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Don Hahn
Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Alan
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.
Don
Oh, Don Hahn and Rosenberg, ESPN New York. It's opening night in baseball.
Peter
I love what Don said. So I'm just because I want to bring this conversation up because we did open with this. It is opening night, one game for Major League Baseball. Rather than celebrate a traditional opening day where we have everybody playing and a lot of fun, just seeing all the firsts of the season tonight, Yankees, Giants in San Francisco. It is on Netflix and only on Netflix. So yes, all of us old guys can get pissed off that we're stuck on one app and can't navigate around to watch other things. But they are having, you know, it's always like who's throwing out the first pitch. As we know it'll be thing from
Don
Wednesday or Wednesday, as you said.
Peter
Wednesday, of course. Adams Family Vehicle that is on Netflix and that is very popular.
Don
Huge.
Peter
The kids love it.
Don
They love Wendy.
Peter
And we saw video hump day. Some call it hump day of thing on a what, a skateboard or something. Yeah, I just, just so I don't know how it's going to do the throwing at the first pitch thing. It's not a human being. It's literally a thing. No one's really impressed. But Don, there is something that it could do.
Alan
Yes.
Peter
That would impress all of us.
Alan
Now if you watch it because it's making on social media, it's on a skateboard and it's on the infield and it's moving. It's, you know, thumbs up, it's moving number one. I want to see it give the finger. I was waiting for it to give the finger and what it looks like to me because it's on a skateboard, I guess it's gonna roll to the catcher.
Peter
I don't know.
Jake
It better paint the black at 90. That's all I'm saying.
Alan
It's not gonna paint the black.
Peter
You know what? It still might be a strike and then we'll have to tap our Head and get the first.
Jake
Wait, no, he has to tap his head. No, Thing has to tap his.
Peter
No, no, the catcher has to.
Jake
No, Thing has to. I don't know how he's gonna do it. I don't know what he's tapping.
Peter
Hey, it's five fingers. He can figure it out.
Alan
Give the finger.
Peter
Why don't you write right there? Show me something for all you that hate that I'm doing this for all of you that think this is totally corporate. Yeah, right there. What do you think of that?
Alan
I know. You got to make money, right? And all. Everybody's going to the apps and listen, Netflix is the 1 app. Netflix is like the TBS of old cable. Like, no matter. No matter how you downgraded your cable, like the basic. Basic, basic cable. You got tbs. Everybody's got Netflix, right? I mean, everybody's got it. So it's not even the inconvenience or the issue with it being on an app tonight because, hey, if you wanted to have the opening day ID I had where everybody's playing, you know, put it all on Netflix, you know, I just want to see everybody playing. I want there to be a traditional opening day. Now, I realize we always had that Sunday night game on espn, that was the standalone game, but during the week. And then some are going to play tomorrow. Not everybody. And then some will have their opening day on Friday. I don't know. It just. It's a shame. It really is. But I'm sure it made him a ton of money. Yeah, I'm sure this Wednesday thing is. Is a big partnership. I wouldn't be surprised if Judge plays Lurch in. In one of the episodes this season or something. They'll have some sort of a crossover.
Don
Dude.
Peter
Well, I wonder if this will be in an episode, right?
Alan
It might.
Peter
They'll use. They'll use some, you know, video from it because it's there. It's their production, and they'll put it into an episode. So there's all the crossover that. We all know these networks.
Alan
You got to do it. We all have to, you know. What. Ourselves sometimes. Sorry, money. And get attention. But. But on opening day, you got very little left. Baseball has completely detached itself from being the true sport of this country. Right. It was supposed to be our national pastime. Now it's become our national past. The time while we wait for football. Yeah, that's great way to put it. And one of the ways that it's different than other sports is it has a traditional opening day, just like my son when he has his opening day in a couple of weeks, there's going to be a parade and there's going to be the bunting on the fences, and everybody's going to play. And you make it a moment. It's Americana. It's special. Everybody else can afford to be corporate because as much as I love hockey and you love basketball and we all love football, there is a connection to this country and baseball. And it fades by the year, and it's changed to be the most affordable of the sports to go. See, that's now over. It was the one show. It was the one sport that actually had over the air instead of it being on cable. That's now changed, and there's been a disconnect. The one thing baseball had over everybody, the sense of Americana, the sense of history. And you think back to that speech that James Earl Jones gives, right, where he talks about that. The blackboard, it's. It's erased and then built again. But the one constant is baseball. Remember, he gives that whole speech in, and that's all. It's over. It just feels like it's over. And I love it and I'm passionate about it, but over time, it just. It's really lost the one little unique thing that it had over all the other sports, that connection to the history. And I'm not sensing that anymore.
Don
Yeah, it's. It's not what you want. We'll get more into the baseball. We want to talk to you guys to 1-800-919-3776. Does this feel like opening day to you at all? Like, are you annoyed that tonight's game is a Netflix vehicle where thing from Adams family is throwing out the opening pitch? Maybe you don't give a damn, and maybe it's the kind of thing that people like us complain about, people in the business are kind of annoyed with. But actual fans all go, whatever. I have Netflix. I'm watching the game. Doesn't matter to me. I just think it's. My main thing is I just don't feel the whole country will be locked in because it's one random baseball game. I mean, I'm not a Yankee fan. I'm not a Giants fan. I'm probably a lot more apt to want to watch basketball tonight as I'm sitting here on a relatively cool New York day. Don, I'd rather watch Celtics Thunder than a Giants Yankee game.
Peter
Well, no, I'd rather watch Yankees Giants.
Don
No, you would, because you're a Yankee fan. But that's not a national event, though, is my Point.
Peter
Yeah.
Don
That's a local event for you as a fan.
Peter
You know what's weird too about it is that if it was the Dodgers, you probably could make the big argument of this is a team of the century type thing. They're trying to go for three in
Don
a row and it's a rivalry.
Peter
Let them start the season putting the Yankees here as a team. That's kind of.
Don
Oh, you meant Dodgers Giants. I meant Yankees Dodgers. You meant Yankees Dodgers.
Peter
Yeah.
Don
Or Dodgers Giants.
Peter
I would have done either.
Don
Either one would be better than this either.
Peter
I don't know what Yankees Giants does for anyone nationally, but I do think Dodgers either. Dodgers, Giants, which I don't think you'll waste on an opening day. Dodgers, Yankees, you probably aren't wasting that on an opening day, but Dodgers, something Dodgers, Red Sox, like.
Alan
Well, the Yankees are a national team.
Peter
Yeah.
Alan
They'll get a decent. Because there are people around the country that are Yankee fans and there's people that hate the Yankees that'll hate. Watch. Giants, not so much a national team, but it's a unique matchup. Right. It's not something you see every day. Yankees are very rarely in San Francisco. I mean, that'll change now with the new schedule where every other year they'll be there. But. Yeah, I remember what a big deal it was. Alan, you'll remember when Barry Bonds played a Yankee Stadium like that was. That was so crazy 20 years ago, right? Because he never did.
Peter
Right?
Alan
Well, yeah, he had a bomb down, down the. The first base line, like way into the upper.
Don
Well, that part probably exists for Giants fans to see Aaron judge to some degree. Fun to see the biggest star of the game.
Alan
And like there's a lot of different things. Listen, I don't want to. I don't want to completely eviscerate it. It's not, it's not a bad idea. It's not a bad first game. And again, it'll get a decent rating. I'm just saying that opening day was as close to a sports national holiday as we had and now it's gone. But it's been.
Peter
And again, to be clear, it's been gone. It's just the more it's been gone, the more we just keep saying this just isn't hitting right. Like, is it?
Alan
But it's not as it should. But it's also the fact that not everybody's playing tomorrow either. Like, maybe I feel differently about it if everybody was playing tomorrow because that's usually how it went. You'd get Yankees, Red Sox on A Sunday night in on ESPN and then either. And then that Monday it would be opening day and everybody would play and then it would feel like, all right, well, that's opening day. Or there'd be a year where there'd be that stupid series in Japan when there was actual exhibition games going on. Spring training games are going on, but a meaningful, like A's Mariners game would be played in Tokyo or a series and that would count. But people just ignored that and then they just went, went about their regular opening day stuff. But you know, there's going to be, I looked at it. I don't, I don't remember who. There's going to be a bunch of teams that have to wait till Friday.
Peter
Yeah.
Alan
It's crazy.
Peter
Yeah. This sport. And we talk about it because I do think it's something that, you know, again, the more it's talked about, the more at least you would hope it gets to the ears of people at Major League Baseball who might say, hey, you know, we've been doing this for a while and maybe we should go back to the idea of the grand season. Opening day, opening day and then the next night. If you want to do a standalone, fine. But opening day is something, there's something special about it, or at least it used to be. And maybe it's something that baseball should consider going forward. That's all.
Alan
Unfortunately, baseball doesn't have a lot of things that are marketable to get these apps to want to pay big. Right. So Netflix isn't going to pay. They want the exclusivity of having the first game. First game for you.
Peter
Yeah.
Alan
They don't want to have to pay for, you know, a game on a Saturday or a Sunday, you know, because that's something they want to offer. Getting the big time teams like now, the Mets are going to be on Peacock, the Yankees are going to be on, on Netflix because there's only a handful of teams that these apps are going to want to pay for to have the exclusivity for the big, the big audience. And it happens too. Listen, how many times how many Ranger games end up on ESPN+ or, or end up on ABC or end up on TNT taken away from the regionals because the Rangers, even, even a bad season, there's still a team that gets a number because there's only a handful of teams do that in the NHL.
Peter
And one thing I was wondering too, as we're talking about this and we earlier talked about how again, a Yankee fan doesn't get to hear Michael K. And the yes. You know, broadcast, the home broadcast. You don't get to hear that. You know, the Mets aren't, the Mets fans aren't going to hear Gary, Keith and Ron for the first game of the season. But if you look at where regional sports networks, even though they thrive in the major markets, especially here in New York, everywhere else, the regional sports network thing is almost like do they have their home announcers still? Even with so many of them being swallowed up by the league? Like how does that work? I don't know how it works. So I don't know if there still is that hometown call feel on the TV side. If these networks are going to be run by Major League Baseball.
Alan
I, I, again, I'm, it's just a guess. I think they still have the announcers. It's just, it's being run by Major League Baseball. So production, because they're hemorrhaging, hemorrhaging money. It's. Yeah, it's really, it's really out and it's more and more and more of them every single year, these regional networks going out. But that just shows you how, how important opening day is because like Met fans are freaking out, Yankee fans are freaking out. They're not getting their guys on opening day. They're still going to get them for 135 times during the year. But opening day special. Right. They'll get, they'll get Gary, Keith and Ron, you know, the next time.
Peter
Right.
Alan
Next game that they play because what are they going to, they're playing third. So they'll play Saturday because they'll take the day off on Friday. Yeah, but opening day is different. Right? Like, just acknowledge the opening day is special.
Peter
Yes, right. That's what we wish maybe going forward. That's all we're saying. We know it's been a while. So MLB Local Media has taken over broadcasting for at least 15 teams especially this is after the whole FanDuel Sports Network thing, the Bally Sports diamond thing, collapsed. The league produces the games. It largely retains the existing familiar team employed announcers and production crews rather than completely replacing them. So there, it's essentially what are they doing? They're paying for the truck. Right. Is that basically what it is?
Don
I guess so, yeah.
Peter
It feels like. And so you still get the continuity of your announcers and those who know your team. So okay, so yeah, regardless, you're still getting the home announcers and but in New York, big market, L.A. chicago, some of the bigger markets, Boston, you still have that feel of our network, our announcers and, and yet because they're big markets early in the season, the Nationals are gonna take as many as they can and take them away from that. So you're. It's gonna take a while before you can settle into your season with your broadcasters.
Don
Now, we've teased it, we gotta say it. The New York jets are having themselves a private workout. I know you're excited, Don, for none other than the aforementioned over the last couple of days. Dan Orlofsky's favorite quarterback, Ty Simpson.
Alan
Yes.
Don
So a private workout is happening. Does this do anything for you?
Peter
Due diligence.
Alan
But why wouldn't they? Right? They're hoping he's going to be there at 16. I doubt very seriously that they would take him at 2. But you never know what kind of momentum is going to get created here between now and the draft. But I always felt that that was somewhat overrated, Peter, because I think teams that don't need quarterbacks will take a look at guys. Right. You always, like Alan said, you want to do your due diligence. You want to know everything there is to know about every possible player that could be selected. So, yeah, I would be surprised if the jets didn't have a private workout for him. Right.
Peter
That's what I mean. I think the due diligence has to be done. And I think if you're Muji, it's not just him. It's. It's several Nussmeyer. And was it aller. All the different quarterbacks that are going to be available, Becky, like, I think you're going to sit down with all of them because that's what you're supposed to do when you're a franchise that doesn't have a future quarterback. By the way, we like DraftKings or no, I can't remember.
Don
I like FanDuel.
Peter
You like FanDuel. That's what I thought.
Jake
DraftKings is. Is the standard on ESPN.
Peter
Okay. All right.
Don
So. Got it.
Peter
Sure. So. So DraftKings is. Has the odds for who will take Simpson. Okay. And who would you expect to be tied for the shortest odds?
Don
Tied for the shortest odds?
Peter
Yeah.
Jake
That's an interesting question.
Alan
Wow. Because.
Don
Yeah, that is sort of.
Alan
The Rams would take them.
Peter
The rams are the third team.
Alan
Okay.
Peter
They're plus 400.
Alan
All right. Who's drafting around the jets that needs a quarterback? I. Was it jets and Dolphins.
Peter
Jets is right. Plus 140. Dolphins. Not correct.
Jake
I'm going to guess Cleveland.
Peter
Cleveland is fourth at plus 650.
Alan
You have the last golf.
Don
So, you know, is this, like, very interesting and surprising.
Peter
8th at 1500. It shouldn't be surprising.
Don
It's not surprising.
Peter
No. It should be expected.
Don
Well, then who are we just forgetting? That's bad because the.
Peter
Bad and needs a quarterback.
Don
Yeah. Because the. Where did Atlanta land?
Peter
Not that Atlanta is way down the line. 4,000. In fact, they're tied with the Cowboys, which you wouldn't ever.
Don
Where do they land with their quarterback situation. Now I forget.
Peter
Atlanta.
Don
Yeah. Tour.
Peter
And remember, they brought in. They still have Penix, who has no knees.
Alan
Right.
Peter
You know, so they're.
Alan
Oh, I'm sorry. Is it.
Peter
What? No, I was just.
Alan
I was trying to guess. I was going. But then I said, nah. I was thinking Saints, but I'm like,
Peter
no, they like shuck.
Alan
Yeah, that's right. They like shuck myself.
Peter
Yeah. It's shock, right?
Don
Yeah.
Jake
No, you're.
Don
You're right.
Peter
Yeah.
Don
Oh, it's not Xiao. It's shuck.
Peter
It's not Xiao.
Jake
That's not low.
Peter
It's loud. Yeah. This team, by the way, is picking third.
Don
So who's picking third?
Peter
And I'm trying to see if they have a later pick.
Don
Arizona.
Peter
Arizona. Yeah.
Jake
That's who Yates said was going to trade up in the back end of the first round for in his latest mock.
Peter
Okay, so then that's probably the thinking is they'll. They'll trade. They'll do a Giant.
Jake
They'll do a Dart. They'll get their guy at high pick and then trade back into the bottom of the first round and get a guy with a Jets or Cardinals.
Alan
Momentum starts to build, man.
Peter
Oh, you can. You can feel it.
Alan
He could become the next Baker Mayfield.
Peter
And there's another, by the way, we had a caller a couple of days ago. Remember the Jeremiah Love running back call we got?
Don
Yeah.
Peter
And my thinking was, well, you know, they have a pretty good running back room, the Giants now.
Don
They do.
Peter
They have a pretty good running back room. You know, I don't know if you would use the pick. There's a lot of momentum about what love can be for the Giants. And of course, you know, thinking Harbaugh line of scrimmage kind of guy. Right Again, Don, run the ball. I know you're going to hate this, Don, but with the fifth pick, he is considered somebody that is a, you know, that kind of generational running back talent. Plug and play immediately impact his different levels of what he can do not only run, but catch and what he can do for. For, for Jackson Darth it. There's a lot of momentum about the Giants and Jeremiah Love. And I'm sure you'd love to get a running back at, no pun intended, two things.
Alan
Yeah. Did that all of a sudden happen after what Scatter Boo said about cte? All right, then there's. But I'm. I'm going to surprise you with this. I'm all for them taking a running back if they're going to pay him because my whole thing has always been don't draft somebody high if you don't intend to pay them. So if he ends up being a great running back and now you get to the fifth year option and you're hemming and Hawn and you're not sure what you're going to do because you don't want to pay a running back a ton of money because you're going to have to eventually pay your quarterback and you're going to have to pay your defensive point. But then why did you do it? If you love him so much and you believe that he's that much of a game changer than when his contract is up, you pay him. That was the problem with Barkley is like now, now you don't want to pay him. Now you're trying to figure out a way to get out.
Peter
Remember, it changed, right? Different gm, different coach, different offense, different mindset. Harbaugh, this guy fits everything that Harbaugh is all about.
Alan
Now you're right because they obviously winning
Peter
the game at the line of scrimmage. Physical football, this is everything that, that this guy would bring with Scott. Now keep in mind too, it's with Scatterboo because we know Scatterbo is the angry runner. That's what he is. So it's. You're talking about a physical runner. Scatterboard does that. But you know, as a number one, Scatter was just not. Poor kid might not make it out of a season the way he runs right now.
Alan
Gettleman drafted him and it was Shane that had to decide whether to keep Barkley or not. Now if Gettleman stayed. But I also think that the figuring was we're going to get Barkley and we're going to win a Super bowl again with Eli and it's not going to matter.
Peter
Right?
Alan
You know, they didn't. They got worse and then they got into the situation that they were in. Shane didn't want to pay a running back because you don't pay running backs. But if the Giants are committed to pay the running back, then I'm all for it. I am not against running backs and safeties being drafted high if the intention is to pay him. Same thing happened with Jamal Adams with the jets, all right, He's a. He's a. He's a generational talent. They don't want to pay him, so they ended up having to trade him, and they end up making a very good trade. Seattle thought they were going to win the super bowl that year and made the trade. So the jets were able to get out from under. So that's all I'm saying, guys, is that if Shane and Harbaugh are going to draft a running back and pay him, then. Then I guess it's okay. But if we end up having the same thing that we had with Barkley, where it's, well, I don't know if we should pay him.
Peter
I just think we're in a different place.
Alan
We're going to franchise.
Peter
You're not wrong. And that's generally the. Always been the consternation about taking a running back this high is always that concern about, well, in three years, we're going to have to make a decision. And so we need to know by then, the last time around, as you said, Don, it was a previous regime that took Barclay. It failed, and a new regime came in. John Harwell's not going anywhere. So we already know. And, you know, there's a lot of people, including, of course, Mel Kuiper, who believes strongly that a guy like John Harbaugh is not letting him go by at 5. So if he's there, it just feels like a fit.
Alan
I hope. I hope, you know, for, you know, three, four years from now, and he's, you know, 12, 1300 yards and 10 touchdowns and Giants are winning, that they're going to pay him.
Peter
I think there's an amazing stat that I heard about him that I believe. I think this is. I'm just double checking because I heard it this morning when they were talking about it. Yeah. Jeremiah Love played three college football seasons at Notre Dame. He had almost 500, like, total touches of the football. How many fumbles do you think he had? Well, the way you're saying 21 touchdowns, two or none.
Alan
But, you know, logic tells you that with that many touches, he should have had at least five or six.
Peter
Okay, you want to guess? Peter, He. Don's saying five or six.
Don
I'm going. Can I just go under?
Peter
You want to take under.
Don
Going under.
Peter
Don, Ao, Anthony, Jake, you want to just. How many. How many fumbles now? Fumbles lost? Of course, under. Well, I mean, now he's on his team.
Alan
Roseman, come on, show something I'll take the over. I was just.
Peter
You're going over.
Alan
Give me the over.
Peter
All right. The actual retail price is zero. This young man has never lost a fumble in three college football seasons. Playing at Notre Dame, pretty good. Like, you know, he's not playing at Assumption. Like he's, you know, he's playing at Notre Dame.
Don
Daniel Jones lost 12 in one game.
Peter
That's a. Isn't that an unstat?
Don
That is an insane stat. More insane stats and hijinks coming up right here. And also, guys, need to remind you that speaking of all this draft talk coming up Thursday, April 23rd, it is the draft. The jets pick 2nd and 16th, Giants pick 5th. And Rick and Dave are breaking it all down live. Join ESPN New York's Couchcast. Your second screen for the draft. Real time reactions, hot takes, and everything New York fans care about. Watch along, react with us and don't miss a single moment. It's ESPN New York's Couchcast on draft night April 3rd at 8pm right here on our YouTube channel, presented by Calandra's Bakery. We'll talk to you guys next 1-800-919-3776 and get to ENN. But Don, I was wondering, are you interested in Ramsey Mazda?
Alan
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Peter
This college basketball tournament moment is brought
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Don Hahn
2008 NCAA tournament, sophomore Steph Curry led
Alan
10th seated Davidson on a thrilling Cinderella
Don Hahn
run to the Elite Eight. In the four games, Curry scored 40,
Alan
30, 33 and in a final game against eventual national champion in one seeded
Peter
Kansas, he dropped 25 in a 5957 defeat.
Don Hahn
Looking back, I'm definitely proud of what we accomplished.
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Don Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Don
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Don Hahn
Catch this show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
Peter
There's more to this because I'm so obsessed now with it. Don. I have more to this Jeremiah Love Story so again, because I. I almost want you to want this now. Don. I'm. I'm now obsessed. 140 I'm sorry. 498 Career touches over the past three seasons at Notre Dame.
Don
It's a lot of touches.
Peter
The Jets. He met with the jets and they asked him how many times he fumbled in his career and he said one time it was against Boise State. But I didn't lose it. So not only is the zero fumbles lost amazing, but how about the fact that he also literally fumbled it one time?
Alan
That's crazy.
Peter
And still managed to get truly cover the ball.
Don
It's nutso.
Peter
Like the odds of a fumble sometimes just over that many carries and touches. It just. It's bound to happen. Even by mistake. It's raining ball slippery some. You know, whatever happened, it just happened. This dude doesn't lose the football. I'd say when it comes to skill sets of running backs, where would never fumbling power rank. Where would you power rank?
Don
Never fumbles the football and yet never. It's as high as can be.
Peter
Like you'd probably say speed is very important. But never fumbling the football might be 1B.
Don
I would. It could be 1A. Because your speed is super important.
Peter
Yeah.
Don
But if you have the. Because we have to assume every running back got there for a reason in the pros. As a running back, if you have a great offensive line now. Now you need a decent running back who knows how to follow blockers, hit holes, do the things supposed to do. Do they drop the ball or not? The only way good running backs basically lose their job is putting the ball on the ground. It's the number one reason you don't play a player well.
Peter
That's wild.
Alan
I think we could all agree that Tiki Barber was a phenomenal running back. Borderline hall of Fame, sure. But he didn't turn the corner until Tom Coughlin got here and showed him how to hold the ball. Because he had a fumbling problem. And as good as he was and as dynamic as he was, it didn't matter because it felt like every other game he was coughing up the ball in a big spot and cost them the game. Turnovers are killer. Can't survive them. And I think you'd rank it at number one. If you're telling me there's a skill set where the guy's gonna be drafted in the top five, then the fact that he never fumbles has got to be with the difference maker. Right. It's all about possessions. And it's almost impossible to win games if you lose the turnover battle significantly.
Peter
433 rushes, 62 receptions and three kickoff returns. Only one time did the ball touch
Don
the ground and he recovered it.
Peter
Unreal.
Don
If it's just the same, Jeremiah Love was not in the draft like 15 years ago because to be this good and this highly touted and arguably the biggest talent like he might be because Love. Alan, it sounds like is probably the most sure fire player like basically a can't miss right in this draft and in 1989, 90, 91. And you're the running back. Who's that guy? You're number one overall. You're making all the money in the world and now it's like oh cool, you're a campus running back.
Peter
We'll get you 10, 20 years old. So you got, you know, he is very young still. Like there's a lot. Yeah. And oh by the way, you might like this though because you know another team that people are saying he could go here too is your commies.
Don
Now I've heard that because you put
Peter
him with Jaden Daniels and now you've got a dangerous the same as Dart date. Two, two quarterback and a running back and you don't know who's running.
Alan
Well, what's changed the game. The game is changing too. I'm still gonna stand but stick to my guns on if you're not going to pay them, don't draft them that high. But if we are seeing it trending a different way and if does feel like the running back is being used.
Don
It had a bounce back. It had a bounce back last year for sure.
Alan
And let's face it, part of it guys is you really can't be a passing league if less than half the teams have a passer. Like if we're going to acknowledge the NFL's got a quarterback problem, then why are we so much a passing league?
Peter
I agree.
Alan
You know what, are you just going to throw your season away if you don't have a quarterback or you're waiting for your quarterback to mature? They have another way to find another ways to win. You got to find another way, you know and, and you're starting to see guys like as great as Josh Allen is and Patrick Mahomes is, they're, they're going to go away. What's the next generation do you see the next big crop of quarterbacks? Like who are these guys that are about to pop? Like if you're telling me right now the best quarterback. I mean Aaron Rodgers is still in the league, but he's not the best anymore. But you're telling me that Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson.
Peter
Yeah. Patrick Holmes, Drake May, you got to put him in that list.
Alan
I don't know yet. I don't know.
Don
Yeah, he's.
Peter
He popped this year, man.
Don
Well, Jaden popped the year before that.
Peter
I think Jaden's going to, I think
Don
he'll pop back too. But you Need a two or three year, you know. Okay.
Peter
Okay.
Alan
We went through the, the Peyton Mannings and the Aaron Rodgers and the Tom Brady's and we always had like five or six quarterbacks that were elite.
Peter
Yeah, yeah. It's.
Don
It's four to six quarterbacks. Yeah.
Alan
And now we're down to four. It's the four truly elite.
Peter
All right. Truly elite.
Don
Truly elite. We know are four.
Peter
Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow.
Don
And Joe Burrow. Those are the four.
Peter
So you're not. So, so Stafford, because of his age, we're not going to count because I. He's special. Herbert, Justin Herbert. We don't really good. But we can't put him there because we haven't seen.
Don
But listen, but hold on. You can though because those guys, both Stafford and Herbert are good enough to make their teams good. Yeah, they make their teams good, period. I mean Stafford has great weapons too, but. And a great head coach. But you remove those guys, those teams aren't the same.
Peter
Okay, so fine.
Alan
But if you want to throw Stafford in.
Don
Sure. Say it's six. It's still six, six, seven.
Alan
So do you see right now who the next six are going to be? I mean, is Trevor Lawrence ever going to be an elite quarterback? Is Herbert going to be an elite quarterback?
Don
Is Hertz.
Alan
But is he ever.
Don
Dak is all Dax Dak. We know what Dax.
Peter
Dax hit the ceiling. What he's going to be is what he is.
Alan
Of course. Ever get any better?
Peter
So we're not. All right, so we're not seeing him. Golf is what he is, right? Golf is what he is and it. We.
Alan
So maybe make can become that. Okay.
Don
Maybe Jaden Daniels becomes that.
Peter
Yeah. I think, I think. What is Hertz though?
Don
I think. I think we know Jalen Hurts is a really good. Just outside.
Alan
Yeah.
Peter
So he is what he is.
Alan
He's a winner.
Peter
Caleb winner.
Alan
And he's really a quarterback.
Don
Caleb is one who's growing.
Peter
He's Chicago.
Don
Yeah, he's. He's in the next. He could be.
Alan
But I guess my point is, is we fast forward years from now, will we have as deep a list as we have now of really truly elite quarterbacks? They'll be elite in the sense of, of what they're compared to in the moment. But we're already seeing like I love Josh Allen. He's not Peyton Manning, he's not Tom Brady, he's not Aaron Rodgers.
Peter
Was that the golden age of quarterbacks? When you say the depth of the position, was it, Was it the deepest, let's say 2008 to 2012.
Alan
Yeah.
Don
I mean, right. I got to tell you, but this, this group of four is. Is. It's right there next to them. It's right.
Peter
I'm talking about depth, like when you could.
Don
But how much deeper was it than those four back then?
Peter
Than that I'm trying to figure out,
Don
like when you go back to the Rogers, Brady, Manning era, the next batch of other ones that were really good, Roethlisberger, Eli. They were clearly a step down from those top three. Michael Vick, these were really good players. But the top ones were the top ones. And there was a drop off.
Peter
Yeah, I mean, again, I'm just going to 2010 just as give me 2010. I mean, Philip Rivers led in passing yard. Peyton Manning, number two. Drew Brees, number three. Then it's like, you know, remember Matt Schaub? Well, of course you do. Eli Carson Palmer, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, like again, Matt Ryan, like those guys. Matty Ice was an mvp.
Don
Yeah. Nice player.
Alan
I just, I remember we would have this conversation with K. Like how far down would you start to say there's a quarterback problem? You get to like 15. Like half the league had a quarterback that was very good. Maybe not elite, but very good.
Peter
All right, let's see.
Alan
You can't go 15 now.
Peter
But that's what I mean. Like if I get. If I go again, I give you Rivers, Manning, Breeze. Would you put Carson Palmer in that? At that time he was one of the better quarterbacks in the league.
Alan
I wouldn't say that. Cincinnati had a quarterback problem.
Peter
Okay. Aaron Rodgers. Aaron Rodgers, one of the best players in the league back then. Tom Brady, we already know Matt Ryan, we're going to put him there too. McNabb was with Washington at that point, so I wouldn't put him in there. Yeah, now it's getting Ben Roethlisberger, you know, is in that on the list. How many is that now? Six or seven. Then it really falls off, man.
Don
So your point though, Don, it's exactly why you should still in theory value the running back. Because if the max you can get to is let's. Let's go generous. Half the league has a quarterback.
Peter
Oh my God. The end of third of the league.
Don
And even if it was half, the other half then doesn't. So the fact that you don't really prioritize running backs has been funny. It seems like we're seeing it go the other direction. But Don, do you realize that right now there also the possibility and this is Sort of, in my opinion, sort of a nightmare scenario that love could end up in Tennessee.
Peter
Yeah.
Don
Are we going to run this back?
Alan
Yeah, we're running it back.
Don
We're going to run it back again. They're going to Derek Henry again.
Alan
Yeah, that's right.
Don
Ten years of the best running back in football just sitting in Tennessee and
Peter
then do it again with a quarter.
Alan
We're up against it. Or I could tease this. However you want to.
Peter
Whatever you say, tease it.
Alan
But I'm gonna. I'm gonna outline you the giant's dilemma if they. If they take love.
Peter
I like this. Oh, yeah.
Don
Oh, wow. Interesting.
Peter
He just dropped the mic. Take us home.
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Don Hahn
to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Don
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
All right, let's get the tease.
Alan
Us. No, I teased you. Yeah, you teased us.
Don
Tell me something good.
Peter
Now tell me something good.
Alan
All right, so they draft. They draft love, and he's amazing. And hopefully Dart becomes a franchise quarterback. And then neighbors, because you've got a franchise quarterback and a franchise running back, he explodes. And let's say Carter, who you took, what, fifth overall last year, turns out to be a dominant defensive player. Okay, then that means in around the same time frame, all these guys are going to have to get paid.
Peter
Yep.
Alan
Who doesn't get paid?
Peter
It's the thing I hate the most, Don, about the. The cap system in the NFL now, right? Bart has always told me the cap is superficial because there's always ways around it.
Alan
Okay?
Peter
You can rework deals. We see teams do it all the time. I mean, again, how do the Eagles do it? The Eagles had a whole bunch of cooperative, of course, but I. That's the part I hate. I hate that you're penalized for drafting well, because what if you have back to back killer drafts and all of them hit and you got to pay them all around the same time? Are you telling me that I got to make a decision on who I want to keep? Why am I being punished because I drafted well? I've always felt there should be a way around it, but. You're right. But you know what that is, Don? That's a good problem to have for a gm. Oh, it is a great problem to have.
Alan
But, but, but, but what general managers are thinking is none of the general managers think their picks aren't going to work out.
Peter
True.
Don
Is.
Alan
Is. All right, well, listen, if the running back is the odd man out, then do I want to take him as high as fifth, you know, when I got to? Because obviously you're going to want to pay neighbors, you're going to want to pay Dart, you're going to want to pay Carter if he turns out to be great. And of all the guys that I just mentioned, from a positional standpoint, the least valuable technically would be your running back. Or I shouldn't say, I should say, like, I guess the most replaceable. And that's why you get into the dilemma that you get it. You see it, Allen, when all of these, Seattle went through with Wilson, Baltimore went through with Flacco. You get the super bowl before the fifth year option. It's great.
Peter
Yep.
Alan
Then eventually those guys have to get paid and it comes at the expense of roster spots because you've got it. You've got to make room.
Peter
Yeah.
Alan
Now the only way around that is to then address these problems before they become free agents, before they, they hit their options. But that's tough to do because then you got to extrapolate out. Is he going to stay healthy? Is he going to continue to play at the level that he's playing? So that's the, that's why.
Peter
No, you're absolutely right. And it's. There's no denying it. But I also think that's what makes a good front office Kyp. Not when it's time to pay them before it. That's why I think what the Giants did, they really fumbled, no pun intended, with Saquon Barkley. They were using the franchise tag as a way around it because they couldn't come to a number earlier.
Alan
Right.
Peter
And then he got upset. Then the relationship was ruined.
Alan
But.
Peter
And there was no recovering from it at that point.
Alan
Well, what would happen if you remember. Yeah.
Peter
There was animation.
Alan
Jones or do I pay?
Peter
That's right. Yeah. Yeah. You bet on the wrong guy.
Alan
Yeah. Who do I franchise and who do I pay? And the system dictates I got to pay my quarterback. Yes. But you didn't know because of health and other reasons whether Daniel Jones was going to be worth it. Turned out he wasn't. I mean, listen.
Peter
Also had the help later. You know what I mean?
Alan
Like, see, that's the forget, forgotten thing about Barkley.
Peter
Yeah.
Alan
Is that everybody looks at what he did in Philadelphia once a Super. But there were, there were issues.
Peter
There are.
Alan
Bill. There were issues of him being able to stay healthy and the fact that they had one winning season with, with, with Barkley. So a lot of that had to do with get him in that drafting. Well, in other places. But these are all the things you have to think about. But if here's the difference. It's not gettleman. It's. It's Harbaugh. It. You have trust. So I think Giant, even, even people like me who are against the running back thing will find it easier to swallow if Harbaugh does it because you'll figure there's going to be a plan. There was no plan. Well, the plan with Barkley was let's get another super bowl for Eli this year.
Peter
Yeah.
Alan
You know that at least there's going to be a little bit more long term thinking. I would believe with Harbaugh or Harbaugh
Don
I see right here on Fox Sports. I don't hate this for my. I'm looking at different mocks. A bunch of people have Washington getting Carnell Tate at 7 wide receiver, and I love that.
Peter
I think Ohio State wide receivers tend to be really good.
Don
They do. In fact, we have one right now who's been really good, but he's. You know, you guys don't know how fast time goes. Terry McLaurin is 31 this year.
Peter
Stop it. That's not right.
Alan
Stop it.
Peter
Dude.
Don
Terry McLaurin is 31.
Peter
Give me a break. So in the league for a year.
Don
I know he just got good. I'm like, he's one of the new good ones.
Peter
He was the one you kept saying he. Wait, watch out. Wait till he pop. And he finally did.
Don
And now here we are, 31 years old.
Alan
That's still not the most outrageous thing because we never got a chance to address it. Meredith's been doing the Yankees for 15 years. Stop it.
Peter
I remember I first met Meredith when she was a sideline reporter for the Sixers. Yeah.
Don
Wow.
Peter
And I was still a beat writer. That's. Isn't that wild? And then somehow, all these years later, look at this.
Don
And how did she get your hat? Inquiring minds want to know.
Peter
Well, I mean, I asked for a fee.
Alan
You trying to get a second date?
Peter
What?
Don
Yeah. What happened here? How long she had this hat?
Peter
Oh, you think I left? You think I left the hat? So I. Costanza move. You think that's what I did? Oh, no.
Don
Forgot about that.
Peter
No, no, it was just a little favor, that's all.
Don
Oh, you asked her for a hat and then never got the hat.
Peter
Never got the hat. And then I felt weird about reaching out because she said I got the hat. When she said, when the season's over, she said, we'll, you know, we'll meet up and I'll give you the hat. So I was always waiting when the season ended for her to just say, hey, I'm in the city. Because I said, when you're in the city, let me know. We'll just. We meet up, get some lunch, whatever. And I never heard from her, so I felt weird about going like, can
Don
I get my hat?
Peter
Hey. Hey, Mar. You know, you around? Because she travels a ton in the off season. Like she goes out. No, it's a hard, long season of work and non stop vacation. So she vacations big time. And I never know if she's around. So I felt weird about doing the whole like, hey, can I get my hat?
Don
You know, I felt weird about it.
Peter
And then she called me out and I'm like, yeah, I could have just said, hey, do you want to go
Don
to a game, invite her to a Knicks game and get your hat? It's a double whammy.
Peter
I figured maybe she'd remember to bring the hat, but so she got me back.
Don
I did hear in there though. I felt like when I asked her that she would potentially be interested in something else if the right thing came. But it'd have to be better. It would have to somehow be better than the gig she has now.
Peter
And what's better than what?
Don
And that's nothing. That's tough. Come on.
Peter
Like that's. She's traveling around the country.
Don
Maybe if it was to do play by play somewhere, if that's an aspiration she has.
Peter
I am curious. Yeah. And probably was being respectful not to bring that to the air. But her like, her and Susan are very close. And what we all know, what Susan has become as a broadcaster and how confident you hear her on a call. I think she knows baseball better than just about anybody else that's calling games these days.
Don
It's incredible how much knows about you guys.
Peter
Not just the game itself, but the league. Dude, Susan Waldman might be the most informed broadcaster we have in any sport.
Don
I'm going to say something. I'm allowed to say that you guys aren't because you're, you're both respectful and respected New Yorkers. As I've learned over the last couple of weeks. I'm just some shameful out of towner.
Peter
No one cares about me, okay?
Don
I know Sterling's a legend and Yankee fans have a connection with him. The true, like serious broadcast great in that room was Susan Waltman.
Peter
You just had to listen to the broadcast.
Don
All you got to do is listen. And by the way, I still do. Because you realize, you listen and you go, I like this as much as I always did. You know why? Because Susan Waltman is still giving me the stuff.
Peter
I. I'm telling you, she did doesn't get better. And so knowing Meredith, like I know her and knowing how close she is with Susan, you just know like, like it's, it's like why I was attached to Al Troutway. Could she. I want to learn everything, but also
Don
could she maybe want to do Susan's job one day?
Peter
I don't know.
Don
That'll be interesting.
Peter
I don't know. But I tell you what, she could do it. Who's seen more Yankee baseball than, than Meredith.
Don
Oh man.
Alan
Let's say all she wants to be is a sideline reporter. You could make the case that she's better off. This is the best job because on a national level, let's say she took a job with Fox as the sideline reporter replacing, you know, Ken Rosenthal.
Peter
Right.
Alan
I think the Yankee job's better.
Don
No. You know, but you know what I would love for Meredith? We gotta take a break. You know what I would love for Meredith though? Because I agree. I wouldn't want. I totally agree. Keep the Yankee job. I wouldn't mind the Yankee job. Plus doing big football though, like NFL, NFL sideline. Plus the Yankee job she could do, which she could definitely you could picture at an NFC championship game for sure. Now I want to tell you what I can picture is this getting some bets right with FanDuel during this baseball season. And you could choose your own reward for opening week. How about this? Betting customizations that transform how you experience the game. So you make your choice and the reward will be ready to use on your next MLB bet. Fanduel is the home of the home run. So I know people are putting pressure on number 99, but I'm feeling Aaron Judge to go yard tonight in San Francisco. So ready to play your game? Head to FanDuel.com local to choose your award for MLB's opening week. 99, baby. FanDuel, an official partner of the MLB 21 and over. Physically present New York option required. Rewards are not withdrawable. Restrictions apply including bonus and token expiration, leg requirements and max wager amount. See terms@sportsbook.fanduel.com for help with a gambling problem. Call 877-8Hopeny or text openy467369.
Don Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Don
I don't want to know how the
Peter
sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good.
Don Hahn
Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app
Peter
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Don
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Peter
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In this lively third hour, Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg examine the state of MLB’s Opening Day, the shifting traditions of America’s pastime, and the implications of the Yankees-Giants opener streaming exclusively on Netflix. The crew also deep-dives into NFL draft speculation, especially around the Jets’ quarterback hunt and the Giants’ possible selection of running back Jeremiah Love. Woven through the hour are signature conversational tangents, passionate New York sports takes, and sharp commentary on broadcasting changes and sports culture.
Momentum Building for Love: Reports and rumors suggest the Giants could take RB Jeremiah Love fifth overall—a “generational” talent who also fits new coach Jim Harbaugh’s run-first identity. [18:22–19:09]
Alan’s Stance: Drafting a running back high is only worthwhile if the team will pay him—otherwise it repeats the failed Saquon Barkley saga.
Peter: Cites that previous regime changes led to Barkley’s contract issues, but with Harbaugh in charge now, there’s trust in a stable plan. Mel Kiper (draft analyst) projects that Harbaugh wouldn’t let Love slip past 5. [21:35]
Alan (on Opening Day):
“Now it’s become our national ‘past the time’ while we wait for football.” [04:22]
Peter (on MLB commercialization):
“Is it the kind of thing that people like us complain about … but actual fans go, ‘Whatever, I have Netflix, I'm watching the game.’” [06:23]
Alan (on fumble-free running backs):
“If you’re telling me there’s a skill set where the guy’s gonna be drafted in the top five, then the fact that he never fumbles has got to be with the difference maker.” [29:55]
Peter (on RB value):
“Why am I being punished because I drafted well?” [41:45]
Don (on New York sports fans):
“You know why? Because Susan Waldman is still giving me the stuff.” [48:49]
This episode captures the essence of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg: spirited debates about the intersection of sports, media, and culture. If you care about the "soul" of Opening Day, decode draft buzz, or cherish the voices behind your favorite teams, this hour is a brisk, insightful listen—both grounding and highly entertaining, with keen eyes on tradition and the future.