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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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)

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

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.

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