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Don Hahn
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast. That sounds like heaven to me. Listen live, weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80. ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.
Rosenberg
Two hours down, two more to play with on a football Friday, Ty Butler JGASMON, streaming live on YouTube. Hit us up, Ty. DButlerGasmin 800-919-3776 is the phone number. How you feeling two hours into the show?
Don Hahn
Feeling good. It's a Friday. A lot happen.
Rosenberg
Big plans tonight?
Don Hahn
First Friday of the new year. Dinner plans and watching the Knicks. That's about it.
Rosenberg
Are you really, you know, doing a. How do I phrase this? Are you living the bachelor life the way that you should as a single man growing up in New York City?
Don Hahn
Well, I've been seeing someone right now, so she might be listening, so I don't want you to share too much information because, you know, I've shared some crazy party stories during my three years, you know, hosting shows on the station.
Rosenberg
Seeing someone?
Don Hahn
Yeah.
Rosenberg
Interesting.
Don Hahn
She could be listening right now.
Rosenberg
How serious is it?
Don Hahn
Oh, you messed up, Jake. You messed up big time. Did I? We're getting there. I mean, things are happening. No, not with that, but, you know, not at Ty Nose.
Rosenberg
No, I'm not going by.
Don Hahn
Wait, so that's just Pusick who has to deal with that.
Rosenberg
How. How serious we talking?
Don Hahn
Several months.
Rosenberg
Okay. You know, so we're kind of working our way there.
Don Hahn
I believe the kids call it, you know, the. The. Yeah, you're seeing someone, but there's not, like, a definitive label on it, so it's like the talking stage progressing. I don't know how you describe it, but that's kind of where we're at.
Rosenberg
You punched your ticket?
Don Hahn
Have I punched my ticket?
Rosenberg
Yeah, little stamp.
Don Hahn
Well, how do I answer this? I don't actually know what you're asking.
Peter
You don't, you just move on.
Don Hahn
Yeah, I feel like I could just. It only makes this worse if I comment on whatever insinuation you're making here.
Rosenberg
But you're hoping that this leads to long term, or you're just kind of, like, having fun?
Don Hahn
Sure. I mean, you're in it for the long haul. Okay.
Rosenberg
I don't know what you're. Well, how old are you?
Don Hahn
30.
Rosenberg
Okay.
Don Hahn
You gotta be in it to win it.
Rosenberg
You guys talking kids?
Don Hahn
We have not had that conversation yet.
Rosenberg
Too far. 800-919-3776. Quickly, before we get back to the Jets. Jake, do I think Eli Manning is a Hall of Famer? I do. Do I also think he'll get in at some point. Yes, I do. But do I think it's crazy or a hot take for someone to suggest he isn't a Hall of Famer? I don't. Because you can look again. I think he'll get in. I think he's very, you know, worthy. It's warranted that he gets in the two incredible super bowl runs. What he meant to the Giant organization every start. Like, I get it. You don't have to sell me on Eli's hall of Fame candidacy. I just find it nuts that there are folks out there who at the mere mention of maybe he won't or maybe he's not worthy of getting in. That's a hot take. It's a crazy take.500 record, four winning seasons, never received an MVP vote at any point throughout his career. Did you ever watch Eli and think to yourself, man, I think I'm watching one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time? No, that never happened. Did you ever watch him and think, man, I think I'm watching one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now? No, you didn't. So again, before Giant fans jump me, he will get in. I think he should get in, but I don't think it's crazy for anyone to suggest that he shouldn't. Is that fair?
Don Hahn
I actually don't think that's a hot take at all. I think it's a very rational way of looking at the problem is when it comes to the Giant fans love and admiration for Eli Manning, they still might jump you because they think it's a slam dunk. I believe Eli Manning is a Hall of Famer, but I understand why he's not a first ballot guy. Again, Drew Brees is on the ballot this year. He's probably going to get in on the first try. I don't think Eli Manning will get in on his second try. It's probably going to take him a little bit. There's some really good players that still haven't been in to the hall of Fame. They've been waiting for years. So it will take Eli some time. Not because he's not a Hall of Famer, just that's kind of how it works. There's only, I think, a minimum of three and a maximum of five modern era candidates that could get inducted every year. So there's going to be, there's going to be a waiting period for Eli. I think he should get in. But again, in a couple of years when Aaron Rodgers is eligible and Ben Roethlisberg, even before that is eligible. Then, you know, Phil Rivers reset his timeline. So maybe Eli could go in before him. But my point is it's going to take some time for him. But I do think he's a Hall of Famer ultimately.
Rosenberg
You know, it'd be really funny if Eli gets in the year. Brady gets in.
Don Hahn
He could get the spotlight over Brady.
Rosenberg
That would be funny. So look, Breeze and Larry Fitzgerald, they are definitive first Battle hall of Famers. That is like unimpeachable. Eli. It'll be interesting, man. Does he get in this year? Maybe. But to your point, yes, he will eventually. But I just find it just so fascinating and it makes sense. But maybe what's fascinating to me is like the stark contrast between how he, how his hall of Fame candidacy is discussed here locally versus what it is nationally. Because there are a lot of people who look at his resume and say that like 500 record. Like, yes, he had two awesome Super bowl runs where the team scored 17 points and 21 points. So look, I'm not trying to diminish it again. I'm just presenting the other side. You know what also is very, very interesting? He's got two Super Bowl MVPs, and he's like on the fence hall of Famer, right? If he just exchanged like if Instead of winning two Super Bowl MVPs, he won two league MVPs, he's in first ballot because I think there's more stock put into does he have the Super.
Don Hahn
Bowls, but just not without.
Rosenberg
So if you remove the Super Bowls and you give him two league MVPs, I think he gets in first ballot because there is more value put into him being acknowledged. As for two separate seasons, the best quarterback in the league. For example, if Lamar Jackson after this game Sunday retires despite having one deep playoff run where he went to an AFC Championship game, he's a Hall of Famer, two time first team all Pro, two time league mvp. Like there's no doubt that dude's going to the hall of Fame.
Don Hahn
That's interesting that Lamar would be a lock and Eli wouldn't be. He's got the two rings. It might be closer than you think. I just want to compare Eli to Lamar. So Lamar, four time Pro Bowler, three time All Pro, Eli just has the four time Pro Bowl. What hurts Eli is he doesn't have any of the All Pros.
Rosenberg
Right. And that's what I'm saying. Lamar has the two sides. Like that is an acknowledgment that for a back then 6, 16 game season, you were the best at your position.
Don Hahn
How would he have playoff wins though if he didn't have the Super Bowl? Did he go to the game twice and lose instead of Lamar?
Rosenberg
Let's give him Lamar's playoff resume. So an a championship, AFC championship game. He's got a couple of one and dones. He's been to the second round like he did last year. But he's got the two league mvp.
Don Hahn
You're right, the two, the, the two regular season mvp.
Rosenberg
Those matter more than the super bowl mvp.
Don Hahn
Well, it wouldn't matter as much if Eli had more of a. Like hey, he wasn't. He was a, an all pro this year or he was top three in MVP voting another year. The thing you said that he's never gotten an MVP vote that will be used against him. Honestly, the take that you gave I think is totally rational that you think he's a Hall of Famer. But it's debatable. I think it's actually if you said the opposite, the people who think it's like what are we even talking about? Of course he's not a Hall of Famer. This is a joke. Giants fans are nuts for saying that. That to me I think is ridiculous because you leave out how dominant that Pat's team was in 07, that he led a game winning drive on, you leave out the run and how unprecedented it was for the Giants as a wild card team, a 10, six team and a nine and seven team to go all the way to the Super Bowl. You leave out the top beating Rogers.
Rosenberg
And beating Favre in their building. That stuff matters.
Don Hahn
That's a Hall of Fame like resume. Like he had hall of Fame moments and he played at his best in the clutch. And I say this all the time. People think of Eli's throw to Tyree is like the signature Eli Manningham.
Rosenberg
The Manningham.
Don Hahn
The best throw you will ever see in any super bowl maybe ever is Eli to Manningham on the game winning drive in the second super bowl against the Patriots. I mean just, it's one of the best throws ever in that spot.
Rosenberg
It's also one of the oddest careers because I tried to like just do a mental exercise and Jacob like just odd careers in sports. Kawhi Leonard. Really interesting because Kawhi had one year, I think it was 2017 where it's like he's one of the best players in basketball.
Don Hahn
Oh, like 2019, that run with the.
Rosenberg
But the run. 2019 was a playoff run.
Don Hahn
Yeah.
Rosenberg
Kawhi's never like a great regular season player. Because he doesn't really play in a regular season. 2017 for the spurs, he was awesome. But he does have the two Finals MVPs. And it's similar to Eli Manning where it's. He's got two playoff runs but no playoff wins outside of those runs. But in those playoff runs, he beat Brady in the super bowl, he beat Rogers in Green. He beat far. Like, it's just, it's such an odd career.
Don Hahn
It's a, it's a career that will probably never be replicated. Right. Like, who is a two time Super Bowl MVP with a 500 career record? Like, it doesn't make sense. If you're good enough to be a two time Super Bowl MVP for winning season, you would be considered one of the better quarterbacks. That is played just like when you hear that, right? Like the, the idea that you're a, like look at the quarterbacks who have won two Super Bowls. It's rarefied air. They're all on the hall of Fame for the most part. They really are.
Rosenberg
Yeah. And like I said with the league MVP is like, it sounds nuts that you would value a regular season award over the biggest game of the season. But I just think that when you're viewed as, for that season, the best quarterback in football and to have it happen twice, that is more, I don't want to say more prestigious, but just looked upon as more valuable to a Hall of Fame case than just being excellent in one game. And that if that makes sense to you.
Don Hahn
Again, at the end of the day, what never gets discussed with Eli too is the durability. The fact he always plays like that's amazing. You can't talk about Eli's career and just say, oh, the record. Or oh, it's like he was there every year, game in, game out, playing through injuries. He was an ironman. Like that to me matters because we could highlight some of these great quarterbacks who maybe had individually better seasons at certain times than Eli. But Eli outlasted all of them because he played every game and that matters. The Giants knew every Sunday Eli Manning was going to be their starting quarterback and give him a chance.
Rosenberg
And ironically, what's the biggest question with the current Giants quarterback?
Don Hahn
Durability.
Rosenberg
It's durability. So I just wanted to talk about that again. I think he's hall of Famer. I think he will get it and I think he should get it. But pretending as if it's some hot take that he shouldn't to me is being disingenuous. And that's Rooted in, like the Giant fan bias. Because you're passionate about your guy, that's your favorite player, your favorite quarterback, or. Or whatever the case.
Don Hahn
I'd be doing the same thing if I was a Giants fan. If a player led me to two Super Bowls, one of them being over a team that was undefeated and we were 17 and a half, 18 point underdog, whatever the spread was that day, I would be right there with the Giant fans who are lined up and want to revolt against anyone who says something negative about Eli. Man.
Rosenberg
And it's also like, you can't tell the story of this sport without Eli.
Don Hahn
That's true, too. Now, do I think Julian Edelman is a Hall of Famer? No.
Rosenberg
I mean, that conversation but Pat's fans would say was so ridiculous. Yeah, I mean, it was like one of the dumbest. Like, social media is the place. It's like a cesspool of stupidity. But there are times where.
Don Hahn
Follow us on Twitter, by the way, at ESPN New York.
Rosenberg
It's just like there are some place where sometimes it's just a level of dumb that you just can't even imagine. We got there. But, yeah, interesting conversation. 800-919-3776. Let's talk about the Jets. No appetite for that.
Don Hahn
Well, speaking of cesspools, we could talk about it. I got plenty to say.
Rosenberg
Still. Aaron Glenn, and you picked up on this. It got lost in what he was saying in this press conference this week about his team's brand of football. So there was a. What was the actual clip that made rounds. I'm forgetting now.
Don Hahn
So Aaron Glenn all year has said, we want to play our brand of football. We want to be this type of team, our brand. You know, the players are buying into what we're looking for. And I don't know the reporter who asked him the questions specifically, but the question was essentially, hey, Aaron, you've talked all year about your brand. Can you give specific examples of things that happened in a game this year that would highlight what that brand is that you're striving to have more consistently? And his answer was referring to a game against the Jaguars in which, at the time of this drive, you're about to hear Aaron Glenn break down. I want everyone to know the score of the game. The New York jets were trailing 40 to 13. They were down 3110 at halftime. They ended up losing the game 48, 20. That sets it up for Aaron Glenn to say this.
Aaron Glenn
We were playing Jacksonville and I showed the team this. And if you guys go and watch the way the reason ran the ball against Jacksonville, I thought it was very, very impressive on us controlling the line of scrimmage, us running the ball, but being physical, being violent. It was actually after. Was after the third quarter. It was 12 seconds. We ran the ball, our guys got into a shoving match. The quarter ends, then we go down, we have a hell of a run on a physical play, and then we score a touchdown. And then we had other runs after that, and we had the passes that Brady was actually starting to get into a rhythm against Jacksonville. That was the brand of football that I want our guys to see. And I showed the whole team that right Defensively, there are some games early in the season that we were really, really like Stymie as far as stopping the run and playing the pass. I showed our guys that that's the brand that we want to play with. And sometimes you have to show your guys things so it could be remembered on this is how we play. And listen, I understand to the outside world, people might not understand that, but our guys know exactly what our brand is. We. We just have to do it consistently.
Don Hahn
Could you imagine being Jermaine Johnson or one of these other players in a team meeting? Your team is getting destroyed 40 to 13, and the head coach wants the show plays from a drive in garbage time because they ran the ball well. When Jacksonville is not playing with as much intensity as they would have been if the game was close, where they started to arrest their starters late in the game. He's referencing Brady Cook starting to get into a rhythm coach. It's 40 to 13. I mean, it's just. It's laughable that that's the example that he, that he used. You could have pointed to anything. If you want to show a good example, how about the opening drive with Fields against New England on Thursday Night Football? 14 plays. You ran the ball great. You actually scored an opening drive touchdown. Again, I just don't think Aaron Glenn has a clue.
Rosenberg
Sounds like a guy go back. I know it's a far a long time ago, but go to week one.
Don Hahn
It's just like every time he opens his mouth, I feel like it's like what Joe Judge said at the end of his tenure where he basically got himself fired by just sounding clueless. John Isyk had that awful press conference in Jet history when they were one in seven. That kind of set the stage for the wheels to fall off with him and he was gone after just two years. It's just, they're not going to win with this guy. The evidence is overwhelming that anyone who starts off this bad does not turn it around. He's not an X's and O's guy. He's not an expert on offense, which is what's winning now in the league. He certainly is not a defensive expert. He said they're running the Wilk system. He already fired Wilkes and like to even bring up the defense earlier in the year. Earlier in the season, coach, you were 07. The Jet defense through the first six games allowed more points, I believe, than any Jet team prior. Before that, like they were inept. And that's when they had sauce and they had Quinn. And what were the expectations for the jets this year? We knew the offense would be a work in progress, but the defense had eight of its 11 starters back. They had three former first team all pros on all three levels. I get it that they are maybe not nearly as good as we thought they were, but how much of it is coaching, right? Like I'm supposed to believe that Quincy Williams, who was an All Pro 2 years ago, just forgot how to play football. Quinn and who's been a dominant player, he was just bad. So they traded him and then he goes to Dallas and looks like Aaron Donald. Like again, there are enough red flags here to make you go, why are we letting this guy now pick the next quarterback, spend 100 million in free agency. They're going to finish 3 and 14. They're going to have one of the worst point differentials in league history. There's nothing Aaron Glenn could point to that he does well as a head coach. You can't name one thing. The only justification people use for not firing him is saying, oh, who would want the job? Or they say, well, it's only been a year. No one can actually give you a tangible football reason why this guy deserves to be the head coach. Because he can't. Because you can't point to anything he actually does.
Rosenberg
Well, the who would want the job thing is silly. And look, I agree with you, but here is what I want to point out. And we went through this. Our number one, you're getting blasted by 107 points in a month, which is just embarrassing. The fact that you are this deep into the season and you couldn't manage to have like a deflected ball, you know, fall into the hands of one of your defensive or an interception this late into the season, that's pathetic. So we can run through the list of, you know, what's the worst part of this team or what's the most damning stat we can do all of that. Woody Johnson's not firing this guy. It's not going to happen.
Don Hahn
That's what a good owner would do.
Rosenberg
Yeah, sure. I don't think that there's anything that could happen on Sunday. If the jets get annihilated by Bill's backups, he's not going anywhere. And if for a moment I feel nasty doing this, I might have to bathe just to defend Woody Johnson. And I'm curious your thoughts on this. Jeff Vance just last season wanted him out of the way. The Hasan Reddick thing was a disaster. The fact that he's out here, you can't even pronounce the dude's name correctly. Hasan, he's negotiating contracts. He's firing Salah five games into the year. It was so egregious that it turned us off. He gets an F grade as an owner. We wanted Woody Johnson and I say we as the Jet fan base, we wanted him out of the way. And now we're asking him to intervene.
Don Hahn
You know, thinking is overrated.
Rosenberg
Thinking is overrated.
Don Hahn
I need him to just act right.
Rosenberg
But we wanted him out the way.
Don Hahn
I get it, but that was before we saw what out of the way means. It means giving Aaron Glenn carte blanche to draft and ruin the next quarterback. Again, I. Woody Johnson's a terrible owner. No one could dispute that. The records, the record. I do think he wants to win. And there's just no way he could. Look at this year if he has any semblance or if there's people around him who could just look at where the league is going. Look at where the jets are currently where Garrett Wilson leads them in receiving yards and he hasn't played since mid October. Look at how bad the quarterback situation was by this head coach is doing and say, let's give him another chance to draft someone at the top.
Rosenberg
Here's the problem with that thinking. Woody Johnson stood in front of reporters at a hotel and told everyone, not only is Justin Fields is he bad. He's the worst starting quarterback in football. And in fact, no other head coach could win with this guy.
Don Hahn
If we could just complete a pass, it would look good.
Rosenberg
Exactly. And so Woody Johnson and I know Aaron Glenn can sell him on this. Is going to look at the situation and say what do. And we can disagree, but what did you expect when we had quite literally, and this is not my words, it's Woody Johnson's words, the worst starting quarterback in the NFL.
Don Hahn
Did he forget who advocated for them to sign Justin Fields? Aaron Glenn said He was his hand picked quarterback. He said he was tough to game plan against when he was with the Lions. So that's why they wanted to sign him.
Rosenberg
I hug him every day.
Don Hahn
I mean we know that Woody loves to give Aaron Glenn his hug. But then what happens after that? How is Aaron Glenn making the situation better? It's obviously not all him that the jets have been a disaster and haven't made the playoffs for 15 straight years. He's only here for one of those years. We all get that. But as you move forward now and you're set up with five first rounders and you're set up with 100 plus million in cap over the next two years, an O line that's competent, that's already in place. Garrett Wilson already signed some players here despite how bad they are. What is the argument for keeping him other than he was a jet 30 years ago.
Rosenberg
But that's the argument. He just laid it out.
Don Hahn
It's so flawed though because he's already.
Rosenberg
He's a flawed. But that's my point. We are not discussing a competent owner who knows an ounce of football. We're talking about Woody Johnson.
Don Hahn
I saw Cal McNair, who knows probably even less than Woody, fire two coaches in two years before they got it right with D'. Ameco. Like again, it's easy to say who'd want the job. Someone will take the job. It's one of 32.
Rosenberg
But I don't, I don't question that.
Don Hahn
I just think what he's. I think he's too close to Glenn and I think there's an ego thing involved. People don't understand this as well. Woody Johnson was the Ambassador. Right? Ambassador Johnson. I'm sure we have that drop somewhere. When he was the Ambassador, his brother was the one who hired Adam Gase. Right? His brother hired Joe Douglas who hired Robert Sala. This is the first time since Todd Bowles and Mike McCagnon a decade ago, 2015 that Woody actually oversaw the coach and GM search for his franchise.
Rosenberg
You think he's going to want to punt on that? On these dudes?
Don Hahn
No, that's my point.
Rosenberg
Season into it.
Don Hahn
I agree with you. My point is it is short sighted because everyone's saying Glenn's on the hot seat going into next year. Does anyone actually think this is going to turn around? They're playing the AFC west next year?
Rosenberg
He does.
Don Hahn
I guess they're going to see what he does.
Rosenberg
And by the way, this isn't me disagreeing. I'm just.
Don Hahn
You're playing his angle.
Rosenberg
Yeah 800-919-3776 more of this. I see people want to talk. Eli got my yo after we got off the jet conversation an hour. Number one, my man was smiling ear to ear. Now he's back to being a I'm depressed. I don't like to do that to you. We take man the fact that the I still cannot believe that happened. Hasan fixed your lips. Not, not that part. To tell people to address him as Ambassador Johnson.
Don Hahn
Ambassador Johnson. I mean he is the ambassador.
Rosenberg
My man.
Don Hahn
You think Woody enjoyed the fact that jets got booed in their pregame introductions on Sunday against the Patriots?
Rosenberg
Yeah. And what happened in the lead up to that? Because we were all over the story with the the soccer coach who was supposed to kick and then they recanted.
Don Hahn
Yeah, the one from Long Beach. They just. They just missed the kick too. We couldn't even have that.
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Don Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I didn't listen to anything you just said. Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
Rosenberg
50 bucks to your account. You name the artist of the song 50 Cent.
Don Hahn
Come on.
Rosenberg
Really? I gotta send you 50?
Don Hahn
Let's go.
Rosenberg
Hate. It'll love it. Underdogs on top eight.
Don Hahn
I'm talking to someone that has seen 50 Cent at the Houston rodeo live. That's right. Wow.
Rosenberg
Favorite 50 song.
Don Hahn
Probably this one right here or in.
Rosenberg
The club where you were when you bagged your. Your lady that you're talking to.
Don Hahn
I don't know what you're referring to.
Rosenberg
What's her name again?
Don Hahn
Mysterious woman.
Rosenberg
Oh, see, you're a good one.
Don Hahn
I know I gotta be better. I gotta be prepared. You know, I gotta be better than like Aaron Glenn is at the podium.
Rosenberg
If you are listening to the show. Jake just told me during the break he adores you. So you have that going before we get back to the Phone calls at 800-919-3776. Got Jet fans and Giant fans who want to chime in excited to talk to y'. All. Want to remind you that game time is brought to you by Tullimore Drew Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time, it is Tully time.
Caller/Nick/Vinny
Yes, it's Tully time.
Don Hahn
It's Tully time.
Rosenberg
My bad, Donald. My bad, Peter. The Knicks host the Hawks with coverage immediately following us on 880 at 7. I saw my man Ray Santiago touchdown. So you know it's we saw in sight tonight with the Knicks hosting the Hawks.
Don Hahn
It stinks. Trae Young is not playing though.
Rosenberg
7 and 18 against the Knicks in his career. But he does have that playoff series.
Don Hahn
And it'd be nice to really stick it to the Hawks again with him.
Rosenberg
Out There rolling the dice at half court. Not great.
Don Hahn
The Knick fan will never forget Trey Young. There's been moments where I've been leaving games this year at the Garden, and, like, it's like a funny thing for the Knick fan to do. They just start chanting, f Trey Young. I'm like, he's not even in the game. He didn't even play tonight.
Rosenberg
How about this? If we.
Don Hahn
It's like the FL2 base stuff the Yankee fans still do.
Rosenberg
I need a third name. Give me a third. A third name. All right. Cuddle, marry, trash, detest as a Knick fan. Embiid Halliburton Young.
Don Hahn
Well, this is a good one. Bead. Halliburton Young. I'm going to. I'm going to trash Halliburton.
Rosenberg
I don't.
Don Hahn
Yeah, I don't like him, but I respect him more than I do the other two.
Rosenberg
The choke sign in game one.
Don Hahn
I respect him as a player. He's really good. Embiid is a dirty player. And Trey Young is just annoying. And not as good as Halliburton. Like, I have respect for Halliburton. Trey Young, you just gave his record against the Knicks. Congrats. You. You beat a Knicks team that had Alfred Peyton as its point card in the playoffs. Awesome. So I really can't stand Embiid, but Young is even more annoying. At least Embiid is one of the MVPs more accomplished. So we will. We will cuddle. I guess it's kind of weird to do CMT with people I don't like, but I guess in this scenario here, we'd cuddle Young and then marry Embiid, if that makes sense. If I'm doing it in reverse of who I dislike the most, I asked.
Rosenberg
That in a way that was odd. So, yeah.
Don Hahn
And the choke sign was just like. Like, obviously was brutal as a Knick fan, but, like, you know why he did it? It's because of Reggie Miller and all that.
Rosenberg
I was at the one and over. Yo. I was at the game. We talked. I was at the game. But I had to do radio after. So I left when the Knicks were up. Whatever. It was nine with a minute left.
Don Hahn
You're like, surely they're going to win this game.
Rosenberg
I heard the buzz outside the Garden. I'm like, what's going on here? And sure enough, Tyrese Halliburton did that thing. The Rangers face the Panthers in a winter classic that is Tullamore du. The original triple distilled, triple blend in. The triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore due. Try to do Tullimore do honey. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore due responsibly. 891-93776.
Peter
Ty, did you see how the rangers entered Lone Depot park or whatever the Miami Marlins?
Rosenberg
No, I didn't see it.
Peter
Little Miami Vice like looking like a white party.
Rosenberg
I got to check it out. Is this on Twitter?
Peter
It's something. I'll send it to you guys.
Rosenberg
All right, send it to me. We got the picks coming up next at 5:45. So let's get to a couple of your phone calls. We go to Emerson to talk to Nick. Nick, what's good my man?
Caller/Nick/Vinny
What's going on gentlemen? First I just want to say you guys are doing a fantastic job. I with, with everybody off. Jake covering in the morning. Ty in the afternoon. I just want to give you guys your coffee, kudos.
Don Hahn
Thank you, Nick.
Caller/Nick/Vinny
These shows have not, they have not missed one beat. So credit to you guys. Now, now Jake, Ty your cuddle Mary trash to Jake now just got me thinking. It's going to get me off my point real quick because I'm a die hard Knicks fan. I'm actually a lot like, a lot like Jake. I, I very am very passionate about all four of my, my sports teams. We, we differ on a couple and I have red hair. So you know, I, I guess I must be Jacob, Jacob Chase. Yeah, I know, I know. Redheaded Italian. It's a little crazy but I'm going Halliburton. I hate Halliburton the most.
Don Hahn
Really?
Caller/Nick/Vinny
Oh, Jake, you kidding me? It's actually funny, Jake. I went to the Indiana game in Indiana in the playoff game last year when we came back from, you know, the big comeback and we won and you actually commented on my tweet because I was wearing the Taj Gibson jersey. So just a little fun fact for you there. But that man, he ripped our soul out and gained one of the. He ripped our soul out like embiid. He's a dirty player but he's done nothing. Beat him in the playoffs.
Don Hahn
Yeah, I just, I separate like the competition on the court from like a person I genuinely don't like. I think in beat like the way he like grabbed Mitchell Robinson's leg and made that injury worse two years ago, that, that really bothered me. Look, I, I'm not a fan of all three but for different reasons. If you wanted to put Halliburton as, you know, the guy you hate the most, essentially I have no problem with that, Nick. But that was kind of my thought process. Like Embiid was actually like trying to injure a Nick player. Halliburton was just really good. His team was really good and they beat the Knicks in a playoff series.
Caller/Nick/Vinny
Yeah, two different things. I totally understand. If you want to look at that spectrum, then I agree. And the other spectrum. Yep. But just real quick, and again, I'm sorry both of you guys are jets fans. I feel awful for you. Jake. You are 100% right, Allen. Aaron Glenn needs to go if the jets draft the quarterback under his regiment. Good. Good luck, buddy. And just real quick on the, on the Eli Manning thing, I totally agree with you guys. Obviously I am a. Well, not obviously, but I'm a die hard Giant fan. I literally have only Giant tattooed on my back because I love Eli that much. I didn't probably think he was a first ballot, but a couple things like. And again you guys say he will get in eventually. I, I genuinely think that Mike Greenberg said it best when he made the argument writing the history of the NFL. You literally cannot do that without Eli Manning. And he wasn't some just like journeyman quarterback that locked into two Super Bowls. He played his best football in the playoffs against the biggest names and beat the greatest, literally the greatest team ever assembled in New England in 2007. And then he did it again four years later when you know Bill and Tom, where they were clinching to get their revenge on him and, and he beat him again. Fifteen touchdowns, two interceptions in those playoff runs. Yeah, that's unbelievable to me. The clutchness I get. He's only 500. He's top 10 passing touchdowns, passing yards, all these things. I get it. The 500 record. He doesn't have the MVPs, doesn't have the All Pros, but 2011 season alone, he carried the 32nd ranked defense and the 30th ranked rushing game through a Super Bowl. And he played unbelievably the whole year. I think only Aaron Rodgers was a better quarterback that year. To me it's a shoe in guy.
Rosenberg
He beat that again. To your point, Nick, he beat Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs.
Caller/Nick/Vinny
Yeah, baby.
Don Hahn
Yeah, they're 15 1.
Rosenberg
Yeah, he beat him. So look, we appreciate the call. We're in agreement. We were just, you know, toying with the idea that, you know, certain people find it to be a hot take, which I don't think it is at all. If you don't think Eli man is a Hall of Famer, I disagree with you. I just, I'M not going to go crazy about it because there is a counterpoint to his hall of Fame candidacy. Vinny's in Staten Island. What's up, Vinny?
Caller/Nick/Vinny
What's up, guys? I just first want to say it's refreshing hearing you guys like talk the truth about Aaron Glenn. Because when you listen to the Gregor and K and all these guys, all they did was like those softball questions at Salon.
Rosenberg
Gregory, did you say look right, you guys?
Don Hahn
Connor.
Caller/Nick/Vinny
Yeah, Duke. You guys are refreshing. Aaron Glenn. Jake, you made a whole point before about first year head coaches getting fired and how the team came back next year. That was tremendous. That was great. And I mean, this guy just has. He has no clue what he's doing. It's like to make him have all these draft picks next, it's just they got to get rid of the GM too. And I'm sick and tired of hearing about the owner. The owner doesn't set offensive schemes, make defensive schemes. The owner just has to pick a head coach that only. That's all he has to do.
Rosenberg
Yeah, but that's proven to do it. That's proven to be difficult for this owner.
Don Hahn
Thank you for the call.
Caller/Nick/Vinny
I know. But you guys, you guys are doing a great job.
Rosenberg
Thank you, Vinny. It's proven to be a tough challenge for this owner to pick the right head coach.
Don Hahn
Look at Dolan. Sell the team. Sell the team, James. Well, now no one's saying that because he hired Leon Rose. Tom Thibodeau is where it all started. The problem is what he made these hires and the hope was that they got it right and they finally could get back on track. There's no sign to that. There's no evidence of that. And I could argue the fact they have all these picks now and have these salary cap resources. This would be the time to do it. And just to reset for those tuning in. I made the point that people often say when I argue against Aaron Glenn, well, if you fire him, it will just set the franchise back. And I think that is utter nonsense. Because if you look at the history of coaches that were one and done, the recent history since 2018, the replacement made the playoffs almost in every example I'm about to give you, Ty. Chip Kelly, replacement. Kyle Shanahan obviously made the playoffs in.
Rosenberg
His tenure and a Super Bowl.
Don Hahn
He's still there right now. Steve Wilkes in 2018, fired after a year. Cliff Kingsbury made the playoffs with Kyler Murray during his tenure there. Freddy Kitchens in 2019, one and done in Cleveland. Kevin Stefanski came in two time coach of the year Obviously he's had some success. Might be fired and available now for the Giants or someone else to hire this go around. Urban Meyer 2021 fired. Didn't even make it through the year. Replaced by Doug Peterson. Won a playoff game, made the playoffs obviously in that first year. I did radio in Houston during the David Cully, Lovey Smith, back to back one and Dones that led to D' Amico Ryan's Texans have won 10 plus games three straight years. They won a playoff game the last two. He's still the coach there. We'll see what happens this year. Nathaniel Hackett Enough said. Led to Sean Payton Sean Payton playoffs not in his first year. Went 89 with Russell Wilson. Then drafted Bo Nix in the playoffs last year. Might be the one seed. Probably will this year. Frank Reich with a win tomorrow after he was fired by the Panthers. Dave Canales who replaced Frank Reich would have the Carolina Panthers in the playoffs in his second year. Gerard Mayo that leads to Mike Rabel. Enough said. And then Antonio Pierce. Hasn't worked but it got them to Pete Carroll. He'll probably be fired but now they have the number one pick and they probably could get a legit coach for Fernando Mendoza.
Rosenberg
And if you just look at JET history as far as awful first years like to this extent Salah Coti and now Aaron Glenn, it would suggest to you that those things don't get turned around.
Don Hahn
Yeah, I mean only the Stat is only two other Jet coaches have ever lost 14 or more games in a single season.
Rosenberg
So if Aaron Salah and Coates.
Don Hahn
So Salah he actually won more games he was 4 and 13.
Rosenberg
Yeah.
Don Hahn
So we're talking about a scenario here Ty where it will be just gays in 2020 co tied in 96 and Aaron Glenn as the only three coaches in New York jets history to lose 14 games or more in a season. Now I acknowledge there is the extra game at the 17th game, but still we're talking about one of the worst teams in JET history. We're talking about one of the worst defenses and offenses combined in JET history. And they might only legitimately have one win if their special teams unit was not elite. That's how bad it's been.
Rosenberg
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Don Hahn
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Rosenberg
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Don Hahn
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Rosenberg
Find the shoes that get you at prices that get your budget at DSW stores or@dsw.com.
Don Hahn
Let us surprise you. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I didn't listen to anything you just said. Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. What's the game called? Football. These are the Don, Han and Rosenberg pro picks. That's football.
Rosenberg
All right, let's do it. So entering week 18 now, music. Did. Did you guys decide how you're going to do the playoffs? Like are you picking every game.
Don Hahn
Or.
Rosenberg
Well, it's still tbd.
Peter
Interesting that you bring that up, Ty. Last year we did that. Now that was a unique circumstance where the show kind of started midway through the end of the year into the playoffs. So to get a new tournament going, we tried to do a pick them all. I'm sure that there would be one person in particular that would love a pick them all.
Rosenberg
Peter. That's the only way you got a shot.
Peter
Keep himself alive. But to be honest, haven't had that conversation with them yet. I think that Don, knowing Don, loving the competitor he is, he would want to do that. So right now I think it's going to be the three games and then it'll dwindle down, but we'll see.
Rosenberg
All right, so Don's coming off of a 30 week. Peter went 1 3. Allen also went 1 3.
Don Hahn
Yikes. You want to be picking your best as the playoffs near.
Rosenberg
Yeah. You want to be getting hot.
Don Hahn
Hot at the right time.
Rosenberg
Hot at the right time. So with that said, we do have picks for the guys. Don legreca, one point play. He's going Eagles minus four and a half. Eagles down six starters. So I don't know if that's the right play, but Washington's gonna be starting Josh Johnson, so maybe it is.
Don Hahn
Jet legend Josh Johnson.
Rosenberg
Yes, you're right about that. Two point play for Don. Rams -7 and a half coming off of back to back losses. So maybe a get right game for. For la and then you've got San Francisco. Are we going? You said two and a half, right? We're going two and a half.
Peter
San Francisco line moved again somehow.
Rosenberg
Yeah. Plus two and a half against the Seahawks in the much anticipated game tomorrow night to decide the number one seed. Allen, one point play Pittsburgh Sunday Night Football plus three and a half. He's not scared of Lamar Jackson being back, he's going to take Chicago minus three with his two point play. That would lock up the numbers two seed in the nfc. And he like Don will go with San Francisco plus two and a half for his three, three, three point play. Peter, this is a buzzer beater for what the third straight week Peter's locked into these picks. He's going Buffalo minus six and a half. So no respect for the Aaron Glenn.
Don Hahn
Led Jets six and a half. It's down to.
Rosenberg
Yeah man. Josh Allen is going to play one step. That's his one point play. He like Allen with his two point play is going to go Chicago minus three. Everyone's on the bandwagon of San Francisco plus two and a half. Makes me nervous.
Don Hahn
I know what I should look at.
Rosenberg
These boys and their. It absolutely should have to go the other way. So Jake, how about you kick us off with your three picks?
Don Hahn
Well, let's make it clear if all three of them are on one team, Mr. Pusick tells me I should be on the other side. So I love, I don't like. I love Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks laying the two and a half points. That would be my three, three, three three point play. Three, three, three three. Game number two. Apparently it's. It was six and a half when Peter placed the pick. I'm seeing seven and a half on Fanduel right now. So I guess I need arbiter Anthony to. Well you put it this way Jake.
Peter
You could go with whatever you want on that one.
Rosenberg
Like what an arbiter would say.
Peter
Let me, let me explain because you guys are running off of the live lines. We have a cover 5 game that chain that the lines are locked in at a certain time. But if all three of these guys are on the same one, I'm gonna give them the benefit of giving them the other line. Okay, so that two and a half and as that's fluctuated.
Rosenberg
So you. What'd you say fluctuated? Oh, I thought you said something.
Peter
No, that would have been. That would have been something if I did though. I appreciate you though. Anyway, what do you. Where are you seeing Jake? What are you saying?
Don Hahn
7 and a half as the bills a favorite over the Jets. Either way, I think the jets are going to get killed. They quit on their head coach last week. Josh Allen might not play the whole game, but I think he'll play maybe at the beginning and again it's the last game ever in that stadium. They have all their old alumni back. They're going to be Juiced up. They're still going to be motivated. They don't want to. They want to lose to the jets in their last ever game in that building. The jets can't score. They're starting Brady Cook. The defense is horrific. Brandon Stevens might not play. So the secondary has a bunch of guys that no one has even ever heard of. For the most part I'm taking the the Bills. I'll lay whether it's six and a half or seven and a half.
Peter
We'll give you the six and a half because you're on the show and that's line that they're going with.
Don Hahn
We'll give it a six, six and a half, seven. It could be 10, it could be 14. I think they lose by at least 20. I love the Bills in the spot.
Rosenberg
Just as long as the jets don't get a blocked field goal. And that is your three point play.
Don Hahn
Make that the two point play. Why not? And then one point play, three point play. Ray Ravens at the Steelers I have a rule when Mike Tomlins an underdog you take the points. It has been very profitable in his tenure. It's been profitable even this year. Steelers getting three and a half at home. I don't know how they necessarily do it because DK is still suspended but I think Rogers finds a way and they go to the playoffs and win the AFC North. So give me the three and a half. I think they not only cover but I think Pittsburgh at home wins outright.
Rosenberg
I'm with you for my one point play. I am taking begrudgingly the Seahawks minus two and a half and a line. That just does not make sense. I think San Francisco the last couple of weeks have proven to be the best team in the nfc. So I will take the Seahawks. Just going against that logic because the line doesn't make sense. I'll take the Seahawks minus two and a half for my one point play. For my two point play I am going with Chicago minus three in a game that could clinch the number two seed three point play. I'm seeing four and a half but everyone's going with three and a half so we can have some continuity here. Give me Pittsburgh, Aaron Rodgers, Mike Tomlin at home to cover the three and a half points. I don't know that they win but I think that's a field goal game and that is my 333 point play. 800-919-3776 if you're on hold stay there. But coming up next might be the greatest ENN of 2026. So far Anthony Pusick. He joins the show with ENN right here on DHR ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube.
Don Hahn
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Don Hahn
Here, more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers before you go.
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Episode Title: Hour 3: Eli, Jets & Picks
Date: January 2, 2026
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, Don La Greca (voice appeared in pick segment)
Theme: A lively, candid discussion of New York sports, focusing on Eli Manning's Hall of Fame candidacy, the problems surrounding the New York Jets' coaching situation, and NFL Week 18 picks. The show is interspersed with classic New York sports banter, spirited debate, and listener calls for an all-encompassing snapshot of the state of NY sports fandom.
Hour 3 dives deep into:
The tone is full of humor, local passion, playful ribbing, exasperation, and honest, insightful sports analysis.
Case for Eli:
Notable Context:
Durability:
Notable Quote:
Best Eli throw:
Biting Critique of Glenn’s Leadership:
Ownership’s Role:
Coaching Hot Seat:
Arguments against “Give him another year:”
On Eli’s Giant Moments:
On Local Fan Bias:
On Jets Dysfunction:
Fan Love:
Desperation & Humor:
Knicks Fans on Trae Young:
| Timestamp | Topic | Notes | |---------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:08–12:20 | Eli Manning: Hall of Fame case | Deep debate, durability, and memorable moments | | 12:58–23:43 | Jets analysis, Aaron Glenn critique | Organization dysfunction, garbage time “brand” anecdote | | 27:31–29:37 | Knicks, rivalries, Cuddle/Marry/Trash | NYK passions, anti-Trae Young, Embiid, Halliburton | | 30:34–35:44 | Fan Calls: NY fan perspectives | Eli’s Giants legacy, Jets frustrations, coaching turnover | | 35:48–39:21 | Coaching carousel: firing isn’t a setback | Don’s argument supported with NFL examples | | 39:51–45:56 | NFL Week 18 Picks & banter | Logic, self-mockery, in-depth reasoning |
If you want to understand the heart and angst of NY sports fandom—the pride and the pain—this episode is a perfect sample. It’s honest about what makes Giants (and Eli’s) legacy complicated. It’s outright exasperated with the mess of the Jets. And it’s full of the affectionate, ribbing camaraderie and deep sports knowledge that makes Don, Hahn & Rosenberg a fixture for New York sports fans.