, bounced back last year. We'll see what they can do. But yeah, I'm excited. I mean, I think, I think the spring's gone very well. I mean they've had injuries, but to the starting rotation, which they don't invest a lot in the starting rotation anyway because these guys always seem to get hurt. But I think it's gonna be, I think it'll be a lot of fun. I think both teams are going to be good. The thing that you worry about with the Mets is that they're in a division that's got the Phillies and the Braves. So that, that's, that's concerning. But when you look at the rest of the landscape, what are the Padres going to be as the second place team to the Dodgers? Are the Diamondbacks going to be good for the wild card?
- [34:53]
Guest Speaker
Diamondbacks are going to be good this year. Diamondbacks are going to bounce back this.
- [34:55]
Don Hahn
Year and I think Texas will bounce back too. That's why I think the Rangers might be a bit pesky in the American League because they're going to be healthy.
- [35:01]
Guest Speaker
But still, did you see how they're talking about already, how they're going to handle Degrom to try to keep him upright to the finish line. They're going to talk about possibly not just like skipping a start. They might just throw him on the, on the il arbitrary at times during the season just to keep him fresh. Do you believe that? You believe we're going to these lengths now.
- [35:20]
Don Hahn
I know, it's pretty max.
- [35:22]
Guest Speaker
Do you see what happened to Max Scherzer in the last couple of days? His thumb hurts. Can't grip the baseball.
- [35:28]
Don Hahn
Like that's what happens when you're north of 40. And that's what happens to pitchers, period. They get hurt. Crazy. Look at that. Look at that. Gonzaga Georgia score. You see that? 27, 27 3. Oh my God. All right, we got tournament, we got St. John's we got Knicks, we got Rangers. We got so much going on. It's Don And Dan taking it'll 630 right here on 880 ESPN. You want to get the most for your money, right? That's why more Mazda buyers choose Ramsey Mazda. At least a new 2025 Mazda CX50 all wheel drive, only 249amonth or buying at 0.9% APR financing for 36 months. Start shopping now at RamseyMazda.com. choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Excludes tax title registration 0 security deposit VIN SN 316458 MSRP 32,295 and 331 25.
- [36:23]
Dan Rosenberg
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [36:27]
Don Hahn
I don't want to know how the.
- [36:28]
Dan Rosenberg
Sausage is made, but I just want.
- [36:29]
Don Hahn
To know it's good.
- [36:30]
Dan Rosenberg
Hear more more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on.
- [36:34]
Guest Speaker
8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York.
- [36:37]
Dan Rosenberg
App and your smart speakers.
- [36:41]
Guest Speaker
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