← Don, Hahn & Rosenberg
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- [00:01]
Don LaGreca
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [00:05]
Dan Grasse
That sounds like heaven to me.
- [00:06]
Don LaGreca
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers, 502 of the big city.
- [00:15]
Dan Grasse
Don Lagreca, Dan Grasse with you here on Don, Han and Rosenberg. No Han or Rosenberg. Of course, Alan's going through his family situation with the passing of his sister, but we got some good news with Peter Rosenberg as the birth of his daughter is on the way. His wife is in labor. So obviously much more important things going on in the world for Peter. But Dan Grasse is nice enough to be able to fill in. We're taking up until 7:00 and it's always a pleasure to welcome in. The commanders are playing well in Washington Football. It's hard not to think about the great Joe Theisman, and he joins us here on 880 ESPN. Don LaGreca and Dan Graza, thanks for joining us, Joe.
- [00:53]
Joe Theismann
You're welcome, guys. Thank you very much. But first of all, I'd like to send my thoughts and prayers out to everybody in the California area and the first responders and the firemen out there that are just in a, you know, battle for life for so many different people. And our thoughts ought to be with them. Yeah, I appreciate the opportunity to spend some time with you guys.
- [01:12]
Dan Grasse
Yeah, that's very well said, Joe. And we really appreciate it. And certainly thoughts go out to everybody out there, but really a good story going on with the commanders. Kind of a surprise season. And Jaden Daniels just looks like he's pretty legit. 12 touchdowns in the fourth quarter. First rookie quarterback to do that wins his first playoff game. Just what are your impressions of what he's been able to do in his first year?
- [01:33]
Joe Theismann
Well, he's more than legit right from the get go. He just, he has it all. I mean, he. And the thing that I love so much about watching him work is I call it football intelligence. He makes good decisions with the ball in his hands. He runs judiciously, he protects himself, which I think is very, very smart. A lot of young guys think that they can overpower this game and overpower the people in this. He's one of those few people that actually can run away from people. I just, I love his resiliency. And he plays with a smile on his face. I mean, there's so many times you see guys that have scowls all the time. But Jaden's one of those guys that says, hey, you know what? This is great. I'm playing football. I Did this when I was a kid. He's still a kid, but a younger kid and just enjoying the moments and the throws he makes. He's a. He's a terrific downfield thrower, which Washington hasn't had for literally decades.
- [02:28]
Unnamed Speaker
Joe, pleasure to talk to you. It's good when three Jersey guys could all sit around and talk some football this time of year. Nothing better than that. But it's funny because you look. You played the game in an extremely high level. And with Washington in particular this year, new ownership, new coaching staff, and apart from just Jaden Daniels, how important is it to install a culture that really sets the tone for turning a franchise around like they're doing now in D.C.
- [02:54]
Joe Theismann
I think it's so important. I think it starts with the culture. It starts with the head coach. You know, Adam Peters is another one who I think deserves an awful lot of credit because, you know, he was, you know, part and parcel putting this football team together. It's a wonderful blend of veterans and young people. And Dan has a tremendous ability to be able to communicate his philosophy, his concert, his. What he wants to do with that football team. And, I mean, when you think about it, you mentioned it, go all the way back to the first game. 60% of this football team had never put on a commander's uniform. The entire coaching staff is new. Leadership is new everywhere. There's this. There's this great sense of newness around it, and it sort of reminds me a little bit of the 1981 football team that we had when Joe Gibbs took over. We were all sort of new to one another. We had a lot of guys coming in, a lot of rookies coming in. We had veterans from different places that you could make the deals you can make today. And then an entirely new coaching staff to learn a new system. And this group has responded so well. And we had, you know, the next year, we wound up winning a Super Bowl. So I don't know if that's in their future, but, oh, boy, they're playing some darn good football.
- [04:03]
Dan Grasse
And the other thing, Joe, that impressed me is it's not like there was an adversity. You look at the record 12 and 5, and you could say that they're, you know, they cruise to the playoffs. But you watch the games. I mean, there were a lot of games where they had to pull it out late. The Bear game with the Hail Mary. And it kind of seemed like in the second half that maybe defenses were kind of catching up to them, and for them to be able to still Win a playoff game on the road, converting on fourth down. I mean, that. That takes a special kind of something, doesn't it? To be able to just stare at that kind of adversity and be able to come through like that at such a young age.
- [04:37]
Joe Theismann
It really does. I mean, Jaden is just, you know, he embraces the game. He loves the game. He knows what his capabilities are and his skill level is. And you got to give Dan a lot of credit. I mean, he's the one going forward on fourth down. He's the one that has instilled a belief in this team that we can do this. And if you do it, you started feeling a little bit bulletproof. You feel like, okay, we could. We can overcome fourth and four, we can overcome fourth and three. And they've kept the numbers manageable. I think this football team runs just enough to keep a balance and picks its spots to be able to go down the field. Of course, you know, last week in that game, no, no punts, you know, no drop passes. You know, all the things you need to do to try and win football games. And it's just. They're a group of guys that just never believes that they're out of it. And you look at the last four games, I mean, they just. They've been all nail biters. They're killing me. I gotta tell you, it's much easier to play in games like this than it is to watch it. As a fan, I have a true appreciation for our fans now that watch this game. And because I'm the same way. And when they kick, hit the upright and went through last week, it was like against Tampa, I jumped out of my chair and screamed. I scared to live in daylight out of my wife. So what? Let's go. I said, it's unbelievable. I mean, this is just so exciting. I'm so into this football team and the things that they're accomplishing.
- [06:08]
Unnamed Speaker
Talking with the great Joe Theisman here on ESPN New York now, last night's game, you had Sam Darnold and the Vikings go down and really, what was a special season for the team, for Sam in particular. But the last couple of games, Joe, certainly not Sam's best. And now do you think that this conversation that's starting, is it truly fair to lump him into the guy that just played the last eight quarters as opposed to the guy that helped him win 14 games throughout this whole season? To get to this point, I think.
- [06:35]
Joe Theismann
You have to take everything into consideration. I think you have to look at the body of the Work up to the. Up to these last two games. Say, what did he do well during that period of time, and what didn't he do? Well, he took some sacks last night as an example that you just don't expect somebody with his pedigree and his veteranship to be able to take. To take sacks, to take yourself out of field position. I felt like in the game against Detroit, he was high with a lot of passes. He rushed everything. You know, it's the first time in the moment. And, you know, he reacted in a way where he knows he didn't play well. He knows he didn't do the things he needed to do to help this football team to win the games that they want to win those 14 games. But I think, you know, Minnesota's got to sit down. You've got JJ There, you've got Daniel Jones there. Sam is there. I mean, they've. They've got to look at their quarterback room and say, okay, what direction are we going to go in? You know, certainly the last two games won't be overlooked. They're not just going to sweep them under the rug and say, well, you know, it was an anomaly. No, you know, Sam did not play well. And that's the thing is, you know, all during the course of the season, you make plays and things happen, but then this is really where you make your bones. That's all there is to it in the playoffs, is where you make your bones, and that's where you have to be, you know, the guy that everybody's looking at and saying he needs to make a play. And I felt like. I felt like Sam rushed a lot of throws last night. I know he was under a lot of duress the last two games, but that goes with the position. You just got to get the ball out of your hands and protect it at times.
- [08:14]
Dan Grasse
You've got a lot going on with your commanders and Notre Dame playing for a national championship. I mean, how. How much fun has it been to watch that ride?
- [08:24]
Joe Theismann
Oh, my God. Am I having a year that the Argonauts, who I played for, won the great cup this year?
- [08:28]
Dan Grasse
That's right. That's right.
- [08:29]
Joe Theismann
I'm. I'm working. I'm working on a trifecta. I mean, it's like. It really is. It's a sensational year. As far as my. The alumni goes, that I've been a part of University of Notre Dame. I don't think anybody expected them to get where they are into the championship game. It's an offense that is run truly Run based, throw judiciously. A defense that I think, you know, they were ranked third in the country. I think they're better than that. They make plays for the offense, they help them out, you know. And the kicking game, this is in these games, these type of football games, irrespective of last night. And I'll look at the Washington Tampa game. It's the kicking game that is so vitally important. It's those, those points. It's like 24% of the games have been decided by three points or less. And you know, it was a struggle for Washington, actually was a struggle for Notre Dame too. And now all of a sudden the kickers are delivering and you know, you're, you know, you're playing towards a championship if you're Washington and you're playing 4:1 if you're Notre Dame. Notre Dame.
- [09:32]
Dan Grasse
Can I ask an unfair question to you?
- [09:35]
Joe Theismann
Sure.
- [09:36]
Dan Grasse
What would mean more to you? A commander super bowl or a Notre Dame national championship?
- [09:41]
Joe Theismann
Oh my God. Oh, thanks.
- [09:47]
Dan Grasse
Okay. I warned you.
- [09:48]
Joe Theismann
Is that you, Dan, asking, or is that Don? Which one?
- [09:51]
Dan Grasse
That was done. I want to take credit.
- [09:52]
Joe Theismann
That was done. Okay, well, hit him for me, will you? Will do. You know, you know like I love ncis. Just slap them like, like give snaps slaps Deno. So. All right. Anyway, what would mean more? I couldn't pick. I think, I think it's been so many since 1988. Notre Dame has not won a championship and Washington has, hasn't been in the playoffs for 20 plus years. I mean it's, it's so monumental in what both of these universe, the university and the team are accomplishing. I've been a part of a championship with the Washington. We were the Redskins at that time. I was in between championships when I was at Notre Dame. So you know, the Notre Dame, you know, the Notre Dame wins the national championship. That's sort of the one that I missed out on to a grit, I guess you could say, but I would, I can't pick it, I swear. I'm trying, I'm trying to weigh this in my mind, but I really, I want to see both of them win. That way I don't have to make a decision.
- [10:56]
Unnamed Speaker
And I think, Joe, we also have to go back to our previous conversation about culture and what Marcus Freeman has implanted with this program when taken over from Brian Kelly.
- [11:08]
Joe Theismann
He really has. And all you need to do for a reference point with Marcus is go back to the day that he was hired. They were in the locker room. Coach Kelly had decided to go to lsu, they said they all got together, got the team together. They made the announcement that Marcus was going to be the coach, and the guys erupted with joy. He had such respect from day one and has continued to carry on the message that he wants to this football team. All you need to do is listen to the interviews. It's never about Marcus, never about the coach. It's about the players. It's about the university. He's a great Notre Dame man. I know he went to Ohio State. We'll forgive him. But it's just that the culture that he's created, the expectations. I remember talking to Bill Belichick as a dear friend, and I asked Bill one day, what is it about? Is it about your football teams? And, you know, he said, it's about leadership, but it's also. It's about creating an environment and an expectation. You know, that's. That, to me, is what Marcus has done, and it's really what Dan has done. You create the environment, which is the culture, and then you have an expectation. Not of being average, not of just being good enough, but why not have the lofty goal to play for championships? Why not have that out there for guys to look at? Real quick story. We play Miami in the Super bowl in 1982. Walked into the locker room and Bubba Tyre, our trainer, had cut out the pictures of the 16 previous. We had a picture on the wall of the 16 previous Super bowl rings. And when you put your feet up to get your ankles taped, which everybody does right in front of you, was why we were there. We were there to get a ring. Because I defy people. This. I could ask 100 people and say, what is the winning share of the Super Bowl? What is. What do the winners get if you win the Super Bowl? 99 and 9. 10% of the people would have no idea what the number is, because it doesn't matter. The ring matters. It represents something very special.
- [13:21]
Unnamed Speaker
Joe, you know, you mentioned you're friends with Belichick, and now we know that he's making the move to college. I'm not going to ask, obviously, do you think he'll do well? Because he's a friend, you're going to say that he's going to do well. But the question that I have is, what do you think will prevent him from tiring on the college game and nil and the transfer portal and so many things, they're driving these coaches away from college football. How do you think he'll be able to withstand that?
- [13:45]
Joe Theismann
Well, you know, it's interesting that Was. That was the thing when he signed at North Carolina. You know, he and Nick are close, Saban and, you know, Nick Basic. I think Nick basically left the game because of all of the things that are going on. I don't know how you recruit as a college coach. I don't know how you keep people. All it is, it's how deep are the pockets of the universities to be able to keep the players. You know, we're getting, you know, just on another side note in the NFL, we're getting an unfinished product to a degree because guys are bouncing all over the place and have to be fundamentally taught, you know, their first year. Although Bo Nix is somewhat of an, you know, anomaly, I guess you could say. I. I think Bill's going to be successful. I mean, you know, let's face it. Hey, dad, Bill Belichick wants to come over and talk to us. Well, yeah, let's just, you know, we'll wait out here on the front yard and wait for him to pull up. But the challenge is going to be how are you going to keep the guys there. That's one thing that we've had at the university. We've done well in the portal when it comes to the quarterback position, but when you look at the guys that have committed to Notre Dame, we have not seen a lot of them go someplace else. And, you know, I don't think I'm wrong in making that statement. So it speaks to the university and that's the culture. I think we go back to culture. That's the culture Bill wants to build at North Carolina. He wants, he wants guys to be able to stay, at least stay two, three years and go do whatever you got to do, but, you know, get your education and, you know, whatever happened to education, you know, that now guys are playing, if you, I guess with Notre Dame and Ohio State in this game, I think. Is this the 15th game for a college season? Yeah, we had it all up.
- [15:24]
Unnamed Speaker
Playoffs. Sure.
- [15:24]
Dan Grasse
Yeah. Well, yeah, he's 14 and one now. Yeah. I guess it's 16.
- [15:28]
Joe Theismann
Yeah, they're playing the 16th game. Yeah, this. Welcome to. Welcome to professional football. You know, you're, you know, the. And this is the thing that, That I appreciate about the universe is the academic. Academics are stressed. You know, they had. He gave them time off to get ready for their exams, gave them time off to study for their exams. And Marcus has balanced it very, very well because, you know, not only, you know, as a professional coach, you have. That's their job. So you have them there. But as a Collegiate coach. You have to balance the academic part of it as well as the athletic part of it. Plus, there's that other little thing about college football. I believe that you're only allowed to coach these guys in person 20 hours a week. You know, 20 hours a week for us in the NFL is a day and a half.
- [16:22]
Dan Grasse
Yeah, right.
- [16:23]
Joe Theismann
And in the college ranks, it's very limited. So I think. I think Bill wanted the challenge. You know, what surprises me is now people are talking about Bill Belichick, you know, the Raiders. Tom Brady wants to talk to him about. Why didn't you talk to him before? What did you wait. It's not like he's been hidden on an island somewhere and all of a sudden emerged, you know, like Tom Hanks. He all of a sudden has now, you know, got his soccer ball and he's now emerged. You know, it's funny how when you make a decision that you're comfortable with, all of a sudden people start coming out of the woodwork and say, geez, we'd like to talk to him.
- [17:00]
Unnamed Speaker
Where were you before, Joe? How about you just brought up Tom Brady. Tom Brady's obviously lead analyst for Fox. You were a lead analyst for a long time in the broadcast booth. Could you imagine doing that job, as well as having a say in hirings and all that stuff, with an ownership stake in a football team at the same time?
- [17:18]
Joe Theismann
I think. I think it's challenging. I studied. It took me 60 hours a week to prepare for a football game. By the time I met with the coaches of both teams, by the time I met with the players, by the time I studied the film, by the time I put my spotting boards together, I know how long it took me to try and do my job the way, you know, I pack everything I want to do. I want to do a great job for the fans. You want to be able to present the best product to the fans. Tom is limited by the restrictions that the league has put on him. You know, he can't sit down with Ben Johnson. I mean, you know, and he can't travel to a facility to be able to talk. I don't know how. I don't know how it works. I don't know how are you able to get all the information that you could possibly share with the fans when you're not allowed to go places to get the information?
- [18:09]
Dan Grasse
Honestly, I think it's a joke. I do. I mean, he's making $35 million a year, like, so. Listen, Fox wants to spend the money, but you are not Getting the best analyst. If he can't put in the work, I mean, it's.
- [18:22]
Joe Theismann
I mean, I guarantee. And, you know, I guess it's, you know, if you're going to. Somebody's going to pay you $375 million, you basically make a decision. And Tom did that, and then the ownership stake came in for the Raiders, which is. Which is great for him, and I think it's. You know, it's a good thing. But how are you able. I'm still sort of trying to understand. How are you able to get all the information? Like I said, a lot of study goes into this a lot. You know, it's more than just playing the game and being out of the game. So recently, there's so many other elements because there's so many other teams that, you know, let's face it, Tom's only been really with two teams, you know, and most of it, you know, in New England. So there's one culture, one. But what about all those others in the league that. That you can learn from and need to be able to share? I just think it's. It's challenging not to have the full amount of opportunity to be able to access the information that the fan is interested in, that I'm interested in as a fan.
- [19:25]
Dan Grasse
Well, we were interested in you today. Terrific job as usual. Good luck to the Commanders, good luck to Notre Dame, and we'll talk to you down the road, man. Really appreciate it.
- [19:33]
Joe Theismann
Yeah, when you mentioned those two, I got a little smile on my face.
- [19:37]
Unnamed Speaker
Good times. Thanks, Joe. It was a pleasure.
- [19:39]
Dan Grasse
Thank you so much.
- [19:40]
Joe Theismann
Bye. Bye.
- [19:41]
Dan Grasse
He brings up a great point. I'm glad you were able to follow up that question, Dan, because, listen, Fox can do whatever they want with their money, but you cannot tell me that you're getting the bang for your buck from the analyst if he's not able to put in the work. And the one thing about Joe. And listen, people don't have a halfway opinion about Joe Theisman. You either love him or hate him. I get it. He's a very opinionated guy. But the one thing I think everybody agree on, he did a terrific job with Mike Patrick back in the day, the original Sunday Night Football and espn. And he put in the work, and you want to do the bad. And I'm not saying that Tom is wrong here, all right, that Tom is supposed to just do the right thing and resign from Fox or whatever, but as soon as he bought into Vegas, I think the contract should have been null and void. Move on. I mean, so Basically, he's being paid to be Tom Brady. And it's nice to have Tom Brady, the greatest winner in the history of the NFL to be on your broadcasts. You can't tell me that he's putting in the work necessary to do that gig.
- [20:38]
Unnamed Speaker
Right? You're doing it with one. One hand tied behind your back is essentially what's happening.
- [20:42]
Dan Grasse
Like, you know, he's not allowed at the facility. He's not allowed to be able to talk to the coaches. He's not allowed to criticize the officials during broadcast. There's a lot of things that he's restricted to do. And on top of, he's the highest paid analyst to do it. I mean, I just think that's when.
- [20:58]
Unnamed Speaker
When I was, when I was growing up, do you know how many times I would be like, just floored? Like, me and my nerd football fandom type thing when I'm watching a game and let's say it would, it would usually happen, Don in particular on like a trick play. And then you'd hear the analyst and say, oh, that was. We saw them try that at practice on Friday. We're like, wow, they get to go watch practice. And they say, you know, Tom Brady can't do that, not watching practice. He's not meeting with the starting quarterbacks. He can't talk to these players. Like, it's unbelievable that this thing goes on and they're paying them what they're paying.
- [21:28]
Dan Grasse
You take it for granted because you hear it all the time. You know, when we spoke to the coach on Wednesday or this guy. That all comes from being there. And you know, now that now they develop zoom meetings. But back in the day, you'd be, you know, flying out to, to the game. You were calling to be able to talk to these coaches in person and find out who's heard, get, get whatever inside information you had to because it was just so vitally important because there's only, you know, back then, only 16 games. Now 17, soon to be 18. Yeah, it's, it's really interesting stuff.
- [21:58]
Don LaGreca
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [22:02]
Dan Grasse
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [22:03]
Don LaGreca
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [22:11]
Dan Grasse
Let's get back to the busy phones. 1-800-919-3776. Let's go to Richard in Manhattan. How are you, buddy? There it is.
- [22:20]
Unnamed Caller
Hi, Don, Dan. You guys were great with Joe Theisman. Oh, that was great.
- [22:25]
Unnamed Speaker
Mediocre and bust Rich. Mediocre at Best?
- [22:28]
Unnamed Caller
No, it was. And listen, I'm old enough. I remember when Notre Dame was not allowed to go to bowl games. I think Joe might have been the first quarterback in 70, 71 when they played Texas back to back Cotton Bowls. Two of the greatest games I've ever seen. They lost the first one and won the second. Either then or he might have came the year after, I'm not sure. Notre Dame was not allowed to go to the bowl games for 15 years. University didn't want the students to come out. Fellas, here's how I go with the Jets. I like the Bible and you can't go wrong with the Bible. Now the Yankees have Aaron Judge, Aaron Boone, and as we know, Moses brother was Aaron. So why don't the jets go with Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Glenn? Okay, can't do too bad with that. Now as far as the football playoffs, we had four first round college football playoff games. We had six first round NFL playoff games first round. Out of the 10 games, only one was good. Only one was. That's the similarity. So 90% of those first round games were awful. Okay, there's another similarity between the two. In the college you had SMU should not have been there instead of Alabama should have been in there. In the NFL you had Pittsburgh shouldn't have been there and you had Cincinnati should have been there. So that's how I look at those similarities.
- [23:52]
Unnamed Speaker
But they earned it by. See the comments is a ranking system. But the NFL thing, I mean that's record, that's wins.
- [23:58]
Unnamed Caller
And I'm just talking about how I feel and what I see and Rich.
- [24:02]
Unnamed Speaker
I understand, I, I understand but I mean the football one, I got one for, for you. But you know what's funny about Cincinnati real quick, Richard, Coulda, shoulda. And they were hot and everything.
- [24:11]
Unnamed Caller
Yes, I know, I know, I know.
- [24:13]
Unnamed Speaker
No, no, but think about, think about this.
- [24:15]
Unnamed Caller
Guys.
- [24:18]
Dan Grasse
Get out of the way.
- [24:19]
Unnamed Speaker
I'll just leave.
- [24:20]
Unnamed Caller
I got again, this is for you this morning, Rich.
- [24:22]
Unnamed Speaker
I'm not gonna answer. I'm not gonna answer.
- [24:24]
Unnamed Caller
Okay, how's that?
- [24:25]
Unnamed Speaker
Because you talk all over us, we try to make a point and you're sitting there by a train.
- [24:30]
Dan Grasse
This is Richard.
- [24:32]
Unnamed Caller
I watched Emma Navarro this morning play in a three and a half hour match against another American girl. Now Emma Navarro is the daughter of a billionaire and she can win a championship in tennis we haven't had. And she's from New York, born in New York. We haven't had a New York born tennis champion since. As you guys know, John McEnroe so I think that would be fantastic. I root for her. And it was a some match this morning watching her. She beat a fellow American and it was a three and a half hour match. Seven six, six, seven, seven five. Unbelievable. And Don, this is the last one for your father. I was looking back at one of my old New York Giant year books. I didn't know this. Now the AM station for the Giants of course was Aldi Regardis the regard Marty Glickman and Kyle rhode. This is 1966. It was on 1130 WNEW that we knew, but I didn't know it was simulcast on FM 102.7. I didn't even know that station existed back in those days. But anyway, I just saw that. Fellas, always a pleasure. Sorry, Dan, if I got in your way.
- [25:38]
Dan Grasse
I'm sorry. That's Dan's fault. Now, Dan, Dan apologizes to you because you don't stand in front of a moving train.
- [25:44]
Unnamed Caller
I know.
- [25:45]
Dan Grasse
You just don't do it. Hey, first of all, he doesn't care what you have to say. He just wants to get his point out. That's on you. That's like blaming the train for being on the tracks.
- [26:01]
Unnamed Speaker
Nice automotive comparison there.
- [26:03]
Dan Grasse
It's just there's a lot going on there and.
- [26:07]
Unnamed Speaker
No, but what I was going to say though, about like with Cincinnati, isn't it funny that like we sit there and pay no attention and we always use the excuse it's early. What happens in like the first couple of weeks of the season? Cincinnati, think back. That horrible loss they had week one at home to the crappy Patriots, that cost them a spot in the playoffs, essentially.
- [26:24]
Dan Grasse
And there was so many tough losses. The Kansas City loss, if you remember, they had control of that. Listen, you're so right. It's a little arbitrary when you get to college football, but in the NFL it's, hey, Pittsburgh deserved to go and Cincinnati didn't. But, well, like, this is what happens.
- [26:41]
Unnamed Speaker
You lose to the Chiefs, you suck it up as well. We lost to the champs, but like that Patriot, remember, we all, like the Patriots, were not far off from what we all thought they were going to be. We all thought they were going to be one of the worst teams in the league. But then when they pulled that upset week one in Cincinnati, which knocked out about 75% of the Survivor pools across the country, people were like, oh, what? And lo and behold, that one win, if they had it in their pocket. We're singing a different story here.
- [27:04]
Dan Grasse
Well, let's go to Gina in Stony Brook. You're on ESPN New York. How are you, Gina?
- [27:09]
Unnamed Caller
Hi, Don.
- [27:10]
Dan Grasse
How are you?
- [27:12]
Unnamed Caller
Good. How are you?
- [27:13]
Dan Grasse
Very good.
- [27:14]
Unnamed Caller
I. I wanted to say good luck to Peter's wife in labor. And Don, I have a story for you and how you are a big part of my son's birthday as well. If you can hear him in the background.
- [27:24]
Dan Grasse
Okay.
- [27:26]
Unnamed Caller
So my husband saw his opportunity to call in for me and of course he had yes on in the hospital room. The TV was literally right in front of me. And your talking kept the both of us, I think, very calm.
- [27:40]
Dan Grasse
Okay.
- [27:40]
Unnamed Caller
I had my son at 4:42 in the afternoon. So you were on the TV. And it's just something that always made me.
- [27:53]
Dan Grasse
How old is he now?
- [27:54]
Unnamed Caller
Very exciting experience. He just turned two. But we tell him all the time when. Well, we miss your face on TV now that you're on the radio, but we still listen to you anyway. But it's a very. Yes, it was a very, very, very great moment that we can remember you.
- [28:14]
Dan Grasse
Well, I'm glad I was able to help. I could not be in the room for the birth of my children, but it was nice to be at least in the room for the birth of yours.
- [28:22]
Unnamed Caller
Well, just know that. Yes, it was very nice. So thank you for that.
- [28:27]
Dan Grasse
Oh, well, thank you, Gina. We will pass along the message to Peter. We're still waiting word to to hear when little Guadalupe is going to be with us. So I'll have to wait and see. But I guess you probably went to labor, what like 1:30 and was using said this can go on until like tomorrow morning. So we're gonna find out. But it's nice to be a part of somebody's lives, Dan.
- [28:49]
Unnamed Speaker
Oh, definitely. Absolutely. If you can be in some way shape or form, that's great. It's a memory she's always going to have.
- [28:55]
Dan Grasse
All right, let's dive back into the phones, talk to Jose in Brooklyn. You're on ESPN New York.
- [29:00]
Unnamed Caller
Good afternoon, Don, Dan. Shout out to the company and condolences to Alan and celebrations for Peter for coming up with Guadalupe and the baby is going to be an awesome experience. But how had a two points. One was the was a jetpoint. And I'll say this quickly, if anyone ever from Steelertown wants to get rid of Mike Tomlin, I me without a driver's license will gladly drive to Pittsburgh, pick up Mike Tomlin and drive him right back to Jet Drive and pretty much, you know, go on our merry way.
- [29:41]
Unnamed Speaker
Why don't you have a driver's license, Jose?
- [29:45]
Unnamed Caller
Me as A city kid and I grew up in New York and my career kind of pretty much and my job required me to stay in New York. So I kind of never really, you know, got that life skill.
- [29:56]
Unnamed Speaker
I don't know if it was like a legal issue that you didn't have it. They like the state took it away from you or something.
- [30:02]
Unnamed Caller
No, definitely. So for the. And then for the Sam Darnold point. For Sam Darnold and I think. Because I just think that the premium of the quarterback position is. So it's such a dire need that I think he's gonna Sally get his money anyway. Because seeing how like when we saw this 14 game, see this 14, 14 win season, it was way more than what Daniel Jones had done done when you look at the statistics and how the game flow was. So it's like if Daniel Jones was able to get his money, I think Sam Darnold is going to get his money. It's just going to be depending on the team. And we all saw Kirk Cousins pretty much made. Got two big contracts from, from the Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons over the. You like that game. So I, I really think that we might be getting a little overblown with the.
- [31:00]
Dan Grasse
I think it's going to be. Bart Scott said it earlier and Jose, thank you for the phone call. He's still going to get $40 million. Now Daniel Jones got 40 a year for four years, but there was an out after two. I don't, I don't think Daniel Jones. I don't think Sam Darnold's got to worry about that. And he might make more north of 40. It's all about need. He's proven that he can play in this league and we're not going to base two games and just have it ruin everything. But he did cost himself money, Dan, though. Make no mistake about that. But I, I do think he's going to get himself a hefty contract and, and there will be suitors out there. There will. And the jets and the Giants both should be online if Aaron Rodgers decides to retire. I think both the jets and the Giants should try to get into Sam Darnold business.
- [31:44]
Unnamed Speaker
It's a supply and demand market. Right? I mean that's. And it's like that every single year. I mean, you brought up a guy, Kirk Cousins or Jose brought up Kirk Cousins. Guess what? Kirk Cousins ain't going to be the starting quarterback in Atlanta next year, but there's going to be another team in the NFL that has a need for, for the position they're going to call up and try to get him from the Falcons because he's a veteran. Even though he didn't have a very good year this year, he's more than capable of at least holding the fourth.
- [32:04]
Dan Grasse
Down and that'll drive the price up. If there are multiple teams interested. 40 becomes 45. Now do I think it'll get to 50 plus? Probably not, but I think there's going to be a nice contract out there for him and I think it's well deserved. We had baba shoes and on he's like, I hope the demand lessens because I want the jets to get them cheaper. You know, I, I don't know if the jets want to go back into that. But listen, it's a different regime, right? And, and I think, you know, listen, Sam Darnold did not play well as a Jet, but I think mostly it was because of a bunch of different extenuating circumstances. The changes in regimes, the, the changes in personnel. Him getting Mono in that second year, remember his last month, that of that 2018 season, he had like what, the fourth best quarterback rating in the NFL and then he got mono. And that whole season kind of ended up being a disaster for a multitude of reasons, but given the right circumstances, I think that he can win a championship. I don't know, but are we talking championship with the Giants and Jets? Are we just talking to try to get unstable ground here, be a playoff team, win double digit games, be in the conversation like, who has the arrogance, Dan, to sit there and go, well, you can't win a championship with Mike Tomlin. You can't win a championship with Sam Darnold. Are we talking championship with jets and Giants? Are we talking just trying to stop from being an embarrassment?
- [33:20]
Unnamed Speaker
It's called you got to learn how to walk before you can run.
- [33:23]
Dan Grasse
Right? Right. God forbid. You've been, you've been stuck on the couch for the last five years and now you say, oh, I want to win a marathon. Well, good luck getting from one stage to the other. Can you at least get up from the seat? Can you at least walk to the bathroom yourself instead of crawling? I mean, it's ridiculous.
- [33:40]
Unnamed Speaker
You mean fans for these teams, like wouldn't have done anything to have them playing this past weekend? Like, like I, like I was thinking about it like the regular season ended just the previous weekend and I was thinking back to being at the stadium for the season finale against the Dolphins and everything and I was like, boy, that was only a week ago, but it felt like two months ago that's the difference in the separation between teams that don't make the playoffs and teams that do make the playoffs. Like, it almost feels like the playoffs are another dimension from the regular season when you ax off, what is it, the 18 teams or whatever that did not qualify for the place. It's like they're in a different league.
- [34:17]
Don LaGreca
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [34:21]
Dan Grasse
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
- [34:22]
Don LaGreca
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
- [34:30]
Dan Grasse
So I don't know if you saw this, Dan, but it kind of went viral over the weekend, the Eagle Packer game, I guess. There was a Packer fan at the link, and there was a fan sitting behind her and he just berated her with some of the most filthiest language that you can say to a woman. And of course, it was caught on video, as is going to happen in modern times. And it went viral and the first bit of punishment came down that the Eagles banned him from the link, which I don't know how enforceable it is, but we've seen that happen. No big deal, right? And because it happened on the Internet and we have the ability now to track people down, we found out who the individual was. His name is Ryan Caldwell, and he works at a company called BC Partners, which is actually located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, really far from me, by Rutgers University. Well, we just found out that that company has fired him.
- [35:33]
Unnamed Speaker
Naga. Naga, not gonna. Not gonna work here anymore.
- [35:37]
Dan Grasse
And now Anthony can actually get that reference after seeing, yes, Office Space. Now I'm reading the comments and there are people that think, hey, he shouldn't lose his job. And he didn't, you know, lay a hand on her. Let me tell you something. In my opinion, it has become such a vile place to go to games now. And this is. It's not coming from. Oh, I'm a Giant fan. Hate the Eagles. If anybody's listened to this show or listened to me over the years, I've always been very supportive of going to Philadelphia. I've gone to Flyer games, I've gone to Philly games. I think it can be a bit overrated. The Philly fans are the worst in the world or whatever. So I'm not coming from a place there. But I'm just saying that whether it's what happened to Yankee Stadium during the World Series, grabbing at a player, I think that sometimes fans think because they're super fans that they can treat people any way they want. And the worst that can happen to them is that they get kicked out of the building. Well, you know what? Maybe there are consequences to go beyond that. Now, did they go too far firing the guy? Hey, that's the way it is in the world. That company doesn't want you working for them anymore. So sometimes you got to pay the price, whether it's fair or not. You know, you act like an ass, and sometimes you pay the price. So I don't really mind it, Dan, because I think there has to be consequences for the actions of these fans because you, quote unquote, are a super fan thinks that you can just do whatever you want. In what world is it okay to go out there and touch a player like what happened in Yankee Stadium. In what world is it okay just because somebody wears a jersey different than yours that you could sit there and just berate her during the course of the game using every filthy language in the book? No, I'm sorry. There's got to be consequences for that, Dan. So I don't feel one bit remorse for this guy whatsoever. He acted like a jerk, and it cost him his job. All right? Does it seem like it's a little too much? Maybe. But hey, maybe there's got to be consequences for actions like that, because I think these fans take it way too far because they know at the end of the day what's going to happen to me. Well, you know what? This can happen to you.
- [37:35]
Unnamed Speaker
Yeah. It's not saying that he should never work again. He's just not going to work at the place he's currently employed, and that's his bed. You shouldn't treat people like that. And this is one of those instances where good job is using social media as a tool to be able to out this guy and to kind of have him face the consequences. Full disclosure. And you and I were talking about this even before the show today. I still have not heard what he said to that person, because I did see it, of course, online, but I didn't even have the volume up because I knew what direction this thing was heading, and I didn't even want to hear it because nothing good could have come from it. It's disgusting.
- [38:08]
Unnamed Caller
I would say.
- [38:08]
Dan Grasse
Oh, I'm not going to give you that much detail, but it's the worst woman, right?
- [38:12]
Unnamed Speaker
Exactly. It's like, would you say that to a woman if you're. If you're walking past her on. It's disgusting. You know what I'm saying? And it's like, I just looking at the video, though, like, she wasn't doing anything to provoke it, to egg it on. What, because she was wearing Packer stuff? She was rooting for the visiting team, but it wasn't like she was getting in people's faces or anything like that. Not that it would have made it right either, but I mean, in this day and age, it's kind of sickening that a human being can't pay their hard earned money and go to watch their favorite team play if it just so happens to be in an opposing ballpark, stadium, arena, you name it.
- [38:45]
Dan Grasse
Yeah, it's. It's ridiculous. And again, it's all fan bases. Every arena here, everywhere. I've seen it all. All in the name of I will, I'm a super fan, or I love the team so much. And what ends up happening is you get support from the fans that root for your team just based on that, like, oh, I'm gonna support this guy because I'm an Eagle fan and I am gonna. I want to support him. He shouldn't lose his job. You shouldn't be able to. No. You're telling me in a free country that a Packer fan can't go support her team wearing Packer garb, but that that's what she has to go through or, or not go or, or go not wearing our Packer stuff? No, that's not the way it's supposed to be. I'm sorry. And. And just because you happen to be a super fan. No, you're a super idiot. So I don't feel bad for him whatsoever.
- [39:33]
Unnamed Speaker
And I guess the Eagles have reached out as an organization to that fan, the woman, and you know, obviously extended an apology and all those things and apparently like gave her a bunch of packers gear. That's kind of like an olive branch.
- [39:45]
Dan Grasse
Because it's got to stop, Dan. It just. It has to stop. You know, and I didn't think much of it when I was younger and all that, but, you know, now that I. Because I want to be able to bring my kids to a game and not hear that kind of language and people being treated that way and it's an all sport. I mean, I saw something with the Flyers and Maple Leafs the other day and just a flyer fan just beating the hell out of a Leaf fan, you know, again, I don't know the whole story. Did that person deserve it? That that person say something? But that's not the atmosphere that you want. You want it to be about family. You want to be able to go and enjoy a game and root and cheer and not have to Worry about getting hit by something, punched or berated. Come on, be civilized people. Honestly. And it doesn't make you any better of a fan. What? You're a better fan than me because you berated the other team's fan that made that makes you a bigger fan than me. That wouldn't say anything that would have left her alone. But that seems to be the case. Right? Like I guess, I guess Don just isn't as big a fan because he didn't, you know, berate the person. It's just stupid, honestly, if you really think about it, it's just really stupid. And for the amount of money that you pay for these tickets and the amount of money that you pay for parking and the conditions in which you have to sit and watch these games, especially football where you're sitting in your own filth where it's 20 degrees and getting snowed on and you can't even see the replay and you don't even know who's hurt. I mean really, honestly, I don't even know why you go anymore.
- [41:04]
Unnamed Speaker
Well, that's why. I mean at least next Sunday when the Eagles are playing again, that fan can, can you know, he's throw a big party, have a bunch of people over his house to root the Eagles on because he doesn't have to get up for work the next day.
- [41:13]
Dan Grasse
That's right. So somebody else will pay for it because he didn't have a job. Let's, let's go to jj North Carolina. Always good to talk to him. How are you buddy?
- [41:22]
Unnamed Caller
Good.
- [41:22]
H
Guys, I'll tell you, you're just bringing up the, the office space with your berating. Anthony. I was listening live that day and I was like, I think I was still in college. I was like 21 and the next day I haven't seen it yet. So I got my buddy, my roommate and we watched it and I quoted all the time when you guys just talking to about whoever and just saying Bob at the end of everything. Just referring to everyone as Bob. One of the funniest, one of the funniest three hours and I thank you guys for that.
- [41:51]
Dan Grasse
Well, I appreciate that very person for. Thank you jj.
- [41:56]
H
You know it's funny with the you guys are talking about, you know, Justin Fields as a possible candidate. I've and you know last or a couple weeks ago when you guys had the show, just the two of you are mentioning how the, the Bears are in such disarray. You don't want to become then I've been a die hard Bears fan since you Know, I could remember. And it's funny because my family's all from New York and New Jersey. They're Giants and Jets fans. And when we get together every Christmas, it's like, same thing, different year. We all have the same problems with, you know, coaching general managers. Dan, you're saying, you know, you don't want to become the Bears and have a general manager fire a coach. The general manager stays, hire a new coach. They. They hired. They. They had Ryan Pace as a gm. They. They hired John Fox. That didn't work out. They keep Ryan Pace and then hire Matt Nagy, who's pretty good, but then they keep Matt Nagy because he was, like, solid. They fire Pace and then, you know, the whole polls and then Eber flutes. So if I was the Giants, specifically the Giants, I would just get rid of both of them to hire, get a new regime in. You don't want to keep going through this endless cycle. And when you. When you make one mistake like that, it could cost you at least three years. I've seen it with the Bears. I think Caleb Williams can be really a stud. But besides that, Justin Fields, I saw him. I don't think he got a fair shake as, like, close to what Sam Darnold got through. I think he could be another great reclamation project. He can make. I'm telling you, he can make. When I've seen unbiased. Trying to be as unbiased as possible, I think he can make every throw on the field. He just needs to get through his reads better. And if you coach him up, a great offensive guru can make. Him. Can make him a better. You know, he's obviously got the. All the legs, and he can. And he can run for days. He just needs to get better with his reads and his.
- [43:49]
Unnamed Speaker
He's got the. He's jj. He's got the physical tools.
- [43:52]
Dan Grasse
Yeah, he's got it.
- [43:53]
Unnamed Speaker
You're spot on with that. He's got the physical tools. But again, he. He started off in Pittsburgh this year because Russ wasn't ready. He went 4 and 2. But then Mike Tomlin felt that Russell Wilson gave him a better chance of playing. The thing that I like about Justin Fields, when he got benched ultimately here with Pittsburgh this year, done, he didn't point fingers. You know what he said? He sat there and said, I needed to play better. And this was a guy who was 4 and 2. And a lot of quarterbacks and players in that situation would look at it as well. I'm getting a raw deal. We're winning like how dare they bench me? I'm a first round pick. I'm a, I'm a future star. No, he said I needed to play better. And you like that about a guy like that?
- [44:30]
Dan Grasse
No, that's. Those, those are the guys that'll actually be better. But that's what I was arguing with. The Giants, keeping everybody. Yeah, I understand they got two years left on their contract, but if you were to draft a quarterback, which I guess they still could, then that means you have to continue to keep that regime beyond his rookie year, which means now you're going to have to extend them at the end of the 25 season, which might be another four or five, one year.
- [44:52]
Unnamed Speaker
Right. Because if the quarterback get, let's say if you draft the quarterback and he gets off to a horrible start this year, 10 games in, you then have to sit there and decipher, is it the quarterback or is it the coaching? You know what I'm saying? And if you think it's the coaching, you're pulling the plug on that, which you should have did at the end of the previous year. And now you're just making things more difficult for this young quarterback.
- [45:11]
Dan Grasse
Yeah, it's, it's, it's a really tough spot.
- [45:14]
Don LaGreca
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
- [45:18]
Unnamed Speaker
I don't want to know how the.
- [45:19]
Don LaGreca
Sausage is made, man.
- [45:19]
Joe Theismann
I just want to know.
- [45:20]
Don LaGreca
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.