Don, Hahn & Rosenberg | Hour 3: Knicks & Damien Woody (Nov 6, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this lively third hour, Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg tackle New York Knicks optimism, self-scouting in sports, and the wild Joe Burrow-to-Jets speculation. Special guest Damien Woody joins for hard-hitting takes on the quarterback arms race, the culture overhaul with the Jets, and the rigors of New York sports fandom. The hosts balance analysis and banter, peppering the hour with sports wisdom, hyper-local flavor, and signature laughs.

Knicks' Strong Home Start & Coaching Overhaul

[00:36-02:55] Hahn reflects on the Knicks’ unbeaten 5-0 home start and traces it back to past successes.

• Establishing home dominance is considered crucial, both for the Knicks and in comparison to the Rangers.
• The transition to new coach Mike Brown, after a trip to the conference finals, was rocky but is now showing signs of promise—highlighted by an 83-point second half against the Timberwolves (last season’s Western Conference finalists).
  • Quote - Alan Hahn [02:28]:
    “If you’re a head coach, that’s your kind of way of looking back, not just at your team, but to an entire market, saying, I told you, you gotta give this a minute. But once it pops, it’s going to look pretty special.”

Are Conference Finals ‘Fool’s Gold’?

[02:55-05:02] Don pushes back on the narrative that a deep playoff run means a championship is nearly within reach.

• Conference finals success can be a mirage—teams often overrate their closeness to a title.

  • Quote - Don LaGreca [02:55]:
    “I don’t think there’s any bigger fool’s gold in sports than conference finals appearances or championship game appearances, because, hear me out—it sounds like you’re close, but you’re really only halfway there.”

• The group debates whether making late playoff exits actually reflects being “close” or just papering over fundamental shortcomings.

[05:02-08:13] Hahn and Rosenberg cite specific examples—Knicks, Rangers, Jets, Giants—where getting to the cusp didn’t actually mean being close to a title.

• It’s not always a matter of talent; often, something intangible is missing (collective focus, killer instinct, or locker room chemistry).

Self-Scouting and Locker Room Dynamics

[08:13-12:40] Hahn stresses the importance of “self-scouting”—objectively assessing your team after a deep run, rather than running it back just because it almost worked.

• The Knicks’ recent changes were necessary, even if firing a successful coach (Tibbs) was emotionally tough.

  • Quote - Alan Hahn [09:35]:
    “The hardest thing to do after a run that feels successful but doesn’t end in a championship is to self-scout. I love that phrase.”

• Hahn reveals insider info that confirmed Tom Thibodeau had lost the locker room:

  • Quote - Alan Hahn [09:55]:
    “There are guys that do...still love Tibs...but also acknowledge, yeah, it kind of run its course. And in the room, the players...the blame lies in the locker room.”

• The new coaching transition is compared to changes in the podcast lineup, stressing the need for patience and adjustment for both teams and audiences.

Jets, Joe Burrow Speculation & NFL ‘Arms Race’

Should the Jets Swing Big for a Quarterback?

[13:44-19:02] The hosts debate Alan’s “crazy” proposal: The Jets should trade their draft haul for Joe Burrow.

• Don reads texts from his Jets-fan circle, skeptical but intrigued.
• Peter calls the idea “crazy,” but Don and Alan argue there’s a slim, non-zero possibility.
  • Quote - Don LaGreca [16:47]:
    “It’s a lot closer to 50 than it is to zero.”
  • Quote - Alan Hahn [18:46]:
    “This thing can’t get turned over with a 22 year old...We gotta do it with a guy who walks in here and changes the culture just being here...there’s no price too high.”

[19:10-23:02] Deep dive into trade precedent, risk, and New York’s history of QB desperation.

• Trade history: Herschel Walker deal, Ricky Williams, “what’s the most firsts ever given up?”
• The hosts agree the Jets’ draft-pick haul means they can “get into any conversation you want” for a QB.
• Peter questions if Burrow would really want to be in New York’s massive spotlight.

Damian Woody Interview: What Would It Take for Burrow (or Any Elite QB) to Become a Jet?

[27:21-30:46] Damian Woody joins the show.

• Woody says any trade for Burrow ultimately “comes down to Joe Burrow himself” deciding he wants out and that’s the only way it would happen.

  • Quote - Damian Woody [29:18]:
    “If Joe Burrow himself says, you know what, Bengals, I’m done...he will be traded. Okay? We saw it with Carson Palmer. Hell, Carson Palmer retired because he got tired of playing for the Bengals.”
  • Quote - Damian Woody [30:31]:
    “This market is not for everyone. But if you have the balls to come to New York and you turn this thing around, you are a made man. There is nothing like New York.”

• Woody is adamant: Trevor Lawrence isn’t cut out for NYC and isn’t proven enough.

  • Quote - Damian Woody [31:09]:
    “Trevor Lawrence can’t—he’s like, he hasn’t shown me anything in Jacksonville. Could you imagine Trevor Lawrence in New York? Oh, heck, no.”

[31:51-34:02] Alan and Woody agree the Jets need to trade for a proven QB, not draft and develop again.

• Woody points out owner Woody Johnson’s impatience; the timeline for development may not fit the franchise’s needs.
• “If you get a dog like Joe Burrow...that accelerates the whole process tremendously.” – Damian Woody [33:40]

Do the Jets Have the Right Coach? Giants’ Direction

[34:02-36:43] Woody gives Aaron Glenn, the new Jets coach, an ‘incomplete’—too early to know if he’s the answer.

• Glenn is installing a “culture shock”—trading away stars to remake the locker room.
• The next 1–2 years will tell if he’s the guy.

[36:43-38:56] Giants/Jets Tanking: Root for coach or for losses?

• Damian says for the Giants it’s about finding the right QB; for the Jets, it’s about seeing if players will play for the new coach.

Organizational Stability & Quarterback Consistency

[37:23-38:56] Peter asks about how elite teams (Buffalo/KC/Philly) sustain success through injuries. Woody chalks it up to ownership, front office, and especially having an elite QB.

• Quote - Damian Woody [37:45]:
  “Those organizations… have dudes at quarterback. They got guys that basically lifts up players around them. When you have all of those things working in your favor, that’s how...they’re able to have sustainable success.”

• Losing the elite QB is the one injury that can’t be overcome.

Lighter Moments, Devoted Fandom, & Show Crossover

[39:03-44:48] Banter about Islanders games, family fandom, and possible live show plans.

• Don invites Woody to the broadcast booth for an Islanders-Devils game; talk of possibly doing a live remote broadcast.

[44:48-47:29] Fun segment on Don’s son Marco having to “declare” his favorite teams (a mock college hat ceremony).

• Plan made for a segment where Marco picks hats to declare his fandom for hockey, baseball, etc.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On coaching changes after apparent success:
  “You’re flabbergasted by making a change when you’re that close. But honestly… are you with the Knicks that close to winning at all? And the answer is no, they weren’t.” — Don LaGreca [04:59]

• On New York’s pressure-cooker sports environment:
  “If you have the balls to come to New York and you turn this thing around, you are a made man… but if you don’t…” — Damian Woody [30:31]

• On aggressive pursuit of a star QB:
  “All it will take is Joe Burrow or his agent to say, I don’t like what’s going on here… maybe you make it happen and maybe Cincinnati listens. You never know.” — Alan Hahn [23:02]

• On trusting again after past QB heartbreaks:
  “We’re all afraid to love again. We’re afraid to trust. I totally understand it. But this is… a prime megastar that if you could do it, I think you gotta see…what’s the cost?” — Alan Hahn [48:46]

Segment Timestamps (Selected Highlights)

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | 00:36 | Knicks’ strong 5-0 start at MSG, home court importance | | 02:55 | “Fool’s gold” of conference finals & coaching shake-ups | | 08:13 | Locker room realities behind Thibodeau’s exit | | 13:44 | Joe Burrow/Jets QB speculation kicks off | | 19:10 | Trade precedent and ‘arms race’ discussion | | 27:21 | Damien Woody interview (trade logistics, Burrow’s future) | | 34:02 | Do the Jets have the right coach? | | 37:23 | Peter asks why some franchises survive injuries better | | 39:03 | NHL/lifestyle crossover, Don invites Woody to a Devils game | | 44:48 | All-in on Don’s son’s fandom ‘declaration’ segment |

Takeaways

• The Knicks’ hot home start has Hahn bullish, but the hosts caution that playoff “almosts” can conceal deeper issues—true championship contention requires sharp self-scouting and tough choices.
• The hosts deliver a nuanced, realistic (but slightly hopeful) debate about the likelihood and wisdom of the Jets using their draft capital for a proven star like Joe Burrow. Damian Woody reinforces that player agency and New York’s unique pressures make such a blockbuster more than just a numbers game.
• Both locker room culture and front office vision are recurring themes, with insights into why “running it back” after moderate success may not be the right move in pro sports.
• The balance of laughs (Marco’s fandom declaration) and pointed sports talk makes this hour a classic Don, Hahn & Rosenberg episode—honest, knowing, and unmistakably New York.