Hour 3: NFLPA Report Cards & Ty Simpson

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg: Hour 3 – NFLPA Report Cards & Ty Simpson (Feb 27, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this lively, opinionated third hour, Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg dive into the newly released NFLPA (NFL Players Association) Team Report Cards, breaking down the grades given to team ownership, coaches, general managers, and facilities—especially focusing on the New York Jets and Giants. The crew also debates the significance of upbeat player interviews from draft prospect Ty Simpson, tackling the fine line between genuine enthusiasm and playing the draft “game.” The hour wraps with a candid reflection on tough roster decisions looming for New York sports teams, particularly the future of Rangers’ star Adam Fox.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFLPA Team Report Cards: Interpreting the Grades

(Begins ~02:14)

Jets & Giants Highlights

• The grades—though not binding—offer insight into how players view management, ownership, and team facilities.
• Don and Peter puzzle over the Giants’ GM Joe Schoen getting the lowest grade of any GM (“D+”), but Don argues Harbaugh’s arrival as head coach balances things:

  "He is what he is and I think that whether he has been officially devalued or neutered there...as long as Harbaugh is there, it balances out." (Alan, 02:14)

• The MetLife Stadium field—a shared issue—gets an “F-” for both teams due to injury concerns.

  "Players are getting injured on it, so that's a problem." (Peter, 04:23)

The Question of Objectivity

• Peter questions the players’ motivations in grading, especially for categories like “treatment of families” and locker rooms, suggesting some votes are colored by personal perks or indifference.
• Alan notes that despite the low grades, modernization under Schoen shouldn’t be discounted entirely, especially with a stable coaching hire.

2. Jets' Surprising Scores and the Meaning Behind Them

(05:17 — 09:41)

• The Jets receive unexpectedly strong grades—Coach (A), GM (A-), Coordinators (B/B+), and Ownership (B).
• Peter posits that these reflect how personally players are treated, not necessarily overall organization success:

  "We don't judge our bosses on how well they're doing for the company. We judge our bosses on how we're treated." (Peter, 07:12)

• Debate arises if a high grade for a head coach (such as Aaron Glenn’s “A” on a 3-14 team) is really a positive; does it mean the coach is too easygoing?

  "That an A could almost be like an F...Do I really want to like my coach? Is that a good thing that all of my players love me?" (Peter, 08:41)

3. NFL Coach Grades: Respect vs. Performance

(09:41 — 13:13)

• Don and Peter discuss whether former players as head coaches (Aaron Glenn, Dan Campbell, Mike Vrabel) have an advantage in respect, but whether that "likeability" leads to team success is debatable.
• Alan pulls the conversation back:

  "If you're on a team that doesn't have a lot of winners...and they have coaches that are nice and everything's fine...Are you actually reviewing them as like, 'No, I want to be worked harder'?" (Alan, 14:04)

Notable Quote

“That’s why I asked, is a high grade necessarily a good thing? In you being well liked, are you doing your job proper?” (Peter, 14:12)

4. How Seriously Do Players Take These Surveys?

(14:29 — 16:28)

• Producer Anthony Pusick theorizes some players might fill out surveys quickly, giving middling grades—except on issues that really matter, like the field:

  “If you know it’s anonymous and nobody’s going to know that it’s you, this is the time for you to really tell how you feel...” (Peter, 15:19)

• The hosts conclude that, despite natural survey fatigue, the grades on hot-button issues like facilities and coaches likely reflect real sentiment.

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NFLPA Report Card Rankings: A Broader Look

(17:14 — 20:11)

• The guys thumb through rankings for various teams (Patriots, Eagles, Steelers, Seahawks, “Commies” a.k.a. Commanders).

• Shocked reactions as Miami Dolphins are revealed as #1 overall, in part due to owner’s generosity and quality of life.

  “Why are you surprised by that? The owner spoils his players. It’s the best place to live in.” (Don, 19:17)

• The consensus: The survey offers some insight—especially about facilities and off-field support—but doesn’t correlate strongly with on-field success.

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Spotlight: Ty Simpson’s Draft Interview “Love-Fest”

(24:39 — 36:18)

The Set-Up

• Ty Simpson, a QB prospect, gave glowing, enthusiastic reviews of his meetings with the Jets and other teams, even starting a “J-E-T-S” chant.

Audio Played

• Simpson on Jets:

  "It was great, you know, just talking ball, getting to know each other. Coach Wright is a, is a great, great human being. Coach Glid is a...super juiceful guy...I really, really love the Jets...blessed to be able to have a meeting with them..." (Ty Simpson, 24:49)

• Don expresses skepticism—Jets have never developed a young QB, and over-excitement in these interviews is common draft strategy:

  “Tell me again the time when the Jets drafted a young quarterback who probably needed more time but developed them into something special. That never happens.” (Don, 26:42)

The Crew’s Cynicism

• Don, Alan, and Peter view Simpson’s excitement as draft posturing:

  “Which is why the thought of being excited about, wow, he wants to be a Jet. Listen to this guy. He's all fired up. And I'm just going, yeah, I'm not. Nope, not gonna, I'm not falling for it.” (Don, 26:43)

• Alan presses: are the Jets credibly interested enough to reach for a QB at #2 or wait until their later pick?
• Anthony Pusick attempts optimism—at least Simpson didn’t shy away from the Jets, unlike some previous prospects.

Context from Interviews with Other Teams

• Anthony reads Simpson’s comments about the Steelers. They’re equally glowing; the group concludes this is draft season schmoozing, not real intent.

  “If she's saying it to everybody, it kind of devalues what's being said.” (Peter, 36:10, on Simpson's possible generic praise)

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Callers & Seinfeld Analogy

(42:09 — 43:43)

• Greg from Tom’s River likens Simpson’s praise to Seinfeld’s “breathtaking” episode:

  “Just like on Seinfeld when that doctor told Elaine she was breathtaking...then they went up and looked at the baby, who was ugly as sin, and he said the baby was breathtaking.”

• The consensus: every team and fan wants to believe the prospect loves them, but canned praise is meaningless.

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Adam Fox & Hard Roster Decisions in NY Hockey/Baseball

(44:11 — 53:29)

• The Rangers are in a tough spot—do they trade fan-favorite, star defenseman Adam Fox as the team faces another year out of playoff contention?

• Peter and Don debate if it’s time to make painful, “big-picture” moves, as the Mets did with Pete Alonso:

  "It's not a popularity contest...it's about having a team that can win a championship...the Mets did it with Pete Alonso, and believe me, they'll be really ticked off if it doesn't work." (Don, 45:06)

• Alan, worried about losing core talent, asks, “What are you getting back?” if Fox is moved.

• Don: “If you're moving out talent, you have to bring in talent. You can't just move on. And then who's your power play quarterback now?”

• Peter: “The way you rebuild is you've got to get, you got to move pieces that are significant enough to get something back in return.”

• As Rangers (and Knicks) enter pivotal summers, the hosts emphasize the need for bold moves if championships are actually the goal, not just keeping fans content with “likable” rosters.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On NFLPA Grades Reflecting Player Treatment, Not Organizational Success:

  "We judge our bosses on how we're treated. Right? ... If I judge him on is his team any good, then he would get an F." (Peter, 07:29)

• On Coaches Being Too Liked:

  "If you like your coach too much...maybe he's not being as tough on you as he needs to be." (Don, 09:41)

• On Player Surveys:

  "If you know it's anonymous...that's the time for you to really tell how you feel about your boss." (Peter, 15:19)

• On Prospects' Interview Praise:

  "If she's saying it to everybody, it kind of devalues what's being said." (Peter, 36:10)

• On Roster Moves:

  "You're not doing that by moving, you know, the fourth line guys. Right. Sam Carrick's not gonna get you a big haul, you know, so that's, that's why these tough decisions have to be made." (Peter, 50:11)

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Key Timestamps

• 02:14 – Introduction to NFLPA Report Cards, Giants’ low grades, MetLife field issues
• 05:17 – Jets coaching and management grades; discussion of meaning
• 09:41 – Are “A” grades for coaches actually good?
• 14:29 – Do players take these surveys seriously?
• 17:14 – Sampling report cards from other teams; Miami is #1
• 24:39 – Ty Simpson’s interviews: Do they actually matter?
• 30:39 – Simpson’s similar comments about the Steelers
• 36:10 – Peter’s Seinfeld/bartender analogy
• 44:11 – Adam Fox trade talk & parallels to Mets’ Pete Alonso move
• 50:11 – Long-term strategy and difficult decisions in New York sports

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Tone & Takeaways

• The episode is candid, self-aware, and blends skepticism with occasional optimism.
• The crew blends deep knowledge of New York sports with humor and cultural references (Seinfeld, Charlie Brown, clubs/bar analogies).
• There’s a core message that fans (and sometimes organizations) often confuse likability and popularity with actual progress or organizational success. Both in NFL and NHL, tough, unpopular decisions may be necessary for championships—not just feel-good storylines or “A” grades on surveys.

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Summary prepared by the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summarizer.

Transcript

[Michelle]

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[Don Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don Hahn]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Game time is brought to you by. Tell the Mardu Irish whiskey. Because when it's game time, guys, it's telling time.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, sorry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We gotta figure out some way to do this better.

[Don Hahn]

Why? Well, Peter was chewing.

[Alan Hahn]

I was finishing a delicious bite.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, my God, I bet it was. But I saw you chewing and I thought, let me cover for my guy. I would have let you go.

[Alan Hahn]

Thank you. I know you're a team guy. I got a bowl from this place. It's slant. What is this place called? Yeah, my favorite thing about eating. Either near Don or like even anyway, in front of me. What's the line? You always say Don when one of us is eating. What's that? Any idea?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah, what's that?

[Alan Hahn]

What's that? Any idea? This is from a place called. Alan would love this place. This is from a place called Field Trip. And the bowl is like half. There's rice, a whole bunch of veggies. Jerk turkey meatballs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

And then like a yogurt sauce of some sort. It is just a really nice.

[Don Hahn]

Sounds like a delight.

[Alan Hahn]

Really nice little bowl. Look up Field trip Alan. You dig it. I don't know if it would deliver downtown, but it's. It's. Actually, I think it may be kind of downtown.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's delightful. I had a late breakfast today, so I decided instead of having lunch, get smoothie. Oh, the hotel smoothie. And you know, 26, $20 later.

[Alan Hahn]

But you know, Don, honestly, every smoothie.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's every smoothie. But it's great. It's nice to. After the long walk over to the Arch and having a nice liquid lunch. Nothing wrong with that. Knicks visit the Bucs with coverage immediately following Dan Grasse on 880 at 7:30. And the Nets will visit the Celtics also at 7:30 Tullamore due the original triple distilled, triple blunted, and triple cast matured Iris 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. We had mentioned earlier about the grades. Now these don't matter anymore. There's a whole lawsuit with the NFL and everything, but kind of leaves at least an indication of where we're at. And people are making a big deal about Joe Shane with the Giants being graded the lowest of any general manager at a D plus, worst of any team. But I don't. I'm not bothered by that as a Giant, even though the Giants are very sensitive to the fact that he has not been demoted and he's still the general manager. It's John Harbaugh's team, all right? So I think he is what he is and I think that whether he has been officially devalued or neutered there, whatever the feeling is, they got the right coach. Guy's been around long enough. He's gonna be involved in the decisions. Joe Shane did enough like modernizing the, the whole organization that that D plus, even if it's accurate to me, as long as Harbaugh is there, it balances out. Is that fair?

[Don Hahn]

I guess it's fair. I don't love the fact that because this is done late in the season, right. So it's before Harbaugh. I don't love that players that he brought in don't view him as, you know, whatever, for whatever reason, confident at his job or whatever. What they're grading him on. That does concern me. It does concern.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, when you have a losing record, you know, back to back years, he should get. He should get a bad grade. Right. Coach got a C, he's gone. Things that matter. I think this should matter to the league. A home game field, an F minus.

[Don Hahn]

Well, at both team, both the jets and Giants.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, it's a field. Players are getting injured on it, so that's a problem.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The treatment of families of B minus, that, that I take with a grain of salt because some of these families think that, you know, they should be flown first class and they'd be the only people in the suite like, so whatever. I'm sure the Giants and the jets treat their. Their families very well.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Locker room a D.

[Don Hahn]

Hmm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, I can't say I've been in a ton of NFL locker rooms to compare, but I've been in the Jets And Giants facility. I've been in a locker room. I don't see that as an issue, but again, I don't have a lot to compare it to, so. But the thing that kind of surprised all of us, some of the grades for the jets, again, minus F minus for the field. But some things that might surprise you a bit.

[Don Hahn]

Let's hear

[Peter Rosenberg]

position coaches. B. Offensive coordinator, B minus. Defensive coordinator, B plus.

[Don Hahn]

What? Special teams fired.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, I'll tell you, their special teams coordinator was great because they had great special teams. I mean, so you fired nine coaches. Meanwhile, the players gave, you know, B's and A's across the board.

[Don Hahn]

Head coach, a head coach, A. A, A highest grade you can get.

[Peter Rosenberg]

General manager, A minus.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, you know what? Then good news, guys. And we can just keep everything the way it is.

[Rich Eisen]

Everything is fine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you ready?

[Don Hahn]

Are you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are you ready?

[Don Hahn]

Ready for what? Owner.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now. The Giants. Owner, B. Fair.

[Don Hahn]

That's fair. There.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did you see this?

[Alan Hahn]

I haven't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Have you seen it?

[Don Hahn]

I have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Look at me. All right, so what do you think, team ownership, grade wise, rather than ask you what you. Because again, I'm loading the question, you

[Don Hahn]

know, but what would players say? What would I give? Look, I'm giving the owner an F. But. But that's me. Players are treated probably well by this owner. But I can't imagine. Because if the kids are in the locker room. You saw that story when that came out. C at best.

[Peter Rosenberg]

C plus, Peter.

[Don Hahn]

At best.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I. At best.

[Don Hahn]

So I can't. How could you?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, a few players are gone. Right? A few players are gone who knew the team well. So with. With those players gone, it could up the average. I'm gonna call it a B plus.

[Don Hahn]

Stop.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A B. A B.

[Don Hahn]

All right, now, I'm good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A couple of things at play here. I think it's all about how you're treated. And I know Woody treats his players well. Now, I don't think Woody's very good at being an owner, but I think when those guys collectively grade him high, it's because of how they're personally treated. Listen, we've all had bosses. We don't judge our bosses on how well they're doing for the company. We judge our bosses on how we're treated. Right?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, there might even be some bosses that weren't really, relatively speaking, not good at what they did, but they treated you well. And so you're like, yeah, listen, he's always treated me well. You know, we've all met bigwigs at ESPN and good Karma. I don't judge them based on how the companies are doing. I judge them on how they treat me and how nice they are to me and my family. And do they come through for me? Do they have my back? I happen to know working around the jets for 16 years old, all of those years, Woody owning the team, that the players were always treated very well. I was treated very well by Woody. Always very cordial, nice. Hey. During the MetLife Rangers Islander game, Woody was with his son and granted me an interview in the intermission. Now that's how I judge you. Now, if I judge him on is his team any good, then he would get an F. That's probably where it comes from. But what I really want to get into, guys, is Aaron Glenn with an A. Like, this is my. My theory, and it could be wrong. Tell me what you think. That an A could almost be like an F in the sense of interesting. Do I really want to like my coach? Is that a good thing that all of my players love me? Am I doing things right if the club. Because it can't be by wins and losses, guys, they won three games. Right?

[Don Hahn]

So I see what you're saying.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So is it like, you know what, you shouldn't be good thing that all the players are gushing about Aaron Glenn, or do you really. Do you like it to the relationship? Be a little salty. You don't want too much love. You want all the respect. That's important. But is it good that the collective love you and the team went, you know, 3 and 14?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I know what you're saying is that if you like your coach too much, that means he's. Maybe he's not being as tough on you as he needs to be. I don't know what the criteria is. And when. When you're asking, you know, a lot of times it's like, maybe there's a checklist of things about the coach that you have to check to come up with your grade. But, yeah, I know what you're saying. But respect it is something we did hear a lot when the season was over. Like, you didn't hear many players, like, grumbling. Look, we all know how this stuff works. Bad teams like this, when the season's over, the good reporters, the rich saminis of the world, all have one or two locker room sources who tell you, like, you know, Scott doesn't know what he's doing or, you know, like, we're as confused as you are and things like that. There wasn't a lot of that rhetoric coming out of that locker.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you know why? Because he's a, he's a guy that played relatively recently. So some of those guys might remember his career and he was really good

[Don Hahn]

at what he did.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's rare in football. Yeah, I mean like honestly, how many times can you think of a head coach in the NFL that, that A played B, played at a high level and C, played fairly recently. Like it's very, very rare. Most of these, especially in the analytic world, they're all kids, they're all guys that never played.

[Don Hahn]

So I would think Campbell Vrabel.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. Yes, Bowles played but that was a while ago.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nobody in the NFL saw him play.

[Don Hahn]

Okay. So. But variable you saw.

[Alan Hahn]

I did and I'm only 46 but

[Don Hahn]

brable you saw you'd be long retired

[Peter Rosenberg]

if you were in the NFL.

[Alan Hahn]

Long retired.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What are you, what are you, Tom Brady?

[Don Hahn]

Like how many others, how many others you got?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, not many. I got, you know, there were guys

[Don Hahn]

that or there's the guys that have like Peyton's coach. Like these players know Sean Payton from New Orleans. Like you have that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, yeah, of course. But I think, I think that goes like.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you coached like when I was growing up in high school, college. I remember, you know. Oh, I remember Sean Payton winning a Super bowl with the Saints. Like so. Yeah, he had me at hello.

[Don Hahn]

Right, right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, but, but that is a, that is a pretty rare combination where Glenn, what was the last year he played? Well, it was still close to probably 20 years ago. Right. What was his last year in the NFL? Was it 04,05? Was it even that? I gotta look that up. But they, he could, he could tell stories that they can relate to. He played well played for that team. So. But oh, eight knew play for the saints in 08. So they, they probably remember him, saw him play, you know and so that probably so I think I could see them genuinely liking him. But does that, does that equate to. Well that's, that's. That that's a guy that's going to be a great coach in this league because the players like him. I think he could be liked a little too much.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, but it's a very interesting a though I mean we're really dissecting it. But it does tell you at least that the players, despite a God awful season that they had, I mean a God awful season, they aren't, they weren't completely disgusted with their coach. Which you would think in a bad year like that you'd be disgusted with your coach, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. Well, they weren't just. It sounded like they were not disgusted with any of the coaching, which is

[Don Hahn]

weird because the word was they did not like Wilkes. And the fact that he was so hard headed about. Right about coordinator got to be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Plus.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that doesn't. That, that part doesn't make sense. And that now all of a sudden I'm looking at it differently or is

[Peter Rosenberg]

it just the fact, listen, coach, he sucked, but he was a nice guy to hang around. Nice guy to get a beer with.

[Alan Hahn]

That's not. But that's really not surprising at all for a bad team's mentality. Like if you're on a. If you're on a team that doesn't have a lot of winners on it and people who are accustomed to winning and they have coaches that are nice and everything's fine and even when you lose a bad game, it's not the worst week of practice and we're not doing any of the extra hard work. And then you're asked to review your coaches. Are you actually reviewing them as like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I want to be worked harder. I want to see better results. And I mean, a lot of people slip into. Nah, they're nice to me. I like them. Sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why I, that's why I asked. Is a high grade necessarily a good thing? Like in you being well liked? Are you doing your job proper?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, let me ask. Do you, do you have the rest of the list of other teams? Yes, I'd be. Let's. Let's take a look.

[Anthony Pusick]

No, it's all on espn. But guys, I hate to be that guy.

[Don Hahn]

Be that it's not Thursday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anthony Pusick has a theory.

[Anthony Pusick]

How many surveys have you taken in your life?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, since I worked here, every three months.

[Anthony Pusick]

No, no, no.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Granted, 75% of my survey.

[Anthony Pusick]

I take every survey this company very seriously. However, we can't say that there haven't been surveys that we may have taken in our lives, whether it be, hey, you just talked to your bank. How would you like to rate us? 5.

[Alan Hahn]

5.

[Anthony Pusick]

5, 5.

[Ad Read Announcer]

5.

[Anthony Pusick]

5, 5, 5. Let's move on.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm just saying, Anthony, I hear you on that theory, but like, I feel like this. You think you do that for this?

[Anthony Pusick]

I don't. I don't. You'd have to ask a player because I don't know, you have to.

[Alan Hahn]

They don't. They have to do it anonymously. They're not being forced to do it.

[Don Hahn]

These guys are. These guys aren't given fives to, to the field. They killed the field.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, they sucks.

[Anthony Pusick]

That was the. That was the test question. Please put F for field.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, no, because there are. There. Listen, Anthony's right to the point where there are going to be some questions where you're like, I don't even want to think about it. I'm just giving it a five. But if I'm a player and they're talking about the field, then I'm going to make sure that's one that I'm going to pay attention to. Now just put ourselves in our situation. If you're taking a survey at work, anybody that's listening or on the show today, there are going to be certain questions where you're like, I'm not going to bother. Who cares? But if you know it's anonymous and nobody's going to know that it's you, this is the time for you to really tell how you feel about your boss, your co workers, the atmosphere around work. You know, if. If you don't care because you're a free agent, you're leaving. It's the last year of your contract. But if you really want to see change, you got to pay attention to, that would be your opportunity. If there was a boss that you hated, you telling me you would just give him a five, it would make you sick to do that.

[Don Hahn]

Right? Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I agree with you. There's certain things they probably ask, like no food, I don't know, just whatever. But field they're paying attention to, coaches they're paying attention to.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I want to look. You guys know how I am right now with the Jets. I'm Anthony's. I'm Anthony to the Rangers. That's me to the jets right now. You know that. But this is one that I'm actually going to say, I'm going to trust this and I'm going to see where it goes going forward and see if it really is that. He was in his first year, he did his best, realized he made mistakes, adjusted along the way, held himself internally accountable, and the guys kind of appreciated what he had to go through, knowing that this team really wasn't very good anyway.

[Anthony Pusick]

We called the jets an abomination. They're the 18th ranked team on these report cards.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So.

[Alan Hahn]

So. So throw a team at me, guys. Who interests you? I'll give you some. Some reports.

[Don Hahn]

All right, who would it. Let's think of a team that like, give me the Patriots.

[Alan Hahn]

That's who I'm looking at.

[Don Hahn]

Everybody, Everybody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I got them.

[Alan Hahn]

I got them pulled up. All right, let's start out with coaches, strength coaches. A minus. Position coaches, B minus. OCA B, DC B.

[Rich Eisen]

Head coach.

[Don Hahn]

A, A.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There you go.

[Alan Hahn]

They love general general manager, B plus.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Team ownership, B minus. Overall.

[Don Hahn]

That's a happy franchise.

[Anthony Pusick]

Lower than the Giants.

[Don Hahn]

Wait, how are they lower than the Giants?

[Anthony Pusick]

Home field, D. Food, dining area. D plus. Team travel, locker rooms, training rooms.

[Alan Hahn]

Low.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, okay, well, that, that's. That's lifestyle stuff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, see, that's, that's also like we. If I, If I hammer it, then we'll get better stuff.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, I mean, the, The Eagles are 20. The Steelers are dead last.

[Don Hahn]

Who's number one? Chiefs, Rams.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's see.

[Alan Hahn]

The Seahawks are four.

[Anthony Pusick]

All right, go for your commies, Peter.

[Alan Hahn]

Commies are three.

[Don Hahn]

That works.

[Anthony Pusick]

Oh, my God. You're not going to guess.

[Don Hahn]

Not going to guess who's number one?

[Anthony Pusick]

No. I'll give you. You can name every team in alphabetical order. You'll get there eventually.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, I'm gonna say Jaguars because at least I get to go to Europe every year.

[Anthony Pusick]

No, Peter, you haven't seen it yet, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I haven't seen it, but judging by action.

[Anthony Pusick]

You said Arizona, Alan. No, I think they are literally 32.

[Don Hahn]

They're probably the worst. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, no. Steelers are 32.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sorry.

[Anthony Pusick]

Then they must be. They're 30.

[Don Hahn]

This is a one.

[Alan Hahn]

So this is a bad team is what you're saying.

[Anthony Pusick]

I would. To have an overall ranking of number one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It can't be Miami.

[Anthony Pusick]

Correct, Don. Miami's number one.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, why wouldn't it be Miami, too?

[Don Hahn]

Why are you surprised by that? The owner spoils his players. It's the best place to live in the.

[Anthony Pusick]

They fired the coach that they gave a B.

[Don Hahn]

Well, they. But they liked him. He just wasn't very good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I think we're looking at this the wrong way.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, I think we.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, I think they got ulterior motives. They're. They're judging it. We're judging it by wins and losses and quality. Just judging it by. No, I think he's a cool dude. I think the food could be better, you know. Yeah, I. I don't want to say it's a nothing burger, because I do think there is something to it.

[Don Hahn]

Always yield.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think that's important. They got that one right. But I think Anthony's also right. There's some where they just did. They put no thought into it.

[Don Hahn]

Could be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I do think there is a little bit of. If I love the coach that much and you're losing, that's an issue.

[Don Hahn]

But, but here's Anthony sent me. Anthony, that text you sent me today.

[Anthony Pusick]

Hi.

[Don Hahn]

Hi. He sent me a text today about something that as a Jets fan, you should feel good about. And when you hear about what players are saying about coach, you would think like, this all goes together and maybe us yahoos on the outside just don't see it. But those in the know see it. And still I'm like, man, you want to tell them? Tell them what you told me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, tease it.

[Anthony Pusick]

Well, listen, we can tease it. I think. I think. And Don, you have it there for you so you could tease it. We'll have it when we get back.

[Don Hahn]

Something that should have caused movement. Instead, I just was like, meh.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, meh is next.

[Rich Eisen]

Rich Eisen here. The tax deadline will be here before you know it and you just want to know your taxes are actually being handled. But the old way, you hand everything off and then silence. Days pass, weeks pass. You start wondering, should I send another follow up email? It feels like you're chasing updates and getting nowhere. But now taxes are different because your taxes are done for you by a TurboTax full service expert. With Intuit TurboTax, you can match with your dedicated tax expert and hand off everything right in the app. And while your expert checks for every deduction, you'll see real time updates on your phone. So you always know exactly where things stand. Suddenly you're not refreshing your inbox. You're going for a run, grabbing a coffee, scrolling anything other than a just checking in message because your TurboTax expert is handling it and keeping you in the loop. So this tax season, get your best possible outcome and every dollar you deserve without the guesswork. Visit TurboTax.com today to learn more. Real time updates only in iOS mobile app only available with TurboTax full service experts.

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See us live from the Irish Exit Monaghan train station, Friday, March 13 before the semifinal round of tournament. Stop by before heading into the Garden or before the commute home. Don Hanna, Rosenberg live from the Irish exit of Moynihan Hall. And that's starting at 3pm Friday, March 13, just steps away from Madison Square Garden Penn Station. Brought to you by Schweppes above the Rim Refreshment. Feel the madness and refresh your game with a Schweppes Seltzer or Seltzer ginger ale, Sam Adams and Sun Cruiser Vodka iced tea available at Bourbon and Branch and Taylor pub. Must be 21 or older to purchase. Please drink responsibly. So guys, what did you come up with there to honor the teaspoon? What made you, Alan Hahn, go meth?

[Don Hahn]

So we have audio of this. So Ty Simpson met with the jets and came away from it saying this.

[Ty Simpson]

It was great, you know, just talking ball, getting to know each other. Coach Wright is a, is a great, great human being. Coach Glid is a, you know, super juiceful guy, you know, installing some stuff and getting to know each other and just, you know, getting on the board

[Peter Rosenberg]

is what I like.

[Ty Simpson]

So, you know, I really, really love the jets, you know, really, really blessed to be able to have a meeting with them and if I, you know, have an opportunity to play in New York that, you know, like I said, they're going to get the best tie stipend they can get.

[Don Hahn]

Somebody wants to get paid. They have a number two, number 16 and of course number 33, pick and that's the early second round. Simpson is not somebody that was thought to be a first rounder. Although now Mel is seeing him, is trying to is putting him in his latest mock as I think 21 to Pittsburgh. So now he snuck him in. Many people say there's only one first round quality quarterback in this draft, but we all know things change the more this process now begins.

[Rich Eisen]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

But he sounded downright giddy about Frank Reich and, and the jets and he even apparently did a little jets as well.

[Anthony Pusick]

That was Jake Asmon. He, Jake tracked down. Yeah, he tracked them down and he reiterated his love and then gave a Jets, Jets, jets, jets chant for Jake.

[Don Hahn]

So he's really making the case they should take me. I've said so. My reaction of course is all right, like because why was that? You can't get excited about something like this because you don't know what's going to happen when it comes to the draft. And number two, tell me again the time when the jets drafted a young quarterback who probably needed more time but developed them into something special. That never happens.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Never.

[Don Hahn]

Which is why the thought of being excited about, wow, he wants to be a Jet. Listen to this guy. He's all fired up. And I'm just going, yeah, I'm not. Nope, not gonna, I'm not falling for it. Lucy's got the football. Not. I'm not falling for it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well that's just, that's on you.

[Don Hahn]

Is it just. It's a banana in the tailpipe. I'm not doing it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's because you've been burned too many times before so you're not buying into it. Well, what I want to know is why is he so pumped up to join a team that's never developed a quarterback and just came off a three win season? Or is he just somebody that hey, I want to just show everybody that I'm all on board and pick me because I, I want to go as high as possible, knowing he's not going

[Don Hahn]

to go that high because Don, do you know how much a number two overall pick will get in his first contract?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's my point.

[Anthony Pusick]

50.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That I'm not telling you not to excited, but he's looking at like, hey, I just want to let him know, drive me knowing full well you will not be drafted by that team.

[Don Hahn]

It's a big difference to go number two and to go in the second round.

[Alan Hahn]

I'll tell you what though, if what they're thinking about guys, just, just humor me for a second. The jets desperately need a Quarterback, right. Yes, we're all in agreement.

[Don Hahn]

Well, we all agree.

[Alan Hahn]

And who was the last player, the last position we heard them toying with, at least in the rumor mill, is a safety.

[Don Hahn]

Well that was Mel. Mel suggested safety.

[Alan Hahn]

Mel, he's not. This isn't, this isn't Peter Rosenberg. Yo, yo bum Chuck. This is Mel Kuiper Jr. That's MKJ to me and you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but because he's just, he's just grading the player. Well, who's taking a safety at 2?

[Alan Hahn]

Well no, but he wasn't grading the player. His mock draft had him to the

[Peter Rosenberg]

jets because he believes he's the second best player.

[Anthony Pusick]

That's not how Mel grades it.

[Alan Hahn]

So Mel. So sorry Anthony. You're saying Mel doesn't.

[Anthony Pusick]

Mel doesn't just say this is the second best player. I'm taking it. He goes by need, he goes by where he thinks this, this person can go. And there is belief that, that he could go as high. Well to the jets at 2.

[Alan Hahn]

So hear me out. My only point exactly so my only point is if it's even a conversation that you'd consider a safety with the two. If you really liked a quarterback and you're worried someone's going to get him higher, would you make a stupid high pick for a quarterback? Not you, sorry, no. The Jets.

[Don Hahn]

Muji, I trust him.

[Alan Hahn]

You trust in Mooge?

[Don Hahn]

I do trust in the moog. But it's 16. That still might feel high. But if they got there. But if you can get Reese or Bailey. Bailey's. Bailey's stuff yesterday everybody was gaga over him and his measurables and numbers and all that stuff. But between, between those guys and even Bane like you can get an edge rusher at number two and then at 16 could you sell the idea of taking the quarterback that you know is a project that you can't, you can't just throw them out there to the wolves from in week one. But you could tell really wants to be part of it and just go from there. I mean the Patriots did sort of. Mac Jones was sort of around 15, wasn't he? But like I don't, I don't know. That's why I'm telling you. I'm paralyzed by this. I don't know. He went to Alabama, so he played big time football. He did not play a lot. And by the end of the season the early good tape was being, you know, like what he looked like at the very end was not great. So that's what you worry about. Take him too high and then of course, the minute whoever it is you get to play quarterback next year as a starter is looking ordinary, they'll be calling for this kid too soon. And that's what I worry about.

[Anthony Pusick]

My argument is he doesn't need to go gaga over his interview with the Jets. We've heard plenty of guys go, how was your interview? Great. Yeah, I met them. Cool guys. Awesome. Like, really excited. Would be cool to work with some of the wide receivers. I'd be cool to work with Garrett Wilson. This. It sounds like Tyson, and this is the only one I've seen of. Ty Simpson was very impressed with what he saw from the Jets. That's all I was saying. And that's something worth being excited about.

[Don Hahn]

I saying that's not nothing.

[Anthony Pusick]

I don't think so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I. But I. I need to. But is there. I need to hear what he has to say about other teams. If he's gaga over everybody, then it's just something he just like, he's a cool guy. Again, I don't want to beat up on the jets, but, you know, you're. Their history speaks for itself. And he can love it all he wants, but Allen nailed it. He wants to be the second overall pick in the draft, so that's going to help him and that's what he's hoping to kind of sell. And getting back to Mel. I'm not trying to beat up on Mel. And you're right, Mel's not just looking at who's the second best player and he's looking at need. But there's just no logical reason. You take a safety of two because you're not going to pay him. I mean, so that.

[Alan Hahn]

That's why.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just think it's ridiculous. It just.

[Don Hahn]

If you drop back, if you drop back a couple of spots, you can still probably get the safety if you really love them and also get some extra picks, like, you don't have to take them at 2 you2.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it just. It just makes no sense. But it tells you how good the safety is. And I. And I heard the interview with Rick and Dave. He's like, how many interceptions did you have last year? I understand the desperate need, but. But you talk about the second overall pick in the draft.

[Don Hahn]

I know, I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It just. It doesn't make a lot of sense.

[Anthony Pusick]

Don, would you like a comparison?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes.

[Anthony Pusick]

Ty Simpson on his meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay,

[Don Hahn]

dead silence.

[Anthony Pusick]

I know that this is. This is bad. He was silent. Here we go.

[Ty Simpson]

It was great. Met with them. Coach McCarthy's the guy, man. It Was funny. Like we go in there, asked a couple questions. We were just, you know, talking ball, going back and forth, talking about past concepts, talking about protection, talking about situations. And it was cool to, you know, see all the quarterbacks he's worked with with Dak, you know, and Aaron Rodgers and then, you know, situations that's come up in his career that, you know, hey asked me about, I mean, what I thought about it and it was really cool because we were just, you know, going back and forth and you know, by the time that we were finished, it was like, you know, felt like five minutes just because of how much fun we had. So, you know, I love Coach McCarthy, love the Steelers, I love those guys and I'm super excited to get to know him.

[Anthony Pusick]

Okay. So he loves everybody. I apologize.

[Alan Hahn]

So he loves them all and that's

[Peter Rosenberg]

not, that's not a bad thing. But it just, that's. We need more context. Right. If he, if he was ho hum about everybody else. So again, I feel like I'm beating up on the jets but when somebody's speaking that glowing and it says the same thing about the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Steelers are a very well run team, you know, and all that. It just, it sounded the same. He's just really excited to be in the NFL for him.

[Don Hahn]

That's. That's again so, so my, my meh. Don.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Is 100% fitting.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, that's a fair meh.

[Anthony Pusick]

I still don't think I. Maybe I'm not. Maybe I wouldn't be jumping up and down about it. I still don't think it's nothing.

[Don Hahn]

Well, it takes. But I like this Anthony.

[Anthony Pusick]

So explain even look, even if you want to be a quarterback in the NFL, you don't have to go to the. He. He's got the option and Mel has said okay, the Steelers at 21. And he said he loves the Steelers. I can't imagine those the only two interviews that he took and maybe he has other ones where he says he loves the Cardinals and he loves the Raiders and he loves the. I don't know. The Miami Dolphins were great. I really enjoyed my time down in Miami. They have A plus custodial services.

[Don Hahn]

Right. But I'm really excited about playing for put team name here.

[Anthony Pusick]

But we always say and we thought Dante Moore, which he never confirmed, didn't want to be a Jet and that's why he stood in college. Or as Mel points out, he's only played like 15 games in college.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Anthony Pusick]

Ty Simpson looked at a Jet team that Just fired their offensive coordinator, just got a new quarterbacks coach and said, I liked talking with them, I loved spending time with the jets, not shying away from it. And if he didn't want to be a Jet, he could have said, yeah, it was great that they met with me and I'm really happy and you know, we'll see where the chips fall. But he said he loved the Steelers. He said he loved the jets because.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But because they got the second overall pick in the draft.

[Anthony Pusick]

Steelers don't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but I'm just saying is that that's a more logical place where he could go. You know, you're not getting picked too, but if for some reason they think the way you do and the jets take him. As bad as the Jet situation is, being a second overall pick is so lucrative and so it's so big for him, the jets aren't that bad of a situation. In the situation that he's in now, some guys can't do it and they're just going to be all business. Anthony, you're a guy. You're a good looking guy. Oh, thank you. You're not Brad Pitt. So if you're, if you're out at the club and some really hot woman comes up to you and starts, I love the pusick, I love the way

[Anthony Pusick]

you're built, I'd be concerned. I'd really be concerned.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're the. No, no. You're gonna float on air and go, man, she really digs me, man. That'. So you go to the bathroom, you come back and you see she's chatting up another guy and says the same thing to that guy. You'd be like, you know what? I guess she's just really nice. And now you can be like, I love what she said to me. But if she's saying it to everybody, it kind of devalues what's being said.

[Alan Hahn]

Doesn't hit the same.

[Anthony Pusick]

Now listen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Doesn't hit the same. Still could be good, you know, maybe give you something to think about later on that night.

[Rich Eisen]

Peter.

[Anthony Pusick]

Peter was apologizing to Jet fans yesterday because of how low it felt. All I saw today was an opportunity to give some levity. I tried my best.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not. Well, no, but. No, you, you did because you think there's something there. I don't, Alan.

[Anthony Pusick]

And that's fair. Peter, what do you think about this whole thing?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, he's asleep. There's no way you like anything about this. There's no way you like anything about this.

[Alan Hahn]

It's. It's Anthony, Remember what I said two days ago. You have the music over there.

[Anthony Pusick]

Oh, no going back.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, it's, it's, it's nice that a guy, you know, didn't besmirch your team after talking to them. Okay? It's, it's, it. That's nice.

[Don Hahn]

All right. Peter gave me what it would have sounded like. Peter, because you're so good at this ad libbing. Ty Simpson met with the jets, hated the whole thing. What would he say?

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, you know, listen, I'm just happy to be, you know, in a situation where I'm getting to talk to a team that, you know, has the history obviously of the New York jets and, you know, wow. Imagine being in a market like New York. What unbelievable fans they have. And what a great organization. Just really, really happy to have the opportunity to talk to the Jets.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Really, really special. Queue up the straw.

[Alan Hahn]

That's right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

Because that's, that's what it means. All of it means that.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, it's just this, this time

[Don Hahn]

of year, these, these, the combine, the pro days, all of it. It just makes me sick. Like I hate all of. Really. Definitely feels like 9:30 at the bar.

[Anthony Pusick]

Well, guess what? You'll be hearing more of it in the inn because we got some doozies for you.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, beautiful.

[Alan Hahn]

I can't wait. You guys got a heavy dose coming. Don, you love.

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[Anthony Pusick]

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Without question, cancer rates are rising across the board and concerningly we are seeing more aggressive cancers in people even in their 20s and 30s.

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Love some deep purple. Good job. 1-800-919-3776. We've got a great analogy for what we were just talking about, and that is going to come from Greg in Tom's River. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Greg? Yeah, Don, you were spot on, man. Just like on Seinfeld when that doctor told Elaine she was breathtaking and she was on cloud nine. And then they went up and looked at the baby, who was ugly as sin, and he said the baby was breathtaking. Exactly right. And she was devastated. And then when she confronts him about it, she's like, well, you know, sometimes you just. I forget what the exact line was. You might remember. It was like, sometimes you don't say what you mean or whatever. Nice. No, no, I wish. I wish I had time to look it up, but I. But maybe. Maybe you guys can look it up when we get done with the call. But Kramer said the baby looked like. And it was something like Franklin Roosevelt or. I mean, it was really way out there. It was great. Yeah. And I think that's what it is. He's a good kid. It's not going to say anything negative. And I always look whenever something like that is. All right, what's the angle? Maybe that's being a pessimistic person or whatever, or a little jaded by. But it's like, all right, why would they say that? What's the motivation to say that?

[Don Hahn]

That.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And his motivation to say that is to say it'd be great if I was taking second overall.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, yeah. And again, what is he gonna say? No, it was terrible. I don't want to play for them. I mean, you can't burn any bridges at that point. All right, great analogy, Greg.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it's very good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So, I'm sorry, Anthony. I think Anthony just wants something nice to be said about.

[Alan Hahn]

This is why we. This is why we can't have anything now. But. But.

[Don Hahn]

But it's. I am where he is with the Rangers. Where he is with the Rangers is where I am with the Jets.

[Alan Hahn]

Dead inside.

[Don Hahn]

I'm dead inside. Talk to him about the Rangers. You get the same reaction from him.

[Anthony Pusick]

Last night was fun.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Last night, the Rangers lost in overtime to the Flyers.

[Don Hahn]

That game, Mike.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And. And Adam Fox is starting to talk like someone who's creating an exit strategy.

[Don Hahn]

He gone.

[Anthony Pusick]

We have it if you want it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'd like to hear it.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, sure.

[Anthony Pusick]

I mean I'm just trying to focus

[Peter Rosenberg]

on this year right now and play each game.

[Don Hahn]

I mean that's really all I could

[Peter Rosenberg]

do right now could control is I was just trying to work to get back and help the team finish strong.

[Don Hahn]

So I think that's where my head's at.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Obviously that's the focus right now and I think that's a conversation when we're

[Don Hahn]

done playing against we're trying to win

[Peter Rosenberg]

games and do that tonight.

[Don Hahn]

And I think that's where my focus is right now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I don't think that he is asking to leave. I think he's accepting the fact that he might because now the Rangers are starting to learn what the Mets learn. Team's not good enough. We've got to start scaling it back and that means having tough give ups like having to maybe trade a former Norris Trophy winner and a player that did everything he could to become a Ranger and a local kid and a fan favorite like what the Mets did with Pete Alonso. Because at the end of the day it's not a popularity contest. It's what gives us the best chance to win. Now I could put a team together where the fans all love them and maybe puts a few more fannies in the seats in a losing season but is it helpful to the long term health of my organization to keep a guy for that reason when I can do better? That's what the Mets did with Pete. Ticked a lot of Met fans off and believe me, they'll be really ticked off if it doesn't work. And that, you know, take us back to the original conversation about the Knicks is that you've got some very popular players and you've got a team that's really good in contention. I'm sure the ratings on MSG are good buildings always full. But I've got to make some tough decisions because it's not a popularity contest. It's not having the, the the hoppingist club in New York City. It's about having a team that can win a championship and they might have to cross that road with Cat. Certainly the Rangers are crossing that road with Fox. The Mets did it with Pete Alonso and ultimately you should be a slave to winning.

[Don Hahn]

But Don, you still have to have some players like Adam Fox is like you move on from him. What are you replacing him with? Like you can't just keep moving out talent without bringing in talent, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I ask you exactly what talent they've given up? I mean, they finally gave up Panarin and they finally gave up Kreider. Kreider was probably a little bit too late. Panarin's getting as much. But Aaron's a talent that they weren't,

[Don Hahn]

you know, something I do about the sport. But he's a talent.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, no, He's a talent, but he's also somebody that wasn't a part of their future, was a free agent. Maybe you would have gotten a little bit more if he traded him the year before when he had another year left on his contract. All right, my point is, is that Adam Fox a great player? What are you replacing him with? Yeah, well, you obviously will get a lot for Adam Fox and give me other options and maybe draft picks like, Adam Fox is a really good player, but right now you're one of the worst teams of the NHL with Adam Fox. So I don't have that much left on this roster that's attractive. So these are the things, these are the tough decisions you have to make, right?

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And, and quite honestly, is Adam Fox a guy that you just can't move? I don't think so. Is he Cale McCarr? You physically can't think so because he

[Anthony Pusick]

has a no move clause. So this, let's not say disdain, but these comments and the things that have been transpiring over the last three or four months would require him to say, I don't want to be here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. And I think those conversations are being had. And I remember the late Larry Brooks telling me, no movement is a, is a conversation away now for me, because of energy. It wasn't. And some guys, they won't do it right, because even in a losing season, they love New York and their family and otherwise. If you tell Adam Fox, listen, I could send you to a contender. I could send you someplace where you've got a chance to win a cup. We've got a long rebuild here and it's not going to happen unless we move you.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Why would anybody want to stay someplace where they're not wanted?

[Don Hahn]

No, that, that, that part. Right? That's the part. And he had a run here. He had a great run. He was a Norris winner. Like, you know, he's. You know what sometimes happens, though? It's like good players end up being not blamed for losing, but it's like it feels like on their way out, it always feels like, gotta get rid of him. It's almost like you just kind of dismiss talented players it's easy. And I'm not saying you're doing this, Don. I'm saying like, fans tend to get like that because they get frustrated. And you gotta also remember when you are building a team or when you're rebuilding a team or reimagining or whatever it is that they're doing, if you're moving out talent, you have to bring in talent. Ah, you, you can't just move on. And then who's your power play quarterback now who's running your power play?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You don't have one worried. You don't have one worried. But, but, but are you really worried about the quarterback or your power play? That's quarterback, your power play now. And you're the worst team in the Eastern Conference. Like, and this is the same thing with Pete Alonso and it's the same thing with Panarin, maybe with Cat.

[Don Hahn]

He's been hurt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I get it. And it's not. He could take it as a compliment. It's like, listen, we're the worst team in the Eastern Conference. We've got to forget about the semantics of the war. They got to rebuild. And the way you rebuild is you've got to get, you got to move pieces that are significant enough to get something back in return.

[Don Hahn]

But that's what I'm asking. What are you getting back? What are you getting back?

[Anthony Pusick]

You get a Quinn Hughes like Hall for Adam Fox.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, I agree with that. I think, I think you would really start. Listen, you could probably. Why couldn't you get a second line center, a prospect and a young defenseman in return for a team that looks at Adam Fox and goes, I want him to help my second unit on the power play because I'm trying to win a cup.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, you've got to get, you know, Devin Toews like, you've got to get something like that.

[Anthony Pusick]

The reason this is a retool is because the no move clause guys, which is Miller, Gabricov, Fox, Igor and Zib, said they don't want to go anywhere. Once some or any of those guys say they want to go somewhere, the retool becomes a rebuild very quickly.

[Don Hahn]

I understand it just that can take a long time, longer than

[Peter Rosenberg]

if I'm going to double down on players. Now it's worked for Pittsburgh. They double down on Latang, they doubled down on Malkin, they doubled down on Crosby and it's bearing fruit. Now they're in second place in the division after three years of missing the playoffs, by the way. But eventually all those guys are going to age out and you're going to have to start over again. I don't. The Rangers aren't there. Man, this is going to be two straight years of missing the playoffs. They're going to end up with a lottery pick. And now you gotta, you gotta make some very difficult decisions in order to get something back in return that's gonna help. You're not doing that by moving, you know, the fourth line guys. Right. Sam Carrick's not gonna get you a big haul, you know, so that's, that's why these tough decisions have to be made. So. And it all circles back to the Mets did it. The Mets are the one team that seem to have the guts to do it. We'll see if it works. But Knicks Rangers are finally figuring out probably a year or two too late, is that you've got to make some very difficult decisions if the ultimate goal is to win a championship. If the ultimate goal is, hey, we fell in the building and we're winning games or going to the playoffs every year. Like what aggravates you about the Yankees?

[Don Hahn]

Yes. Yeah, that's exactly what it's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are we really going to. Are we now going to make a decision of where we can get to where Colorado is, where we can get to where Oklahoma City is, where we can get to where, you know, the Eagles and Kansas City and now Seattle and New England are.

[Don Hahn]

Well, where'd you. I know we got to go. Colorado got where they got because they got two pieces in the draft that were foundational pieces. That's what, that's how they got where they got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They drafted. Right. And they got the pieces.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. And then added around and that's even

[Peter Rosenberg]

with Landiscog really not. Not working out. But McCarra McKinnon did and hurt though, didn't he? Yeah, but I'm just saying it didn't work out like they didn't get what they were hoping for from him, but, you know, eventually worked out for Edmonton having four first overall picks. You know, it's. I'm just saying everybody wants a championship. That means you're going to have to make some difficult decisions to get there. Otherwise you could just be content. Knicks are a good team, but if you want to get to the promised land, you're going to have to look yourself in the mirror and say, can we get there?

[Don Hahn]

Get me to the dog. That's what they're going to say. That's what they're going to say.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Enn's great. Enn's champion.

[Rich Eisen]

Friday.

[Alan Hahn]

ENN hits a little different, especially after Adam Fox conversation on a day when Jack Hughes was on Pat McAfee.

[Don Hahn]

These days are unusual. Peter just took a nap.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm all in on the Adam Fox decision.

[Don Hahn]

Listen, we talk about all including hockey on this show.

[Alan Hahn]

That's right.

[Don Hahn]

I defy you to find another show that does that.

[Alan Hahn]

That is true. I will say that talks smarter hockey than we do on this show.

[Don Hahn]

Can't do it.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's why I lay out because I don't want to ruin the the Smart.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh stop.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't want to know how the

[Don Hahn]

sausage is made, but I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 88 ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

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