Hour 3: Saquon, Mets, NFL Binge

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" – Hour 3: Saquon, Mets, NFL Binge

Episode Information:

• Title: Hour 3: Saquon, Mets, NFL Binge
• Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
• Release Date: January 27, 2025
• Description: The first voice of ESPN New York and New Jersey legend Don La Greca, long-time sportswriter and New York Knicks broadcaster Alan Hahn, and highly opinionated Hip Hop vet and WWE personality Peter Rosenberg discuss New York sports and more.

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1. Giants and Saquon Barkley’s Super Bowl Performance

Discussion Overview: The hosts delve into the New York Giants' recent Super Bowl performance, focusing on Saquon Barkley's pivotal role in the game and the team's management decisions leading up to it.

Key Points:

• Saquon Barkley’s Impact: Barkley had an outstanding game with 15 carries, 118 yards, and three touchdowns, including a crucial 60-yard run that set the tone for the Giants.

  Don La Greca (01:00):
  "Saquon Barkley, who had himself a day, 15 carries, 118 yards, three touchdowns, he had that 60 yard run that really set the tone."

• Giants' Management Decisions: The conversation highlights the Giants' inability to retain key players and make strategic trades, particularly concerning their quarterback situation and running back compensation.

  Peter Rosenberg (03:20):
  "What should bother you, John, is you have a garbage team. Fix it and that. And the only way to get out of it, Peter, is the tank."

• Frustration with Team Building: Peter Rosenberg expresses frustration with the Giants' ongoing struggles to build a competent team, criticizing the lack of effective coaching and management.

  Peter Rosenberg (02:42):
  "But you just admitted before, Alan, if knowing the knowledge, you still got to do what you think is still best for your team."

Notable Quote: Peter Rosenberg (05:35):
"You can't be this bad for this long without really looking at what all the problems are."

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2. Team Building and the Importance of Coaching and Management in the NFL

Discussion Overview: The hosts discuss the broader implications of effective team building in the NFL, emphasizing that having a strong quarterback alone isn't sufficient without the right coaching and supporting players.

Key Points:

• Quarterback’s Role Not Sole Solution: The conversation underscores that success in the NFL requires more than just securing a top quarterback; it demands a cohesive team structure, including a solid offensive line and competent coaching staff.

  Peter Rosenberg (04:17):
  "I wouldn't put Daniel Jones on the same level as Jaden Daniels, but part of the lack of success that Jones had, yeah, most of it was on him, but a lot of it was on the fact that he had so many different coaches and bad offensive line."

• Examples of Successful Team Building: Reference to quarterbacks like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson illustrates how supportive team environments and effective management contribute to individual and team success.

  Alan Hahn (12:19):
  "If he was the right pick, he…"

• Critique of Franchise Decisions: The hosts critique franchises like the Giants and Mets for their flawed decisions in drafts and trades, leading to long-term struggles.

  Peter Rosenberg (08:31):
  "Or trade out of it or you know, or just excited the fact, the reasoning they drafted Take Sam Darnold is the wrong reasoning."

Notable Quote: Don La Greca (07:34):
"This is the vicious cycle that you get into when you're a bad franchise."

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3. Mets and Pete Alonso Negotiations

Discussion Overview: The conversation shifts to Major League Baseball, focusing on the New York Mets' negotiations with Pete Alonso and the broader implications for the franchise.

Key Points:

• Pete Alonso’s Contract Negotiations: The Mets are struggling to agree on a long-term deal with Pete Alonso, with ownership expressing dissatisfaction with the proposed contract structures that include opt-outs and lump-sum bonuses.

  Don La Greca (31:15):
  "Steve Cohen was very, very open and honest about what he doesn't like about the situation that he's dealing with when it comes to a lot."

• Ownership’s Stance: Steve Cohen highlights the challenges in negotiating a deal that aligns with the Mets' financial strategies, indicating a preference for not overcommitting financially without assured long-term benefits.

  Steve Cohen (32:42):
  "I think we're going to have to get used to the fact that, you know, we may have to go forward and with the existing players."

• Fan Reactions: There is notable frustration among Mets fans regarding Pete Alonso’s situation, with debates on whether the franchise values loyalty versus financial pragmatism.

  Don La Greca (35:45):
  "The only thing I can root for because I hate the Eagles is I'd like to see Saquon win the MVP and Eagles lose."

Notable Quote: Peter Rosenberg (36:33):
"But if you have a LeBron James, you know what? My organization is going to turn it around."

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4. New York Mets’ Alternate Jersey Release

Discussion Overview: The hosts discuss the Mets unveiling their new alternate jerseys for the upcoming season, sharing their opinions on the design and its reception among fans.

Key Points:

• Jersey Design: The new jersey features a "New York" script across the chest with blue lettering and piping, aiming for a classic and universal appeal.

  Don La Greca (24:31):
  "They revealed their alternate jersey for the coming season. Did you see this? A little script. New York across the chest, blue jersey, blue lettering with some piping around the script."

• Host Opinions: The hosts express mixed feelings, with some appreciating the classic look and others criticizing it as a money grab or preferring traditional uniforms.

  Peter Rosenberg (25:07):
  "Not a fan. I just don't like changing the uniforms because I like the traditional."

  Don La Greca (25:28):
  "Those are hideous. Yeah, those are hideous."

• Uniform Nostalgia vs. Modern Design: The debate reflects a broader conversation in sports about balancing traditional team identities with modern branding strategies.

  Alan Hahn (26:17):
  "I don't hate this. I... I'm just. I don't know."

Notable Quote: Don La Greca (27:15):
"This all started with the San Jose Sharks. I blame them."

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5. NFL Binge: Analysis of Recent Games

Discussion Overview: In the final segment, the hosts provide a detailed analysis of recent NFL games, highlighting key plays, referee decisions, and team performances.

Key Points:

• Eagles vs. Commanders Game: The hosts review Saquon Barkley’s standout performance and the Eagles' dominant victory over the Washington Commanders, discussing play-by-play moments and referee calls.

  Alan Hahn (40:54):
  "He touches it and he took it to the house. It's as simple as that."

  Peter Rosenberg (41:28):
  "Hurts, takes the snap, he gives it to Barkley. Barkley, lungs wide touchdown is third of the day. He's special."

• Referee Decisions: Criticism of the referees’ handling of the "Tush Push" play and other calls that influenced the outcome of the game.

  Alan Hahn (45:05):
  "If that is the play and we think that's wrong, I don't know if we need that play."

  Don La Greca (46:50):
  "So, you know."

• Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Analysis of Josh Allen’s attempts to utilize the "Tush Push" play and the Chiefs’ strategic responses leading to their back-to-back Super Bowl victories.

  Peter Rosenberg (50:12):
  "Buffalo has tried too many times to run the tush push and the Chiefs get a stop at their own 41."

• Overall NFL Strategy: Emphasis on the significance of strategic plays, coaching decisions, and the impact of star players on the game's outcome.

  Don La Greca (52:36):
  "You're gonna have to deal with the Chiefs being the first team in National Football League history to win back to back Super Bowls and go to super bowl for a chance for a three peat."

Notable Quote: Alan Hahn (49:09):
"If that is the play and we think that's wrong, I don't know if we need that play."

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6. Closing Remarks and Promotions

Discussion Overview: The episode concludes with promotional segments and final thoughts from the hosts, emphasizing the show's availability on various platforms.

Key Points:

• Promotions Skipped: Advertisements for services like Shopify, TaxAct, and Allstate are present but are omitted from the summary as per guidelines.
• Final Thoughts: The hosts wrap up their discussions, reiterating key points and expressing anticipation for future episodes.

Notable Quote: Don La Greca (54:15):
"Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers."

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Conclusion: In this episode, Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg provide an in-depth analysis of the New York Giants' Super Bowl performance, the Mets' contractual negotiations with Pete Alonso, recent changes to the Mets’ uniforms, and detailed breakdowns of recent NFL games. The hosts offer critical perspectives on team management decisions, emphasizing the importance of cohesive team building beyond star players. Their candid discussions are enriched with notable quotes and timely insights, making the episode engaging for listeners interested in New York sports and the broader NFL landscape.

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

If you need three new reasons to love Jack wraps at Jack in the Box even more, here they are, Chicken fajita, chicken Caesar and delicious starting at $3. Coincidentally, those are the same three reasons you should come to Jack in the Box right now at Jack. Every bite's a big deal.

[Don La Greca]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[Don La Greca]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, esp, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers. All right, into the 5 o'clock hour we go with Don Lagreca and Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hahn. 800-919-3776. The number be part of the conversation in the calls we got to get to with you. And of course, off championship Sunday, the reactions to everything, the Chiefs fatigue. Peter, though, is so fatigued by the Chiefs that he will buck the trend that most people have when it comes to rivals. And Peter says he is going to root for the Eagles in the Super Bowl. Listen, but have you're a Giants fan. I have this question because like I said, going into that game, it's, it's two things were in that game, that NSC championship game from a Giants perspective. The first one is you didn't lose enough to get the quarterback that Washington has in Jaden Daniels. That of course famously on Hard Knocks, Joe Shane's son told him do whatever it takes to trade up for this guy. And obviously that would have been impossible to do. There's that part of it. But then on the other side, it's the running back that you weren't winning enough to keep and pay. So it's two players that you couldn't have and now one of them goes to the Super Bowl. And Saquon Barkley, who had himself a day, 15 carries, 118 yards, three touchdowns, he had that 60 yard run that really set the tone. He just pocketed almost a million bucks in incentives, by the way, winning that game, getting a thousand yards rushing and adding to his salary just because of the success that the team had built into his deal. So he's had. That was quite a day for the Barclays and for the Giants. That had to have been a tough one to see your own player that you drafted now doing it for your rival.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think it's a sexy narrative, but I don't even get caught up in it because the Giants still did the right thing. This was not going to happen with them. So yeah, it stinks that they did it and he made them maybe possibly be a Super bowl champion. And I can Understand it bothering a Giants fan. But you just admitted before, Alan, if knowing the knowledge, you still got to do what you think is still best for your team. And.

[Don La Greca]

But to give him there, though, Don, I think to me, the frustration is that they got to that point where two years prior.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's a huge part of why.

[Don La Greca]

You want a playoff game later. You're like, we can't win with this guy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why I'm frustrated with the whole Giant thing, because now talk about Jaden Daniels, right? Well, they could have had Jaden Daniels, but, you know, DeVito won a couple of games, beat packers on Monday Night Football. Well, in that moment, sorry, I wasn't thinking about draft picks. I just wanted to win a football game on national television with the Giants. Never do. And so I'm not going to kill the Giants for winning a game that they should have lost. Every team tries to win the coach and the general manager put together.

[Don La Greca]

That's different from what I said, Don. What I said was, you weren't bad enough, but you weren't good enough to keep the running back. You were in no man's land. You were in. You were. It's purgatory. It was the worst place to be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But again, just like Saquon. Do you really think Jaden Daniels would have elevated the Giants to the championship game yesterday? You know, part of the reason Jaden Daniels has had such a great year is he's got a really good head coach, he's got a really good offensive coordinator, and they've finally got a new general manager, new ownership. There's a lot going on there. He is a great talent. I don't want to take anything away from him. But in football, you don't succeed in the vacuum. You need a lot of things to go your way. Look at Sam Darnold and what he's able to do, accomplish in Minnesota, he couldn't do here in New York. So, yeah, it would be nice to have Jaden Daniels, but if you don't have the right coach, you don't have the right pieces in place, then. Then it could just be another failed quarterback. So, yeah, I wouldn't say that.

[Don La Greca]

I've always known that's on me. Hit a bad button, that's on me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you know what I'm saying, Allen, is that, yeah, the Giants would have been better and they would have been in great shape with the quarterback to think that they would be playing in the championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles, because that is the only thing you need to win in the NFL. I'm sorry, you're mistaken. I'm not sure they've got the coach. I'm not sure they've got the general manager. They don't have the offensive line that's going to be able to protect the quarterback. So maybe we were looking at. Maybe if the Giants had drafted Daniels, we might be sitting here on January 27th having a conversation on whether they selected the right quarterback or whether that's the right guy, because it might not have been that great of a season with all the pieces that didn't work. Now, I'm not going to put Daniel Jones on the same level as Jaden Daniels, but part of the lack of success that Jones had, yeah, most of it was on him, but a lot of it was on the fact that he had so many different coaches and bad offensive line, and there was a lot of things that just didn't go right. So to just think, I got my quarterback, I'm good. Well, do you have the right coach? You have the right general manager, the right oc? I don't know. Would Kafka have been able to crack the code on Daniels the way that Kingsbury was able to? If I had to bet, I'd say no. All fair points.

[Alan Hahn]

All fair points. But it doesn't make it sting any less that they're in this spot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you know why? Because you should be mad at the Giants for just not being good, not being able to figure it out when everybody else has been able to figure it out. How many different coaches, how many different general managers, they haven't been able to figure it out. And to sit there and cry, oh, my God, we let Saquon go and we didn't tank enough to get Jaden Daniels. That's treetops, man. That's just the surface area. You got to dig deeper with the Giants problems. You can't be this bad for this long without really looking at what all the problems are. There are so many different problems. And from my owner to be pacing back and forth, well, the fans are really going to be upset if Saquon. Oh, it's really going to bother him if he goes to Philadelphia. What should bother you, John, is you haven't been able to figure out how to hire a coach or a general manager or to build a team. That's the problem. And it pains me because I do respect the Maras and what it means to NFL history. But quite honestly, man, it's not about them. It's about their hires. If you don't, if you're not Forced to hire George Young. There isn't a Bill Parcells era. If you didn't stumble upon Ernie, of course he. There wouldn't be any lie era. All right, you haven't proven that you're any good at football other than dedicating your life to it and the salary cap and all the ancillary things that have come with being a Mara in new and the respect that they're owed in the NFL. But as far as building a team, you're not on the level of the elite teams. You're not on the level of the elite owners. God love you, man, but start trying to figure out a way to have a good football team instead of pacing back and forth in your little vest, worried about Saquon's gonna be an Eagle and what are the fans gonna say? And it's gonna bother me. What should bother you is you have a garbage team. Fix it and that. And the only way to get out of it, Peter, is the tank. That's the only way to get out of it. Just go Owen 17 and get the. How do we know I'm not going to screw up the picks you had the fifth and seventh pick. The other years have that worked out.

[Don La Greca]

Don. It's the vicious cycle that you get into when you're a bad franchise. It's the vicious cycle of, well, we got to be bad to get a high pick, and then you make the wrong pick or you get a pick that's good and you ruin it because you don't know how to handle it like that is. Both of these teams are in the same vicious cycle right now. I go back to the Zach Wilson, it's a number two pick. You need a quarterback. You let Sam go because Sam, well, you know, he's okay. He's starting to show signs, but we don't want to have to pay him. So let's reset and we'll go get another rookie quarterback. Then you take the guy who's barely 5 foot 6, can't see over his line. He throws one throw in a pro day, and now I got to have him. We got to have him. You do a terrible job when it comes to scouting, shouting him and bringing him in, and then you do a worse job in handling him. The jets and the Giants are all in the same vicious cycle, and they keep telling you the same thing. You got to be bad to get a high pick. But when you're bad, it looks terrible.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

And then you're not bad enough.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sorry. When I've got two quarterbacks playing in the Super Bowl. One was a second round pick, the other one was the 10th overall pick. Where, where was the tanking in Philadelphia and Kansas City? Or was it just, you know, what.

[Don La Greca]

Kansas City tricked up for? They too, remember, hire the right people. King City got that pick from the Bills, by the way. How does that feel in Buffalo?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it was, but this whole gotta get picked, gotta have the first overall pick. Well, how does it work it out? Yeah, Joe Burrow worked out in Cincinnati, but Josh Allen wasn't even the first quarterback taken in that draft. Neither was Patrick Mahomes. So why don't you just hire the right people and then they'll figure it out. That's what you gotta do instead of lamenting about who make the right decisions. So the whole, oh, we should have lost that game or I can't believe they won that meaningless game, dude, if that's what you're grasping at, what you're admitting is, you know what, we're lost. So hopefully we're so bad we'll stumble into a player. But this isn't the NBA. Allen, as important as the quarterback is, that's not the only thing. If I have a LeBron James, you know what? My organization is going to turn it around. But if I've got the quarterback, but no way to protect them, nobody to catch the ball, no defense to stop the other team from scoring, what does it matter?

[Don La Greca]

Well then that's where the Buffalo Bills are. They have a guy who can win mvp. They have the quarterback, They've had him. The Bills hit. And you know what? Their defense has never been good enough. Their defense has been the problem for them. Think about it like, so you're right, they've got to do a better job on that side of their head coach is a defensive guy. And yet they never can solve, obviously Mahomes, which not everybody can. But in your Lamar Jackson, you're the, you're the Ravens. You took the, you got him at the 30th pick and he's won multiple MVP. The 30th pick. This was not the first pick. This was not even a top 10 pick. This was the last pick of the first round, the latest pick you could possibly take, a quarterback. And they took him and he became one of the best in the league. And they can't win either. So it isn't as easy as you think. Just get the quarterback and everything will be fine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right? Maybe because maybe all the criticism, Josh Allen can't win the big game. Well, maybe, maybe it's A lot of heavy lifting just to drag the rest of this organization as far as he does.

[Don La Greca]

That's a good point.

[Alan Hahn]

And, and you get reminded. I don't you guys, I think you probably saw this in the group chat sometime while I was off we were reminded of the fact that the commanders only have Jaden Daniels because in that week 17 horrifying game against the jets, right. The jets happened to hit, what was it, a 54 yard field goal as time expired to win. If not for that random terrible game. The commanders do not have Jaden Daniels. So you can plan to tank. You can talk about all the things you're going to do. So many things have to break the right way and then you have to happen to get it right.

[Don La Greca]

And I'll say this when we get back to getting back to Saquon Barkley and the Giants now with the number two pick in that draft, when you look at that draft, that was the quarterback draft again, that was Baker Mayfield and Sam and Josh Allen who we talked about and all that stuff. The Giants, I mean you could look back and go, well they should have taken Josh Allen at number two and I promise you no one, no one thought to take him at number two. Now would they have been smart enough to trade back to get Josh Allen if they really liked him that much? But it was hard to assess a player that was coming out of that level. He was playing at Wyoming, he was not playing in the sec, he was not playing in the Big Ten. He wasn't even playing in the acc. Right. So you can't do the revisionist history of the Giants should have drafted Josh Allen. So when you look at it in that vacuum, that was the right pick. Saquon Barkley, he was out of the top five players taken in that draft, he's the best player.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, if you judge it by that.

[Don La Greca]

If he was the right pick, he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was the wrong pick because he was a running back.

[Don La Greca]

I don't understand that. Because he was the best player.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but you don't take somebody to overall you're not willing to pay.

[Don La Greca]

Well, that was a different regime.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But, but, but, but still you don't do that. It's the same thing with the, with Adams with the jets because he was a safety. You don't take them that high if you don't plan on making sure that he is going to be your forever Giant.

[Don La Greca]

So the play should have been trade out of the two because everybody was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Or trade out of it or you know, or just excited the fact, the reasoning they drafted Take Sam Darnold is the wrong reasoning. They didn't take Saquon Barkley for any other reason as they were trying to get Eli another ring and they wanted to get him another weapon. What they should have realized is I think Eli's done. We should draft a quarterback that could now watch Eli and then be our next quarterback. And if it had been Sam who I wanted them to pick at the time, maybe what you're seeing in Minnesota you might have seen with the Giants. Maybe. Don't know. You don't know.

[Don La Greca]

So you're saying that. That that was again, Metalson. Metalsome ownership. Because we all know what happened there is just. Jerry Reese decided that he was going to force. It was Geno Smith. Right. Who to force him to get that start at ended the streak. And it was. It really did embarrass Eli Manning and Mara didn't love that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

And so an olive branch turned into, yeah, we've gotta. We've gotta make nice with Eli and let's try to win him in another one instead of running him out the door.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

And that's probably listening to too much media.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, because they gone out and they give Solder with the highest contract for a left tackle in the history of football. And they thought that they. And then they could turn around and win three games. I mean, they weren't close. They thought they were close, but they weren't. So. Yeah, I mean, but the other thing too is they didn't want to pay Saquon. People don't want to give running backs money, so you don't take them second overall because usually a high draft pick is going to command a lot of money. And if you're not going to pay them, then don't take them. So, yeah, either. Either draft Sam Darnold or you could have traded down, but they. But you know, you don't draft need Allen and you don't draft for that second. You don't take the second overall pick in the draft for that year. And that's what they did. That's why Saquon got kicked around after, after it didn't work with Eli, it was almost like, all right, what do we do with this guy?

[Don La Greca]

This is the anatomy of how a franchise can crumble. Seven years ago, a move seven years ago leads you to a point now where you're watching him. The player you drafted and found you had no use for. It didn't work. Here he goes to a place and an instant, in an instant turns it around and again it goes back to The Carolina Panthers. The same thing happened. Christian McCaffrey was a stud with Carolina. A stud. Then he got hurt. Then they realized we're paying him too much money. He's not available all the time and we're not at a place where we need a running back of his talent. We've got too many other needs. So they trade him to a team that had a perfect place for him and they go to the Super Bowl. Well, the same thing happened with Saquon Barkley. Exactly the same story as McCaffrey.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. But McCaffrey didn't age well either because then he got hurt. Now San Francisco is in the situation that they're in.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But same thing happen in Philadelphia. If they lose to the Chiefs and then Saquon gets hurt next year, you know, he's owed a lot of money on the cap hit next year. Now if they win the super bowl or just going to the super bowl might, might be enough and it's worth it. But that's still not a contract. That may age well. But listen, it's. Again, it's not even the decisions the Giants make. It's the reason they make the decisions. All right, you can look at it. Well, Saquon's a good pick. He's a forever player. I said it at the time. You could guarantee me he's going to wear a gold jacket, I wouldn't make the pick. So it really didn't have anything to do with the talent of the player, is what. How does it help them win? And you nailed it. They embarrassed themselves with the Geno Smith situation, ending Eli Manning's streak. Olive branch back to Eli Manning. Don't worry, Eli, we'll get you another ring. The giants won their two rings with Eli on 10, six and nine, seven seasons. So we don't have to go out there and win 15 games, just get into the playoffs and Eli will guide us like he did two times previous. So he was thinking with his heart instead of his head. John Marrow was playing the fan. The fan that's out there right now killing the Giants for letting Saquon go. I can't believe that that's what John Maris thinking. He thinks like a fan. That's not how you run an organization. No offense to fans. They don't have the inside information because all fans want to win now. But you have to have a long term view and the Giants didn't. And they're paying the price for it now.

[Don La Greca]

And here's something that Ron in the car is going to bring up. Something that Also shows you the emotion part of it shouldn't have been involved when it comes to Saquon Barkley. Go ahead, Ron.

[Caller]

Hey, guys. Love your show. Peter, congratulations. I actually had a great opportunity to meet you. I was high school principal. You came to speak to my kids a few years ago. So congratulations.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, thank you, man.

[Caller]

Don. Yeah. So, Don, here's the challenge I have. Right. Love you. But what I think the Giants had to do is actually trade Barkley at the deadline last year. Even if we don't add a person to fill in, you put together a package, get some capital that maybe we can trade for. And then. The last thing I want to say is you mentioned during your course the. You know, of course, he and Jerry Reese, when they did have the freedom to build a good team, the reason why they were able to do it is because we had a good, solid quarterback, so we weren't chasing after the next shining star. There was no golden goose that we had to go after because we had Eli. So they were able to build teams with other studs and not have to worry about a quarterback. So I'm just troubled that we find ourselves in this every single year chasing after a quarterback. Are we going to tank? Are we not going to tank? I got to tell you know, right now, I just rather take Shador Sanders and have a quarterback that would steady the ship, even if it's not bring us a Super Bowl.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, a couple of things. Yes, they, in retrospect, they sort of traded him. I wonder if John just wouldn't let him do it because he was really hoping they'd get something done.

[Don La Greca]

So it was the end of the season. They didn't want to, like, they had home games. They didn't want to have an upset fan base.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's so true. That was probably why they didn't do it. But, yeah, absolutely. Get something for him to get nothing and then doubling down and seeing him go to Philadelphia. As much as I love Eli, you know, it wasn't just about Eli. Justin Tuck, OC Umen Yora getting after Tom Brady. That's what won those Super Bowls, man. Eli won the MVPs, and deservedly so, but they got the Tom Brady. They put pressure on the quarterback, Brandon Jacobson and Bradshaw, and you look at the wide receivers they had earlier with Toomer and then later on Smith and then. And then getting Plexigo Burris. There was a lot of good things that that organization did. Everybody thought that, you know, Plexico Burress was done. They go in, they grab them and they get a Super bowl out of them. Like, there were a lot of building a tremendous offensive line to be able to protect a stationary quarterback. God, the different tight ends, they went, they were just, it's not just, Again, guys, it's not just about the quarterback. The quarterback is the most important position, but it's worthless if you don't protect them, if you don't create weapons, if you don't have a defense to be able to keep your team in. The Buffalo Bills are the perfect example of that.

[Don La Greca]

They are the example of that. Let's go to Joe in Chappaqua. Hey, Joe. Hey, guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thanks for taking a call.

[Don La Greca]

So, Don, as a Giants fan, the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Only thing I'm really rooting for because I hate the Eagles is I'd like.

[Don La Greca]

To see Saquon win the MVP and Eagles lose. So he'd be like the second guy to win an MVP on a losing team in the Super Bowl. And that's the only thing that I can root for.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. Who was the Cowboy in Super Bowl 5 that won the MVP? Why, why is his name escaping me? That's the only one, right?

[Don La Greca]

Is it Howley only one?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I think, yeah, listen, you can root for that.

[Don La Greca]

So memorable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that's like, that's like rooting to win the lottery. I mean, Peter, what do you think the odds are of Saquon winning the MVP on a losing team?

[Don La Greca]

It was Chuck Alley.

[Alan Hahn]

That would be.

[Don La Greca]

What would you have to do, never mind the odds. What would you have to do in a game, in a Super bowl to get the mvp? And Patrick Mahomes is playing in this game, by the way. What would you have to do to, to get, have everybody go, no, no, they might have lost, but this guy.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, it would, it would have to.

[Don La Greca]

Be 200 yard rushing game, multiple touchdowns, and they lose on a field goal.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I would, I would say exactly. It would be, it would be something like around 200 yards. Maybe even on some of these drives where he breaks off huge runs, they somehow still don't get points. But he's just, he averages 13 yards a carry. Like it would have to be something like that. It's basically impossible.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nothing to root for, right, Peter? It's like, no, that'd be like rooting to win the lottery. I just, it's not going to happen.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, but it is still something. Again, I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I, I do love Peter. We talked about a lot on the case.

[Alan Hahn]

I, I, I now play. Let me tell you this though. I, I love him. I defended him when he was here. I always loved him, watching him on the Eagles, it's tough.

[Don La Greca]

He's gone. He's turned heel a little bit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, he's got.

[Alan Hahn]

When he does, when he does the little running, when he does the little kid running flailing his own, I want to punch him right in his cute face. I and by the way, we're getting close to to 545. There are some things about this Eagles team that just coming, I might not make you feel it. I warn you, I might interrupt this next commercial break. I don't know if I can hold it much longer, guys.

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[Don La Greca]

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[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Don La Greca]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don La Greca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don La Greca]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. So you know what else happened over the weekend, boys? Mets had what they called amazing day at Citi Field.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, they're gonna be strong.

[Don La Greca]

And, you know, Steve Cohen and some players were there, and they even talked with the media. They had a little question and answer sesh. Some fans were there to watch and all that stuff. Before I get to what Cohen said, they revealed their alternate jersey for the coming season. Did you see this? A little script. New York across the chest, blue jersey, blue lettering with some piping around the script. New York. How do we feel about this jersey, Donnie?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm good.

[Don La Greca]

Hate it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Not a fan. I just. I don't like what we're doing, man. Just. I like their uniforms. Pinstripes at home, the. The. The bluish grays on the road with the New York block lettering. That's what we do. Let's go. Let's roll. Don't like third jerseys. Don't like thinking outside the box. The black jerseys, I think are. You hate the black Abomination.

[Don La Greca]

Those are hideous. Yeah, those are hideous. I will say that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I say but I'm good.

[Don La Greca]

I like these. I didn't like last year's. That weird. It was supposed to be a subway token. The purple in and all that stuff. I wasn't a big fan of that. I like these. I think these are great for a third jersey. Look, I'm coming from the NBA where they have 8 million different jerseys, right? So I had to get used to this quickly. I looked at this right away, and I thought, it's classic. It's clean. I love the script. I love the fact that it says New York on. On the chest. There's something special about it. I like this jersey.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't. I didn't hate it on first. On first glance.

[Don La Greca]

Right. There you go.

[Alan Hahn]

But I knew Don would.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but. But here's.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, well, Don doesn't like third jerseys to begin with. Right. Well, that's. I know you well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, when you were talking about the. That. That purple jersey, the. The uniform, I think it was the.

[Don La Greca]

God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, the league makes them do that with the city selects and they're all off. Is that. I could think it's sharp, but I don't want it. Like, I like, I like that color blue. It's. It's a nice that. But I, I don't, I don't like changing the uniforms because I like the traditional. These are the uniforms we chose. I totally respect the fact the Yankees never change it. I respect the teams that do that. I do. And let's not. And the problem with this, it's not just the Mets. It's everybody else that does it, is that they try to make it seem like this is a cool thing. It's just a money grab. That's all it is.

[Don La Greca]

Of course it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So let's not try to pretend that, oh, this is gonna be really cool and the players care and it's gonna fight knowledge. Just, hey, let's try to create another revenue stream, which is fine. I mean, it's a business and all that. But don't, don't sell me on anything other than the fact that you're just trying to take more money from me.

[Don La Greca]

This all started with the San Jose Sharks. I blame them. And the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. All this started back in the early 90s when we, we hadn't seen much expansion. Right. In professional sports. And the NHL adds these two teams and the teal that this, that the, the Sharks brought to the league, still.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One of the most gorgeous uniforms ever.

[Don La Greca]

Well, and everybody wants one. Everybody want. When it became a thing, it's why there was a fisherman jersey, which is embarrassing. And then the Ducks come in with their Ducks uniform and like hip hop artists were wearing it in. In videos. And that's it. Are you kidding me? There's your cell. So. But I'll tell you this, this jersey, if you're an Islanders fan, a Knicks fan, not even just a Mets fan, this is your colors. All it says is New York. Like, this is a very universal uniform. It doesn't really have, like, it's a baseball jersey, so it's obviously Mets. But I feel like it's a very universal thing. If you're a fan of any of those teams, this jersey can work for you.

[Alan Hahn]

I, I agree. I'm with Alan. I don't hate this. I. I'm just. I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I feel.

[Don La Greca]

I don't hate it either.

[Alan Hahn]

Pull over. Pull over versus button up.

[Don La Greca]

Don't like V neck action, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I don't love the V. That, that is.

[Don La Greca]

That is that beer softball league kind of feel a little bit, A little.

[Alan Hahn]

Bit hitting shirt vibes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

When I was growing up as a kid and I was, I didn't have a lot of money, so I, I. But when I was like, save up, I wanted to get a Jersey. During those 80s runs with the Mets, I would never get a jersey. I hated the pullover. I waited until they.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But I hated the pullover jersey. So I'm not a big fan of that. But you know what I'm also a fan of? You know, Jerry Seinfeld said, you're rooting for the laundry. You're not even doing that anymore. Because, like, I, I'd like to know when I turn on a game, who's playing. Like, there was one time. Now, granted, I was pretty far away from the tv. I remember, like, I was out with some friends. The Knicks were playing, I think the Hawks a couple of years ago, and the Knicks were wearing, like, the black jerseys. So the Hawks had to wear the white. Yeah, I think it was. I swear I was watching the game for five minutes thinking that the Knicks were the team that were wearing a white.

[Alan Hahn]

I did the same thing in the same game, like, so what are we doing here?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I can't even identify the. The NBA is the worst. Like, I turn on a game, and unless they've got the bug on the screen, I can't even tell who's playing half the time. What are we doing?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, it has lost a little bit of that, that, that tradition. And the brand, like your brand now doesn't have that one thing. That's okay. I recognize who you are. You know, that's. That's been the problem with some of these extra alternative jerseys and all that other stuff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, quickly before you, Alonzo, quickly before you do, we were talking about when in the game, did Archie say he didn't want Eli to go to San Diego? Tommy Peters, a huge fan of us and the My Game is conduct podcast or Our Game is conduct podcast, said he was going through Ralph Aquiano's biography about Eli and said the news for Eli not going to the Chargers didn't break until about two days before the draft. Then Ralph Aiano then added to the tweet, said, that's correct. It was pretty well known rumor long before then, but wasn't confirmed confirmed until pretty late in the game. So I think we're still a ways away from maybe Sanders getting his fat hands on where his son goes. I know he's been quiet. It's late January, but let's find out what happens once we get to like April 1st. Maybe things will change a little bit. I'm sorry, I just wanted to get that out before.

[Don La Greca]

No, no, no, that's a good update there. It's good to keep us on point and also again, it just also sets that timeline for us to definitely keep an eye on things. But meanwhile, at this amazing day, the owner was present and taking some questions. And of course right now the question on all the Mets fans minds is Pete Alonzo. And we all know, as I talked about last week with you, Don, how it's, it's almost embarrassing how some Mets fans are turning on, on him and David Stearns because they don't feel like Alonzo's being treated properly and they feel like just give him what he wants because they love him and they want to keep him. Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

So Steve Cohen was very, very open and honest about what he doesn't like about the situation that he's dealing with when it comes to a lot.

[Steve Cohen]

And we've made a significant offer to Pete and what Davis said is correct. He's entitled to go out and explore his market and that's what he's doing. Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation. Soto was tough. This is worse. A lot of it is, is we've made a significant. I don't like the structures that are being presented back to us. I think it's highly asymmetric against us and I feel strongly about it.

[Don La Greca]

And apparently one of the structures is because the Mets want a short term deal, right? They don't want to get stuck because they aren't going to sign him for long term. So there's like opt outs. So apparently the opt out, they'd have to give Alonzo like a lump sum bonus if they opt out out, right? Like, like so they're asking for money to protect him in case they end up moving on from. Right. Like let's say he has a good year and he wants to now go into free agency again and the Mets are like, good, we want you to leave because we're going to go sign Vlad Guerrero. Well, they, the Mets are going to have to write a check to send him away. And that's of course part of the, part of the problem that they don't want to deal with these extra little things that I think that Scott Boris is trying to put in to protect his client. Now one more fear from Cohen that it does sound like though that anybody that thinks they're going to see Pete Alonso in a Mets jersey I don't think it's going to.

[Steve Cohen]

I will never say no. You know, there's always the possibility. But the reality is, you know, we're moving forward and, you know, we continue to bring in players. As we continue to bring in players, reality is, you know, it becomes harder to fit Pete into what is a very expensive group of players that we already have. That's where we are. And I'm being brutally honest, I don't like the negotiations. I don't like what's been presented to us. And, you know, listen, maybe that changes. And certainly, you know, I'll always stay flexible if it stays this way. You know, I think we're going to have to get used to the fact that, you know, we may have to go forward and with the existing players.

[Don La Greca]

That we have now. You hear the fans are actually applauding this when beforehand they were frustrated. Now, I'm going to add one more thing. Guys, guys. Saturday night here at the Garden, the Knicks are playing the Kings. Cohen was here with a whole bunch of players. They had a suite, in fact. So they put them on Garden vision, as they do whenever they're celebrities, right? They put them up. It says New York Mets. You see Cohen, you see some players in the suite. They were booze in the Garden for the Mets. Booze. Now, I don't know if it's all. There were a lot of Yankee fans here, or if it was sign Pete Alonso or you're gonna get booed, but it's weird right now what's going on. But there they clapped. And Cohen was very, very candid in his take there. What do we think of this?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now? Just. First of all, I don't know how to. How to take that with the boos, because again, at Ranger games, John Franco's there all the time. And then they give. They go nuts when they show.

[Don La Greca]

John Vientos was here the other. The night before, and he got a huge ovation. That didn't make sense.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know what was going on that night. But, hey, listen, I think they applauded just because we finally have an owner that's communicating. And I think there's logic. You talked about that last week. If you're logical, put your met hat off and put it down for a second. And logic tells you they're handling this the right way. Now, I'm the perfect example. I'd like to see Pete stay, but I understand how they got to play this, because you try to get a player at the right price, or you just say, listen, we Think we can do better? What's wrong with that? And it's just like the Saquon stuff. Remember, Saquon turned down a deal from the Giants. Alonzo turned down a deal from the mats. Now maybe people can look at it as insulting, like, hey, $22 million a year, give me a break. But we'll see at the end of the day what he ends up signing with, with another team. But you don't hire Scott Boris as your agent and say, well, I like to stay. You're hiring Scott Boris because you want to get top dollar. So he's doing what he has to do. The Mets are doing what they have to do. And if it works out, great, but it doesn't feel like it's going to ultimately, we'll see what the Giant the Mets plan is. Now the Giants get killed because they didn't seem to have a plan post Saquon, at least one that we've seen yet. But listen, if Vlad Guerrero is playing first base for the Mets in 2026, no matter what Pete Alonso is doing, the Mets are going to be a better team. They'll be younger. I think they'll get a better offensive player at that position. Vientos can go back to his natural third base position and let's go. But there's a plan, guys, and it doesn't sound like Pete Alonso fits in that plan.

[Alan Hahn]

So it's just such a weird situation. A player's been that good.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, but I think this is more if you're. Alonzo, I think what the Mets are saying is we, we, we want you for a year. Like, we'll take you for a year at, at our number. And do you want to be here or do you want to just get, get, get paid? Like, which is it? They're going to leave it up to him because I think they would take him if he just says to Boris, you know what, I'm just gonna, I just want to stay here. I'll just take their deal. It wouldn't be smart by him because clearly they don't. They're not interested in having him anymore. Long term fans need to get over it. But they can't because they love him. He's a likable guy and he has had success. But I think what Cohen said was basically telling fans, let it go. This is the situation. Let it go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's why I, we, we talked about it last week. Like, maybe it works out. He decides to just have that one year deal, see if he can have a monster season and make good. Like what we've seen Boris clients do. But even that could be dangerous for the Mets because what if he has a monster year and what are the Mets win? I mean, you. Then it's gonna be even harder to let him go.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, that's a good point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, maybe it's just, hey, this. You've laid the groundwork. You're kind of taking off the band aid slow. But at some point, Met fans are going to realize, hey, it's not going to happen. And as long as you start winning, like, don't get off to a 1 in 10 start. Don't get off to the start you got off to last year, and then you'll really get beat up for it. But, you know, it's a slow burn here, but hopefully they get it. They move on to whatever they're going to do, and the Met fans are just going to have to live with it.

[Don La Greca]

All right, 800 now. 193776. I want to leave time because I know Peter's got a lot to say when it comes to the NFL binge, which is coming up up momentarily. But first, at Superbox Bonanza 6, each qualifier will take home an ESPN prize pack, have a chance at one of 10 Superbox prizes, including a Yeti Cooler bucket, solo stove, Ray Ban Meta wayfarers, and more. So be caller, what was the number again, Peter? What did we say?

[Alan Hahn]

12.

[Don La Greca]

12, right? That's right. Joe Namath, be caller number 12 right now at 8. At 8-987-ESPN 888-987-ESPN to select collect the box for the big game with a chance to win.250 in the first and third quarters,500 at halftime, and a final score payout of $1,000, all brought to you by Teller Mardu, Irish Whiskey and Slowman's Security. The NFL binge. What we saw on Sunday that we did not like. Coming up next, donjon rosenberg, 880, espn. But first, peter, you have some fanduel for me?

[Alan Hahn]

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[Don La Greca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don La Greca]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. This is the NFL binge. Oh yeah, it's your time, Peter. Take the mic.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, listen, it's. It's kind of the last time. I mean, we could try to do a binge. We will do a binge after the super bowl, but it won't hit like this. We look back at the moments, the calls, the hits, the misses from the weekend that was in pro American football and we call it the NFL binge. Let's get started, guys, shall we?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Shall we?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, let's go back. We're already started.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it's a good point. Let's go back to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and hear what it sounded like with Merrill Reese on WIP when Saquon broke open that 60 yard touchdown run early, Hurts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Under center on first down. He pitches it out to Barkley, takes off to the outside. He's at the 50. He's at the 40. He's at the 30. He's going to 14. 10. 5. Touchdown Saquon Barkley. 60 yards on his Opening touch.

[Alan Hahn]

He touched it and he took it to the house. It's as simple as that.

[Don La Greca]

That's a man. That's analysis right there, by the way.

[Alan Hahn]

I. I love. Everything about that call was simple. No description, just a pitch. All they said was they pitched left. And after that, he just started reading off yards. But guess what? It told the story. It didn't end there for Saquon. Here's his third TD to put things away for the Eagles.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hurts, takes the snap, he gives it to Barkley. Barkley, lungs wide touchdown is third of the day. He's special.

[Don La Greca]

Gosh, the analysis to me is off.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, he's special.

[Don La Greca]

They're really going deep.

[Alan Hahn]

And lastly, the final call when it was all over for the Eagles, beating Mike Commies.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Zeros on the clock. The flares fly skyward and the Eagles not just beat, but annihilate the Washington commanders, 55 to 23.

[Alan Hahn]

What a day, what a win, what.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A crowd, what a team, what a season. But it's not over yet. It's not over yet.

[Alan Hahn]

Nope. They're not done.

[Don La Greca]

First of all, no steppage. Second of all, the analysis is, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You'Re not the best analyst in football for nothing.

[Alan Hahn]

They're not done.

[Don La Greca]

And also, Peter, can I add one thing?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

Does. Does the play by play guy sound a lot like Larry David at times?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, that's Meryl Reese.

[Don La Greca]

A little bit of Larry David in there.

[Alan Hahn]

Really? I didn't even think about that. I'm gonna have to pay attention to our next Meryl Reese call. I'm not sure, but I will say this.

[Don La Greca]

I'm not mocking him. I just. There's a little bit of like.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, he should be so lucky. Now. Do you. Do you think that. I don't want to get into a thing with you guys, but I resent because I can see people saying I'm just being pathetic. I kind of resent annihilate. Like it just implies. There was never a football game. I'm sorry, your team, but it's not true. It's also just not true.

[Don La Greca]

You said, fly, Eagles, fly now.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, the birds, you said. I know. And then Ballard Ballard just sent me a video that I reposted from Dove Kleiman on on Twitter of Eagles fans following, tormenting and stealing the hat off commanders fans who are just trying to peacefully walk from the game.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, I mean, listen, your people, the.

[Alan Hahn]

The bad Eagles fans are as bad as they get in all the sports. There's no question about it. It's Eagles, the egos, they can be horrible. Now, now, there's two things I want to address about this. This team. Number one. I'm sorry, it does amuse me that the most memorable thing so far about the Nick Sirianni era of the Philadelphia Eagles, this manly macho team that they are, is that their, their number one play is actually. They decided to call it the Tush Push. Like, yeah, I, I know we're used to it now, and, like, it's just whatever, but I just find it hilarious that this is a play they're so proud of. Now, listen, I.

[Don La Greca]

What else are you going to call it? Butt Rush?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I mean, do you want me to tell. If I were to tell you what another synonym was for Tush Push, I couldn't say it on the air.

[Don La Greca]

Gotcha.

[Alan Hahn]

You know what I'm saying?

[Peter Rosenberg]

But call it the rectal exam.

[Alan Hahn]

Exactly. And by the way, colonoscopy. The colonoscopy.

[Don La Greca]

I mean, technically.

[Alan Hahn]

How about the, how about the friend hump? You know, it's just, it's just friends humping. You just take some friends and you hump together and you push into the end zone.

[Don La Greca]

I, I just dance.

[Alan Hahn]

I, I absolutely. No, don't disrespect the humpty Dance like that.

[Don La Greca]

I'm just saying.

[Alan Hahn]

So I've, I've not been a guy who thinks they should ban the Tush Push.

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

But I got to tell you this, this moment changed my mind on that. Let's hear the warning from the referee.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Washington has been advised that at some point the referee can award a score.

[Alan Hahn]

If this type of behavior happens again.

[Peter Rosenberg]

For now, it's a replay of second down.

[Alan Hahn]

That's it.

[Don La Greca]

That's a elementary school teacher thing to say. If this type of behavior continues.

[Alan Hahn]

Don, hear me out. I don't know what your take on this is, Don, but hear me out. If that is the rule, that you are allowed to line up as the Eagles in a play that's virtually impossible to stop, the only way you can hope to stop it is to time it exactly right. Then the quarterback can move his head up and down trying to draw you offside. And if it happens multiple times, they will get awarded points. That's. That's not fair. Then you're not able to guard the play properly, but ban the play.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But as a great man once said, how many chances you got?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't know. Because.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because you're going to eventually run out of field, right? So basically, you go with impunity. You, you can't penalize me anymore. You can't get any closer to the goal line. So I'm just going to keep trying until I get it right. I can understand that at some point you've got to say stop. Now I did not know that rule.

[Alan Hahn]

Existed because no one's ever heard it once in history. History.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You can't use the, you know, behavior is the wrong word to use.

[Don La Greca]

Hilarious.

[Alan Hahn]

It's embarrassing. The moment was embarrassing. Rule or not. That's a silly play.

[Don La Greca]

The, the play. If the play was unstoppable, everybody would use it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, the Bills have problems getting yardage. I mean, they, they, they, they wasn't. I don't know if it was the tush push, but they were all bunched up and Allen couldn't get the first down, couldn't get no Josh.

[Don La Greca]

Allen didn't go under. He stood up. And that was part of the problem. But I'm telling you, this is. You have to give credit where credit's due. And just because it's hard to stop, you shouldn't ban it from the sport. It's literally physicality versus physicality. And what Frankie Louvre was trying to do was time it and he kept screwing it up.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's hear from Luvu after the game.

[Don La Greca]

I seen them do their twist push. I was just timing to jump over. They've been doing it a lot of this short yardage and I was just going to take my shot. If I make it, I'll make it. If not, you're gonna bounce back. But the third time they told me get 15 yard penalty for a sportsman conduct. I don't know what that was about, but I guess they wanted him to score. So I just kind of stopped from there and that's how I kind of played out.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, I'm, I'm owning this loss. They put up 55 points. We turned it over four times. We own the loss. The Eagles were better. They win. But I am going to say this. Frankie Luvu getting his helmet pulled off in the end zone zone and it being a personal foul on Luvu. That was an interesting choice by the referee, Don. Another interesting choice by the referee on the third fumble by the Commanders in this. In the two second scrum on the ground. The Commanders immediately got the ball back. No, no, no. That's Eagles ball. I never see that. Called down by contact immediately with no angle that proved it. If you watch the replay, the Commander's immediately got the ball back. There wasn't some long scrum on the ground, but that said, we lost. We lost. We lost. I own it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The only thing you do with the tush push is just. And this rule was in place until fairly recently, you're not allowed to push your teammate forward. Matt would do away with it, which.

[Alan Hahn]

By the way, it would. That would affect other plays where that push is used as well.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like that either. That was always against the rules.

[Don La Greca]

We've seen lineman drag a player into the end zone, his own teammate into.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The end zone shouldn't do it.

[Don La Greca]

So, you know.

[Alan Hahn]

But Don. But Don. So that does sound like to me you believe the play should be banned because that is the whole thing. That's the put, Don. That is the push in the.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I don't think. I don't think you should aid a teammate into the. You want to block. You want to block form, great. But if you start dragging him across the line, then I think that.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, then hear me out.

[Don La Greca]

That's not dragging him. It's him. He's jumping over. He's. That the quarterback is going pretty much into the back of the center who's falling down onto the legs under the legs of the.

[Alan Hahn]

But that's. That's not why it's called in front of him. That's not why it's called.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Players behind Hertz are pushing him forward.

[Alan Hahn]

That is the play. So if that is the play and we think that's wrong, I don't know if we need that play. Let's.

[Don La Greca]

Foundation of the sport is rugby. So I would.

[Alan Hahn]

Whatever. Why. Why don't you move to Australia?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wow.

[Don La Greca]

Good day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She's telling you to get lost.

[Alan Hahn]

Put another shrimp on the barbie. All right, let's go to Kansas City. 96.5 the Fan. A big moment for the Buffalo Bills.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They'll try another sneak by Josh Allen on fourth down and inches. This time he shoved back. I'm not sure he got it this time. I'm not sure he got it. Well, Mir official has it be yet.

[Alan Hahn]

Before for the 40 yard line?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No signal given yet. Kansas City thinks they stopped this. Fourth down and one. Cleve Blakeman has a big.

[Alan Hahn]

He's going to get the ball to Kansas City. Buffalo has tried too many times to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Run the tush push and the Chiefs.

[Alan Hahn]

Get a stop at their own 41.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yard line on a fourth down and one tush push attempt. And the Chiefs have the ball trailing 22, 21.

[Alan Hahn]

By the way, he got the first down. Sorry. I saw it with my eyes blind. I didn't even need a replay. He got the first down.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It looked like it. And the Kincaid play before too. Or it looked like he had gotten the free. His knee wasn't down. He had gotten the first down. But I'm tired of complaining about it.

[Alan Hahn]

I know. What can you do?

[Don La Greca]

I mean they had review. It wasn't as if like the officials on the, on the field were in cahoots or something.

[Alan Hahn]

But you know, the problem was viewed.

[Don La Greca]

By the like, you know, outside officials and they still came up with that decision. So they must have seen something that the camera, the tv.

[Alan Hahn]

But here's the problem.

[Don La Greca]

Show us.

[Alan Hahn]

But Alan, here's the problem. They are. My naked eye saw that Josh got the first down on the field. They didn't say that. So now you need enough to overturn it. And that's going to make it a lot tougher with one of those plays. But I just didn't know how they saw it that way initially. Here's the big turnover on downs that essentially ended things when the Chiefs were up three late fourth and five.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Josh Allen. Now he brings Khalil Shakir in motion. Orbit motion now peels back to the left.

[Alan Hahn]

Chiefs are chasing Josh Allen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He throws it up for grabs.

[Alan Hahn]

And the pass is incomplete. Incomplete off the arm of the would be receiver Dalton Kincaid. Kansas City has a second fourth down stop in this half. And now lastly, the final call of the Chiefs win on 96.5 the Fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One more snap puts the Lamar Hunt trophy right back into the Kansas City trophy case again. Going to a knee.

[Alan Hahn]

You can doubt the Chiefs, you can dislike the Chiefs, you can disrespect the Chiefs. You're gonna have to deal with the Chiefs being the first team in National Football League history to win back to back Super Bowls and go to super bowl for a chance for a three peat.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, it's a bit much.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, love, fun because otherwise these people live in Kansas City.

[Alan Hahn]

And you know what? That'll do it for the NFL binge. Thank you, Don. That's a great point. Although you know, I've heard great things about Kansas City.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sure. No, I'm sure it's a fine place.

[Don La Greca]

Good steak.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Barbecue.

[Don La Greca]

Good steak.

[Peter Rosenberg]

George Brett summers where it's 120 degrees in the shade.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, that's not great. Great.

[Alan Hahn]

Steve the Berg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Steve the Berg. You know Todd Blackledge.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. That's all we got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Christian was pretty good.

[Alan Hahn]

He was great.

[Don La Greca]

Barry work776. Well, you guys are right. All the names you can think of. People from Kansas City. I've got to run down and do some work for msg, but I'll be back in a few. So you guys take from here. Don't get lost. Don Juan Rosenberg 880 ESP. Hey, Peter.

[Alan Hahn]

Hi.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I want a bath. Where do I go to get one?

[Alan Hahn]

I personally would recommend your bathroom.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, that's great.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, but you mean where would you get the bath?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You mean a bath fitter?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, they remodeled my bath, did an incredible job, customized it for my needs. Process was easy. One expert installer done in a day. No demo, no mess. And bath fitters. A permanent, high quality solution with a lifetime guarantee. 3 million happy customers like me lock in 2024, pricing at 0% interest for 30 months. Start designing your bath today like I [e-mail]. there's only one bath fitter.

[Don La Greca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. 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.