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Podcast Host (Don Hahn or Rosenberg)
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Don Hahn
That sounds like heaven to me.
Podcast Host (Don Hahn or Rosenberg)
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.
Don Hahn
502 in the big city. Don Han and Rosenberg. Two hours down, we've got two more to go. Game time is brought to you by Teleportu Irish Whiskey. Because when it is game time, guys, it's telly time. It sure is. Only one local team in action. That's the Nets. They're going to play host to the Chicago Bulls at 7:30. Tullamore Dew, the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore Dew or try the new Tullamore Dew honey, during today's action. Glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. Great games, at least on the surface. I guess the one game that people look like there could be a blowout is the fact that the Seahawks are a 7 point favorite against the 49ers, but I still think that game can be competitive. I know there's no Kittle, but the Niners are exceptionally well coached and there's always going to be kind of an air around Sam Darnold. Can he win a big game? You win this game, guys, he's playing in the championship game. The jets, third overall pick goes to Carolina, can't find traction under rule, pops in for a cup of coffee with San Francisco, gets cut loose there, goes to Minnesota, has a monster season MVP caliber season, wins 13 games. But it fizzles out at the end of the regular season. They get blown out in the playoffs and it's over in Minnesota. And he goes to Seattle and they're the 1 seed. Yeah, and a 7 point favorite at home against the San Francisco 49ers. Now I know if Kittle and the Niners were healthy, it'd be a little bit closer, but they'd still be the favorites. I mean, it is really a tremendous journey. That's why I really, I got to know Sam, you remember Peter. He was in studio.
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, big fan.
Don Hahn
The jets gifted us the black jersey with his name and number. And I always thought he was a great kid. And obviously the jets cut him loose. And there were times where it looked like, all right, just another Jet quarterback that just doesn't go anywhere. But never mind the fact that the jets angle, which we can take here locally, it's really a pretty amazing story and one that I root for. I hope he plays. He says he's going to play. He was listed as questionable because of the oblique. I don't know how you feel Allen, as a Jet fan, but I think it'd be a tremendous story. I'd love to see him win this game. I've got no love for the Niners. I appreciate Sam Darnold's playing in a Super Bowl. I think it'd be a pretty cool thing.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, I appreciate him. This is not one of those, like, you know, I want to see him fail because he's no longer a Jet, you know, again, Anthony will attest to this. I was watching him at USC for two years when he was considered to be a high.
Don Hahn
To suck for Sam, right?
Alan Hahn
So, yeah, suck for Sam, all that stuff. So I just watching him along the way. This is one of those things where it's like, this will be cool. Like, that would be fun. How much stock do you put in the fact that these two teams played each other just the last week of the regular season? I don't know. And Seattle, like, again, if you're Shanahan, you have. I mean, you have a lot of tape on that defense and what they want to do. You still have Christian McCaffrey.
Peter Rosenberg
Your picture in there, right?
Alan Hahn
My picks have been.
Don Hahn
You guys.
Peter Rosenberg
My picture.
Alan Hahn
Everybody knows.
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, no. My picture. Done. Sorry. Let me send them so I can speak honestly here.
Don Hahn
I don't want to.
Alan Hahn
And then Anthony will let me know what you picked so we can change it.
Peter Rosenberg
You know what? But it wouldn't surprise me because they do have a long history.
Don Hahn
Would you ask for his job, Peter, if you find that out?
Rich Eisen
Who?
Don Hahn
Allen Anthony, or would you ask for an Anthony show?
Alan Hahn
Both.
Peter Rosenberg
No. Okay. I just sent you the pics, I think from the Dhre ESPN account.
Don Hahn
Anthony.
Peter Rosenberg
But you should have them.
Don Hahn
Interesting. Wait a minute. What did you do?
Peter Rosenberg
I sent them from our. From our station account because I had it open for fraud alert. But.
Don Hahn
Oh, I thought it was like, if you text a group, that kind of defeats the purpose.
Peter Rosenberg
That's a great point by. No, I didn't do that. Now Now, I ended up. I ended up very lightly touching San Francisco.
Don Hahn
Okay.
Peter Rosenberg
On. On account of what I said earlier, which is that I just have a level of respect for Shanahan and the ability to keep things close. But, man, it's. It's really hard to feel good. I think at this point, with the amount of people they've lost, between that and a road game, the only thing that can make this a real crapshoot is the physical issues of Darnold and I guess the mental part, too, right? Like, this guy's. This kid's never been a 1 seed before. He's never had to protect home turf against a team like San Francisco in the playoffs. This is a different animal and the position they're in, but to me, it's that. Is he physically 100% good? Because that really can. Right, guys, if it's Trey, who is it? Trey Lance, who's the backup again in Seattle?
Alan Hahn
Trey Lance. Not there, right?
Don Hahn
Matt Jones. Mac Jones.
Alan Hahn
Mac Jones.
Peter Rosenberg
No, it's not. No, it's not. It's.
Rich Eisen
It's.
Peter Rosenberg
Who is it?
Alan Hahn
What? Oh, that's San Francisco. No, no. Is it Jalen?
Peter Rosenberg
No, I mean in Seattle.
Alan Hahn
Who.
Peter Rosenberg
I just looked yesterday at the. Yo.
Don Hahn
Yo.
Peter Rosenberg
Someone.
Don Hahn
Sorry. Not.
Peter Rosenberg
Do you understand the Colts last year. Look at them. Do you understand, though, how my brain, name wise, went Trey Lance to Drew Locke? I didn't mean. I mean, I meant Drew Lock.
Don Hahn
Yeah. I don't know.
Peter Rosenberg
Is Drew Locke ready to step in and beat San Francisco in a playoff game?
Don Hahn
I wouldn't think that.
Peter Rosenberg
That's. That's iffy stuff.
Rich Eisen
Very quick.
Alan Hahn
It's so dicey. It's so dicey. That game. Yeah. And the fact all of a sudden.
Peter Rosenberg
Yesterday, Darnold pops up on the report, and then he says he's going to play no matter what. It's weird, Alan.
Don Hahn
See, that's the thing. Of course he's going to play.
Alan Hahn
No, he's definitely.
Don Hahn
But wouldn't you. Doesn't mean he's any closer to whether he should play.
Alan Hahn
They made him questionable because he didn't really practice.
Don Hahn
Right. They got to list him as something. I didn't. But if it. If it is bothering him, it is certainly a defense that could take advantage of this. You know, Robert Sala is, you know, you know, salivating at the opportunity of a compromised quarterback.
Alan Hahn
Hit him. Hit him again.
Peter Rosenberg
And he has Salah's in his bag.
Don Hahn
He's got interviews, like, at and around that game, by the way.
Peter Rosenberg
He should not. Let me just. Let me say what he shouldn't do. Just don't.
Alan Hahn
He's in Miami today as a coordinator, right, Peter? I do. He. You're just. You're an elite coordinator. Just stay in that lane.
Don Hahn
I get it. But we talked about this last week. When you fail with the jets, it's the jets fault. I'm serious. So, yeah, his failure as jets coach. Like, I could see owners around the league, like, so what? Everybody.
Peter Rosenberg
It is true. And you know what? It's affecting me, too. I really shouldn't judge him so harshly, considering when we talk to him every week and he was great with us. The fact that he was with the Jets, I probably should take that with a grain of salt. But there is something about the way he carries himself, the way he jumps up and down on the sideline. He's just a D.C. dude. Like, I don't know why. I just. It's just there, Don. That's what I see for him.
Don Hahn
But I'm with you. But just to push back. Don't you think you learn from your mistakes like, I'm with you? I think the biggest issue that I had with him is that's not what the jets hired. That's not what I saw patrolling the sidelines in San Francisco, in Seattle, you know, chest bumping the linebacker after the sack coming. And then all of a sudden, he became the jets coach, and he. I don't think he knew what to do with himself. I think he felt like he needed to be more responsible. He seemed like he was a bit over his head. But you learn from that, right? And I'm sure the second he got fired, he was thinking, boy, if I had a chance to do it again, I'd do it differently. Well, now he's. He might get that chance. And if he's given a chance in Miami, I guess that's where he's gonna interview, and there's other jobs he's gonna interview. I don't know if he'd make for a great head coach, but I would think he'd be better the second time.
Alan Hahn
Around, and maybe he'd be smarter, like you said. A lot of people, you know, could say you took the jets job because it was a job that was open, and you, you know, it's one of 32. And now it's maybe be selective the next job you take. Right? He was able to go home. Not everybody can do that. You go back to your coordinator spot where. Where really, you know, your comfort. Comfort zones there. The whole coaching staff's there. The next job you take should be not because it's the best. It's the first job available. It should be the best one available right now.
Don Hahn
Now you can be a little bit more selective.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah.
Don Hahn
And hear me out.
Alan Hahn
I think we're losing again.
Don Hahn
He's such a good DC that if he were to go to Miami or someplace else and fail again, I think there'll always be a decent job for him to go.
Peter Rosenberg
He's a permanent. He's a perm. He is a. He's Orion. Like, there's a coordinator job for you.
Don Hahn
If you know there's going to be a job in football for you after you fail again as a head coach, you could say, all right, listen, I gave it a second try. I'm obviously not head coach material. I had my pick of jobs. I picked the right one. I still couldn't do it. All right now. I know. But as long as. And again, I don't want to. I don't want to pile on the Jets. But, like, when you fail with the jets, you could walk away saying, well, you know, didn't have a ton of talent. A lot of coaches have failed there. I'd like another chance at it. And knowing that if I fail the second time, okay, I won't be out of football. Somebody will hire me as a dc and there's nothing wrong with that. So I wish him luck, too. Yeah. Because you get to know people, Alan. You know, especially being in this business as long as we have, you start to get to know people, and that becomes a rooting interest, too. I'd love Robert Sala, and Sala was great to me.
Alan Hahn
You know, again, with Bart, doing the shows with Bart, we spent a lot of time over there. We spent a lot of time around the jets and with him, and he was just phenomenal guy.
Don Hahn
I never had a coach in hockey or football. Those are the two sports that I've been the closest to be bad to me. But I've always remember the ones that were really nice and seemed to make an effort.
Alan Hahn
Yeah. Unnecessarily kind.
Don Hahn
Yeah. And Salah. Salah falls into that where I'm always going to root for Robert Sala. I'm always going to root for David Quinn, like, because he was. He didn't have to be. And he was always Tom Rennie. Even Rex, you know, Rex and I had our issues on here, like, arguing. But, like, Rex was. Rex got it. You know, as much as he was boisterous and, like, he seemed to always get it. He got the criticism because he knew what my job was. And so I always respected Rex. And then there were coaches like, you know, I just never, we never had a relationship with Case. Right. Peter just. There was never anything there with that and there's nothing wrong with that.
Peter Rosenberg
Something about his eyes. Something about his eyes wasn't home.
Don Hahn
But. And that was unfair because that was a kooky viral thing. But like you know, we just did. There was never any rapport. I thought there was, you know what it is? Level of paranoia.
Peter Rosenberg
And I agree. No, there was, it was never, it was always frosty. But that's why you have to say, in spite of the jets part, Salah earned his bad reputation here for coaching because he was completely charming and good looking. It had nothing to do with the way that he's in great shape, handsome guy, friendly as can be, doesn't say weird stuff, just sincerely did a bad job as head coach. It just did not work out like.
Don Hahn
Everybody has since Rex.
Peter Rosenberg
Like everyone has. Not unusually bad, but just it just. And the Rodgers thing made it immensely complicated for sure.
Don Hahn
I don't think he did that bad of a job really. How much talent did they have those first couple of years?
Peter Rosenberg
Apparently none at quarterback.
Don Hahn
And then the Rogers thing, it is what it is, man. I mean no matter who is coaching the team, when you lose your quarterback the way that they lost him, what's supposed to happen there?
Alan Hahn
Once they fought, I am curious about.
Peter Rosenberg
Where they landed him, Robert and Rogers because like at first you could tell Salah was clearly into it, going to try his absolute best and Rodgers was saying all the right things. And then it got weirder. Then they had the moment on the sideline, they tried to play off about the push but then as things came to an end, you're like, I remember defending it and then as time went on, the way that they talked about, I'm like, yeah, they were lying to us. It wasn't good then. And I just wonder. Casala seems so damn likable. I wonder where it fell apart.
Don Hahn
Well, I, I still believe in my.
Alan Hahn
In the meeting rooms.
Peter Rosenberg
Maybe you're right.
Alan Hahn
No, no, in the general assembly when Rogers was undermining him because.
Peter Rosenberg
Oh, oh, in the media meeting rooms.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, there wasn't much respect. No, no, I'm talking about in the team.
Peter Rosenberg
In the team meeting rooms.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, there was that. That's the part that you could, you could see it. Salah knew I was no longer in control of this team.
Don Hahn
But however, I still believe that the reason Salah got fired was because.
Rich Eisen
Woody.
Don Hahn
Felt like Rogers didn't want him to go and that made Woody want To fire him even more now, was that because he was starting to get along with Salah or did Rogers realize if we fire Salah, then we're completely checking out for the season?
Alan Hahn
No, I can't wait.
Don Hahn
It's going to be a mess. But I don't. I never thought Rogers was on board with Solid getting fired and the.
Alan Hahn
Oh, no, I don't think he.
Don Hahn
Yeah, but there were. There were people who thought that that was a. That was a Rogers thing.
Alan Hahn
That would reflect poorly. Yeah, no, no, no, that's a. We all know that was a Woody thing. We all know the whole. The season wasn't going the right way anyway, but the whole bottom just dropped out on the team after that. But I can't wait for that book. Can't wait for it. No, no. That's going to be really compelling to see. The. Because the Rogers era was such a short period of time, but yet in jets history, it almost becomes like a critical moment in time, doesn't it? Because it went from Camelot to disaster so quickly.
Don Hahn
Which is going to be the jets 30 for 30s on that one now.
Peter Rosenberg
But if it's a jets 30 for 30, rest assure it will be boring.
Don Hahn
How dare not.
Alan Hahn
If he's ever boring. If you love a good tragedy.
Peter Rosenberg
No, well, listen, but that's the thing. They've been so don. The jets are so dreadful that they even find a way to take, like, what should be salacious and sexy. It'll still be boring. They could take a porno flick and make it just. You fall asleep during it. You wouldn't even make it to the good scene. Like the jets would take the pizza delivery scene, play it out for 35 minutes. They drop the box, they turn it over. All of a sudden there's no women. There you go. What happened? The porno ends and nothing ever even happened. That's what the jets could do.
Don Hahn
The pizza guy comes to the door.
Peter Rosenberg
Excuse me. Well, that. No, no, that's the part they don't.
Don Hahn
Get to the door happens is ring the doorbell. But he doesn't have the pizza box. He has all the ingredients for the pizza. So then you hear the music and you see him kneading the dough and flipping it in the air, like in slow motion. Like they'll actually make the porn into making the pizza.
Peter Rosenberg
Yeah. And they're cutting the director. The director's on the sideline with the headset and he's going. He's going, hey, what about the sex? And they go, we just thought it was a pizza scene.
Alan Hahn
Right?
Peter Rosenberg
And before you know it, there's never sex in the porn.
Don Hahn
They're giving you a pepperoni, but then.
Peter Rosenberg
They'Re going to give you slices of.
Don Hahn
Pepperoni on the pizza. Like they misunderstood the direction. It's really toast.
Alan Hahn
I don't want to. I don't want to talk about the Jets. I definitely don't want to talk about this either. Having the Jets.
Don Hahn
What you're saying, Alan, is they ruin your football season. You don't want them ruining your porn.
Alan Hahn
That's exactly it.
Peter Rosenberg
It's. I don't want.
Alan Hahn
This is my lasting jets memory right now.
Peter Rosenberg
Please totally understand where you're coming from. Back to the football. But I got. But I have something to tell you guys about. All right. And I bet you want to hear about it. And if I did bet I do it on Fandel.
Alan Hahn
Of course you would.
Peter Rosenberg
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Don Hahn
So the other thing I was thinking about, guys, we could take calls on this and I wanted your opinions as well. At 1-800-919-3776 is sustainability. Because you take a look at the eight teams that are left Bills, it feels like they might have one more run in them. Not that Josh Allen's getting older, but clearly they don't seem like a great team. They're just trying to take advantage of a wide open season. I'm sorry. Unless something changes, Bo Nix is not going to become the next quarterback of a dynasty. I don't believe I think they're doing with their defense and their coach but I don't believe in Bonix. Niners or the Niners Seahawks. Are the Seahawks. Is this the beginning of a team that's going to be a perennial winner or is this kind of a one and done? Texans. I don't know if Stroud's the guy. Rams. Matthew Stafford's 37 years old. I look at the Bears and the Patriots as the two teams that are are beginning to build something sustainable. I think those are the only two of the eight teams left. You agree or disagree?
Alan Hahn
That's strong you're talking about as far as sustainable. Year after year we'll be talking about these two teams.
Don Hahn
Looking at the Bears and the Patriots I look at this could be the beginning of something big and where the other teams I look at, hey, they could take advantage of now but I don't know what their futures are. I feel like the Bears and the Patriots aren't going anywhere.
Alan Hahn
Seattle in that defense? No.
Don Hahn
But is Sam Darnold the guy? Well, I guess of a quarterback of a perennial winning team.
Alan Hahn
Well, is. Is, is Caleb Williams that guy? You don't know.
Don Hahn
I feel the second half of that game, guys.
Alan Hahn
Yeah, I know he.
Don Hahn
I feel like and I could be dead wrong on this but you know they got the coach right. And watching, watching his body language in the first half, I'm like this is coming apart and to see him get off the mat and play the way that he played in that second half, being a first overall, I feel like that we can look back and say that was the turning point for him.
Peter Rosenberg
I've been feeling all year it's starting to. He's becoming the guy. If you really look Caleb's trajectory has been going. It's been pointing the right way basically since he started playing. It just moved a little slower maybe than some people expected and the expectations were so high. And wasn't Caleb the one talking about ownership and stuff before he came to.
Don Hahn
Doesn't that feel like it was a million years ago though?
Peter Rosenberg
A million years ago. A million years ago. And he just appears to be While again the throws aren't all perfect and Seth Rollins talked about this some when we had him a huge Bears fan that he is. The throws aren't always perfect. It's not perfect but there is a je ne sais qua to Caleb Williams that is developing. Don that you're seeing some passes from him that the big boys throw in the most clutch moments and we will really know. I mean come on A lot has to be on the line this weekend. I understand the Rams are becoming this big road favorite. For whatever reason, this is a team from LA playing a game that's going to be absolutely frigid against Chicago.
Don Hahn
And what happened to the Rams last year in Philly? They win that game if it's in la for sure.
Peter Rosenberg
And I saw a stat moving around, Big Cat from barstools was sending. Put up a tweet earlier. The stats show it.
Don Hahn
Man.
Peter Rosenberg
Teams coming east in the playoffs to play outdoors in freezing weather, they don't generally fare well. Chicago as much as they are a four and a half point dog, whatever it is now, it's a great spot for them to win. It really is. Let's not forget this Rams team was down all week, all game last week.
Alan Hahn
Allen, until they ended up winning, no question. All I got to say though, to that whole thing is that the Rams defense, okay, they've rebuilt that very well through the draft and they. It's. It's a young defense, but it's a really good defense. And that's the. If you're a team coming from the west and you're all, you know, you have a great offense, playing in the cold is going to mess with you. I don't know about defense. I just feel like defense is different whether you're playing indoors or playing in the cold. Offenses get affected. I don't know about the. And in Stafford, by the way, you think the cold's bothering him? He's been there, done that. He's played in that division, so not that division.
Peter Rosenberg
That's a fair point. That's a fair point.
Alan Hahn
He didn't play. He played in Chicago in the cold before because he was with Detroit. So I like, I wouldn't overthink that. It's totally correct to think of it. Well, I don't know if I'm overthinking.
Don Hahn
I'm only basing it on last year. Remember, it started to snow in Philly and then it was like the Rams are dead.
Alan Hahn
Yeah.
Don Hahn
And I felt like if that was a regular day in Philly or if that game was in la, the Rams.
Peter Rosenberg
Would have won and Alan, we'd have to go digging through the stats, which I can't imagine we're going to do at this moment. But like, yes, he did play in the division, but he played all the home games and cushy indoors. You know, it's, it's. Is Puka Nukua is. He does. Has he had big games in minus 12 degree weather? Listen, who knows certainly Devonte Adams had his share of good games in terrible weather. So yeah, so listen, I'm not saying I think the Bears necessarily win this game, but it's certainly a ripe spot for them to get to a championship game. And again, like all the teams we've talked about, if you are sitting there and you are the Chicago Bears, none of these things are guaranteed. You have a Philly is out, Kansas City is out. If you are Matt Stafford, you are and you want to get one more ring before this thing is done and show that this Rams run has not just been successful this it was Dynasty of Jace 2 Super Bowls in a few years really beat. It's open for you this year, correct?
Alan Hahn
Yeah, that's why they're my number one. They're my power. Ranked number one team left.
Don Hahn
Yeah, I think you're right, but it just shows you how open it is that I can't say I'd be shocked if the Bears won this game.
Rich Eisen
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Podcast Host (Don Hahn or Rosenberg)
Thanks for listening to the Don, Han and Rosenberg podcast.
Peter Rosenberg
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Podcast Host (Don Hahn or Rosenberg)
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
Don Hahn
Come on. Feeling it or no.
Alan Hahn
Donnie's dancing. Big night. Big night with, with Nancy.
Don Hahn
We're taking the family out to dinner.
Alan Hahn
Nice.
Don Hahn
Because I got a game tomorrow night and then I'm off. I'm gone for a week. So this would be kind of like, that's.
Alan Hahn
I figured this is your last kind of. Right.
Don Hahn
And it's cool.
Alan Hahn
That's great.
Don Hahn
There's a, there's a. There's a place over near Princeton, one of our favorite restaurants. I'll give it a shout out. Tiger's Tale. It's near Princeton University.
Peter Rosenberg
I like it.
Don Hahn
And got, you know, great food, great atmosphere. They treat us well and kids love it. And Peter, I might go too deep in the old fashions, but I'm not sure because I will be partaking in some old fashions on the road trip.
Peter Rosenberg
Damn right, Shoe.
Don Hahn
We bet your ace. So.
Peter Rosenberg
But it should be a road trip. I won't be partaking in any old.
Don Hahn
Fashions in Saudi Arabia.
Peter Rosenberg
That's right. Why? No drinking.
Don Hahn
Oh, not even like the hotel?
Peter Rosenberg
No, they're, they're, they're apparently with all the business, sports and entertainment going there, they're, like, loosening the restrictions. And they're now like some specific people who can drink but, like, it's not wide drinking. In fact, I think that when you fly there Once you get to Saudi airspace, drinks are no longer served. Wow.
Alan Hahn
I'm good.
Peter Rosenberg
Although, can I tell you what? I actually. I'm actually a little bit, like, happy about it in the sense that give me five days away from wife and child with nothing really to do in the evening. I'm gonna save myself, like, thousands of calories and headaches from just drinking every night for no reason. So there's a. There's a benefit there. Maybe I'll go to the gym instead. So maybe there's a bit, but.
Alan Hahn
You kidding? Come on.
Peter Rosenberg
But who am I? And how does the gym replace alcohol? Usually on a road trip, you do both. You go to the gym in the morning and you drink at night.
Don Hahn
I've never had the pleasure of flying to the Middle east, so I don't really have any working knowledge of what that might be like outside of that scene from the Golden Child.
Peter Rosenberg
Okay. It's a reference point.
Don Hahn
I hope it's different than that.
Peter Rosenberg
I don't remember the scene you're referring to.
Don Hahn
You don't remember the scene?
Peter Rosenberg
No. I haven't seen Golden Child in a long time.
Don Hahn
You know, that's a very exceptionally underrated movie.
Peter Rosenberg
I know we've talked, you know, Don, you don't think we've talked about that?
Don Hahn
Oh, listen, we've talked about everything over the decade.
Peter Rosenberg
Plus, you don't think I know that you love Golden Shaw, but also just.
Don Hahn
From the standpoint of it gets lumped in with his failures and I don't think that's fair.
Peter Rosenberg
No, no, absolutely not. I totally, totally agree with you. And now that we're in the middle of the 5 o' clock hour, it's 5:34. The world is listening. Can I take this time to just say, because I already have enough stuff that I have to do in public and appearances I have to keep. And performance art. Are you people really this dumb that you would write a legitimately serious article that Michael K. And I hate each other? Are people really this dumb? Like, in all serious, like, if you listen to our show, there's not a person listening to us. And unfortunately, this won't change anything. Everyone listening now. Everyone in the chat. Anyone who spent any time with our show has heard me doing this back and forth with Michael and. And said the same thing Allen's Eyes said when it happened. Here we go. Another Rosenberg K bit of them hating each other. And you professional people, you go to your computer and actually, in all seriousness, start quoting it as if we actually may hate each other this time. How can they do this over and over again, guys, it's not even pro wrestling. There's no good excuse for this.
Alan Hahn
It's most of our business.
Peter Rosenberg
Right, but that's not excuse.
Alan Hahn
There's so much of that that like everybody just gets caught up in and you realize like, oh, that's nothing.
Peter Rosenberg
Well, and it's. And I guess, I don't know.
Alan Hahn
People like drama, Peter, so you just give them a little drama.
Peter Rosenberg
Even if it's Michael is not. Here's a headline. Someone write about this. This is my. This is my story for awful announcing the New York Post. I have really bad news. Even though he annoys me like any normal friend. And my line about Michael being the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral.
Alan Hahn
Really love that.
Peter Rosenberg
It's a great line. And it is true of him in that Michael loves him some Michael the same way I think Peter loves him some Peter. But I hate to ruin this narrative. Michael K. Is not the bad guy. He's been made to be in all the stories ever, you lazy sob. There are so many bad guys in the sports media market. I'm not going to because I don't want to make Alan Don feel uncomfortable. I'm not going to list them right now. But you know who they are. And they repeatedly always want Michael to be this villainous, thin skinned lunatic. When really while he may be thin skinned guys, I don't know of any actual bad guy stuff the guy's ever done. Just annoying. I mean, he annoys me for sure. Older brother annoyance on 1000. But like, it's so repetitive.
Alan Hahn
Oh, Peter, Don, I don't know how you feel about this. I think take the free coverage and the attention and just smile, laugh it off and keep it moving. Who cares what people think?
Peter Rosenberg
Because it gets to Michael eventually. I could have fun with that.
Alan Hahn
So you have to now make it clear. Okay, no, no, no, hold on.
Peter Rosenberg
That's my choice. Michael in no way reached out to me and said, hey, can you set the record straight? Absolutely not.
Alan Hahn
Okay.
Peter Rosenberg
But I know Michael well enough to know that when all these stories get written in which he sounds sort of like the petulant jerk. Because I complimented Tessitar and he said I'm dead to him, like again. And you know, Don is great at playing along with it too. Have you never. I guess you people. You know what, it just shows you were so far up Francesa's Heine. You never even heard our show to understand what our humor was. Michael hitting me up and being angry that I complimented Joe Tessatore and is the most Michael K. Bit thing to do ever. I know I'm ruining good coverage. I am. But I just ridiculous. The articles keep coming now. Like, what is wrong with you people?
Rich Eisen
Yeah.
Don Hahn
I mean, the same guy that every time I went on vacation, I was suspended. Every time I can't go on vacation, I take a week's vacation to go to LBi. Don's been suspended. And then Michael, on that Friday or that Monday when I came back, he went to bat for me and got me my job back.
Peter Rosenberg
Now, but did that ever turn into an article or back then, people weren't so desperate to fill space.
Don Hahn
I think, I think the whole. Everything has changed since then because now.
Peter Rosenberg
You have to have, you know, and God bless. Awful announcing. They do a lot of good stuff for our business. I love that people talk about, you know, sports broadcasting. It's fantastic. But, you know, a certain amount of articles got to get written every day. Right. Like the page has to have stuff to click on.
Alan Hahn
Call content. And you provided it.
Don Hahn
And not all content is created equal.
Peter Rosenberg
But that's the word. Isn't that the dirty word that has ruined our business?
Alan Hahn
Yep.
Don Hahn
Content, content, content.
Peter Rosenberg
It's not art. In the case of what we do. It's not media. It's content. Because it can be nothing. Content can be a random person who. Who's never done anything in their life, doing voiceover and filming something in the grocery store going, look at all the prices at Trader Joe's. I mean, it's a fun game, actually. We play it every day.
Alan Hahn
We do.
Peter Rosenberg
But I'm a content creator. I create content. And that word has fundamentally stripped away sort of legitimacy from what anyone does.
Don Hahn
Well, I still love the sports of it all. And it's always fun to do that at 1-800-919376, Brian and Sleepy Hollow, you're on ESPN New York. What's up, Brian?
Caller Brian
Hey, guys. First of all, I just want to say, you know, hashtag team Peter. That rancorous curmudgeon Michael, he's just too much sometimes, you know, that is true.
Peter Rosenberg
I mean, I'll take that.
Don Hahn
But.
Caller Brian
Yeah, I just want to talk about this. This is definitely the. My favorite weekend for football. And from a Jets fan perspective, if the Bills and the Pats win, that's an absolute nightmare for me. I might not watch that championship game, but NFC is definitely fun.
Don Hahn
I think.
Alan Hahn
Definitely.
Caller Brian
Most looking forward to the Rams Chicago game, didn't you? Gotta love the weather. What else? What's the other game?
Peter Rosenberg
There are so many games. Buffalo, Denver's a fun one.
Caller Brian
Yeah, yeah. But who do you think is going to win that one?
Peter Rosenberg
Well, we have our pick segment coming up next.
Don Hahn
We're going to have the picks coming up, so stay tuned for that. But we've said it for weeks now that if not now for the Bills, when and if you just go by quarterback, forget the spread. Although the spread's close enough, you're basically picking a winner. It's Allen versus Knicks, and I know defense wins championships and coaching and all that, but if you get a bet on somebody, Josh Allen or Bo Nix, it feels like that is a distinct advantage to Buffalo.
Peter Rosenberg
But also, I will just point this out. Isn't this the game where we've talked about, guys, where does Vegas get it back? I could see Denver being the game where the public just gets completely hosed. Who wants to pick Denver? Unless you're a Broncos fan. And yet I could see that being the spot where the public just absolutely pounds Buffalo. Gabe Davis is out. You now get to this game. They're coming off a rest. And again, they have the. They have arguably, I don't know if he is, but they have arguably the best coach in the whole tournament. Arguably, he's in the conversation and you can't write that off. You got Sean Payton with a week's rest, a great defense at Mile High, a beat up Buffalo team. I could see the public getting absolutely destroyed in this game.
Don Hahn
Yeah, it's possible. Will we get destroyed? Can Allen be had?
Peter Rosenberg
Will I destroy myself?
Don Hahn
I would think the chances are outstanding.
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Podcast Host (Don Hahn or Rosenberg)
Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.
Peter Rosenberg
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Podcast Host (Don Hahn or Rosenberg)
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
Don Hahn
Show me something Alan.
Peter Rosenberg
Show me something.
Podcast Host (Don Hahn or Rosenberg)
Don, Han and Rosenbergs. Pick them all.
Peter Rosenberg
Give me the three.
Don Hahn
It is divisional weekend. Four big games. Ten points on the line. Picks have been submitted by Allen and Peter so that we're not going to have any four corners, any defense played. Here are the standings going into the divisional round. I'm in first place with 78 points. I have a record of 35 and 25. I went six zero wild card weekend. Allen is in second with 58 points so I've got a 20 point lead on Allen. He went three and three. He had 15 points to my 21. So he's got 58 points. And Peter is lurking just eight points back of Allen to try to get out of being dressed as a clown. Went five and one, answered the bell. He only lost his four point play with Jacksonville. Overall, he's had a miserable season at 22 and 38 to Allen's 26 and 34. But again, just eight points and he can make it up this week. So the picks have been submitted and the way we do it in the playoffs is who's last goes first. So Peter, you're up.
Peter Rosenberg
The first shall be last or the last shall be first. You know the saying, Don. You know the old wives tale from the sea children. A lot of something about Mary on the show. All right, guys. I already, I already gave this away earlier. I just, I, I could see it happening where Seattle is just rolling in San Francisco finally. Like they give fight, the good fight gets given up and they get rolled on.
Don Hahn
Sure.
Peter Rosenberg
Niners are beaten up, man. And now of course really a bummer without their stud tight end George Kittle who's, you know, been the offensive backbone for that team for so long. But I just can't, I just can't go against Kyle Shanahan and the Niners getting seven points in a divisional game in the playoffs. I can't do it. It's a rivalry game. Give me the Niners. Just my one point play. As you can tell, I'm not, I'm not very confident, but I'll make it my one point play.
Don Hahn
I hear you.
Peter Rosenberg
My two spot would be Buffalo. I got it wrong last week by going with logic and I still think that Vegas is. They think they're poised to make money on this game, right? You got Denver with the short line and I think the public is going to pound Buffalo. That being said, give me, give me Josh Allen's magic man. Maybe this is the year I'm going a little with my heart and the fact that I had this exact same experience last week and I got it wrong with Jacksonville. So I'm rolling with Josh and the Bills to make it happen as my two point play. I've never seen Alan look more serious during the picks. Don, he's like, oh, he's not even enjoying it. He just get to the meat and potatoes.
Alan Hahn
What do you want me to do? You want me to just nod? Nod knowing every single pick you're making.
Peter Rosenberg
There'S just a foe. He's just staring off into the.
Alan Hahn
I just want to make sure that none of mine match yours because then Don will start calling me out for it.
Peter Rosenberg
You know, they're already.
Alan Hahn
I didn't know that was the Program director.
Peter Rosenberg
No, the picks are in now. Here we go. My three point play. You know, again, I think another spot where the public could lose would be this game. But I guess Anthony told us the other day at the time the public was on Houston. Why not? I'm on the Pats. Houston is certainly a decent football team. CJ Stroud has his ups and downs, but man, this Patriots team is the real deal. If this is going to be a dirty, ugly defensive game, Mike Vrabel is just fine with that. It's a three point line. Could I see a push? Sure I could. That would be annoying, but I'm going to take the Pats at home given the three. Give me. Give me the Drake Matriots. And then I gave this to you guys all week long. I know it's getting stinky. I know it's getting weird. The line. I just shocked Seth Rollins. He didn't know the line went up. Again, it's up to four and a half. I like the Bears outright in this game and I like the Bears to cover four and a half. Vegas clearly knows something we don't know. But it's going to be freezing cold. And the Bears just seem to have the magic that the commanders had last year. And I think like the commanders, they will end up in the championship game. The Bears are my four point play.
Don Hahn
All right, Allen, you're up, buddy.
Peter Rosenberg
Anthony sighing. He's making faces. I don't know what it's about. Here we go, folks. Is it over for me or not?
Alan Hahn
Here we go, Anthony.
Don Hahn
Hey, Alan.
Alan Hahn
You vouched for me.
Caller Brian
I did that.
Alan Hahn
I sent my picks in.
Don Hahn
You did before Peter.
Alan Hahn
Actually, at the time I sent them in. Correct you.
Peter Rosenberg
Every pick is the same.
Alan Hahn
I have them. Yep. I'll make this quick for my one pointer. And this is probably the only thing that's going to be a fact there, which it won't be. I'm going Denver. I'm gonna. I'm gonna lay the one and a half because Denver's ability to defend, but also their ability to have a run game. Okay, keep Buffalo. How do you beat Josh Allen? Keep him off the field. He's a little banged up too. This is gonna be a low scoring game. My opinion. Give me the. Give me Denver. I'm not fully confident because Buffalo and the Josh Allen magic scare me. But that's my one point. I'll take Denver. So that's where we differ. Oh, boy. My two pointer. The Darnold, the bleak, the solid defense. There's a lot going on there. You have CMC and you have Kyle Shanahan. Yep. I'm agreeing as well. 49ers. I'll take the seven. My two point play.
Peter Rosenberg
I don't like the top of this card at all.
Alan Hahn
Three point play. I have always been about New England. I've always been about Vrabel. C.J. stroud looked a little shaky last week. Concerned me. Two defenses that are going to just have at it in New England. Cold weather when ugly at home. That's what the Patriots do. Give me the three points, I'll lay the three with four. My three points. I'll lay the three for the Patriots. Last but not least, the Rams defense is really good. At least they started out really good. In fact, the first 11 weeks they were giving up 16.3 points a game. The last seven weeks, 28. Defense supposed to travel well in the playoffs, but not that kind of defense. This is. You're a sucker if you believe in the Rams on the road, especially at four and a half. Give me the Bears for four points and I'll take the four and a half points. Peter. And so Don, you can accuse me of any. No, I submitted my picks early.
Don Hahn
Yeah. And this is what we tried to avoid, Alan.
Alan Hahn
We tried to avoid it, but there's no avoiding it.
Don Hahn
You made your picks and they're genuine.
Alan Hahn
They were genuine.
Don Hahn
As opposed to accusations being thrown around that you were playing defense. So Peter, I guess it's over. You can only gain a point.
Alan Hahn
Yeah. Bet you don't lose a point.
Don Hahn
You're down 10. You can gain a point next week. We just got two games and we.
Peter Rosenberg
Got the Super Bowl.
Alan Hahn
Yeah.
Peter Rosenberg
So even though we got the super bowl. Six point play.
Alan Hahn
I'm gonna go on. What size are you. I'm gonna order it now.
Peter Rosenberg
So if you were to make. Settle down. I know. Well, this. I'm glad this isn't a math contest. Peter's correct.
Don Hahn
Lost.
Peter Rosenberg
I'm still alive. I'm definitely still alive. We have multiple games left.
Don Hahn
There's eight potential points remaining because you've got three and two for next week and then three for the Super Bowl. So that's eight. But again, it is unlikely that you both. Well, obviously both can't go four and.
Alan Hahn
Oh, and Football power index has you at a 0.5.
Don Hahn
And he would probably have to win outright at the record. So you're gonna have to get the point. Very true.
Alan Hahn
If you.
Don Hahn
If you're tied, you lose the tiebreaker because you didn't get picks in the week. You are still mathematically alive. Okay.
Alan Hahn
But you look great with the chains and the black, the whole thing.
Peter Rosenberg
Well, hold on. And real quick, you the. The difference was you had San Francisco as my 2. San Francisco as your 2.
Alan Hahn
Yeah.
Peter Rosenberg
And I and so probably want the.
Don Hahn
Seahawks to cover if you.
Alan Hahn
I've got Denver. I've got Denver as the 1 point. So that if I get that wrong, it's like it's. Yeah. That's the only thing. The point difference there.
Don Hahn
It's still alive. Peter is still alive. I'll give you my picks quick. The Broncos have a tremendous defense. They don't finish off offense. They leave too many points on the table in the red zone. I'm still going to go with the better quarterback. I think the Bills go to the championship game. I think they beat Denver, but again, not a ton of confidence, just my one point play. For all the reasons that you said with the Niners. Great coach. They'll find a way to hang. Even losing Kittle early, they still beat the Philadelphia Eagles. And as much as I love Sam, if he's compromised at all, Robert Sala is going to find a way to exploit that. That's my two point play. Patriots the same thing. I'm sorry you got to score. I know defense wins championships, but you have to score. Are the Texans going to be able to do it in New England? It's hard to believe. Herbert couldn't get anything done. They were all over him. I could see the same thing happening to the CJ Stroud. I got the Patriots covering the three as my three point play. And again, this is going to be. The Rams are probably going to win the game, but that just. That's just too many points, honestly on the road. And you saw what happened last year with the Rams in a snowy Philadelphia. They probably win that game. If there's no snow, they win that game. If it's in la, it's going to be very, very cold. I love what Caleb Williams did. That second half really showed me a lot. It may not be enough to win the game, but they definitely are not covering the Rams. So that is my four, four, four point play. And those are our picks for divisional weekend.
Peter Rosenberg
And don't. And let me tell you something right now, don't. These picks reek of us and the public getting crushed this weekend.
Don Hahn
Probably. Probably. But you know what? You can't. You got to keep it to the what you know and what you think you know. Don't play games. Don't play reindeer game. We're not hardcore gamblers, man. We're just we're just football fans from a football perspective Now. Chris Stapleton's All American Roadshow is coming to Northwell Health at Jones beach theater on Wednesday, August 26, and ESPN New York has your chance to score tickets on the ESPN New York app. Just find the contest title and submit your entry. Brought to you by Live Nation. Tickets are on sale now@ticketmaster.com thanks for.
Podcast Host (Don Hahn or Rosenberg)
Listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.
Peter Rosenberg
I don't want to know how the.
Alan Hahn
Sausage is made, man. I just want to know it's good.
Podcast Host (Don Hahn or Rosenberg)
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.
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Episode Date: January 16, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Theme: An in-depth preview and discussion of the NFL Divisional Round, with particular focus on storylines, sustainability of teams, coaching narratives, picks, and trademark banter.
This hour zeros in on the intrigue and drama of the NFL Divisional Round. The hosts examine the journeys of star and struggling quarterbacks (notably Sam Darnold), debate which teams are building something sustainable, break down coaching storylines, and finally, reveal their picks against the spread for the weekend’s games. Interwoven are their trademark jabs, inside radio-business talk, and New York sports perspective.
Sam Darnold’s Journey:
Don marvels at Darnold’s career, moving from Jets disappointment to possible playoff hero as Seattle’s starting QB:
"He goes to Seattle and they're the 1 seed...a 7 point favorite at home against the San Francisco 49ers. It is really a tremendous journey." (Don, 01:29)
Jets Fan Perspective:
Alan roots for Darnold, emphasizing there’s no resentment, just long-standing interest:
"This is not one of those, like, you know, I want to see him fail because he's no longer a Jet..." (Alan, 03:12)
Injury Worries:
Darnold is listed questionable; uncertainty about Seattle’s backup (Drew Lock) leads to doubts about their depth and playoff readiness.
Coaching Reputation:
Rosenberg dishes on Saleh as a quintessential Defensive Coordinator (DC), expressing doubt about his head coaching abilities after a rocky Jets tenure, despite personally liking him:
“He's just a D.C. dude. Like, I don't know why. It's just there, Don. That's what I see for him.” (Peter, 07:25)
Coaches Failing with the Jets:
Don and Alan agree that failing as Jets coach isn’t necessarily a personal indictment—“when you fail with the jets, it's the jets fault.” (Don, 07:11)
Is Saleh Due Another Chance?
They debate whether Saleh, given the option, should choose a better setup for his second HC opportunity. All concur he’d be more selective and potentially better prepared.
Inside Jets Drama:
A nuanced view of how team dynamics (especially post-Aaron Rodgers injury) undermined Saleh’s position.
"Salah knew I was no longer in control of this team." (Alan, 13:27)
Beef? Or Bit?
Peter rails against the media for exaggerating supposed beef with Michael Kay:
"Are you people really this dumb that you would write a legitimately serious article that Michael K. And I hate each other?... How can they do this over and over again, guys?" (Peter, 28:49)
Content vs. Journalism:
The trio discusses how “content” culture erodes real reporting, poking fun at today’s sports media landscape:
“It’s not art... It’s not media. It’s content. Because it can be nothing.” (Peter, 33:37)
Which Teams Are Here to Stay?
Don argues only the Bears and Patriots look sustainable:
“I look at the Bears and the Patriots as the two teams that are beginning to build something sustainable. I think those are the only two of the eight teams left.” (Don, 17:40/18:45)
Debate over QBs’ Future:
“There is a je ne sais qua to Caleb Williams that is developing… some passes from him that the big boys throw in the most clutch moments…” (Peter, 20:00)
Weather as a Factor:
Several hosts believe Bears-Rams, taking place in frigid Chicago, could upset expectations, especially for LA.
Peter on Jets Boring Documentaries:
“The jets are so dreadful that they even find a way to take, like, what should be salacious and sexy. It'll still be boring... The jets would take the pizza delivery scene, play it out for 35 minutes. They drop the box, they turn it over. All of a sudden there's no women. There you go. The porno ends and nothing ever even happened. That's what the jets could do.” (Peter, 14:59)
On Saleh After the Jets:
“He's a perm... He is a, he's Orion. Like, there's a coordinator job for you.” (Peter, 09:27)
Banter about drinking in Saudi Arabia:
“I'm actually a little bit, like, happy about it in the sense that give me five days away from wife and child... I’m gonna save myself, like, thousands of calories and headaches from just drinking every night for no reason.” (Peter, 27:47)
Peter on “content” culture:
“I’m a content creator. I create content. And that word has fundamentally stripped away sort of legitimacy from what anyone does.” (Peter, 33:55)
“These picks reek of us and the public getting crushed this weekend.” (Peter, 49:41)
Recommended for:
NFL fans (especially those invested in the Jets, Bears, or Patriots), listeners eager for both sharp sports insight and off-the-cuff media criticism, and lovers of New York sports radio banter.
Notable “Do Not Miss” Segments: