Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Giants Ownership & Crosby Trade Nixed

Date: March 11, 2026 | ESPN New York
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

Episode Overview

In this episode, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg delve deep into two major breaking stories shaking up New York sports: the sudden exit of Steve Tisch from Giants ownership amidst disturbing Epstein connections, and the collapsed Max Crosby trade that left Ravens and Raiders fans reeling. The trio also weigh in on sports list debates, personal reflections, and rapid-fire takes on NFL free agency. The tone is energetic, candid, and at times, emotionally charged as they toggle between sports, scandal, and fan frustrations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Loss, Music Lists, and Show Banter

[00:43-05:05]

• Music and Emotions: The crew begins with a reflection on tearjerker songs and the relatability of musical lists.
  • Don: “The great thing about the list is you talk about music. There's thousands of songs. And these are my five.” (00:22)
  • Peter defends the subjective nature of personal “tearjerker” song lists, promising a hip hop version soon.
• Show Segment Debates: They jokingly discuss shifting the “That Guy Thursday” bit for something with fresher energy.
• Alan’s Personal Story: Alan shares a moving, personal story about a friend's father passing away from an accidental home injury.
  • Alan: “Life is friggin’ crazy.” (06:32)
  • Don: “It just tells you that when it's time to go, it's time to go.” (07:08)

2. Steve Tisch Out as Giants Owner: The Epstein Fallout

[07:18-23:31]

A. Breaking the News

• Steve Tisch Steps Down/Stake Transferred:
  • Don explains a major memo: Steve Tisch and family are transferring their Giants ownership to their children's trust, severing ties due to his documented association with Jeffrey Epstein.
  • “...following the transaction, the sellers… will no longer have any interest in the club.” (07:48)
• Motivation & Damage Control:
  • Is this proactive reputation management or bracing for more damaging revelations?
  • Don: “Is this getting out in front of what might be more information about what Steve did in relation to Epstein, or is this, hey, what little we do know… is still disgusting?” (09:16)

B. NFL & Ownership Reputation Management

• League’s Tactics:
  • Peter: “Obvious thing that you do when the league looks at you and says, don’t get us involved. Because if we get involved, then… more information comes out.” (10:02)
  • The transfer allows the NFL to distance itself quickly: “He is no longer an owner. We don’t need to answer to this… And that’s what people said when this first came out. He can’t be an owner anymore.” (10:55)

C. The Ethics and Optics of the Tisch Exit

• Should John Mara Speak Out?

  • Don argues Mara should publicly clarify his role (or lack thereof): “If I was involved in this, I think you should make that known…I could not allow him to be a part of this organization anymore.” (11:46)
  • Peter challenges: “Are you trying to draw more attention to it?” (14:30)
  • Alan: “Actions over words in this situation.” (14:07)

• Comparison to NBA Sterling Ouster:

  • The crew compares the situation to how the NBA removed Donald Sterling—pointing out the tacit league pressure vs. formal expulsion.

D. Can Owners Plead Ignorance?

• Alan and Peter debate if John Mara could have known nothing about Tisch’s ties.

  • Peter: “Your team has security. They know everything.” (18:17)
  • Alan: “I think there’s a world in which they really don’t know.” (18:06)
  • Don: “I don’t know half the people I work with. Once they leave my sight, I don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors.” (21:13)

• Unified Disgust: The crew agree on the moral revulsion around the Epstein revelations and joke that “everybody’s a degenerate” in politics and sports, with little hope of this uniting the public. (22:42)

3. Rapid NFL Free Agency: The Kyler Murray Release & Quarterback Trends

[26:27-28:21]

• Kyler Murray Released: Peter flags a tweet about only three first-round QBs (drafted 2010–2019) still with their teams: Mahomes, Allen, Jackson.
• Draft Realities: Don notes the volatility of the NFL QB draft—most picks don’t pan out for the original team.

4. Max Crosby Trade Nixed: Fallout and Speculation

[28:21-35:54]

A. Collapsed Trade Mechanics

• Confusion Over the Physical: Don is baffled that major contract agreements are announced before physicals are completed.
  • “Why are these things not announced post-physical?” (28:46)
• NFL’s Legal Tampering Window: Peter explains the current system where deals are struck but finalized after the physical and official date. (28:58)
  • “Most of the time it doesn’t happen. It’s bad form…” (30:19)
• Trust Issues: There’s concern whether other teams can now trust Baltimore in good faith.

B. Impact on Teams

• Don and Alan: Domino Effects: Raiders (and others) affected by the collapse; cap space and plans thrown into disarray.
• Eric DeCosta’s Statement: Ravens GM claims regret, but the crew is skeptical.
  • “[Do] you believe them?” Alan: “No.” Peter: “Because why would you be gutted?” (31:53)

C. Sports Conspiracy Theories

• Alan speculates whether the league stepped in to prevent two top edge rushers on one team, suggesting it would have been “impossible.”
  • “Maybe the league caught wind of this… The Baltimore doesn’t get Hendrickson and Crosby. That just doesn’t even work.” (32:44)

D. Caller Takes

• Vinnie from Staten Island: Suggests someone must have tipped off the Ravens about Crosby’s medical risk, says DeCosta’s not being fully honest. Crew disputes and breakdowns the likely medical reasoning (“almost no meniscus left in his knee”). (33:51)

5. Listener Calls and Clarifying the Tisch-Epstein Facts

[36:04-41:12]

• Caller Eric’s Critique: Alleges the hosts downplayed possible criminality of Tisch’s Epstein connection.

  • Don (forceful): “Here's what we know... he had a relationship with Epstein... was having relations with adult women through Epstein... That to me… is enough for me to say I'm grossed out by it.” (38:51)
  • Alan: “Do you not hear us? All three of us are saying we're good on Tish, the Giants should move on.” (39:33)

• Epstein Context: Alan adds context about how Epstein’s M.O. was “ensnaring” people, and not every association is equal.

  • Alan: “He communicated with tons of people who didn’t do anything… That’s literally what he did.” (40:52)

6. Giants Coaching Update: Evan Neal, Harbaugh, and Fan Frustration

[44:04-49:52]

• Harbaugh Belief in Evan Neal: New Giants coach John Harbaugh is reportedly excited to work with struggling former 7th overall pick Evan Neal.
  • Don (sarcastic): “Boo his sorry ass. Cut his fat ass now. Don’t stop booing him.” (45:28)
• Redemption for Draft Busts: Don and Peter review who the Giants could have drafted instead and wrangle with acceptance if Harbaugh can salvage the pick.
  • Don: “If the coach that we all love thinks I see something in him… who am I to say he’s wrong?” (46:14)
  • Peter: “It’s, let’s see what we can do with you and figure it out. Let’s see if we can get you right.” (49:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On NFL Ownership Ethics:
  • Don: “If I support you and I go on the air and say I'm gonna continue to work with Steve... People are going to assume that I knew that you knew Epstein for five years and he supplied you with women... That makes it seem like I knew what was going on and didn’t care.” (16:30)
• On Sports Trust:
  • Alan: “We all root for Yo Yo [teams]. How is it possible that you’re able to like financially work that out where you could get Hendrickson and Crosby on the same team?” (32:38)
• On the Reality of Scandal and the 1%:
  • Don: “No one ever does. Because the 1% always think they’re going to get away.” (18:40)
• On Public Reactions:
  • Alan: “You can’t look at it because the email exists, it means they did something. That’s literally what he did.” (40:52)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment Topic | | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | | 00:43–05:05 | Personal stories, emotional song lists, shifting show bits | | 07:18–23:31 | Steve Tisch-Giants-Epstein story and NFL ownership ethics | | 26:27–28:21 | Kyler Murray release and first-round QB retention in NFL | | 28:21–35:54 | Max Crosby trade nixed, impact on teams, and NFL free agency | | 36:04–41:12 | Listener confrontation over Tisch facts, clarifying allegations| | 44:04–49:52 | Giants coaching update, Harbaugh’s faith in Evan Neal |

TL;DR / Highlights

• Giants Ownership Shakeup: Steve Tisch out as co-owner, his family’s stake moving to a trust amidst confirmed links to Jeffrey Epstein; crew debates whether John Mara should make a public stand or quietly manage the fallout.
• Ravens–Raiders Crosby Trade Collapses: Questions swirl over medicals, league timing, and fairness in NFL free agency machinations.
• Fan Frustration Endures: The hosts take calls, address grievances, and revisit memorable rants about underachieving draft picks.
• Nuanced Take on Scandal: The show balances outrage with precise breakdowns of what’s known and what’s speculation in the Tisch/Epstein saga—a key moment in modern sports morality discussions.

A rich, emotional, and occasionally confrontational hour—essential listening for anyone following New York sports and the complicated intersection of power, ethics, and fandom.