Hour 2: Stearns, NFL Binge, Dart

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode: Hour 2: Stearns, NFL Binge, Dart
Date: September 29, 2025
Hosts: Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Network: ESPN New York

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Overview

This lively hour features the triumvirate of New York sports radio, tackling the aftermath of the Mets' collapse, the Yankees' standing, NFL Week 4 chaos, and an in-depth breakdown of the Giants' quarterback situation. The hosts mix sharp analysis with signature banter. Listeners get a tapestry of New York-centric sports talk, NFL reactions, and a running bit of couch “seat dibs”.

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Key Topics and Insights

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1. Mets’ Collapse: “Retool or Rebuild?”

(09:04 – 16:26)

• Caller Questions Mets’ Future: Should the Mets opt for a two-three year retool with key players, or a complete rebuild?
• Hosts Skeptical about Quick Fixes: Don isn’t convinced there’s a clear core or direction. Peter and Alan highlight disappointment at not even securing a wildcard and finish on failed ambitions.
• Stearns & Cohen’s Dilemma: The new Mets leadership faces tough choices on whether to hold onto stars, especially Pete Alonso.

Notable Quote:

• “If you’re Stearns and Cohen and the brain trust… do you think a retooling, two to three year retool is better than a full rebuild?” – Caller Luca (09:22)

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2. Pete Alonso – Should He Stay or Go?

(12:05 – 15:30)

• Fan Sentiment: Multiple callers plea against trading Alonso, citing his value on and off the field.
• Don and Peter’s Analysis: Alonso’s consistency, power, and evolving leadership make him hard to replace. While not elite defensively, his presence anchors the roster.

Notable Quotes:

• “You literally are going to have to go out and get me a guy that’s going to have to hit 40 home runs and 130 RBI.” – Peter Rosenberg (13:32)
• “He's matured and the goofiness has gotten more charming.” – Don LaGreca (14:58)

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3. Mets-Yankees Rivalry and New York Fan Dynamics

(15:30 – 20:31)

• Yankee Fan Perspective: A caller claims Mets fans get too preoccupied with the Yankees.
• Peter’s Defense: Mets fans just want pride and to escape the “poverty franchise” label after years of bad ownership.
• Hosts Discuss Standards: For both franchises, fan happiness or bitterness is defined by World Series aspirations, not wildcard appearances.

Notable Quote:

• “That’s what happens when you’re in a market with two of everything… At least we’re not them.” – Alan Hahn (19:06)

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4. NFL Week 4 “Binge” Segment

(26:30 – 41:19)

A rapid-fire breakdown of NFL action with color commentary and audio highlights. Topics include:

a. Steelers vs. Vikings in Dublin

• Team Stories & Accents: Don’s comedic struggles with an Irish accent. Steelers win despite adversity; Aaron Rodgers’ wish for more time to explore Ireland.
  • “Would always love to get on the time frame... and get to enjoy the area a little bit more, especially with Ireland, the history...” – Aaron Rodgers (29:02)
• Off-Field Drama: Player Skylar Thompson reportedly mugged in Dublin (31:00).

b. Are the Chiefs “Back”? (32:04)

• Mahomes Dominates: A third TD, Kansas City offense back in form.
• Ravens Concerns: Hosts question Baltimore’s defense after a tough loss; skepticism about John Harbaugh’s postgame explanations.
  • “If they could play as good football as John Harbaugh can have a run-on sentence, I like their chances...” – Don LaGreca (34:26)

c. Giants and Daniel Jones, Rams-Colts Heartbreak

• Turnover Woes: Daniel Jones intercepted twice; Rams beat Colts in a tight contest.
• OT Rules Rant: Discussion about the punishment for fumbling into the endzone resulting in a turnover.
  • “There is not a more aggressive punishment in football than a touchdown turning into a touchback.” – Don LaGreca (36:11)

d. Cowboys-Packers 40-40 Tie

• Defensive Absence & OT Weirdness: Both teams exchange scores; late-game clock management almost ends the game.
• Quarterback Play: Hosts criticize Jordan Love’s decision-making and question Dallas coaching.
  • “So one accidental second and that game’s over.” – Don LaGreca (39:57)

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5. Giants’ Quarterback Situation: Jackson Dart’s Debut

(42:02 – 53:23)

• Jackson Dart’s First Start: Energetic performance leads Giants to victory over Chargers. Hosts debate how much can be read into one win.
• Risky Coaching?: Don LaGreca sees “desperation” in Brian Daboll’s aggressive playcalling, risking Dart’s health for a win.
  • “That game to me, Don, was coached to get one meaningful win right now, and if he gets killed doing it…” – Don LaGreca (46:17)
• Allen’s Response: Alan Hahn stresses that young QBs often play wild in their debuts and focus should slowly shift to developing Dart’s pocket passing and decision making.
• Outlook & Red Zone Decisions: Heated debate on late-game fourth down choices versus kicking a field goal.
  • “Get a win. They kind of salvaged the start of the season. Now you got a winnable game in New Orleans… you're two and three, you're feel like, all right, done.” – Peter Rosenberg (50:01)

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Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On the Mets’ missed opportunity:

  • “They should have at least gotten into a wild card spot… criminal.” – Luca, Caller (09:22)

• On the Super Bowl halftime show:

  • “He has don’t even listen… Could be Metallica, still doesn’t care if it’s mixed with his football.” – Don LaGreca (04:13)

• On Al Michaels’ halftime steak tradition:

  • “Have you guys ever heard that during every halftime… Al Michaels has a full, like, white-napkin steak dinner delivered to him?” – Don LaGreca (06:19)

• On NFL’s touchback rule:

  • “There is not a more aggressive punishment in football than a touchdown turning into a touchback.” – Don LaGreca (36:11)

• On Brian Daboll’s coaching decisions:

  • “It reeked of desperation. I am risking my quarterback’s health. I am going for it everywhere.” – Don LaGreca (46:02)

• On Giants’ win over Chargers:

  • “That building was crazy. They were excited for this kid and he delivered.” – Alan Hahn (44:56)

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Memorable & Humorous Moments

• “Love Names” Running Gag:

  • The hosts riff on all the “Love” names in sports, culminating in jokes about mistaken identity (01:27–01:46).

• Don’s Irish Accent Attempt:

  • “I found a way during the announcer lineup on Friday. Took me some time, but I eventually found the accent.” – Don LaGreca on his attempt to do Irish play-by-play (27:51).

• Mom Texts with No Punctuation:

  • “Like the way my mom texts, man… no punctuation… sign it ‘mom.’” – Peter Rosenberg, on John Harbaugh’s press conference (34:42–34:57).

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Segment Timestamps (approximate)

• Mets, Jets, Giants Table-Setting: 00:29–03:00
• Mets Future / Stearns/Cohen: 09:04–16:26
• Pete Alonso Analysis: 12:05–15:30
• Mets-Yankees & Fan Psychology: 15:30–20:31
• NFL Binge Segment Opens: 26:30
  • Steelers/Vikings in Dublin: 27:09–31:43
  • Chiefs/Ravens: 32:04–34:42
  • Rams/Colts, Giants/Daniel Jones: 35:14–39:34
  • Cowboys/Packers OT Tie: 37:33–40:11
• Giants Analysis/Jackson Dart: 42:02–53:23

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Tone & Style

The show blends sports knowledge with humor and camaraderie:

• Don is arch and a bit sardonic,
• Alan offers earnest, detail-driven analysis,
• Peter provides both comic relief and the “everyfan” angle.

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Summary for Listeners

If you missed this hour:
You’ll get:

• A candid postmortem on the Mets’ season and the direction of the team,
• Deep dive on the value and future of Pete Alonso,
• Lively NFL week 4 banter—especially about wild endings and controversial rules,
• An animated, sometimes heated breakdown of the Giants’ new quarterback situation,
• Signature Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg rapport—a mix of analysis, storytelling, and humor that defines New York sports talk radio.

Transcript

[Don LaGreca]

For a limited time at McDonald's, get.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A Big Mac Extra Value meal for $8. That means two all beef patties, special.

[Don LaGreca]

Sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sesame seed bun and medium fries.

[Don LaGreca]

And a drink. We may need to change that jingle. Prices and participation may vary.

[Don Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don Hahn]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers arrived.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Mets here Giants had a big win and they are favorite in New Orleans.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, let's everybody favorite. It's all coming together. We'll get into that. Jets got a game coming up tonight.

[Don LaGreca]

We've got the hell. And.

[Caller]

And.

[Don LaGreca]

And at some point we gotta just. What is football?

[Don Hahn]

That.

[Don LaGreca]

How do you explain the packers giving up a 40 burger? This is a Super bowl defense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I smell an NFL binge.

[Don LaGreca]

The binge. It's. It's making the.

[Don Hahn]

It's already. It's already bubbling.

[Don LaGreca]

It's this. There's.

[Don Hahn]

It's simmering.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Talking about losing a job. I mean, if one second ticks off.

[Don LaGreca]

The clock, people got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

People would get fired. If I own the team.

[Don LaGreca]

Just saying. Somebody be out of a job.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, somebody. You saw the ending in that game.

[Don LaGreca]

No.

[Don Hahn]

No. By the way, quarterback is not who we thought he was. Jordan Love.

[Don LaGreca]

He's not who you thought he was.

[Don Hahn]

Not who we thought we. No. No way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's more Julian Love.

[Don LaGreca]

Wait, who's Julian Love again?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't remember.

[Don Hahn]

It's good, but it's not George. It's Courtney Love.

[Don LaGreca]

No. Who was Julian Love? That's something.

[Don Hahn]

Safety on the Giants.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Drafted by ghetto.

[Don Hahn]

Didn't we do that one day? We did this whole thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I accidentally said Bob Love.

[Don Hahn]

He's. He's. He's Kevin Love.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

We did all the love.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We are known to repurpose things. You do four hours of radio every day. Some things are going to come.

[Don LaGreca]

I understand.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not exactly top 40 radio.

[Don Hahn]

No, it was a boomerang conversation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But we're big on we love it rang. I knew I didn't finish.

[Don Hahn]

You're good.

[Don LaGreca]

Here we go. By the way, I want to. I don't know how this is gonna go. I'm. I'm calling a seat out there and putting my name on it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait a minute. No, really?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm going to.

[Don Hahn]

On the couch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I already have my seat in it out there and everything.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm picking the seat. I'm taking. I'm taking one of the first two Seats.

[Don Hahn]

Who's itchy? Dog in a spot. So they know no one's gonna sit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What we're gonna say is what is that? There are two members of this radio station. They're going to be prominent figures on the couch cast tonight on our YouTube channel. Check it out. That are currently rehabbing a knee. Keep that in mind. I think Peter and I would like to have one of our legs up.

[Don LaGreca]

It's a great point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because we are injured.

[Don LaGreca]

It's a great. Don, I love what you've done here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thankful that you're healthy.

[Don Hahn]

Do I have the seat on the couch? Do I have to?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You could pace back and forth.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, I might.

[Don Hahn]

I depends on how this game goes.

[Don LaGreca]

I specifically am trying to get the seat. Not on the couch. I want one of the chairs. Not on the.

[Don Hahn]

Well, why don't you sit in the all American Ford little truck there?

[Don LaGreca]

That's rjc.

[Don Hahn]

Really? Well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Really?

[Don LaGreca]

You're gonna make the joke about me? I'm not allowed to throw right at rj by the way, are any of them coming? You think that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No rj. I heard rj.

[Don Hahn]

No rj. No.

[Don LaGreca]

I. Santi will be here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I have heard he'll be here.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Don LaGreca]

That's nice.

[Don Hahn]

That's good.

[Don LaGreca]

Because here's the thing. I can't sit in the middle of that couch. I want to listen. I'll stay in the seat. I'll basically. I'm happy to be there the whole time.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

But I want one of the sides.

[Don Hahn]

No chance.

[Don LaGreca]

I can't be squeezed in. And it's not fair. We have to be on the air up till seven. So we're going to lose all dibs because they'll come in.

[Don Hahn]

Wheel these out. Sweet. Right out. Set them up.

[Don LaGreca]

But where are you going to? Then you're going to be in the way. You have to be in that area.

[Don Hahn]

Who's. Have to.

[Don LaGreca]

Just to be on camera, you know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, we were on camera.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's be honest. This. Our little couch cast. Our little couch cast for the powers that be.

[Don Hahn]

Yep. This is the super bowl big deal.

[Don LaGreca]

This is. You know, there's two things. Bad Bunny and then there's the couch cast.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Don LaGreca]

This is a big, big deal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We got to talk about that.

[Don LaGreca]

You're not familiar. You don't know a thing that's going on with Bad Bunny.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Don LaGreca]

You're going to. You are lost.

[Don Hahn]

I know where Don will be during the super bowl halftime.

[Don LaGreca]

Getting a snack.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Where he always is. Yeah. By the way, he has don't even listen.

[Don Hahn]

He doesn't watch.

[Don LaGreca]

It could be. Yeah. Even. Even if Don complains, if he wants it to be Metallica still doesn't care if it's mixed with his football. He doesn't want it the way of his football.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wasn't going to stop me from going to the bathroom.

[Don LaGreca]

Right? He's getting a snack.

[Don Hahn]

He's going to go to the bathroom. He's going to do it. All middle aged men do go to the bathroom, scroll on their phone.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I enjoy football.

[Don LaGreca]

You don't need to mix.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. It's less. There's no football.

[Don LaGreca]

There's no football.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And in super bowl it's, it's like anti flip.

[Don LaGreca]

See? But that's why I enjoy the halftime of, of the super bowl. Because at least they're giving me something to kill the time till I get back to the football.

[Don Hahn]

Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because back in the day you get up with people and they analyze the game. Now they just analyze the game for like 30 seconds and then throw it to it and the volume gets turned up.

[Don LaGreca]

But the super bowl is so long because they actually do spend like what, five, six minutes analyzing the game. Then they go to the halftime, 30 minute half.

[Don Hahn]

But God forbid we analyze the game for the halftime.

[Don LaGreca]

Can I be honest? Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

I already know what I saw.

[Don LaGreca]

What network has it this year?

[Don Hahn]

That's a good question.

[Don LaGreca]

Because if it's. Who has super bowl this year? Because if it's espn, I'll say the halftime's fantastic. We need it. If it's Disney, I don't think it is. If it's cbs, I'm good. I'm good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I hear you.

[Don LaGreca]

Who do I need to hear talk about it? Nate Burleson, God bless him.

[Don Hahn]

I'm good. But Gronk, NBC.

[Don LaGreca]

NBC has it.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Don LaGreca]

One of the Collinsworth family members. I'll be okay. I'll be fine.

[Don Hahn]

Could do without it.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't need the half. They have a 30.

[Don Hahn]

Jason Garrett. You don't need Dungy. One of the Sims.

[Don LaGreca]

I got Dungy. I'm good. Jason Garrett. I'm all set.

[Don Hahn]

What about Chris Sims?

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, sure. I'm not gonna disk Chris Sims. I got no issue with him. Rodney Harrison. I'm set. And I'm good.

[Caller]

I'm.

[Don LaGreca]

And I'm good on Robbie Harrison.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what's sad is that I've watched pretty much every, every Thursday slash Sunday night game and I didn't watch a second of any pregame or half. I'm good.

[Don LaGreca]

None of it. Can I tell you guys?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nobody, Nobody on this Planet has done more pre and post than me.

[Don LaGreca]

And yet you're good.

[Don Hahn]

I'll do it.

[Don LaGreca]

But you don't want to watch it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I'm not watching or listening.

[Don LaGreca]

I respect you very much for that. Do you know, I heard something recently, and I wonder if either of you guys could corroborate the story. And I can't say where I heard it, but I did hear this somewhere from a reliable source. Have you guys ever heard that during every halftime of his broadcasts, Al Michaels has a full, like, white napkin, steak dinner delivered to him, posts up, sits down, steak dinner, mashed potatoes, napkin in.

[Don Hahn]

The shirt, before a game.

[Don LaGreca]

No, mid game. Mid game, halftime.

[Don Hahn]

Don, you've called many games. Peter.

[Don LaGreca]

You.

[Don Hahn]

You, wwe, same thing. You're sitting down in one place for a couple hours. Right?

[Don LaGreca]

Like.

[Don Hahn]

No, but seriously.

[Don LaGreca]

Right, sure.

[Don Hahn]

I've done this, too. I can't eat before a game, let alone. Let alone. Let alone during the game.

[Don LaGreca]

But imagine when you're Al. Michael, and you called history a thousand times over.

[Peter Rosenberg]

First of all, I kind of ruined it because I. I did negotiate this with msg. We'll get steak dinners at bulk.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, that's in your.

[Don LaGreca]

After the first.

[Don Hahn]

Look at this.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no steak after the first.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Besides, after the fact, I have to eat before. I have to eat before the game. But that's okay. I don't go nuts because I know that. Especially if it's a road game, but you don't feel, like, full, you know?

[Don LaGreca]

What?

[Peter Rosenberg]

The United Center, Chicago.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Dream about meatballs the size. I'm sorry, I gotta. I gotta.

[Don LaGreca]

You gotta partake.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Please. Cut one in half at least. Sure, I can multitask.

[Don LaGreca]

No, sure you can. But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I. You know, but.

[Don LaGreca]

Does this surprise you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Al's. Al's. I've. Al's lost me over the last few years for obvious reasons. I'm back in now. You know, I think that's amazing.

[Don LaGreca]

I know. Honestly, though, imagine. You get to the point, though, what. And what year? Here's my question. Al's been a big dog now since, what, the mid-70s?

[Don Hahn]

Easy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, yeah, so that is that.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's say he was made.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's say mid-80s.

[Don LaGreca]

So mid-80s. He's been the guy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

So let's say, at what point do you think he said, hey, guys, I'm going to go ahead and eat a steak dinner. You think early 90s, he was like, if you want me Monday Night Football, it's me.

[Caller]

And.

[Don LaGreca]

And then he has NBC because we had the. He had the Madden run. He's had so many different epic runs.

[Don Hahn]

Is it that every, wherever, whatever city he's in, there's a local steakhouse that has to provide the meal?

[Don LaGreca]

I think my guess is he's been to everywhere so much.

[Don Hahn]

They all know whoever that.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no. Whoever is working for whatever company he's at, whether it was NBC or Disney or now prime, whoever his person is, they say, al, what's your choice here? And he goes, I like the. I'm in Indy. I want the St. Elmo's ribeye, blah, blah, blah, blah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I want Hyde park in Pittsburgh or something.

[Don LaGreca]

And they gotta spend a few hundred bucks, not that expensive.

[Don Hahn]

Somebody goes and gets it, brings it.

[Don LaGreca]

And they eat it in the building and they come wheel out the tray.

[Don Hahn]

Hey, when you can swing it, he's my hero. If you could swing it.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, he's my hero. I'm so in. I wonder now doing it is, does Herb street say I'd also like a steak dinner or is he just going, good God, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We let you have the dog in the booth. That's all you got.

[Don LaGreca]

The dog gets cows leftover sticks it. That's how it goes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a ribeye and then the dog gets the bone.

[Don LaGreca]

There you go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's go to Luca in SoHo. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Luca?

[Caller]

Sorry, guys, I kind of lost my train of thought in that conversation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're welcome. But we're sorry, I'm not with you.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I don't know what you're looking for, but.

[Caller]

But I just wanted to thank you for that run that, that ran Don. I didn't want it to be under this circumstance, but I kind of figured it was coming. Especially if they didn't make the 340 million. Is. It's criminal. They should have at least gotten into a wild card spot. But I wanted to ask you a quick question. If you're Stearns and Cohen and the brain trust, do you. What do you think? Do you prefer. Do you think a retooling, you know, two to three year retool is better than a full on rebuild? Because where do they even go from here? Like, who are there four guys? And then one last thing. Peter. Peter, I think we got our guy to compete with your guy. Jaden Daniels, huh? Jackson dart look pretty. Pretty serviceable for once. Thank you, guys.

[Don LaGreca]

I love you. You seem like a great guy. My thoughts yesterday weren't. Oh, no, the Giants have found their Jaden Daniels. No, I should have been.

[Don Hahn]

You don't know.

[Don LaGreca]

You think so?

[Don Hahn]

You don't know yet.

[Don LaGreca]

That's what you guys left yesterday feeling?

[Don Hahn]

No, I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But he brought it up and I.

[Don Hahn]

Was like, but no, no, it. Did it. Did it not leave you wanting to see more? All right, there's something there.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no, but that's, that's a far cry from. I think we found. Come, guys.

[Don Hahn]

Well, he's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He said think.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

What was the. He.

[Don Hahn]

What was he. What's he supposed to say?

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, okay. I mean, what was Jackson's best play yesterday?

[Don Hahn]

The 15 yard touchdown.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

The first drive.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

I mean, that was a pretty heady run, your first drive.

[Don LaGreca]

But as you pointed out before our show, and it was a great call by Allen, it was a very rookie getting this touchdown. But like, guys, how about the run.

[Don Hahn]

When he took two hits and still dove forward like that? That run later on, it was like, come on, kid, just slide. Just slide.

[Don LaGreca]

You're gonna think I don't and yell at me. You should definitely be like, cool. We saw some things. Let's see. But real quick, his only touchdown pass was a shuffle pass. It wasn't the kind of Marino yesterday. Let's all wait.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're going to break it down. We're going to break it down pretty.

[Don Hahn]

Any play.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's, there's. I got, I got lots to say. I know it was a met day, but there was a lot. A lot.

[Don LaGreca]

Did you, did you come away thinking we found our Montana?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I liked what I saw.

[Don LaGreca]

There you go. Let's see a little more.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's see more.

[Don Hahn]

Wait, you're not gonna yell at him for that question. But my question was one. You're gonna yell at me.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, which one?

[Don Hahn]

Did you come away thinking you had your Montana after one game?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but I think he was saying it rhetorically, like he knew my answer. You gave those because you're a good looking guy. You gave those, like, serious but kind of puppy dog eyes. Like, were you really like. It was one of those. It was like a male Barbara Walters question. Like, it was. He was gonna try to make me cry, right?

[Don LaGreca]

I'm being rhetorical.

[Don Hahn]

I love when Don's at the edge because he just. All you have to do is just do this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He got what he wants. He got what he wants.

[Don Hahn]

So much fun.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He got it all. Alex, in Westchester, you're on ESPN New York. What's up, Alex?

[Caller]

Hi, guys. Yeah, so about the Mets. I'm a Falcons and a Mets fan, so yesterday didn't feel like anything because the Falcons blew that 28. 3 lead. But I wanted to just call and say, like, I think getting rid of Pete Alonso would be the stupidest thing that we could do. Like, I'm clinging on to something, some, some sort of happiness with the Mets and how bad we've been and man, he's. We wouldn't have been anything this year, I think without him. Like the beginning of the year we had nobody besides him really producing and granted we didn't make the playoffs, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, man, I don't, I agree with you. I don't know how they get better without Pete Alonso now. I haven't done the deep dive in the first baseman, free agents and certainly Bellinger could become available and the Mets can move him to first base and he's had a heck of a season for the Yankees, probably their MVP outside of Aaron Judge. Right. But I don't see an avenue in which you can tell me they definitively get better if they let Pete Alonso go.

[Don Hahn]

If you look at his splits, he had a good start like the caller said. Then he had that God awful July. Well, he was really bad. He hit under 200. He just, he was a mess. Struck out a ton trying to see. He had more strikeouts than he had hits in July.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you literally.

[Don Hahn]

But his August and September. Yeah, fantastic number.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you literally are going to have to go out and get me a guy that's going to have to hit 40 home runs and 130 RBI.

[Don Hahn]

Do you think it cost you every now and then though, because of his stability at first base?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, maybe. Maybe he's not a butcher there, but he's certainly not, you know, Dom Mattingly or Keith Hernandez.

[Don LaGreca]

Of course not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I get that.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I understand that just letting him walk, it's not getting rid of him. It's just that maybe there'll be a price that they're not willing to pay. Although I think everybody thinks analytically and I don't know if there's gonna be another team that's.

[Don Hahn]

So you don't think you, you don't think you've gotten the most you can out of Pete Alonso? You think there's more he can get?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I think what he's given you.

[Don Hahn]

What'S he looking for? That's the other thing I need to know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't, I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, he's not going to take another one year deal, right.

[Don LaGreca]

He's got to be looking for year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, he had a better year than he did last year, right?

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But is. He's now a year older and it didn't seem like anybody was interested in giving him the north of $40 million that he wanted. You think that's going to change just because he had a few more home runs and drove in a few more RBIs? No, I think people are set on the fact that I don't overpay for first baseman. But at the end of the day, it's still a business, guys. You still gotta put Fanny's in the seats. The fans love him. He's not a liability on your team. And if you can't find somebody better than him to play first base, then what are we doing? Just change for change sake. Just change the atmosphere. I don't think he corrupts that room. Now, Peter and I have always had the opinion he's a little goofy, but I think he's become more of a. But he's become more of a leader over time.

[Don LaGreca]

He's matured and the goofiness has gotten more charming.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And, and so baseball to me is a big lead by example, sport. You know, so do I think the guy that probably controls that room a lot more than Alonzo is probably Lindor. But when Lindor is in one of his 1 for 35s, you're not leading anybody. Right? So I'm not saying it's off the table, but I personally don't think you're making the team better by letting Pete Alonso go. Anthony, in the Bronx, you're on ESPN New York.

[Caller]

Hey, what's up gentlemen? I talked to y' all last week about the Yankees and the Mets and yes, I'm a Yankee fan, but I think Pete is a gamer. I wouldn't get rid of him. He's a gamer. But you know, with the Mets and the Yankees, and I said this last last week, as a Yankee fan, I don't really care about the Mets, but I do get annoyed when the Mets started bragging about, about, you know, Juan Soto. But now I can say with more conviction and it doesn't sound like sour grapes. And I agree with you, Don. The Mets should pay more attention to the than the Yankees. I think Carlos Beltran wrote a book and he's playing for both the Mets and Yankees and he said that the Mets was, you know, they always was thinking about the Yankees and the Yankees was in their minds. And this is what this was according to Mr. Beltran. So for my thing as a Yankee, I could say this today and it doesn't sound like sour grapes. The Mets should really pay attention to the Mets and not the Yankees because the Mets got issues. Go Ahead.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sorry, I'm saying the fans, I don't know in this day and age, whether they think much about maybe Soto did, I don't know. But I want to get back to something you said earlier in the conversation when you said it annoyed you. Met fans annoyed you when they got Soto. How did they annoy you? I mean, we were just happy. We got a really good player.

[Caller]

No, no, no, no. But, you know, I'm working with them down and I got friends and they just, you know, oh, we going to take over the town. We got Soto and we got an owner that, that can spend just as much as Steinbritter and now it' and so, you know, that was annoying.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, I mean, but, but listen, I, I, I wasn't there with your friends, but just based on what you said, taking over the town to me shouldn't matter. That's never going to happen. Okay, maybe, maybe it in the 80s, but it's not going to happen anymore. Too much winning, too much.

[Don LaGreca]

It would take a lot. It would take a whole.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that's not what we're after. All right, but everything else. A Met fan can't be proud that finally after the Will Ponds and the poverty they put themselves in with Madoff, they can't get excited that they got a guy that's sitting on $16 billion to spend money. They can't get excited that they got a free agent that the Yankees wanted. When did the Mets ever get something the Yankees want? So what I was trying to say to Michael is what sounded like hanging on the rim was just a Met fan, just finally being proud to be a Met fan. They didn't have a poverty franchise anymore with an owner that wasn't willing to spend any money or couldn't spend the money that they finally got something the Yankees coveted. That never happened. And it sounded to me like Yankee fans were annoyed that the Mets won. But at the end of the day, you got the last word, but, you know, make a run here. I don't think you could be hanging on the rim and then losing the wild card. I don't think they're going to lose. Like I said, I think they're going back to the World Series again. But, Allen, this is not going to age well. If the Yankees lose to the Red Sox, it'll still be a better season than the Mets had. But that's not what the Yankees are about. You always talked about the standards. Standards not settling for the wild card and losing to the Red Sox in.

[Don Hahn]

The first round of Course not. Especially when you finish the season 32 and 12. When you go on a run like that to finish the season, you look like a team that figured it out, got hot, and now is ready to play at the level that we've all been expecting this team to play since they were in mid June and they were one of the best teams in baseball. Right. So you aren't expecting this, but that'll. And I think to the. What the caller said, sometimes it's a fan. That's what happens when you're in a market with two. Two of everything is that when you have your own issues, you always want. At least we're not this right. You still need that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How.

[Don Hahn]

What's. What's your copium. Well, could have been the Mets.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Could have blown a big lead. Could have done that. Could have not even made the plays at least. Like, that's how it always works when you have two of everything.

[Don LaGreca]

But.

[Don Hahn]

But I always look across the, across the river and just go, well, at least we're not them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you know what? Yankee fans have their chance to glow today, but tomorrow it's about the Red Sox.

[Don Hahn]

I don't think any Yankee fans are gloating today. You think anybody's gloating today?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah, just, just. But I. Again, I'm not saying the majority, but I don't Just as Michael said, there were a lot of Met fans. I was more going to take over the town.

[Don Hahn]

Shock. It was more in shock. And I thought of when I was watching that especially again the Alvarez at bat. And then the way that came ended, you get on base and then it double plays like, oh my God, it's really going to end this fast. This unceremoniously. I thought of what you said about how you're sick and tired of it always being like when things happen, it's always magic. It has to be. Why can't you just every year just be good? And I thought of, you know, when the Mets do things, it's rarely boring, right?

[Don LaGreca]

Like when they go on a row.

[Don Hahn]

It'S unbelievable to run. And when they blow it, they. No, spectacular is the best word. Nobody blows the Mets blow it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Mets are like a gambler at the craps table in Vegas or Atlantic City. They'll go on their run, they'll make a ton of money, and then there'll be those times where they crap out and it comes up snake eyes and it. It just happens. Last year they made this amazing run, right? And the run took you to game six of the league Championship series around you. We've all seen it.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know My Big Story 2 is.

[Don Hahn]

Blowing on the dice, right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because. But that, that's how they've lived basically their entire franchise instead of the, you know, the Yankees are the team that they don't even go to the casino. They go out, they, they make their bills and you know, sometimes they lose, sometimes they win, but most of the time they win.

[Don LaGreca]

And the Mets are basically the cooler. You familiar?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Oh yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

William H. Macy just come bad luck just walk down.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Don LaGreca]

Go ahead. There's Hawk to a girl blowing on the dice. They show up, she leaves, she bang, nothing happens.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Next thing you know it's raining frogs. Let's go to Brian in Milburn. You're on ESPN New York. What's up?

[Don LaGreca]

Brian.

[Caller]

I want to say I'm a big fan of yours and the whole show. I just want to say I think the real reason why I fell because of jealousy. That is too much talent on that team for them not to make the playoffs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So who are they jealous of?

[Caller]

And son don't want to really give up money for pitching too. That's another factor. But that number one factor that got a chance for him to go anyway because I think they see Juan Soto, yeah, he got paid the money, but he got paid on other amenities too. So they looking at him like, wow, you get all this. Who is you? You know what I'm saying? But he's great, right? Don't get it wrong but sometimes men are alpha males and they, they do. But jealousy people are human beings, bro.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't.

[Don Hahn]

I would believe that if the home record was bad and like so. Because that's the only time you think about the suite and the whole family. We don't get a suite and I got a. Their road record is terrible.

[Caller]

Let me ask you one question. Why you think I think honestly Yankees didn't sign him based off that because you can't really do that in front of judge.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's why they couldn't do it and the Mets and the Mets did because the Mets had no choice because they were going to lose out. But, but whether that affected them Brian win loss wise like you know what Pete Alonzo he's going to get paid, he thinks at the end of the year so he can ask for a suite if he wants to. We'll see if he gets one. I understand the precedent that it sets, but whether these guys took it to the field, I don't have any evidence of that I just think it's an ill conceived team. And I don't want to get into the whole analytics conversation, but if the analytics don't, don't measure heart and guts and hot and clutch, these are the things that if you're missing, you're not going to win, right? There are certain numbers they're going to put up. And if you look at all the Mets, Lindor's numbers were really good. He had a really great season this year, right. Hit over 30 home runs. You look at Soto, despite his struggles, he was a 40, 30 guy. What do you finish with? 40 home runs and what, 38. He almost was a 40, 40 guy. Alonzo, 38, was it 37, 38 home runs, 127 home runs. But you mentioned the bad July, Soto, the bad start to the season. Lindor, how many, how many 0 for 20 somethings did we have during the course of the season that just absolutely killed him? The NFL binge.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh boy.

[Don Hahn]

Let's go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's coming up next here on ESPN New York.

[Don LaGreca]

Now before we get to that though, I want to tell you about FanDuel Sportsbook. All right? That is your home for all your favorite NFL bets. And you know, listen, this show, we're starting to get it together with the, with the bets. Well, I had a good weekend. It was a bounce back. Listen, any play can be the play of the game. You got the jets and Dolphins, the Bengals and Broncos tonight. And FanDuel is giving all customers a 50% profit boost token for two 30 or two 30% profit boost tokens. So that's right, you have the option to either get the 50% or two 30% profit boost tokens. All right. Make FanDuel your go to app for any snap. Just visit FanDuel.com Peter to bet the jets vs. The Dolphins and the Bengals vs. The Broncos with a 50% profit boost token or two 30% profit Boost tokens. All right, it's that easy. You get to choose. Play your game with FanDuel, an official sports betting partner of the NFL 21 and over and physically present New York Opt in required bonus issues now withdrawable profit boost tokens. Restrictions apply. Include any token expiration and max wager amount. See [e-mail] for help with a gambling problem. Call 8778-HOPE NY or text hopeny467369. This is an ad by BetterHelp. We all turn to some funny places for support, but not everyone is a therapist. Not everyone is the one Find your right Match with betterhelp betterhelp does the initial matching work for you so you can focus on your therapy goals. A short questionnaire helps identify your needs and preferences and their 10 plus years of experience and industry leading match fulfillment rate means they typically get it right the first time. If you aren't happy with your match, switch to a different therapist at any time. From their tailored racks. You can join a session with a therapist at the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life. Plus switch therapists at any time. As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of Expertise. Find the one with BetterHelp our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com timeout. That's betterhelp.com timeout.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm Christian McCaffrey, pro.

[Don Hahn]

Running back and Abercrombie is an official fashion partner of the NFL.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not kidding when I say NFL by Abercrombie broke the Internet last year.

[Don Hahn]

And I think this season's lineup is even cooler. And so does my wife who keeps stealing all my hoodies.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Stay fit for the season and Abercrombie's newest arrivals Shop NFL by Abercrombie in the app, online and in store.

[Don Hahn]

When did making plans get this complicated? It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom's 60th and never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn [e-mail] thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Don LaGreca]

You'Ve been waiting all weekend for. Monday afternoon.

[Caller]

Why is that right?

[Don LaGreca]

Yes, because the NFL binge is here, Mr.

[Don Hahn]

Unlimited.

[Don LaGreca]

A lot of things to talk about, guys. And of course we're gonna get into the full breakdown of the Giants vehicle, if you will in a little bit. But for right now, I'm gonna kill you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait a minute.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, it's the binge.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The binge takes lives.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, the binge doesn't take lives. But you know who takes lives? You know the man, Kiki Freddie. By the way, I like how you've been evolving your Kiki and impression over time and it's tremendous. All right, let's get to it. Jacob, can you play the audio for me? I'll shout it out for you. All right, getting right to it. The Steelers found out they were without running back Jalen Warren yesterday morning. This is the 9:30 vehicle to you and me. The game was in Dublin against the Vikings. Remember, I worked hard on the impression. I found a way during the announcer lineup on Friday. Took me some time, but I eventually. I eventually found the accent.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you workshopped it. And it ended up being very good.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm Don legreco. Yeah, no, that's Bridge again. So how do I. How do I do. How did I do? Irish.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

You just did he.

[Don LaGreca]

How did I do it? No, that's British still.

[Don Hahn]

No, no, but you. You were there.

[Don LaGreca]

That's just too hard.

[Don Hahn]

You end on. On an upswing.

[Don LaGreca]

On the upswing. Let me. Let me play the audio. Anyways, the. The absence of Jalen Warren just allowed Kenneth Gainwell to have a career day.

[Don Hahn]

Give to Gainwell. Gainwell knifes to the left side, plunges.

[Don LaGreca]

Forward and into the end zone for a Pittsburgh Steelers touchdown.

[Don Hahn]

Second of the game for Kenneth Gainwell.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yes, you're talking about Kenneth Gainwell.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There it is.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, there it is. Takes me time. I don't know why. Pittsburgh wins 24, 21. Despite a late surge from Minnesota, Aaron Rodgers caught some attention with his comments of wanting to be in Dublin earlier in the week and explain them further after the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, ESPN wrote a clickbait headline, I.

[Don Hahn]

Think taking my words out of context, which isn't the first time, but I was answering a question about my desire.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All three times we came overseas was to come early in the week, especially.

[Don Hahn]

If you have a bye week afterwards. Some of that is out of the control of the teams. Some of it might be, but I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Would always love to get on the time frame that you're in time zone and get to enjoy the area a.

[Don Hahn]

Little bit more, especially with Ireland.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The history, you know, of ancestors I had from this region, but also just hearing about the country and what it's like and being able to see some stuff would have been great.

[Don Hahn]

That is obviously not the focus.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a business trip. We understand that. But being the older guy, being around.

[Don Hahn]

Long time, just would have loved one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Time out of these three to have.

[Don Hahn]

An entire week to do it. But again, no complaints about the three days we spent.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Only desires for more time with you great Irish people.

[Don Hahn]

That's all.

[Don LaGreca]

He wants to get closer to his ancestors. Say hello to his immediate family.

[Caller]

No.

[Don Hahn]

Well, but if you think about it, the way, what he's suggesting is have us play this game coming out of a buy. Problem is how many players are going to go, oh, yeah, I'll use my bye week to go on a business trip with my team.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

So I can spend a week off in Ireland.

[Don LaGreca]

And by the way, what he's saying isn't wrong. I get that.

[Don Hahn]

No, no, it's absolutely not wrong.

[Don LaGreca]

But think about it.

[Don Hahn]

Like what he's suggesting is a. Is simply a bye week.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, so we have more time. Well, you.

[Don LaGreca]

You can't, I thought unless you play on Thursday. But every international game you get the bye week after, correct?

[Don Hahn]

Yes, perhaps. I don't know. The Vikings aren't right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, because they're playing area. They're playing back next week. Sometimes you get or you stay.

[Don Hahn]

But did you see what happened there.

[Don LaGreca]

Though, by the way?

[Don Hahn]

Which then Skyler Thompson, their. Their third string quarterback. Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

I think Dave Rothenberg famously called him Skylar, but yes, Skylar.

[Don Hahn]

I believe it was Sklar.

[Don LaGreca]

There somewhere. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One way or another would have.

[Don Hahn]

Skylar. Well, that's Ty Lore and Skylar.

[Don LaGreca]

Sure.

[Don Hahn]

But yeah, that's. That's not nothing. Hanging out in the bar district.

[Don LaGreca]

Thompson came in, or whatever his name is.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, boy.

[Don LaGreca]

One more time.

[Don Hahn]

Well, he was hanging out. Oh, you want to hear Thompson came.

[Peter Rosenberg]

In or whatever his name is? It's not. Just not worth us hearing it.

[Don LaGreca]

So what happened with Sklar?

[Don Hahn]

He was mugged. He was jumped. Oh, yeah.

[Caller]

Is that right?

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, it makes perfect sense to add this Chicken. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

When you're overseas, you got to make sure you take.

[Don Hahn]

A number of males were involved in an assault on Thompson near the Temple bar area. Players phone was stolen, by the way.

[Don LaGreca]

What kind of. Don't you have to have security around these guys, like all the time?

[Don Hahn]

The police encountered a male who required medical assistance. He was treated, assessed the scene, and then released. He has not charged any. There's been no, like formal complaint or anything else. That sucks. But.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, well, I guess they can't keep an eye on everybody all the time. If you want to go out and.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Enjoy yourself, you got like 50 guys.

[Don LaGreca]

It's a lot.

[Don Hahn]

Well, first of all, like, he doesn't. He doesn't dress right. Like, it's interesting that he's on the trip.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you think those muggers sounded like?

[Don LaGreca]

Hey, Skylar. Sklar Thompson. That's a nice wallet you got there. Take care of y' all chicken guys.

[Don Hahn]

It's a real situation. I'm Just saying, pointing it out.

[Don LaGreca]

I just try to cheer things up. Hey, guys. Are the Chiefs back?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Staggered. Takes the snap between the one and the five.

[Don LaGreca]

Down the rail to the end zone. Touchdown, Kansas City. Tyquan Thornton learning how to be a red zone receiver.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A third touchdown pass by Mahomes, the.

[Don LaGreca]

251St in his career, a gain of 11.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that was special.

[Don Hahn]

Ravens Fugazi.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. How about you, Raven boy? How you doing over there? You're out.

[Don Hahn]

Had a bad week. It not good believing in them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Their schedule's been tough to start the season.

[Don LaGreca]

I mean, are you kidding me? You should want to kill someone. That's an insane. It's week after week after week. Detroit, Buffalo, Kansas City. It's horrible.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you're catching Kansas City after a win. But they still hadn't played well.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no. They needed and you're going to Arrowhead. Not what you want me.

[Don Hahn]

But their defense, they made a lot of business decisions and tackles. They were not good. That is not the Ravens that we know.

[Don LaGreca]

No, not the Ravines.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I get everybody gets the same on home games. Unless you know the whole 9, 8 flip because of the odd number. But God, it just feels like Kansas City's always home. Feels like every big game play they're home.

[Don Hahn]

It's true.

[Don LaGreca]

You know what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Maybe because of the playoffs and they usually have a buy. Although last year they didn't. But you know what I mean. Big game, Arrowhead.

[Don Hahn]

They were at Bills, Browns, Lions at Chiefs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, there's no truth to it. I'm just saying it's complete. Just my sense.

[Don Hahn]

Well, no shock here. They're home next week against the Texans.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Crazy.

[Don Hahn]

Home in Week 6 against the Rams.

[Don LaGreca]

Now let's. That's by the way, you said Texans next week. That's preview of another playoff game that they just win on the way to the super bowl yet again. Let's. Let's hear from John Harbo. What the hell is going on with the Ravines?

[Don Hahn]

Congrats to the Chiefs. I thought they played really well, executed both sides of the ball, played good physical football and won a football game handily all three phases. I feel like they coached better, they played better, everything was better. That's a game in the National Football League. And we'll have to go back to work, figure out how to try to win our next football game. And we've got issues that we're dealing with and we got to deal with them in a real smart way and find out how to line up and play our best game against Texans. That's going to be our task this week and I know our guys will go to work. I know our coaches are going to work. So any other questions or any other conversations about. About it are just going to be really are going to be just that. We've got to get to work and get ready to play a football game and play well and try to find a way to win a game and get on track. I believe we're going to be a good football team. Yeah, he's going football team yet. Just give me an update on Lamar Jackson, please.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, because he of course left the game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How long was that?

[Don LaGreca]

Now listen, if they could play as good football. If they could play football as well as John Harbach and have a run on sentence, then I like their chances against Houston this week.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That was 41 seconds.

[Don Hahn]

That's back against the wall with no commas.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

No comments.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like the way my mom texts, man, let's go. There's no punctuation.

[Don Hahn]

By the way, when she finishes the text, does she say mom?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Like it's like a letter dash.

[Don LaGreca]

Mom.

[Don Hahn]

My mom does that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All the lack of commas, periods. Yeah, that gave it away.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. You didn't need to sign it. We knew.

[Don Hahn]

But no, not even that. I have your number in my phone.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't have to say. I still, I still, I know this wrong.

[Don Hahn]

What would.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can you. What's your cell phone number again? Not you. You called me seven times today. How do you not know?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

All right. Well, Daniel Jones has finally lost the.

[Don Hahn]

Only thing I got right this week.

[Don LaGreca]

Listen up. Daniel Jones 24of32Through the air, ready to sling it again here. Heaves from his heels. Jump ball picked again. Cam curl calls game. His first two interceptions as a Ram.

[Caller]

In Week 4 against the Colts, LA.

[Don LaGreca]

Is going to 3 and 1. Damn cam curl. Former commander, current Ram, two interceptions. Did you see the Rams beat Indy 27? 20.

[Don Hahn]

Don, did you see the touchdown? That wasn't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, God.

[Don Hahn]

I figured this would set you off. Kids. Kids got a touchdown. Walking it in, puts his hand out, loses the ball.

[Don LaGreca]

And if you pause it. And this was a. An indie touchdown that may have given the game.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, his.

[Don LaGreca]

He holds one hand out with the ball, it slips out of his hand at the half inch line.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it wasn't one more inch.

[Don Hahn]

He's just almost made it in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the angle that you see live, you think there's a shot he got it.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah. Live, you think he might have got it. Then you go back and realize he Didn't. And I've said this many times, I'll say it again. There is not a more aggressive punishment in football than a touchdown. Turning into a touchback. Like the punishment for the crime is so excessive.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Makes no sense.

[Don LaGreca]

It's brutal.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Get the ball at the goal line, something. Or put.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Or if you want to make it a touchback, put the ball at the 20. Why do you lose possession?

[Don LaGreca]

You lose possession because you're an idiot.

[Don Hahn]

That's why.

[Don LaGreca]

But you.

[Don Hahn]

Because you're a recovery. But just keep it at your elbow, cross the line, then do all the dancing you want.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you didn't recover the ball.

[Don LaGreca]

I know. No one recovered.

[Don Hahn]

No one did. It went out of the back of the end zone. Which.

[Don LaGreca]

But if. But if the ball goes out of the sideline, what happens if it hits the pile?

[Don Hahn]

He retains like nothing. Like. It's unreal. It is. It is one of the ultimate punishments.

[Don LaGreca]

It is a big punishment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's the worst punishment.

[Don LaGreca]

It's.

[Don Hahn]

It's brutal.

[Don LaGreca]

It's the death penalty.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It is the death penalty. I don't know what the rules were when they fed people to the lions. I'm sure that was very punitive at the time.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

I would say that's probably the best.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sports that we follow. I don't think there is a worse punishment than that.

[Don Hahn]

So this is close to dying in a game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, in that case, if losing is.

[Don Hahn]

Dying in that moment, you'd rather be dead.

[Don LaGreca]

I would play you the audio of Daniel Jones talking about the turnovers, but we already survived the John Harbaugh audio we don't need.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't. I didn't survive Sunday night.

[Don LaGreca]

You want to talk about a doozy of a game?

[Don Hahn]

This game.

[Don LaGreca]

This game. I don't know what the hell was going. It was a drunk game yesterday. That's right, a drunk game. When Micah Parsons and the packers returned to Dallas, but nobody told any defense to show up, the game went to ot. Dallas kicked a field field goal. And Green Bay did too. Matt Orzyk on the snap.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Daniel Wheeland down on one knee.

[Don Hahn]

Snap, placement kick to the upright. And it is good. And the game ends in a tie. A hard fought overtime affair ends in a tie at 40.

[Don LaGreca]

The 40. 40 club for real. Micah Parsons not satisfied.

[Don Hahn]

There's only one thing for me.

[Don LaGreca]

And I told y' all from the beginning, all I know is go.

[Don Hahn]

So from the snap of that football, it was just about killing four.

[Don LaGreca]

And now it's on to whoever the Bengals got up just killing that opponent.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just Didn't.

[Don LaGreca]

Did he say Bengoosh sounded like Bangus to me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Definitely sounded.

[Don Hahn]

I think he listened to, to the show he made though a game saving play. He didn't have a huge impact. But that, the tackle on Dak there, that saves the game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But how does love play run that play?

[Don Hahn]

You know what, you know what? Shefty said that clock should have run out probably.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you know what?

[Don Hahn]

They're on the road. You're on the road. Second that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's, it's crazy.

[Don LaGreca]

But so, so what was the play you were, you were killing love for was throwing the ball over the middle.

[Don Hahn]

Well, he did like a check down. Well, he has no timeouts, right? The clock's running. You're under a minute, actually under 40 seconds at that point. He does a check down on the field like not to the sideline. So now it's, it's going. You get what you get five yards out of it. And now everybody's got a line up and get. And it's just. That took way too much. Throw that away live to fight another man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm all for at least at that moment. Try a play, but try a play that you at least leave a few seconds. There was 1 second left after the incompletion. That's how close it was to the loser.

[Don LaGreca]

Now listen, the kid still threw for three over 300 yards, three touchdowns.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you know, intercepting, man, that's not, that's not smart.

[Don LaGreca]

But late in the game, that is not.

[Don Hahn]

He did it again. By the way, Russell Wilson threw under 4, 430 yards against that same defense.

[Don LaGreca]

So, so you're not giving out awards for.

[Don Hahn]

I'm not giving out awards for lighting up the Dallas defense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now wasn't that Caleb Williams last year did it for the Bears. He was a rookie.

[Don LaGreca]

It was the worst. That one was the worst. I.

[Don Hahn]

What was the playoff game with Dallas? The Cowboys had a playoff game where they ran out of time. Remember that one?

[Don LaGreca]

It's, it's, it's, it is this one.

[Don Hahn]

Mike McCarthy froze and they just, they couldn't stop.

[Don LaGreca]

So one accidental second and that game's over.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Game's over and they lose.

[Don Hahn]

40, 47. Think about it. If that hits a shoulder and the ball bounces in the air instead of go straight, that went straight to the ground. Stop the clock. If that just bounces up in the air, game's over.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And if you watch it, you would not have been surprised if it just hit zero.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, that will do it for your week four NFL binge.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

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

[Peter Rosenberg]

So thoughts and prayers out to John Mara, who was diagnosed with cancer. He sent out a statement earlier today and we wish him well with that because he's a good man. He is. I mean I've had my faults with him as an owner, but he is a terrific human being and we just hope he's able to battle this. But you know, lost in all the Mets hysteria, and rightly so, was Jackson darts performance and the Giants got a win against the Chargers and that's not nothing. You know, now you're a favorite against New Orleans and maybe you could be two and three and kicking yourself that you're not three and two because you should have beat the Dallas Cowboys. But just my quick thoughts and you guys can chime in. Clearly Russell Wilson was making business decisions because Jackson Dart was not all right. And I don't know if that's exactly a smart way for the kid to play, but it made for exciting football and they were able to get the win. I thought the defense outside of the Carter off side would eventually led to a touchdown for the Chargers at the end of the half. I thought the defense played very well against the high powered Charger offense. So all around it was really nice game. My concern though guys is long term. And you went through this with RG3. That's no way to live in this league. You're going to get yourself hurt. Yeah, and I want to see him throw the football because that's how you win in this league. So again, no imagination in the, in the red zone. I hated the decision to go for it on fourth down. You lost yards on third down. You have not been good in the red zone outside of the kid making plays and you go for it on fourth down. Why would you not want to make it a six point game? Your defense is playing well.

[Don LaGreca]

Make it make sense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know Peter, it's almost a layup teams getting a field goal range now, right? And there's plenty of time left on the clock. So why wouldn't you make it elite? Make him get a touchdown, make it a six point game. Always going for it. I really believe this. And you went through it with Ron Rivera who was a pretty good coach, went to a Super bowl riverboat. But these guys, the riverboat gambler garbage. It's not sustainable. It got the Giants in the playoffs a few years ago and got Dable coach of the year. But tell me how that makes sense. You can make it a six point game, give your defensive a bit of a break. If you do give up a touchdown, so what you can still come back and get in field goal range to win the game. I understand a touchdown makes it a two possession game but you lost yardage on third down. He's just the kid. You lost your best receiver for the year and neighbors and don't you want.

[Don LaGreca]

To like sure up getting your first win force them to beat you with the touchdown.

[Don Hahn]

A couple of thoughts. They were 2 for 4 in the red zone until that possession, right? That made him two for five on the day. Two for four. Like you know they still, they, they had some success in the red zone number one. Number two, we chastise coaches for playing it safe all the time. Playing the pre vet going for just to just take the three when really it's six. You could still lose if they get a touchdown. Right. Like we. We sometimes will criticize a coaching staff for making conservative decisions. Dable's going for it. I'm home. This kid's hot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what?

[Don Hahn]

It's twice already in that red zone. Let's. Let's go for it and put this game away. So I understand now it didn't come back to hurt them. No, but I understood all that part of it that. That I'm not crazy about. Like, to me, everything about that game was pure energy. That's all that was. The building was crazy. They were excited for this kid and he. He was. He delivered what you were hoping a rookie in his first start would deliver. Little juice in the building. Cam Scatterable gave you some juice. I thought Abdul Carter was fantastic. The pressures he had on quarterback. Now he got his sack, but he was still all over the place. He was making plays like that was about your future as a Giants organization. And that stuff was, to me, the intangible. That is why they wanted.

[Don LaGreca]

I disagree.

[Don Hahn]

You disagree with what I just said like eight things.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay. Yeah, it's a great point that. It was about the future of the organization. To me, that game was coached like the future of Brian Dable. It reeked of desperation. I am risking my quarterback's health. I am going for it everywhere I need to. Where did he go? Did you see the celebration of Dable at the end?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

That was a guy fighting for his job.

[Don Hahn]

You know that.

[Don LaGreca]

That was not a quarterback.

[Don Hahn]

No. Dart went to him. Dart went to him.

[Don LaGreca]

But either. I understand that, but the way that he freaked out the emotion. And by the way, you love to see the emotion pouring out of him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure.

[Don Hahn]

Dart, after the game, raved about Dave. Well said. He's the guy.

[Don LaGreca]

Of course, and that's a beautiful story, but if you're an organization, that game, to me, Don was coached to get one meaningful win right now, if he gets killed doing it, even the way they. Even the play calling, the decisions to run, everything they did around Jacksonville was risking killing the kid to make sure you get one holy win.

[Don Hahn]

You were on the show Friday. You heard me tell you this is what they're going to do. I told you, they're going to do a lot of Ole Miss stuff. They're going to do a lot of. He's going to do a lot of things. They're going to run it a ton. What'd they do? 56% of the time they ran the ball. And by the Way against a really good run defense. They put up 161 rushing yards like the Giants.

[Don LaGreca]

That's something to feel good about.

[Don Hahn]

Yes. They knew. You knew they were going to simplify the offense. They weren't going to have him throw a lot. He didn't have to throw a lot when he did. He made some big, big throws.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no.

[Don Hahn]

He made some big throws. They were important. They were important. A little sidearm. He showed you something. You can't blame this kid for not sliding on Dable. That's him being young, dumb.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, no blaming him.

[Don Hahn]

That's him.

[Don LaGreca]

By the way, I'm not blaming him for anything.

[Don Hahn]

He was so jacked up on Mountain Dew there was no way he was going to slide.

[Don LaGreca]

I have no.

[Don Hahn]

Can't put that on the coach.

[Don LaGreca]

Why not?

[Don Hahn]

Because he.

[Don LaGreca]

I think this whole.

[Don Hahn]

Making that decision.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no. I think this entire.

[Don Hahn]

Seen young quarterbacks do this in their first starts. By the way, Daniel Jones had the same kind of debut. 1. He won the game. Rushing, touchdown. Passing. Touchdown.

[Don LaGreca]

And where did it develop? Anywhere from there?

[Don Hahn]

Well, no, that's my.

[Don LaGreca]

That's going to develop anywhere from here.

[Don Hahn]

That's your cautionary. Not the coaching staff made him run. That kid was breaking tackles because he was all jacked up on Mountain Dew.

[Don LaGreca]

Fair point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I get that you're both right and I agree with both of you, but where I kind of lean more towards Peter is okay. At some point you got to coach him up because you got to throw in this league. I think there was a lot of we're going to take advantage of what he can do. We're going to dumb it down for him. We're going to use his athleticism. We're going to just get a win. And it worked. Now as we start to get down the road here, it just can't be that every week because he's going to get killed and figure it out. So I'm all for it against the Chargers. But you had to do it.

[Don Hahn]

But you knew this was a building block.

[Don LaGreca]

Absolutely.

[Don Hahn]

They're going to. But little at a time. By the way, again, Russell Wilson was 1 for 10 on third downs. The previous week they were 7 for 15 on third downs.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, that the biggest lesson I learned yesterday. To me, the number one lesson learned is Russell Wilson is horrible. That is the number one thing.

[Don Hahn]

Or he's retired or he's retired already.

[Don LaGreca]

Business decision. That was the big because. And I'm not. I know it's necessarily. I'm trying to rain on the kid. I'm not. He could turn out to be great. I saw some nice things. The biggest thing I noticed though was that he was not Russell Wilson. This was not a great offense. Cam Scatterbo was. Scatterbo. Same guy he's been. Obviously you lose Malik, Neighbors. We'll get to that later.

[Don Hahn]

Brutal.

[Don LaGreca]

But what I noticed, Don, was they were. It was addition by subtraction and a great defensive football game. But we are going to have to see a lot more development.

[Don Hahn]

We saw that defense step it up a level knowing they had a rookie quarterback. Everybody seemed to be lifted. That's why I said this game was about pure raw adrenaline. And that's what the Giants desperately needed in a home game. And now they got a chance against Goat, the Saints.

[Don LaGreca]

You got a chance to get two.

[Don Hahn]

Wins now because the Saints team, that is just. I mean, my God, you see the end of their game like they are just a disaster.

[Don LaGreca]

They're awful. And you go in this game at New Orleans and then you come back two and three. That place is going to be jacked up now. It's going to be horrible when it happens.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But still, because you're right, that Daniel Jones game, if you remember, was against Tampa. He ended up becoming the offensive player of the week. They won on the missed field goal, by the way, by the Bucks. Otherwise they could very lost that game. But then it's going to have to be building. Let's see what it looks like against New Orleans. Let's see what it looks like against Philadelphia. It can't be that every week defenses are going to figure it out. You're going to get the kid killed, of course, but I'm all for that because they needed to win. You saw how pumped up the crowd was, how pumped up the defense was.

[Don Hahn]

A great atmosphere.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Get a win. They kind of salvaged the start of the season. Now you got a winnable game in New Orleans. You're right, you're two and three. You're feel like, all right, done.

[Don Hahn]

Nobody's. Nobody's got. Nobody's got planes flying over the stadium. No one's wearing paper bags over.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's critical because of how important it was to win that game. He got a little too caught up because again, I don't see where it makes sense to go for it on fourth down if it's at the one yard line. He had lost yards. You could say, well, they were 2 for 4. They were 50% in the red zone going into that fifth try. But they were not moving the ball well while in the red zone. They lost yards on Third down, kick the field goal. Give your defense a bit of a break. They're playing great. Don't let field goals are so easy in this sport. Now that could deflate things. Now you fail on fourth down, Chargers come up, kick, you know, take the lead and then now you're down 4. Now the kids have to score a touchdown to be able to win the game. You get too caught up sometimes. That's what I don't like about David. All the riverboat gambler gotta go, gotta.

[Don LaGreca]

Be all tough football.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go for it. No, stop. Use your brain. Take a six point double your lead here late. Your defense is playing well now. They got bailed out of it anyway because the defense again played well. And then he got the ball back, got the first down, didn't have to give the ball back. Or when they did, there was hardly any time left on the clock.

[Don Hahn]

Again, you don't see. All right, and I'm, look, I've been critical of Davel so I'm not trying to defend him or anything like in that rap. But in this moment there's five, there's under six minutes to go in the game on that fourth down.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

Right. Like you go for three, it's only six. They got the ball now, right. They still have Justin Herbert, they still have a good offense. Like they still have a team that you, you know, like our defense is bending, not breaking. Right now they got turnovers and that's been big, but that's a big moment. You want to put that game away. You don't want to leave the door open for Herbert to take them, which he's done in his career, go down the field and score.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you did, but you did. Well, first of all, they went nine plays and then they had a third down. Like it's not even, I think that doable to begin with. And a six point lead. All right, so if I give up a touchdown, there's still enough time. As you said, there's six plus minutes left in the game. So not down to a final possession. Chargers are not the kind of offense that's going to go on a six minute drive or they might score a touchdown. All right, Give me time to get in the field goal range and win the game. I got a chance to make a three point game of six point and.

[Don LaGreca]

To your point with that, with that much time left, here's why the risk isn't worth the reward. 10 doesn't even end the game. It's not like you go, oh, we're done. It's still Six minutes left. They could still score. Get the ball back. Score it. You might as well. But by the way, this is across the league. Yesterday, the Commanders had that spot where they, they scored the touchdown and at some point they were down two scores. 15. What's your theory, Don? You're down 15. What do you do? You score a touchdown late, down 15. Score, touchdown made to go for two. They immediately went for two. My theory in my brain, of course, is you go for one, you spend the game right. You don't want the game to be over if you don't get it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Second to last.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, they happen to get it, but I think it's the wrong.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I see. I agree with you. I would get the seven and you worry about the two at the end.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I, I, I'm with you.

[Don Hahn]

It's. Yeah. Well, look, again, I'm sure both ways we can argue this, but I feel like that game was all about adrenaline and ever and that this franchise needed it badly. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't want to know how the.

[Don Hahn]

Sausage is made, man. I just want to know it's good. 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.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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