Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: More Reindeer Games & Damien Woody Date: December 11, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca (Don), Alan Hahn (Alan), Peter Rosenberg (Rosenberg)
Special Guest: Damien Woody

Episode Overview

This episode pivots around major shakeups in New York sports—mainly the Mets and Jets—and a blend of trademark banter, strong opinions, and guest insights. The first half dissects potential Mets blockbuster moves and fan reactions, while the second half hosts a spirited segment with former NFL player Damien Woody, exploring the Jets, Joe Burrow, the AFC North, and the challenges of football culture (and Hallmark movies).

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mets Rumors: Lindor Trade Talks & Roster Philosophy

• [00:55] Don introduces "Reindeer Games Mach 2"—rumors sparked about a possible Francisco Lindor trade to the Padres, maybe for Xander Bogaerts and closer Mason Miller.
  • Both Lindor and Bogaerts have long, hefty contracts. Lindor’s is a year shorter but larger in value.
  • Don: “Bogarts is a little bit older. He's not the hitter that Lindor is. ... Lindor had a tough year defensively—now, is that just an aberration or a sign of things to come?”
    ([04:56])
• Team Strategy Under GM Stearns: Stearns may be systematically unloading players he didn’t acquire, driven not just by money but by building “his guys.”
  • Alan adds: “It most likely [is] the ones that just aren’t Stern’s guys ... wants to build the team completely in his likeness.” ([08:10])
• Fan Frustration: Listeners (and friends texting Don) are baffled, feeling owner Steve Cohen’s billions and “money’s no object” claims should stave off penny-pinching and keep stars.
  • Don clarifies: “I thought Cohen, the money's no object. ...They didn’t want Pete Alonso, period.” ([07:08])
• Emotional Attachments vs. Winning: Alan questions the “forever Met” narrative, noting nostalgia shouldn’t trump legitimate improvement:
  • “You cannot overdo this. ...there's a difference between a guy who was pretty good in an era in which nothing great happened.” ([20:12])

2. Evaluating Moves Without Full Context

• Wait-and-See Perspective: Don and Alan repeatedly urge patience—let Stearns execute his full plan before panicking.
  • Don: “Can we just wait, Peter? Can we just wait to see what he does? I'll be right there leading the charge ...if I don't recognize half the guys on the roster...” ([11:49])
• On Trading Fan Favorites: Comparisons made to past big franchise moves—trading for Gary Carter, letting Don Mattingly retire—underscore that winning brings acceptance for newcomers.
  • Don: “Yankee fans who loved Don Mattingly ...found a way to embrace Tino Martinez when they won all those championships...” ([21:16])
• Championships > “Forever Players”:
  • Don: “I don't want my glory days to be ...losing in conference finals. ...I want the glory days to be championships.” ([18:10])

3. Joe Burrow, the Jets & NFL Quarterback Drama (with Damien Woody)

Scene-Setting Banter

• [27:12] The hosts rib Damien Woody about his missed "Napoleon Dynamite" viewing due to Hallmark Channel hostage crisis—a running joke on Hallmark movie overload during the holidays.
  • Woody: “My wife had told me hostage with the Hallmark Channel, so...” ([27:19])
  • Rosenberg: “This time of year kills you.” ([27:48])
• Phone Line Glow-Up: The hosts joke about Woody’s historically bad phone lines, marveling at the improvement this year.

Joe Burrow Discontent & Jets Fantasies

• Joe Burrow's Future:
  • Woody: “I think this is real. ...he's just been so beat up. ...It seems like his love of football is waning when you’re getting beat up, battered and bruised, and you’re losing...” ([29:53])
• Jets Suitability for Burrow: With draft capital and a desperate need, Woody sees the Jets as well-positioned to pursue Burrow if he does want out.
  • “...There's no team more equipped than the Jets right now. ...You have all the ammunition in the world.” ([32:24])
• Fan Calls Fuel Debate:
  • Some callers are wary of the Jets being “band-aid” chasers, wanting the team to fix ongoing dysfunction, not just import talent.
  • Host rebuttal: Trading for a generational QB in his prime is no “band-aid”—that’s the NFL’s holy grail.
  • “When you get a franchise quarterback in his prime, a Band-Aid is getting a 40 year old.” ([47:52])
• Jets/Joe Burrow Hypothetical: Multiple callers and hosts joke about “movement” (excitement) if Burrow did come to the Jets, with Marco in North Carolina exuberantly voicing he’d “give up the entire drop of 2026” for Burrow. ([50:13])

AFC North “Collapse” & Lamar Jackson Concerns

• Division Surprise: Hosts and Woody ruminate on the struggles of the AFC North (Bengals, Steelers, Ravens).
  • Woody: “To me [the AFC North] is one of the worst divisions in football. ...Lamar Jackson’s not playing well. ...Is he always going to be hurt? Has his athletic ability started to wane?” ([35:47])

The Philip Rivers Sideshow

• Rivers' Proposed Comeback:
  • Woody: “I am scared to death. ...This is disrespectful to the game ...to think a guy 44 years old who hadn’t played in five years can go out here at this juncture in the season and just play football at the highest of levels.” ([37:01])
• Alan points out desperation in these moves, both from teams and front offices trying to save jobs.

More on Football, Hallmark, and YA Tittle

• Hallmark Channel Hostage Situation: Recurring jokes about being forced to watch Christmas movies by spouses, noting the female leads are “usually a smoke show.” ([28:33])
• YA Tittle Age Revelation:
  • The crew marvels at how old football players looked "back then" (e.g., Tittle was 33 in a photo but seemed 46).
  • Rosenberg: “It had to be the bacon and cigarettes and scotch...that has to be the reason.” ([43:58])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Highlight | |-----------|--------------|----------------| | 04:56 | Don Hahn | “Bogarts is a little bit older. He's not the hitter that Lindor is. ...Lindor had a tough year defensively—now, is that just an aberration or a sign of things to come?” | | 07:08 | Don Hahn | “I thought Cohen, the money's no object. ...They didn’t want Pete Alonso, period. Now, I think they wanted Diaz to a point. But I don't think anybody was crying that Diaz is gone either. Lindor's different to me.” | | 11:49 | Don Hahn | “Can we just wait, Peter? Can we just wait to see what he does? I'll be right there leading the charge ...if I don't recognize half the guys on the roster...” | | 18:10 | Don Hahn | “I want the glory days to be championships. And my last glory day with the Mets was ‘86...I’m 57 now, so I'm upset Pete Alonso's gone, but I'll... get over it if they're lifting that piece of tin a couple of times.” | | 29:53 | Damien Woody | “I think this is real. ...he's just been so beat up. ...It seems like his love of football is waning when you’re getting beat up, battered and bruised, and you’re losing.” | | 32:24 | Damien Woody | “There's no team more equipped than the Jets right now. ...You have all the ammunition in the world to solve the number one problem...that’s a quarterback position.” | | 37:01 | Damien Woody | “I am, I'm fascinated to watch because...sometimes, you know, it's like on a highway when there's a big accident. ...But I'm scared to death for Philip Rivers, man. ...This is disrespectful to the game.” | | 43:58 | Rosenberg | “It had to be the bacon and cigarettes and scotch...that has to be the reason.” (on why YA Tittle and other old player photos look ancient) |

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:45] – Show proper begins, “Reindeer Games Mach 2”: Mets/Lindor trade speculation
• [04:45] – Weighing shortstop swap and fan philosophy on “penny-pinching”
• [11:49] – Don appeals for “wait-and-see” patience with Mets front office moves
• [18:10] – Debate: Forever Players vs. Championships (chat comment addressed)
• [27:12] – Damian Woody segment starts; Hallmark/holiday movie humor
• [29:53] – Woody: Joe Burrow’s disillusionment and Jets opportunity
• [35:47] – AFC North struggles, Ravens/Lamar Jackson, Tomlin/Steelers
• [37:01] – Philip Rivers’ rumored return: Woody’s “disrespectful to the game” riff
• [43:12] – YA Tittle photo/age digression and generational differences
• [45:10] – Fan call segment: Mental makeup for playing in New York & Joe Burrow
• [47:52] – Is trading for Burrow a “band-aid” or a legit solution?

Overall Tone & Closing Thoughts

The hour blends typical New York angst, wit, and informed debate:

• Don acts as the measured, slightly beleaguered voice of reason.
• Rosenberg injects hip-hop/WWE references, fan perspective, and humor.
• Alan keeps them honest, challenging assumptions without theatrics.
• Guest Woody offers NFL expertise while blending into the mayhem, especially on the Hallmark front.

Bottom line: The episode showcases the passion and skepticism surrounding New York sports, emphasizing the need for vision and patience—even when old favorites are on the way out and new frontiers are as unpredictable as a Hallmark Christmas movie plot.