Hour 3: Rodgers Reaction

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast Summary

Episode: Hour 3: Rodgers Reaction
Release Date: April 17, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Platform: ESPN New York and New Jersey
Duration: Approximately 43 minutes

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1. Introduction to Aaron Rodgers's Departure from the Jets

The episode centers around the recent developments concerning Aaron Rodgers and his departure from the New York Jets. Hosts Alan Hahn and Don La Greca delve into Rodgers's candid interview with Pat McAfee, where he discusses the circumstances leading to his exit from the team.

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2. Aaron Rodgers's Candid Interview

Don La Greca introduces the main topic by highlighting Rodgers's unexpected decision to speak exclusively with Pat McAfee instead of the anticipated "Big Night Out" event. Rodgers provides a detailed account of his final meeting with the Jets' new head coach, Aaron Glenn, and general manager, Darren Mujee.

Notable Quote:

Aaron Rodgers [00:27]: "I've flown across the country on my own dime... 20 seconds in he goes, 'Do you want to play football?'... 'We're going a different direction at quarterback.'"

Rodgers expresses his surprise and disappointment at the brevity and lack of transparency during the meeting, emphasizing his effort to engage directly with the team's leadership.

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3. The Jets’ Handling of Rodgers's Release

Alan Hahn and Don La Greca critique the Jets' management approach, suggesting a lack of preparation and professionalism in handling Rodgers's departure.

Notable Quote:

Don La Greca [03:13]: "It sounds like the Jets weren't prepared to keep him around, but also weren't prepared on how to let them know."

The hosts argue that the Jets' strategy appears disorganized and disrespectful, potentially harming the franchise's reputation both internally among players and externally with fans.

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4. Impact on the Team and Fanbase

The discussion shifts to the broader implications of Rodgers's exit on the Jets' future and their fanbase's perception. There's a consensus that the move might set lower expectations, allowing the new coach to build without the shadow of high-profile pressure.

Notable Quote:

Alan Hahn [10:06]: "I think Jet fans are gobbling it up because Aaron Glenn is no hero to them. He's the villain."

The hosts debate whether this approach will be beneficial in the long run, with opinions diverging on the effectiveness of the new regime's strategy.

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5. Audience Callers’ Reactions

Several callers express strong emotions regarding the Jets' decision. One caller, Dennis, shares his frustration and ultimate decision to no longer support the team, citing the mishandling of Rodgers's departure as a primary reason.

Notable Quote:

Caller Dennis [12:37]: "I'm 100% done with this team... I hate Woody Johnson. I think he's a terrible human being. I just can't deal with it anymore."

Another caller, Jake Emmanuel Thomas Sinisco, echoes similar sentiments, emphasizing the emotional toll of the team's recent actions on longtime fans.

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6. Hosts’ Analysis and Opinions

Peter Rosenberg and the other hosts analyze the situation, questioning the Jets' motives and the potential long-term effects of their actions. There's skepticism about the Jets' ability to turn around their performance and rebuild trust with their fanbase.

Notable Quote:

Peter Rosenberg [20:12]: "It's a real... that to me was part of the whole thing. Like, when I look at the risk versus reward, the risk is for the very small reward of pleasing a few fans."

They argue that the Jets' strategy may alienate not only Rodgers but also other players and fans, potentially leading to a decline in team morale and performance.

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7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The episode wraps up with the hosts reflecting on the Jets' current state, the potential future of the franchise, and the lingering questions surrounding Aaron Rodgers's departure. They express concern over the franchise's direction and the possible challenges ahead.

Notable Quote:

Don La Greca [18:51]: "Fred's up next... That's another good point."

The hosts sign off by reiterating the significance of the episode's discussion, emphasizing the need for the Jets to navigate their rebuild with greater professionalism and strategic foresight.

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Key Takeaways

• Aaron Rodgers’s Departure: Rodgers's abrupt exit from the Jets, detailed in his interview, highlights potential management issues within the team.
• Jets’ Management Critique: Hosts criticize the Jets for their unprepared and possibly disrespectful handling of Rodgers’s release.
• Fan Discontent: Multiple callers express deep frustration and disappointment with the Jets' recent decisions, indicating a strained relationship between the team and its fanbase.
• Future of the Jets: The discussion underscores uncertainties about the Jets' rebuild under Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mujee, raising concerns about the team's future performance and fan support.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Aaron Rodgers [00:27]: "Do you want to play football?... We're going a different direction at quarterback."
• Don La Greca [03:13]: "It sounds like the Jets weren't prepared to keep him around..."
• Alan Hahn [10:06]: "I think Jet fans are gobbling it up because Aaron Glenn is no hero to them."
• Caller Dennis [12:37]: "I hate Woody Johnson. I think he's a terrible human being."
• Peter Rosenberg [20:12]: "The risk is for the very small reward of pleasing a few fans."

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This episode provides an in-depth analysis of the New York Jets' recent handling of Aaron Rodgers's departure, exploring the ramifications for the team, its management, and its passionate fanbase. Through candid discussions and listener interactions, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg offer a critical perspective on the challenges facing the franchise as it attempts to rebuild and redefine its identity.

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

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[Alan Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don LaGreca]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 Eastern, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers. Now it's the big five o'clock hour. We go with Don Lagreca and Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hahn. 800-919-3776 is the number. Shall we begin at the beginning? Because this is a hot topic of the day and we knew this was coming. Aaron Rodgers eventually was going to speak, and we knew when he it was time for him to speak, it was going to be with Pat McAfee. Now, it wasn't at the Big Night Out. It wasn't there like we thought it might be. But instead it was on on McAfee's show. And Rogers talked about his divorce with the jets and how it went down. And he went into detail. If you missed it, if you're just hearing about it, we'll play for you exactly what he said. Now he goes into detail about this meeting that everybody knew about that he had when he came and came to the jets facility and met with the new head coach, Aaron Glenn, the new general manager, Darren Mugi, and discussed his future, which, as we knew at the time, was not going to be.

[Aaron Rodgers]

Listen, that was an interesting two years to say the least. But I figured that when I flew across country on my own dime that there was going to be a conversation. And the confusing thing to me, and the strange thing was, you know, when I went out there, I meet with the coach, we start talking, he runs out of the room. I'm like, that's kind of strange. Then he comes back with the gm and I'm like, all right. So we sit down in the office and I think we're going to have this long conversation. I've flown across the country and 20 seconds in he goes, I mean, literally, I'm talking to the GM about something. And he leans to the edge of his sheet and goes, sure. Do you want to play football? I was like, yeah, I'm interested. And he said, we're going a different direction at quarterback. And I was kind of shocked. Now, not shocked Because I didn't think that was a possibility. Listen, of course they want to move on. That's totally fine. But shocked because I just flew across country. Who could have told me this on the phone if we weren't even going to have a conversation? And this is verbatim exactly how it happened. So I said, huh? And he goes, we just want to know how you want it released, the messaging. And I said, verbatim, I don't give a shit about the message. And I said, why? And then he said, I don't want to be up in front of the room saying something and have guys looking back at you.

[Don LaGreca]

Interesting.

[Aaron Rodgers]

And I said, what does that even mean? Are you assuming that I would be in the back of the room during a team meeting undermining what you're saying? I said, you don't know me. And he said, you don't know me. And then I said, exactly. Which is why I flew across the country to have a face to face meeting with you to talk about, about my experience with the jets and to hear your vision for the team. 20 seconds in what I thought was going to be a couple hour meeting turned into like a 15 minute meeting and I walked out of there.

[Don LaGreca]

And it sounds like the jets weren't prepared to keep him around, but also weren't prepared on how to, how to let them know. Because this really did feel like the fact that now we're taking Roger's word for it because it's the only word we have so far, right? But him saying that we sat down, talked about the future, that Glenn, which he won't name Aaron Glenn by name, doesn't say his name, certainly knows who he is, doesn't name him by name, that Glenn gets up and gets Darren Mujee, who Rogers also won't name by name, brings him into the room and then they have this discussion. There was no preparation here at all. They didn't know what to do. And he kept pointing out that I flew across the country. He said it three times on my own dime. He said, one time, right? But so it's like they didn't bring me in. You had to know it was coming if they told you to meet. And they weren't gonna send a flight, they weren't gonna send a plane, they weren't gonna do anything. So Rogers is telling it from his perspective and he's making the jets look like they really didn't know what to do, that this was sort of just off the cuff and that they treated him disrespectfully. A 15 minute meeting that he flew across the country to have. Is this a bad look for the Jets? As a Jets fan, I don't like it because it does make the jets look petty and small. But I'm not surprised because this is what we knew that Aaron Glenn was going to be about, which is no nonsense. He's from the Parcell School and this is how it's going to be. It's my team and I'm in charge. And Rogers kind of revealing what Glenn said there. It's not a good look for Rogers because why would Glenn tell him that unless he got word from other people that that's what Rogers does and I'm not going to tolerate it.

[Alan Hahn]

I think and Peter disagree because it is like three dimensional chess a little bit. But I just think that they, they wanted it out there that they didn't want Rogers and we got a new sheriff in town and we're not taking any of your garbage. And they know that how the meeting goes down is going to get out there from Rodgers because at one point Rodgers is going to go on McAfee and he's going to tell the story. So they were kind of using him, being a tool against him. Like I know he's going to talk about it and boy, Aaron Glenn is going to look like the man. Because the Jet fans have had it with Aaron Rodgers. He came here, he didn't win. And now we had phone calls earlier in the show, they're all like, rah, rah, yeah, new sheriff. That's right. We had one coach who said, you know, all gas, no break, but didn't win anything. Now Glenn hasn't won anything anyway, but he did as a player. You know, they had successful seasons with him here.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, he comes from, with good success there.

[Alan Hahn]

Detroit had success, they didn't win, but they certainly played in the championship game and have become a national focus. And he comes here and boy, the first thing he did is we're not taking, we're not taking any of his guff, man, you're gone. And I think the worse you treat Rogers, the better. Jet fans love it because they have no use for the guy either. And we had a caller earlier saying, well, he's this and he's that and the whole Sandy Hook thing and the vaccination stuff, all that irrelevant. All that the jets knew when they signed him.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, I don't think any of that has to do with this.

[Alan Hahn]

So you want to paint Rogers to be a bad guy. I'm not going to sit here and defend him, he did a lot of tool things. Okay? I don't think he's a bad guy. I wouldn't particularly describe him as a great guy either, but I don't think he's a bad guy. He's kind of a nozzle. But you knew that when you signed him. And now you're mad because you didn't win with him. And now you're trying to paint a picture like, you know, we don't need you. You're talking behind the coach's back and all. We don't know that. We haven't heard any players say that. But that's the narrative they want to send out there, that this is a guy that undermined things. That's why we didn't win in 2024, because he was more concerned about himself than the team. And all I would say is, hey, you got rid of Rogers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not true.

[Alan Hahn]

But Rogers is not the reason why you failed in 2024. One of the major reasons you finished with the record you finished with is because for some unknown reason, you decided to fire Robert Sala and go from bad coach to no coach for the rest of the year. So don't create a narrative that doesn't exist. But the Jet fans are mad at Rodgers. They want to be on board with a new coach. And if you look at the history, guys of new coaches didn't work out for Saleh. But if you look at Todd Bol's first year, he won 10 games. You look at Mangini's first year went to the playoffs, you look at Herman Edwards first year went to the playoffs. They have a history of new coaches coming in, being successful. But it's been a bad couple of years here and you're trying to create a narrative that there's a new sheriff in town. What better way to do it than this? And I think Jet fans are gobbling it up because Aaron Rodgers is no hero to them. He's the villain. Right? So let's lean into him being the villain and the mistake. And guess what? The guys that made the mistake, Douglas and Salah, they're gone.

[Don LaGreca]

No egg on their face.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This, I don't get it. I just, I'm not. I'm not sensing the win. And by the way, trying to make a point to like your fan base, that that would really have to be, in my opinion, kind of the silliest members of your fan base trying to prove a point to them about what Aaron Glenn is by wasting a legend's time. We can all say what we want about Aaron Rodgers, I would argue two things. One, a little annoying in his time here, but really not that bad. And one of the greatest quarterbacks who ever lived. And the message you're sending is on the way out the door. Rather than being just keeping it class, we decided to kind of stick it to him to deliver a message to fans. I'm not. I'm not seeing that.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm with you, Peter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not seeing the forest.

[Don LaGreca]

I don't love the way it looks. Every time you bring in a new regime, they all want to say the same thing. Not the same old Jets. We're not doing it that way. Right? We're going to do it different. You always are hoping that whoever comes in is going to finally just take the franchise and lift it up to a height that it isn't ever viewed at, which is, of course, the dregs of the NFL. This type of stuff, like, I get, like the tough guy thing. Look, I know that Glenn came in, he talked tough, he had a lot to say, and a lot of times you love hearing that stuff. As a fan, there's something about it that just gets you fired up. I thought his press conference the first time around was great. He's got blood in the ground. We've all talked about that. But this is something that. You know what, though, as a player, especially one of your status, like, you got to know. It's a bad look whether you like Aaron Rodgers or not. It's a bad look to treat a dude like this, whether he's right or wrong, whether he's a good guy or not. Just do me a favor, just. Just do the right thing. But I will say this because the caller brought it up, and I will. I will say this last part. It is true to say this. The jets wouldn't have won either way, because as the caller said, and I'll give him credit for it, if the jets had said, we don't waste your time. Don't bother flying it. Listen, we're gonna move on, but let's. Let's. We want to have a zoom with you or meeting with you. We just want to get the messaging right. Let's just talk about it so we're all on the same page. We want to show you the proper respect. He would have said, they didn't even have the decency to bring me in, so you probably couldn't have won either way. I get it. But the optics of this, Peter, is what bothers me more than anything, Don.

[Alan Hahn]

But the optics are we've got a New sheriff in town and he's not taking any garbage the way Sala and Joe Douglas did. Moogie and Aaron Glenn are not gonna take it. And they just showed him the door. And I think the Jet fans love it because I showed him the door.

[Don LaGreca]

They kicked him and bought out.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know how many wins the jets are gonna have. I would suspect it's gonna be another rough year. But right now it doesn't matter. If the Jet fans all buy into the coach, they're going to give him the benefit of the doubt. If they go out there and win three, four games, they're going to rally around him. Hey, it's just part of the rebuild. That's why I think Rodgers is gone. Rodgers puts unfair expectations on the team. And then if you go out there and you win four or five games, the fans turn on your coach and it's same old, same old. But now you've got the Jet fans and I really believe this, rallying around this move because they showed Rodgers the door. Loving Aaron Glenn. They loved him to begin with. If you're any kind of a Jet fan, you love Glenn. Now you love him even more because he kicked Rogers out the door. And if he goes out there and goes 4 and 13, hey, don't worry about it. We're in a rebuild. We're good. Where if you keep Rodgers, then it's the whole. Oh, look, another Jet season. They're going to fail again with Rogers.

[Don LaGreca]

What if Rodgers signs with the Steelers and he plays really well and Justin Fields does what Justin Fields has been doing, which is, you know, he's meh. He's not that great.

[Alan Hahn]

Not a great.

[Don LaGreca]

And then you go, wait a minute. We could have had that guy.

[Alan Hahn]

But see, that's another debate. I think that's the table. No, no, it's still on the table. But maybe Muji takes the hit for that. Or maybe Woody Johnson, whatever. Probably Woody Johnson takes the hit for it. Because even though they're going to love Glenn, they're not going to love Woody anymore. Or Chris. Right. Especially now that, you know, Rogers was basically sucking up the Chris.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, we'll play that.

[Alan Hahn]

But. But the point is, is that at the end of the day, they want to have their new coach, that the fans have his back. And if Rodgers goes to Pittsburgh and wins. All right, that's a debate. That's a football debate. But there's no debate that there's a new sheriff in town that's not going to take anything. After Saleh and Douglas were walked all over by the future hall of Famer. Well, you know what? The new regime took that hall of Famer and twisted him around and had him walk right out the door telling you the fans eat that stuff up. And that's what the jets want because that sets up less expectations. And now they've got a coach that the fans can really get into.

[Don LaGreca]

Let's see what the people say. 800 now. 3, 7, 7, 6. Dennis out in center. Each does not agree. Dennis.

[Caller]

Oh, yeah, no, listen, Don, you're 100% right. All the fans that I'm seeing are like, really in love with what's going on with Aaron Glenn. I'm done. Today's what, April 17th. Final nail in the coffin. I'm no longer a Jets fan. During the press conference, guys, remember, yeah, it's bad, but remember the press conference when Aaron Glenn was like, yeah, the players aren't going to be happy, but they're going to have to deal with it. I was like, ah, that's kind of a toolish thing to say. As like a first year rookie head coach, Quinn and Williams had some things to say. And a lot of guys, Jermaine Johnson, Breece Hall, Quincy Williams, you know, they were really into Aaron Rodgers. And I just think that cutting him, you know, it was just a bad look. And today, you know, what was the most interesting thing I saw in the press conference today or the interview when. Yeah, when Aaron Rodgers was like, you know, he said that guys are going to look back at him. So you as a head coach, you can't even think that you have like the power. Like, you don't think you have the control of the team. They're going to be looking back at this quarterback. So that just is all red flags may glow. I'm 100% done with this team.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, that's strong.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good for you, man.

[Don LaGreca]

This did it, Dennis. Huh?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good for you.

[Don LaGreca]

Not. Not like the butt Fumble. Not. Not so many other moments that could have done it. This Rod, really, this. This was the final, man.

[Caller]

I'll tell you. I'll tell you why.

[Don LaGreca]

How long you been a fan, Dennis? I'm just curious what got you in.

[Caller]

So I'm 26. You know what's funny? My whole family, my dad. Rest in peace. Huge Giant fan. As a kid, I scored and watched the jets game. I don't know what made me do it. My whole family died, but I just love them. And just the treatment, it's like, yeah, Aaron Rodgers is kind of a weird guy, but this guy's an MVP Four times. One of the greatest players ever. And to just cut him. Like I'm getting emotional. I just think it's disrespectful. I hate Woody Johnson. I think he's a terrible human being. I just can't deal with it anymore.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. I could hear in your voice, man.

[Alan Hahn]

Sometimes it's like the cartoon where you get beat up. You get beat up and finally the guy just blows on you and you fall over. Like maybe he was just so beat up.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

That it didn't take much to knock him. I never give up on my team. So I disagree.

[Don LaGreca]

Super young, but he's 26.

[Alan Hahn]

He'll be back if they start winning, I'm sure. But what I would just ask any Jet fan that's all pumped up, got rid of this piece of garbage guy. What did he do to not win? What McAfee interview. What opinion? What thing did he say? Derailed them. You know what derailed him? A torn acl.

[Don LaGreca]

Achilles.

[Alan Hahn]

Achilles. Excuse me.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. And Nathaniel Hackett. That's it. If you had serious like if you ask me as a Jets fan, those were the two things that got me. The fact that Leonard Floyd got to him and he went, you know, he tried to fight it and he pops his Achilles and that sucked. And then his. His just defiance. Which I respect because look, I'd love to have a friend that loyal with Nathaniel Hackett knowing that. That just did. That offense wasn't working. Nothing was working. And he just wouldn't move off of it. Tommy in Staten Island. Tommy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Tommy.

[Caller]

Hey, what's up guys? Hey, what's up guys? I am a die hard jets fan. My son's initials are Jets. For the Jets. No jokes.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, cool.

[Don LaGreca]

What's the name? Give me the name. Give me the full name.

[Caller]

His name is Jake Emmanuel Thomas Sinisco. J E T S for the Jets.

[Alan Hahn]

Tremendous side note.

[Caller]

I met. I met Donna Greco about four separate times in different games. I could not be a more of a gentleman. Don, I love you as getting back to this team. I hate this team more than anything in the world. I have a Jets tattoo on my leg. I want to cut my leg off. Aaron Rodgers was the closest thing we're ever going to get to sniffing anything near a Super Bowl. If we would have brought him back for this year, we would have done something. Now we're back to reset again. Five to six more years of this garbage. Aaron Glenn gone in four to five years. New GM four to five years. This team is pathetic. Source Gardener do yourself a favor. Demand a trade. Anyone with Talent on this team. Please leave. We'll break you. We somehow broke Aaron Rodgers. We destroyed the poor guy. And it like, like, like you said a second ago. What did he do other than want to come here to win a Super bowl with this team?

[Alan Hahn]

I have not heard any evidence, Tommy, other than Glenn, who wasn't here, by the way, that he was defiant that he did anything that the jets weren't willing to give him in the first place. Maybe there were, Peter, but have you heard anything while we lost?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I mean, listen, we know the things. No, listen, we know the skipping camp. There are a couple things that were not perfect. But I mean, no, in terms he.

[Don LaGreca]

Put solid a tough spot. Right, Peter?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, that. That in particular did. But you know, there was the awkward moment between Salah and Rogers on the sideline. Little stuff in the big scheme of things. All he did was get hurt and then essentially be what I thought he would be, which was an aged quarterback. Besides, that didn't do much.

[Alan Hahn]

I will just tell you, and I really believe this with all my heart that if Salah stays. And listen, I was no sale of fan. I don't even think Salah was that great of a coach, but he had the defense humming and he at least had some experience at it. That they win three more games, which makes them eight and nine.

[Don LaGreca]

What does that do though?

[Alan Hahn]

All right, but how if they finish 8 and 9 and Rogers played the way he played in the second half of the season, doesn't this look completely different than 5 and 11? Yeah, and playing meaningless game.

[Don LaGreca]

But you already said it though, earlier in the show. And I've said this before on the, on the, on these airwaves. The jets biggest problem is Woody Johnson. Without question, he can't, Can't. Can't control himself.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

He even said at the end of this season, I got. I've got to be better than all that stuff. Well, we'll see. Because how this was handled was not better. This was not handled. Well, I don't care. You can hate Aaron Rodgers all you want. This is a bad look by the Jets. A franchise that is trying so hard to just stop having bad looks, but you're so damn good at it that.

[Alan Hahn]

See, that's the. You just hit what is just making every Jet fan nauseous right now. We can change the coach, we can change the general manager, we can attempt to change the culture. Woody Johnson is still overseeing it unless he changed his ways. And I don't see that ever happening. How is it going to get any better?

[Don LaGreca]

Fred? In the Bronx. Fred, you're up next.

[Caller]

Willie Randolph asked the Mets, are you firing me or not?

[Alan Hahn]

Just tell me.

[Caller]

Don't make me go out to the west coast.

[Alan Hahn]

Said no.

[Caller]

He went all the way out to the west coast, fired him.

[Alan Hahn]

Anaheim, whether you agree or disagree with.

[Caller]

Getting rid of Rogers is a separate issue. They handled it so wrong, so unprofessional. Anybody who rallies behind the way that move was done. That's a Jet fan. Is an idiot. Because now all the players in the league know this is how the jets handle players.

[Don LaGreca]

That's a great point, too.

[Caller]

Going to get the benefit of a doubt when there's a free agent out there.

[Don LaGreca]

That's a good point. It's another good point. Good job, Fred.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of course, how do you not.

[Don LaGreca]

That's good.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a real. No, it's a real that. That to me was part of the whole thing. Like, when I look at the risk versus reward, the risk is for the very small reward of pleasing a few fans. You're sullying your reputation further in the league. It's a terrible move. I just don't get the upside.

[Don LaGreca]

Class act is what you always want. Class and dignity is how you want to treat people. And whether you care or not, whether it makes you throw up in your mouth that he had to come in to the facility and you had to do something right or you had to say, no, no, don't worry, we'll come to. You will come to, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And by the way is always the.

[Don LaGreca]

Right way to go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a second wrong, and it's the polar opposite of the first wrong. The first wrong was the way they handled Rogers in the first place. Okay? They completely gave him whatever he wanted. We're gonna run out and get the receivers you want. We'll build everything around you. Oh, you want to go do this, you want to do that? Whatever you want. That's not the way to handle things. Then they try to balance it on the back end by playing him like a fool. That doesn't make up for it. That's two wrongs.

[Alan Hahn]

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[Don LaGreca]

Gnc.Com thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don LaGreca]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcast. Hey, you guys want a Yankee starting lineup? Of course you do.

[Alan Hahn]

Want strong? Of course you do. I need it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

In my opinion, once very strong.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I won't because I left my phone at the the kickboxing today, so I'm kind of flying blind. No, really, I did leave it. I did get it back. Luckily, luckily Kimball was still cleaning up and I was able to go back.

[Don LaGreca]

Nice.

[Alan Hahn]

It was like a half hour after the fact. I'm like, oh my God, I'm gonna have to go to the Garden all without my phone. And if I were in that situation, I'd be like, yeah, give me a Yankee lineup because I got no other way to get it. So for those of you who've lost your phone, here's Alan Hahn.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, this Yankees starting lineup is brought to you by Certapro Painters. Sure. As the Yankees begin a series in Tampa in their own facility as the road team against the Tampa.

[Alan Hahn]

This is literally your home away from home.

[Don LaGreca]

Literally that. Yes. Paul Goldschmidt will lead off. He's at first base, of course, Ben Rice now batting second as the Dharma Aaron Judge. Batting third in right field, Cody Bellinger. In center field, he's the cleanup batter, Anthony Volpe. Batting fifth at short, Jazz Chisholm. Batting sixth. Second base, batting seventh, JC Escara, the catcher.

[Alan Hahn]

What a great story.

[Don LaGreca]

Jason Dominguez, my favorite Martian. He's the left fielder. He's batting eighth. And is Waldo Cabrera ninth. A third base on the mound, Will Warren. That's right. That's your Yankee start. That's your Yankee starting lineup. Brought to you by Certapro Painters. When choosing a painting professional for your home or business, the choice is simple. Choose happy. Choose Certipro Painters.

[Alan Hahn]

Kofi I love this guy. Kofi's such a great listener to the show.

[Don LaGreca]

I met him over at the Garden.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, you said that's the greatest guy. And he used to work over. I met him when he was with the Devils. He believes that Sam did his last NFL game in 2019. Because I believe his last game was October 27th in Atlanta. A 2720 win by the Seahawks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I gotta tell you, when you guys said like 10 years, I thought that sounded longer than I recalled. But who was I to argue now? Did you, Alan? Did you make up My Favorite Martian? Is that just. That's a. It sounds like. It's almost like a cartoon about Jason Dominguez is being made.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what I mean? His nickname's the Martian, so.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I'm asking Alan. Go come with them. Every time he mentions him, he says, My Favorite Martian. It almost sounds like that was a show thing.

[Alan Hahn]

But he's saying, is that you or did you get that from something else?

[Don LaGreca]

No, he. I'm saying he's my favorite Martian. I'm a Yankees fan. He's my favorite Martian. Okay, and that was a show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hold on, Don, do you know what the show is he's talking about?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah. What is that? It's a show back from like, what, late 50s, early 60s?

[Don LaGreca]

Early 60s. Yeah, yeah, it was.

[Alan Hahn]

This wasn't My Favorite Martian. It was. His name escapes me. It was Mr. Hand.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

In. Oh, boy. In the actor you're looking for here. Yeah, the actor's name, you know, from. From Fast times, Richmond High. Mr. Hand. Can you picture him, Peter?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't like Fast Times? Richmond High.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Never seen it.

[Alan Hahn]

That's. That's two strikes, brother. And, you know, Anthony came in and when Dan was filling in over the summer, we told him he wasn't allowed back in the studio the next day unless he saw Office Space. And you have already admitted on the air two classic movies. The Jack Nicholson.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I feel worse about Fast Times than I do. I feel worse about Fast Times than I do A Few Good Men.

[Alan Hahn]

But A Few Good Men and Fast Times having not been seen by a 46 year old. 45 year old. Well, you're gonna be 46. You're deep into your 45th year. That is bad. That's really bad. On the same day.

[Don LaGreca]

So Herman Ray Walson, then he was.

[Alan Hahn]

He was the Martian. My Favorite Martian. Right.

[Don LaGreca]

Ray Walton. Let's see.

[Alan Hahn]

It's got to be like 59 to like 63. I'm just throwing it out there. So.

[Don LaGreca]

Peter, it is a yeah, that show debuted on CBS September 29, 1963 to May 1, 1966.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, now listen, if it was, it.

[Don LaGreca]

Was a movie too, apparently. Came in on 99. That must have went right to DVD.

[Alan Hahn]

Like I said, movie 99.

[Don LaGreca]

I guess so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I, I, like I said, I feel worse about Fast Times than I do a Few Good Men. Like, it just, it's not a. It's not generally a. Like a serious military drama, a military courtroom drama kind of.

[Don LaGreca]

I love, I love, I don't stuff.

[Alan Hahn]

It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not my. It's not my thing. Not a big courtroom drama guy.

[Alan Hahn]

Also, I.

[Don LaGreca]

He was in Fast Times at Richmond.

[Alan Hahn]

High, but bone of contention with my brother. My brother doesn't believe the Fast Times held up.

[Don LaGreca]

What?

[Alan Hahn]

I had the. I have the fight with him all the time. You mean like he. When he always thought it was funny and then he watched it in Modern Times, didn't think it was fun.

[Don LaGreca]

Tremendous.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'll tell you what.

[Don LaGreca]

Stranger Things ripped off that movie just as much as they ripped off a lot of other 80s things. But ripped off that movie for sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I will, I will say this and this. This is never popular. There are a lot of things, especially goofy 80s things that when watched now, if you especially, you know, listen, your brother's a little different because Dave had seen it then. I have tried to rewatch either stuff I barely remembered or watched for the first time. Old goofy 80s things. And like, Don, I told you, I watched Meatballs and turned it off in 15 minutes. I was like, this is crap. I'm good.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, no, meat. Meatballs.

[Don LaGreca]

It got cheesy.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, Meatballs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sorry, not Meatballs. Sorry, not Meatballs. Spaceballs.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, God, no, no, that's a completely different animal.

[Don LaGreca]

Meatballs is there for something, but it does have its moments.

[Alan Hahn]

Meatballs was God awful in the moment, but Meatballs, much like Biodome. I can't get my eyes off it. But I acknowledge it's not good. But again, this will get me in a lot of trouble. But it has to.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, boy, here we go.

[Alan Hahn]

The other thing about Meatball, it's a Hollywood production. It's 1979. I get it. And it was very early in Bill Murray's career. Not one attractive woman in the movie.

[Don LaGreca]

I'd have to see it again to debate this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

In which movie?

[Alan Hahn]

Meatballs.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I thought Meatballs has a lot of nudity.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it does.

[Don LaGreca]

That doesn't mean it was good nudity. Doesn't mean it's good nudity.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, wait. The rare Unattractive.

[Don LaGreca]

It's the seventies. I told you it was very hard to find attractive.

[Alan Hahn]

And the reason I say Hollywood again, these women are fine. All right?

[Don LaGreca]

Not fine, but they're not fine.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, they're not fine, but they're in a movie that's basically a movie about summer camp and young love. And it's like, I think you might have. I don't know, I guess the budget was what it was. But again, it's hard not to offend those women you just did because they're all attractive in their own way. But I'm just saying, you expect a little bit more in a movie, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You usually do. I'll just say this. I was stone sober and 40 and 44 or 45 years old, and I attempted to watch Spaceballs and I just went, maybe if I'd seen this when I was 10, this would all be nostalgic and feel good. I get it. But without the nostalgia factor, it was just hilarious. It's fair, but like, I'm not a huge Star Wars.

[Don LaGreca]

It's fair.

[Alan Hahn]

It is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm telling you, it is.

[Alan Hahn]

What's the matter, Colonel Sanders? Chicken? Come on, that's on you. No, listen. Not everything about you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, listen, man.

[Alan Hahn]

Chris pointed out some flaws earlier, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I am seeing now he's. Now he's siding with Carl.

[Don LaGreca]

I am seeing a scene, by the way, Peter, when remember the guy named Spaz is in the boat and there's a blonde laying out in the sun. Gotta. Gotta say, at least there was one for Meatballs. Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don LaGreca]

Gonna say, I'm gonna, gonna argue, but Hollywood, hot.

[Alan Hahn]

No, it's.

[Don LaGreca]

Again, it's the 70s. Everybody had a hard time being attractive then.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, tough time.

[Don LaGreca]

Very difficult time to find.

[Alan Hahn]

I thought it in real time, like watching it in like 81. Like, really excited for several reasons. When it was on HBO and my parents went to bed.

[Don LaGreca]

800. Let's, let's get back to these jets calls because there's a lot of hot and heavy jets fans right now, Brian. And Sleepy Hollow says he has a different take on the Rogers.

[Alan Hahn]

Sleepy Hollow.

[Caller]

Hey, guys. How's it going? I'm a big Jet fan. Like, I'm down with the Glenn regime and it might, it might have seemed a little heavy handed. This, you know, but I, I'm, I'm not, you know, like one of those guys that's being mad. I'm not like over the moon about this, but I think at the end of the day, it's just, it's, you know, you're moving in one direction. As long as we rack up some wins, that's cool with me, but.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, that's.

[Caller]

I don't know. As I was never the biggest Rogers lover. And be honest, like, the. The Netflix thing made me, like. It made me like him, like, a little bit more, to be honest with you, because, I don't know, it made him. It made it. He seems lonely or something.

[Don LaGreca]

Supposed to do. Yeah, it was supposed to do it just so odd. Can we all just agree, by the way?

[Alan Hahn]

What's that? I'm sorry.

[Don LaGreca]

I didn't think that was a different take.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I was curious about that myself, but just the way we went from. We love you. Win us a Super bowl, do whatever you want. You can have anybody you want. Do whatever you want to. Now just get the heck out of here.

[Don LaGreca]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

It just. What a. And I guess it's a different regime, but, like, just a. What a.180 in just a mere two years from. Gotta have him. Please save our franchise to get the hell out of here.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, it's different regime, different guy, but.

[Alan Hahn]

Still the same owner. You don't think.

[Don LaGreca]

But he turned on him. You could tell he turned on him. Arsenio, in the car. Arsenio. Fellas, what's up?

[Caller]

How are you? Good, man. I've called already a bunch of times because I'm frustrated with everything that's going down with this team. And, like, after watching this now, what he said on Pat McAfee, it's like, first of all, what has Aaron Glenn done to. To be pumping his chest like he's some sort of Bill Belich super bowl winner? He has not won anything. First of all, that is just ridiculous. You know, I've been on board with him coming back Rogers, and it's just the fact that what's being said now, like, I just do not understand how it is that, like, this team is thinking this is okay. And the one thing that Don said that is kind of frustrating me. You said that it's possibly just because, you know, maybe there was. They didn't want to have high expectations for the team. That is a sick. That is a. That is. That is a loser mentality.

[Don LaGreca]

You don't like, that is a loser.

[Caller]

I'm not saying that's what you believe, but I'm saying if the team believe that that is just. That is just ridiculous because I.

[Alan Hahn]

Because I, I. And listen, I agree with you. I don't. I. That's not how you're supposed to run a franchise. But I'm Just telling you, when you have a new regime coming in and Aaron Rodgers is your quarterback, there's going to be conversation that this team might be able to do some special things. And if they don't, then who's that going to fall down on? It's going to fall down partially on Rodgers, but it's going to fall down. Here we go. He's not a good coach. You're going to go into this season with zero expectations. And if they go out there, win three, four games, but it looks pretty good, you'll rally around them. But if you expect to win seven and win three or four, then you failed. I don't know if they've really put.

[Don LaGreca]

They'll say, oh, this guy's new coach, same results. Is that what you mean?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I just think you're setting him up to fail. I don't know. Other than like losing every game and really embarrassing himself. Whether there's a record where you can say that he failed in his first season.

[Don LaGreca]

Why can't it just be the new coach came in and wants his own type of guys? Yeah, type of guys. Not just his own guys. Well, my type of guys. Right. That's what we want. And Rogers is just not. He's not my type. He's not my type of guy.

[Alan Hahn]

So why couldn't that have been the conversation?

[Don LaGreca]

Because they can't say, you don't want to say that.

[Alan Hahn]

Why not? So you want to say, I don't want you.

[Don LaGreca]

They said nothing.

[Alan Hahn]

Rogers said, well, I would think that that's what was said to him. I don't know how it behooves Rogers.

[Don LaGreca]

You think there's a little bit of embellishment. A little bit. Just so it feeds. It works better in his story. I guess there's three different. Right? There's three sides of a story.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Your side, my side, and the truth.

[Alan Hahn]

But at least from my tale of this, where I believe the jets wanted this to get out there, I believe it happened.

[Don LaGreca]

I love yours. This was a media strategy of, we're gonna do this and don't worry, we're not gonna say it. Let him do it. Cause you know he can't help himself. Bill in Florida. I'm sorry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jets have no. It just means the jets are able to show brilliant strategy. Just not after 1:00 on Sundays.

[Don LaGreca]

Bill's in Florida. Hey, Bill.

[Caller]

Hi, guys. Big fan. I'm a Giants fan and I don't like Rogers. I'm happy that he's not going to be on the Giants, but I have A particular question about what Rogers said today, because it doesn't make any sense. When he said that Aaron Glenn said that he wanted to control the messaging in terms of what would be said in front of the team. First of all, the season was over, so who was going to be there? Secondly, why would any player who's going to be released want to be at that kind of a meeting in front of other people?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, I. I don't understand what you mean there, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What are you talking about?

[Don LaGreca]

I'm.

[Caller]

What I'm saying is that if you believe Aaron. Aaron Rodgers story, he's saying that he wanted Aaron Rodgers and him to agree on what would be said at that meeting.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Caller]

He didn't want faces to be made. Okay, well, that's.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no, what he's saying. What he's saying is, is when I address the team, like when Rogers. I think you might have misunderstood. When Rogers was telling the story, what he said was, when I asked Glenn, why, meaning, why are you moving on from me? Why don't you want me around? Why don't you want me back? Glenn said, well, one of the reasons is because when I'm addressing the team, I don't need you in the back row turning and making faces to players like, as if to suggest, I've heard you do this, but play the game. That's what was going on.

[Alan Hahn]

Because there is.

[Don LaGreca]

But he.

[Alan Hahn]

But at the same time, he was talking about how they were going to put the statement out that he's not coming back to say, how do you want us to word again? Because play it again. Because I was a little confused, too.

[Don LaGreca]

On the way back. On the other side. We'll do it. Because it is a bit of a long and drawn out explanation. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don LaGreca]

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

[Alan Hahn]

It was a big deal when this came out.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, hell yeah. You can keep that up a little higher there, Jake. This is. This is like a very depressing video, too. Like, it really gets.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, it's a movie. Johnny Got His Gun, which is a very depressing movie. Yes, of course we're talking about one by Metallica. But the great. Tell me this isn't rock and roll, Peter. So they're up for a Grammy. I believe it's 1988, so they're so probably 89 Grammys off the 88. They're up for a Grammy. The new hard rock category. That they eventually gave to Jethro Tull because they never won a Grammy. That made a lot of sense. But Metallica got to perform one at the Grammys. And they told him, it's an eight minute song. You can't do eight minutes. So Metallica, total rock and roll. They edited it, but the lyric is, cut this life out from me.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

But instead, cut this. And they dropped the yes bomb. So they got to swear on national television the way to compensate for having their song. I think they're going to rock and roll like, all right, listen, if you're going to do that, it's kind of like the Elvis Costello on Saturday Night Live. They know you can't play that song. You got to play the other song. And Elvis cost. I forget what the songs were. And Elvis Costello played the song he wanted to play.

[Don LaGreca]

He started the. He started the one song. Wait, wait, wait, this is no good. And then they did the other side.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's Let me do what I'm supposed to be doing.

[Alan Hahn]

That's music, Peter. Yeah, that's what I try to do with on this show.

[Don LaGreca]

And you do. All right, so you wanted to hear back. Yes. Right. You wanted to hear back Aaron Rodgers and his explanation.

[Alan Hahn]

Because I do think there was some confusion.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay, let's hear it one more time.

[Aaron Rodgers]

Listen. That was an interesting two years to say the least. But I figured that when I flew across country on my own dime, that there was going to be a conversation. And the confusing thing to me, and the strange thing was, you know, when I went out there, I meet with the coach, we start talking, he runs out of the room. I'm like, that's kind of strange. Then he comes back with the gm and I'm like, all right. So we sit down in the office and I think we're going to have this long conversation. I've flown across the country. And 20 seconds in, he goes, I mean, literally, I'm talking to the GM about something. And he leans to the edge of his sheet and goes, sure. Do you want to play football? I was like, yeah, I'm interested. And he said, we're going a different direction at quarterback. And I was kind of shocked now. Not shocked because I didn't think that was a possibility. Listen, of course they want to move on. That's totally fine. But shocked because I just flew across country. You could have told me this on the phone if we weren't even gonna have a conversation. And this is verbatim exactly how it happened. So I said, huh? And he goes, we just Want to know how you want it released, the messaging. And I said verbatim, I don't give a. About the message. And I said, why? And he said, I don't want to be up in front of the room saying something and have guys looking back at you.

[Don LaGreca]

Interesting.

[Aaron Rodgers]

And I said, what does that even mean? Are you assuming that I would be in the back of the room during a team meeting undermining what you're saying? I said, you don't know me. And he said, you don't know me. And then I said, exactly, which is why I flew across the country to have a face to face meeting with you to talk about my experience with the JIT and to hear your vision for the team. 20 seconds in, what I thought was gonna be a couple hour meeting turned into like a 15 minute meeting and.

[Don LaGreca]

I walked out of there.

[Alan Hahn]

The caller's right, there's a disconnect there because at one point he's talking about, how are we going to release that you're gonna be gone.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

So all of a sudden it turned into a meeting during the season.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no, because then he said, why?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. What? The message is the why.

[Don LaGreca]

Right? He said, the messaging. I don't care what you say. He said, I just wanna know why. What he means by why is why don't you? Why are you going in a different direction?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, I thought he was saying why.

[Don LaGreca]

No, Rogers is telling the story. Cuz as he told the story from what I. The way I heard it for the.

[Alan Hahn]

Third time, but you could see the confusion.

[Don LaGreca]

No, I get. Yeah, if you listen to it only once, of course you're gonna get confused. But I think it was Roger speeding up the story. Okay, I don't care what the messaging is. I just want to know why. Meaning why are you moving on? And then that's when Glenn told him, because I don't want you in the back of the room doing, you know, making faces. I don't want that. And that's what, that's what really set him off. So it's a weird.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, it's a weird thing to say, honestly.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, well, it's, it's.

[Don LaGreca]

Glenn said that to him. I don't. We can't assume that Glenn didn't say more to him. Rogers wants you to know that part. Like I said, we don't know the other side. We only know the parts that, that Rodgers wants to share. Let me give you game time, brought to you by Tulla Mardu Irish Whiskey because when it's game time, it's Tully time. Mets back at home facing the Cardinals. Mets fans, can you just greet Juan Soto properly please? Don't be like the jets coverage immediately follows us here on 880 ESPN at 6 30. Rangers closing out the season against the Lightning. You've got Don on the Pre game at 6:30 on 10:50am it's like the last day of school for Don and the Yankees open up a series with the Rays in Tampa. Yes, the road team though at George Steinbrenner Stadium. How about that 705 Tulla Mardu. The original triple distilled, triple blended, triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tulla Mardu or try the new Tullamore Dew Honey during tonight's action. Glasses up to enjoying. Tell them or do responsible I'm excited.

[Alan Hahn]

Last day of school.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's like the last day of school if the last day of school wasn't fun and lasted forever. Feels like this season has been this last two weeks of the Rangers has been dragging on, which is how the.

[Don LaGreca]

End of school does go that way.

[Alan Hahn]

No, this is the this is the end of your senior year and there's no promise.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, we have enno.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, and you're not going to college and all your friends are.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, but our prom is enn. We get it every day. We get it at six and it's coming up next. Hey Don, tell me about Mazda.

[Alan Hahn]

I was staring right at it too. You want to get the most for your money. That's why more Mazda buyers choose Ramsey Mazda. Lease a new 2025 Mazda CX30 all wheel drive only 209amonth or buy and get 0.9% APR financing for 36 months. Start shopping now at Ramsey Mazda.com choose wisely. Choose Ramsey Mazda. Call 833-853-2970 for details. Excludes tax, title, registration, zero security deposit, fin SM 813320 MSRP26490 ends 43025 thanks.

[Don LaGreca]

For listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the 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 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.