Final Football Friday

This is The Drive with Josh Graham Podcast. Tune into The Drive weekday afternoons 3 to 7 on Sports Hub Triad. It's the final football Friday of the season and Greg Olsen's parting ways from the Panthers.

I think there are two obvious locations he could land and we'll get to that in a few minutes. But here's my official prediction for Super Bowl 54 which you can listen to right here on Sunday. I'm picking the better team not the better story. So the 49ers they're gonna beat the Chiefs. I would love to see Andy Reid get a Super Bowl. I think Pat Mahomes is more one of the more likable players we've seen go through the NFL in the last five to ten years.

But sometimes we get too worried about narrative that we lose sight of just a couple of obvious facts. The 49ers they have a better offense. Statistically they have a better defense.

Nobody is going to dispute that. I think they're a little bit more versatile and history has taught us the better team wins even if that better team doesn't have the better quarterback. The few exceptions we've seen feature Brady and Belichick who overcame the odds last year against the LA Rams did the same thing maybe against the Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks this decade. But putting them aside when John Elway was at a talent disparity in the 80s his team not only lost they got rolled. Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins the same way.

Jim Kelly multiple times with the Buffalo Bills. Everybody's talking about the Kansas City quarterback but there are two quarterbacks in this game. Jimmy Garoppolo deserves more credit than he's getting.

I was going through the numbers and here's what I find to be crazy and nobody is talking about this. Garoppolo even though he only threw eight passes in the NFC Championship win eight is also a magic number in another way. He is eighth in passer rating among quarterbacks this season. 69% completion Robert 69%.

That's pretty nice. When you look at Kyle Shanahan's record as a head coach this being his first head coaching stop this is third season Garoppolo arrived in San Francisco halfway through his first year. Shanahan's record with Garoppolo has them in the Super Bowl without Garoppolo four and 20.

I heard that on I think I heard Cowherd talking about that a few weeks ago. Also they've been winning without key elements in this offense. We've seen in the last three years they can't win without Garoppolo but they won pretty well in fact they didn't lose a game when Emmanuel Sanders wasn't on the team for the first half of the year. Both their Pro Bowl tackles were out at one point and they continue to win. They were without George Kittle for a stretch of this season.

It hasn't mattered. Garoppolo even though he didn't play in the Super Bowls with New England there hasn't been a quarterback we've seen who is more prepared for success who's had better tutelage than Garoppolo's had in his five-plus years in the league. Just think about it could you picture somebody with more support than Garoppolo's had going into the league even more than Steve Young who surpassed Joe Montana even more than Aaron Rodgers who surpassed Brett Favre. Garoppolo learned under Brady. He was on the roster for two Super Bowl wins. He learned from Belichick and McDaniels. Then where does he go when he becomes the starting quarterback? Kyle Shanahan you get to work under one of the greatest offensive minds of the last decade.

It's a perfect situation for Garoppolo and he's thrived. Lastly San Francisco is more battle tested yet has been more dominant than Kansas City. The NFC a lot stronger than the AFC.

We've discussed this all year long. When you look at the opposition they've had in the playoffs. Green Bay and Minnesota are better teams than Tennessee and Houston. And not only has San Francisco beaten those teams there was little doubt in both those games unlike the two games Kansas City played. Down 24 nothing at Hillmick Houston. Down 10 nothing at home in the championship game to Tennessee. When was the moment you felt doubt that San Francisco was going to win?

There wasn't one. Look at the divisions they play in. You could argue the NFC West is the best division in football. Three teams with winning records. Seattle 11 and 5. The LA Rams who were in the Super Bowl last year 9 and 7. Meanwhile in the AFC West there wasn't a team other than the Chiefs that finished at 500 or with a winning record. So the facts are sitting right in front of you.

A lot of what I just said it isn't opinion it's just fact. Kansas City statistically empirically a better offense a better defense. History shows us that the better team beats the better quarterback when there is a disparity there.

Garoppolo is better than he's getting credit for. And San Francisco they are more battle-tested yet they are more dominant than Kansas City. Didn't we learn from the national championship game?

I know I did. I thought Clemson was going to beat LSU because I was leaning on the coach and I was leaning on the quarterback and not looking at just how dominant the LSU Tigers were. LSU was just the better team that's why they won. It wasn't an indictment on Clemson just like this isn't gonna be an indictment on Kansas City and Andy Reid if they lose. It's just gonna be San Francisco being the better team this year.

You can tweet the show at Sports Hub Tryout 336-777-1600 is the phone number. Things just got awkward here in the law offices of Timothy D. Welborn Studios very quickly because Robert Walsh is the producer of this show apparently has a strange way to honor Greg Olsen which we'll get to in a second and Aaron Gabriel doesn't work doesn't root for any sports teams other than the Kansas City Chiefs. I have never seen Aaron in this studio not wearing his Chiefs jacket so I've gotten a lot of mean looks I think it's the reason why he's sitting in the control room with Robert rather than in the studio because if he was in here I bet there would be fist fisticuffs there be a fist fight that takes place here. Aaron how are you feeling today two two days out from your team playing in the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years?

I'm calm the closer it gets I'm getting more and more excited I am fighting you in my head right now yeah. Get the show a little restraint? You know damn well if Andy Reid loses this Super Bowl he will be lambasted. He will but not by this show. I can't control what everybody else does there's a lot of dumb stuff out there and there's gonna be dumb takes regardless of what happens in the Super Bowl but there's not gonna be any judgment of Andy Reid any career refinement of Andy Reid as a result of what happens Sunday on this show. And that's fair but on a national market you know what the narrative will be. You're absolutely right and that's that's another reason why I like San Francisco the pressures on Kansas City there is no pressure on San Francisco in this spot they are still an underdog today and on that note we'll get to my best bets the final best bets of this football season in a little less than 10 minutes.

I've got something to cheer you up though. So Greg Olson he parts ways with the Panthers. Have you heard this yet Aaron what we're about to play here? I just found out that it wasn't I assumed it was retirement when I saw him trending and then I found out he just parted ways. Yeah he's parting ways with the Panthers so he's about to play somewhere else I'll get the two locations I think are obvious spots for Olson but whenever Greg hangs it up he's going to be remembered in part as a rapper for what he did 15 years ago with the seventh floor crew that's what it was called a bunch of Miami players I think Brandon Mayweather was involved in this I think John Beeson was involved in this I don't know if they were punished as a result of this rap song but it's incredibly vile it's dirty we can't play it on the radio but Robert wants to bring it to the audience because it should be celebrated so he made a radio edit for the seventh floor crew and specifically Greg Olson's famous verse from it. Robert, hit it.

Very nice woman treat women with respect drop my drawers and let us see my third leg. There are so many people that have tried to ask Greg Olson over the years about his third leg line and he just won't go there now he's a parent so I don't think he wants to talk about that at all but man that's that's pretty good stuff right there yes Aaron I think I actually heard that before um treat women with respect is this that no not that edit that was a nice edit by the way beautiful work beautiful work here are the two spots I could see Greg Olson going to I think the Patriots and the Bears make the most sense the Patriots they're close to a contender if Tom Brady returns which I think he's going to even though he posted that very cryptic photo yesterday some are saying is he paying homage to Kobe walking into the football field is he walking away from the field walking on to the field does this mean he's gonna remain a patriot what stadium is that it was very cryptic but if he returns to New England and they add Greg Olson and maybe add somebody else in the draft that's a team I think that still has a shot to compete for a Super Bowl it seems Olson would be a perfect player under Belichick look at all the great tight ends that have thrived in that New England organization the Chicago Bears are another team they drafted Olson he's beloved over there because Chicago got to know the type of person he is but that's another team great defense need to adjust things offensively who knows maybe Cam Newton joins him over there and that's a team that could maybe make a run in the NFC North those are two that stick out to me a Super Bowl is the only thing left on Greg's resume that he has not attained to this point he already has a Hall of Fame resume he's fifth and career catches among tight ends the only tight ends that are in front of him Shannon Sharp Tony Gonzalez Antonio Gates and Jason Witten those are the only four tight ends that have more catches in their career than g-reg does he was a Walter Payton man-of-the-year finalist in terms of playing in a Super Bowl he did that but winning a Super Bowl would make him a first ballot Hall of Famer I think that's something he wants to take one last crack at he doesn't want to be on a rebuilding team and it seems obvious Carolina is now a rebuilding team a new coach Luke Kuechly retiring and maybe Cam Newton gonna be on the way out joining Greg Olson there's no way he's gonna choose Washington I see that thrown around he's gonna get reunited with Ron Rivera if he's leaving Carolina he's gonna leave his home in Charlotte he wants to play for a winner and Ron Rivera just isn't ready to do that yet and his first year in DC a wild card could be the Chargers let's say Cam Newton goes there which is being speculated in addition to the Bears do you know what else is in LA Robert Hunter Henry Hunter Henry is in LA I was thinking about NFL Network and Fox headquarters if he wants to have one foot into the TV career like he already is done while living in Charlotte that would make sense kind of like Vince Carter who wants to pursue a media career when he's finished playing in Atlanta the last couple years where Turner is based so that's another location I'll throw out as well I've got seven Super Bowl prop bets seven for the final edition of best bets until September I'll share those with you next on the drive proudly broadcasting to an audience that clearly deserves something better for you guys are not sucking me into the story at all I'm just telling you for your own benefit you're on the drive with Josh Graham on sports hub triad our betting season hangs in the balance on Super Sunday AFC Championship and NFC Championship Sunday we were one and two which means our season record is still above 500 at 44 43 and 3 man this season has been frustrating as hell nobody really cares about our picks except for me and last year we were batting 60% people don't care when you're right they will let you know when you're wrong on social media and via the phone line that's been the case all year it's been a tumultuous season but I said all along trust the process we're gonna end up at a good place at the very end I have one pick for the game and seven prop bets that we're gonna go into Super Sunday with we're pushing our chips to the middle of the table and if we're successful then we have a winning year if we flop well it's gonna be our first losing season in a very long time so let's dive in to this week's best bets which are the last best bets until September Mike Houston right before the season started East Carolina head football coach told us to put some money on ECU plus 17 and a half against NC State he said this put some money on it we've played that cut all throughout the year for this segment which might be part of the reason why we haven't been successful because Houston told us to do that and NC State blew out East Carolina that day but we're still undeterred as I said a short while ago I like the 49ers to beat the Kansas City Chiefs the 49ers we are still a point and a half underdog if I'm encouraging you to make a bet you know if it were legal I would say take the money line because here's the thing whether it's one and a half or two depending on what book you're looking at here there's only been one Super Bowl in the first 53 years that has been decided by one or two points and that was the Giants-Bills Super Bowl with Scott Norwood missing wide right the Giants winning that game 20 to 19 San Francisco is gonna win the game I think I'm gonna get better offense the better defense don't be fooled by the narrative I'm going with the better team not the better story so that's why I like the 49ers plus a point and a half for my first bet put some money on it national anthem Demi Lovato apparently has sang the anthem at several different places one time she sang it in two minutes and eleven seconds the over under this time around is two minutes and three seconds I think it's gonna be under two minutes and I'll tell you why eight of the last 13 national anthems have gone under two minutes Demi Lovato she's not somebody that needs the Super Bowl to push her image to push her like this she was just on the Grammys last week so I think she's just gonna try and do a good job two minutes is a lot longer than you think it is Lovato is going under 203 on the national anthem put some money on it I don't think there's gonna be any points in the first five minutes especially if San Francisco gets the football it's gonna if they do score it's gonna be a slow deliberate run centric drive so I like it in that regard if Kansas City gets the ball I don't think they've seen a defense like San Francisco so there's gonna be some adjusting early on so my third bet is no points in the first five minutes of Super Bowl 54 put some money on it speaking of running the ball you get pretty much even odds San Francisco scoring a rushing touchdown in the first half I think this is like stealing money especially if you like San Francisco to win the game like I do a rushing touchdown all throughout the first half I love this bet it's one of my favorites on the board the 49ers will score on the ground in the first 30 minutes put some money on it let's go into the exotics Zion Williamson he plays the Houston Rockets Sunday afternoon before the Super Bowl begins I'm taking Zion points and rebounds to exceed the number of completions for Jimmy Garoppolo you know what the total for that is by the way Robert just is it the number of come attempts for Garoppolo in this game twenty nine and a half after only throwing eight passes in the championship game it's now set at twenty nine and a half it seems like Vegas is trying to to bait you and to take in the under there I like this one a little bit more Zion he's been consistent even when he doesn't play that well he still puts up 14 and 10 so it's not Garoppolo attempts its completions I think Zion will get more points of rebounds than Garoppolo completes pass pass with some money on it two more make it three more to go do you know who the official of this game is Robert Hockley son it's the only one I know it's Bill Vinovich the Worland Saints fans do not like this man do you know what he's known for I'm guessing the debacle last year not throwing flags he is one of the least prolific flag throwers among all officials and the 49ers and Chiefs are both top five in the NFL in penalties and discipline so really their bottom five in terms of how many have been enforced against them the over under is twelve and a half penalties enforced in the game I think it's gonna go under here with Vinovich officiating and two very well coached and disciplined football teams on the field put some money on it I love this one Tyree kill over five and a half catches like it's not always down the field for him like when you do some of those jet sweeps and those pop passes they count as completions so I love the over of five and a half catches for that reason for Tyree kill enough said put some money on it and lastly the total for sacks four and a half in the game I think we're going over that I think if the 49ers are behind Garoppolo is gonna be pressured and you have enough good pass rushes for Kansas City to kind of pin their ears back if the Chiefs are behind I again I don't think the Chiefs have seen anything like the San Francisco front I'd be surprised that they have anything less than three sacks in the game so simple math says this is gonna go over four and a half so I like that as my final prop bet for Super Bowl 54 put some money on the recap 49ers plus one and a half just the straight bet against the Kansas City Chiefs I like Demi Lovato going under 203 for the anthem no points in the first five minutes 49ers rushing touchdown in the first half more Zion Williamson points and rebounds the Jimmy Garoppolo completions under 12 and a half penalties enforced Tyree kill going over five and a half catches and total sacks going over four and a half this is where we win big baby this is where we separate and not just have a winning gear but have what looks on paper to be a pretty good season Mike Houston tell the people what to do I think he just did you know what one more time for good measure Robert hit it put some money on it yeah that's what we're about here we're gonna be joined by Bill Voth Panthers calm in just a few minutes he's been running around with Christian McCaffrey all week long Greg Olson he parts ways with the Carolina Panthers and man just a stand-up guy one of my favorites to catch up with in the locker room Greg I remember he told me this right after the regular season finale against the New Orleans Saints it seemed emotional I thought it was because he was gonna step away from the game but no thinking in hindsight now I think it was more about knowing this was probably gonna be his last game as a Carolina Panther I think we really learned with this community was all about you know back in 2012 we were going through everything as a family with with our son and you know the journey that we've been on you know has really been ingrained here in this community you know the amount of people that have supported us the people have supported our foundation and supported our family you know I could go on and on about just how how amazing that's been and you know how appreciative I am of the Charlotte and Carolina community in general bill vote the Panthers comms been with CMC all week long in Miami he will give us a Super Bowl 54 report and reflect the less you expect of Josh Greg the less you'll be disappointed you're on the drive with Josh Graham there is a controversial Super Bowl halftime show ad and a very unlikely source that is going after the NFL that we will talk about in just a few minutes but we're now being joined by Bill Voth of Panthers comm who is in Miami he's been with Christian McCaffrey all week long there's a very interesting piece that he helped author yesterday where Marshall Falk was saying that Christian McCaffrey is a better version of him that I strongly suggest you check out for his other stuff follow him on twitter at Panthers bill and again watch and read his stuff at Panthers comm bill joins us from Miami what's the craziest or funniest thing you've seen following McCaffrey around all week bill I'm not following him around all week like I'm Olivia I mean it's like TMZ Olivia and bill yeah no that's not really how he's rolling teeth but no I just Christian Christian understands he should be in the spotlight right now he likes some of it but you can tell he's also just he doesn't thrive under he's not juju Smith Schuster where it's like yeah he you know I think he's doing it because he knows he needs to do it but it's still just not his favorite thing in the world what's the thing that he loaves about it like people trying to pry into things and get actual answers that they ask him about can do Greg Olson or do coaching staff and stuff like that so I don't think he likes having to talk about football reveal anything football he's just he's very old school like that so some guys are okay with trying to be some sort of transparent but trying to get Christian to talk about football and answers that that could be revealing about the football team or it's still like pulling teeth did you find what Marshall fought to say I raising it all because usually it's hey my generation it was a lot harder to play ball these guys they wouldn't survive in my generation whether you were talking about football or basketball but with Falk he was it's very high praise he had for McCaffrey there did it surprise you at all it surprised me he said I said why but I I don't I I'm not sure if he was just being nice right it's just Christian has a long way to go and I think he he would admit to it he's got a long way to go before you can even really be in in a legit conversation with Marshall Fox so to say that he's already better than him I made maybe in some respects I give a Marshall saying as far as out of the backfield and as far as a pass catcher but just like you know I had a good conversation last night about Patrick Mahomes and a lot of people are saying you know he's the greatest we've ever seen okay I think you can maybe say that and maybe he's gonna end up to be that but you still just until you get that larger body of work that hits double-digit seasons I think you can be hopeful and maybe there's that potential there but that's kind of wait a few years before we really know you've seen both sides of the media spectrum when it comes to Greg Olsen's career bill you were an independent television reporter and worked with the website covering the Carolina Panthers now you're given more access with the stuff that you do at Panthers comm so you have unique insight into what makes him kind of different than the other guys you've covered I I've mentioned it a couple of times and you've gotten to know him a lot better than I did he is somebody who never backed away from tough questions was always honest always respectful always polite in your mind what makes Olson different than the other dudes I think we maybe have lost bill vote we'll try to catch him in just a bit just as I was talking about somebody who doesn't shy away from any question seems that's a weird one to to lose somebody with while we're talking about the Carolina Panthers TMZ is doing what TMZ does apparently cam Newton and Greg Olsen they had an emotional get-together last night had some drinks having some fun and it just us feels like a little bit of the end of an era when you consider that cam is one of the is the last captain remaining from that 2015 Super Bowl team Olson gone Khalil gone Luke Keakley gone Thomas Davis gone did I already mention Ryan Khalil by didn't he's gone Charles Johnson gone Olson gone cams laughs so it's it's just a little bit different it's just different to imagine what the Carolina Panthers are going to be without any of these guys Ron Rivera obviously gone too so the page is completely turned and I had no problem talking about Christian McCaffrey just like Marshall Faulk did not because he's gonna be one of the foundational figures for the next decade the same way it was cam Keakley and Rivera it's probably gonna be Tepper McCaffrey and fill in the blank Matt rule certainly gonna be involved in that bills now with us so we were just talking about Greg Olson and with him deciding to part ways with the Panthers and the access that you've been given to him over the years as an independent reporter and working for the website and given more access now what makes him different the perspective he can give Greg and I are similar I think we come from a similar vein where it's like if things are going well it's kind of like well hold on and then if things are in poorly it's like wait a second it's not that bad so he kind of I always appreciated him being able to keep the fan base back in a more reasonable way whether things are going well or not going well say for example whether it's will career yeah they will be able to go to the interview absolutely not but Greg will be like what is it we're going to check this guy off of off of this disaster that's around him at the moment and if he was always really good at providing that perspective I think and I think the most impressive media involvement he ever had was during the Vontaze perfect stuff and I believe it was at 2014 and you know Greg you know perfect tried to hurt Greg next Monday Greg talked and he just it was such a perfect home where he didn't let perfect off the hook but he didn't completely eviscerate him it was but but but it was like yeah the guy's dirty it's just he did he he had such a good way of same thing that really making them digestible for fans and being able to say things without saying things at times and always being able to be that spokesman and really be bubble headed and that's what I think made them special for a media perspective before we let you go bill and let you get on a plane back here to Charlotte away from all the madness that is Super Bowl week in Miami where you're currently at any lien on the game hold on a second I'm hanging out with Christian Olivia for a second wait what'd you say do you have any lien on the Chiefs in 49er um you know this is this is why I don't bet games but I would say Chiefs because they remind me right now 17 18 warriors where they would come down and of course you know score and then the Cavs would go down and then if they didn't score they're just so much more pressure on the Cavs because the Warriors you knew just gonna go back and score again and that's the Chiefs remind me of right now but as I think what was it the Seahawks of a few years ago and the Broncos offense is firing all cylinders going to the Super Bowl and the Seahawks defense set a tone really early on in that Super Bowl and ended up winning it that could happen on Sunday too so I'm leaning towards uh leaning towards the Chiefs but which also might mean that the 49ers away give Olivia and McCaffrey our best thanks for squeezing us in all right well hey Christian Olivia Josh this I take done all right thanks man that does that's Panthers bill on Twitter otherwise known as bill vote who speaking of striking the right tone I always appreciate him even though he works at Panthers calm he'll just give you straight answers straight answers I love it about the Panthers answers about the Panthers with bill both you know I wish you would do that more often like what when I misspeak at points just come get you come get me it's fine like four hours a day on the air you know it just happens where you say answers instead of answers what's it trying to say Panthers or was I trying to say answers a lot of things on my mind including this ad from PETA wolf PETA and meow or whatever is is going after the NFL because they just posted a Super Bowl commercial that apparently Fox and the NFL snubbed and the caption of it again from PETA is this this is the Super Bowl ad the NFL apparently didn't want you to see and pressured Fox Sports to snub it envisions a world where respect is the right and every being and pays homage to Kaepernick and moves movements rejecting injustice did a cat write that tweet hashtag end specie ISM what that just took a massive left turn real quick and for you people like I'm reading them oh yeah it respects yeah respect the right for every being yeah rejecting justice hashtag in specie ISM pay homage to Kaepernick what the hell who is this for the ad is even more hilarious like then the source of it does PETA know that the animals don't have smartphones like they the actual animals you're trying to protect cannot watch this right I think I should explain what the commercial includes yes it's the national anthem playing faintly in the background and animals all across the world there are bears dogs rabbits they are all taking a knee including fish and snakes I know they don't have knees mama said they had knees yeah there is a bee taking a knee there is it's just incredible that this ad is a thing a big old grizzly bear what's going on I'm a bear I'm gonna take a knee I'm gonna take a knee for Kaepernick I wish I had me a jersey but y'all burn them there's a fish in a river take a knee a fox I'm watching this right now it might be the funniest thing I've ever seen it's just hilarious now if you're blinded with rage from every mention of Kaepernick that's fine and I'm not somebody who's going to judge you for that however if you can't see the funny and PETA creating an ad with animals that don't have knees taking a knee like bees this might not be the show for you it just might not and that's fine but it is an incredible commercial just incredible that this exists like I don't want to disrespect PETA because the lengths that they've gone through since being formed in 1980 I believe it has made the world a better place and I love animals but when they're saying that the Georgia Bulldog is being mistreated by the University of Georgia despite the fact he flies privately has his own hotel room oh but he has to sit in a house on the sideline while it's raining it makes the rest of it look ridiculous like focus on the stuff that actually matters PETA not like that or trying to get us to stop saying kill two bird with two stones replace that with feed two birds with two stones who will ever say that the answer nobody nobody's ever gonna say that so PETA just taken an L on this one like Fox and the NFL I think they're actually making a right call here just like um who is this for why does this exist this is gonna drum up and get people upset for no reason whatsoever like who is this for Robert that's what that's what I'm asking who can say are the dogs gonna see this on Super Bowl Sunday hypothetically before they ousted it and all these dogs in solidarity take a knee just incredible like I get called a left-wing liberal all the time because I said hey maybe Kaepernick shouldn't be blackballed forever while Eric Reid's allowed to play but man if I get it on the other side I'm fine with that too just completely fine you don't know who I voted for because it's none of your business doesn't really matter we're back on the air it's the drive you suck and yet you keep returning sports talk offensive and people can get hurt the drive with Josh Graham on sports hub triad we'll get a report from Super Bowl 54 in Miami from bill both of Panthers calm and just a little bit McCaffrey is up for offensive player of the year and bills with him been with him all week long so we'll get to that a little bit later on Darrin bot will join us in just a bit as well in studio but we're now being joined with a big weekend coming up in the ACC by one of the premier voices of ACC basketball that we've gotten to know for many many years it is Dan Bonner kind enough to spend some time on here with us in the triad Dan when I take a look at this weekend I'm gonna be at Louisville NC State tomorrow Dukes in action against Syracuse I I thought at the beginning of the year Louisville might be the signature team Dukes had a lot of great moments as well Florida State has all that depth now that the sample size is large out of those three at the very top of the league who do you think shapes the best to make a run in March that's a really good question Florida State is obviously a team that's built the way they are the way they play defense they would be a very difficult matchup for anybody in the NCAA tournament particularly if it's a second round game where you only have one day to prepare for them so again they're often sometimes a little bit shaky but I think Florida State would be a really tough matchup Louisville they have an all-american and George Mora and they've got a lot of other guys who could score so that makes them tough and I think once Duke gets all the players back once Wendell Moore is back and they get a chance to put everything together they may have the most room for growth and ultimately they may have the best run the best chance to make a run in the NCAA tournament but I think any one of those three teams is the teams all three of them can go deep into the NCAA tournament West Durham was in with us just a few days ago and we were talking about the return of the ACC tournament to Greensboro for the first time in five years it's coming up in a little over a month as someone who's been a part of the league as long as you had what's something that makes Greensboro the ACC tournament they're different than the other sites because bringing up West he says it's just a different feel in the building when the tournaments in that place and I think Wes is right from my perspective when I was on the team at Virginia back in the early 70s that's where we always had the tournament I never experienced the tournament as a player in any place else other than Greensboro and so Greensboro is the place that I always associate with the ACC tournament no offense to any other places they have it but it just seems to me that the town of Greensboro just gets more involved in it than the other places and the other places particularly when we're going to the big cities Atlanta or in the North DC New York any of those places it's just one more event in the number of events that come through but in Greensboro it's different and in Greensboro the people really seem to like it to a point where they embrace it and again that probably is just from my perspective as having only played in the tournament in Greensboro. Dan Bonner with us here as we take a look at North Carolina tomorrow the Tar Heels will be home against Boston College and we literally just got this in from Roy Williams a short while ago these are quotes from him on Cole Anthony's status he said yesterday we allowed him to go five on five and he probably went 25 to 35 percent at practice I didn't time anything when he was asked if he was going to play he said probably it's just going to hinge on how he's feeling at the morning if he tells me he's feeling good he's going to play against Boston College now as a former player I'm sure if you were ever asked hey do you want to play again do you want to play tonight you're probably going to answer yes but when he does get back on the floor Dan what what do you think is still going to be North Carolina's biggest issue because we've got to acknowledge it on the front end Cole Anthony coming back isn't going to fix everything is it? I don't think so you know North Carolina wasn't undefeated and going scorching the earth with Cole Anthony so I think that they still have they still have the same issues that they had before although they were there working them out you know Garrison Brooks has become more than service boys DC player after spending his career as a role player Brandon Robinson this is a young man who coming into this year had played 101 games at North Carolina an average 2.2 points a game but obviously he's shown that that he has developed that he there's he can make plays so North Carolina has found some answers and now they got a blend Cole Anthony into the mix I don't think that they're gonna scorch the earth with Cole Anthony now any more than they did before but I think that it's North Carolina has righted the ship a little bit whether they've done it enough to earn their way into the NCAA tournament I think that's highly unlikely just because of the hole they've dug themselves. Any thoughts on what's been one of the shatter basketball stories we've seen in the last week I was at Virginia Wake Forest Sunday when the news broke that Kobe Bryant passed as someone who's lived pretty much a life of basketball Dan Bonner what was your thought now that we've had time to process the news? Well you know obviously when somebody that young particularly somebody in your world the basketball world dies suddenly and unexpectedly then it's a very tragic thing you feel for the family you feel for the people who are the close friends but the thing that strikes me about the whole thing if you go through any of these media guides for any of the college teams and not just in the ACC but everywhere almost all of them have a little section about the players and they say well who's your favorite player and my guess is that 90% of the answers to that question are Kobe Bryant that Kobe Bryant is the person for most of the kids playing college basketball today the 18 to 35 generation I guess of course you're not playing college basketball 35 but that group in there Kobe Bryant was the guy who was the best player the guy who was the lightning rod the guy who people paid attention to when they were growing up and so it's obviously a shock for people who followed him that closely it's like the people who followed music who were of a certain age when John Lennon died it's you know people who are outside that realm they really don't feel it as much as people who are in that world but it's a very tragic and sad thing and as I say I just I feel for his family Dan appreciate you squeezing in time for the triad today I've enjoyed your work so long at Raycom and many around many around here feel the same exact way so glad you're a part of the ACC Network as well and we hope to catch up sometime soon thanks so much for the time thank you Josh yeah that's Dan Bonner from the ACC Network joining us one of the signature voices of the league Christian McCaffrey he was on first take earlier today and man things got awkward very fast I think Stephen A Smith has been off of the show at time because at times because of what's happening with Kobe Bryant and this has been a tough week for so many in the media so it was Booger McFarland debating with Max Kellerman about running backs the best in the league while Christian McCaffrey was sitting there here's how that sounded I want to pound the rock I just prefer 21 but Zeke might be a top-five talented sequence way more talented than Zeke stop I just had the best year but almost it's a good question for McCaffrey uh so I've had the best year and I'm not the most talented yikes it's been a rough year for Boog what are the odds that Booger McFarland is the color analyst for Monday Night Football for next season yes Aaron 10% Robert would you go higher not at all he has been atrocious that's a gracious 10% Booger should go for it on fourth down and go home he was better than than Witten was which is it say yeah exactly not not saying a lot man the only thing worse than maybe the Monday Night Football booth this year might be the Monday Night Football booth last year but both of those things probably exceed what first take does every single day man that show like that is the antithesis of what I want sports media to be yelling about what running back is better while one of those running backs in the conversation is sitting right there just incredibly awkward but I mean I'd take any of them but I'd probably go McCaffrey just because he could catch the ball oh I want my running back to pound it in the ground and McCaffrey's like wait a minute I didn't just rush for a thousand yards this year what are we doing so that was pretty awkward to say the least we'll catch up with Darren Bond a bit as I mentioned Bill Vothland today's show Brendan Marks gonna join us from the athletic Carolinas as well if you miss any of the show the best of podcasts is on SoundCloud iTunes Apple podcast and Google Play just search the drive with Josh Graham which is broadcast live in the law offices of Timothy D. Wellborn Studios learn about all the ways Tim Wellborn can help you online at TimWellborn.com you'll know when you need us stand on the ACC basketball front there are there was more clarification more clarification on coach K's outburst this week with the Cameron crazies but less apologizing that's where we're gonna begin Sharon with Darren next he really appreciates you listening and thanks you from the bottom of his twisted little home congratulations you've won over a complete imbecile to drive with Josh Graham on sports hub triad I'm putting my title in the line as it is time for the movie game Sharon with Darren Vaught I know it is our final football Friday of the season with Super Bowl 54 on the horizon but we like to have a little bit of fun once a week usually there's a theme to these movies that are given out it's the Rotten Tomatoes movie game Darren you used to be really good at this but now the shoes on the other foot friend yeah I mean you know it's it's partially the luck of the draw a little bit right depends on the movies depends on the day my mood I can be really good at this Aaron Gabriel really struggled the first time he played this game are you ready for a bounce-back effort I think I'm feeling good feeling confident I stretched before I came in it's the only way to be only way to be Aaron oh boy he put down his lifesaver gummies and now he's here and studio underrated candy by the way severely underrated but he didn't walk in like we're sitting here Darren and he's not sharing any of those this is Sharon with Darren and Aaron that's true he's not giving us any what are you doing I guess I'm not sharing also this is the first Super Bowl featuring two red teams ever in the history of the Super Bowl and we're all wearing red in the studio today like Aaron has his Kansas City cheese stuff on I got my Carolina hurricane stuff and Darren I don't even know what that logo is it's uh it's uh I don't know looks like the Texas Pete how do you have to do this Pete has a chance to the 336 that's what we're doing not even see that's what I'm doing here let's go you know where Texas Pete's from right Robert why don't they call it Carolina Pete do you know Robert yeah it's I mean I know it's North Carolina do you want to play the movie game or not is there already a Carolina Pete is that why they didn't it's time for some kind of movie game all right all right all right with Josh Graham and Darren bought show me too much don't ever condescend Robert or else you're gonna get interrupted real quick what's going on guys ladies and germs preset you playing the movie game today and with a special music behind us god I hate this stuff so much I gotta get another song I love it I know you love it but I I am just not a fan at all anyway Super Bowls in Miami so I have picked all movies that take place in Miami the rules are as stated you're both veterans and as is Aaron despite his bad play before I couldn't prove Josh cheated last week but I did find my notepad in his office that I left there so that is that we will leave that northern here nor there but I didn't cheat today there's no way I've cheated there's no way he's cheated unless he came in and saw what one of the movies was and then looked it up but I digress I would never do that today I've never cheated today did everyone hear that sound the cheater alarm kids get him probably can't hear the kids because of this stupid music anyway like I said riding tomato scores based on the audience score we're gonna go in this order Josh Darren Aaron just because I said so and I'm the one in charge if you guys want to host it we can switch it up sometimes starting off our first movie got a little clip for you per use with what we're listening to and Robert you're on edge so much right now we're going so fast I'm trying to get this all out and all right these are rotten tomato schoolers we were gonna catch up with Bill wrote last hour instead we filled in Dan Bonner into that spot and Robert it's just been really bad ever since then like just upset like at Dan at me and everybody he's mad I want to be at the weekend all right all right okay so I'm bringing the music down so you guys can listen to the clue for our first movie might we have listeners currently Robert I don't ever heard the movie game before maybe okay what I was expecting it okay yeah you guys are trying to guess the audience score for rotten tomatoes that's what I'm talking about if you guys are far the farther away you are the bigger your point total is and it's like golf you want to keep them nice and low blow to the flow that a boy all right here's our first movie clip down here he says he's out here recording his album I'm recording my album see I have a violin that's a ukulele Terry your mom's the ukulele Terry what movie is that Reno 911 Miami I was gonna say that's uh is it Swartzon yes yes yes and we're gonna start off with Josh or once you guys all get your answers in I've never seen this movie how is this the first Miami movie that comes to mind for you because when I told you what the thing was you said Oh pick Scarface and I was like well not doing Scarface so yeah here we are I get it I get it all right is everybody ready I'm ready radio okay we're gonna start off with Josh Josh what you got 27% has to be awful Darren what you got yeah I agree that it has to be awful but to my knowledge like Reno 911 hit a really strong stretch where it was widely accepted as being really really funny so I'm dead dead middle 50% it was widely accepted by everyone besides my mom if she ever came in and I was watching Reno 911 cutting off my mother Lisa Faye would have said that's round she um I'm hanging around there with with Darren I don't think it was that good but I saw some Reno 911 thought it was pretty funny so I'm going 55% 55% Reno 911 Miami comes in at 51 oh come on Darren mmm lead pretty it's that's just terrible just terrible second movie second movie a Johnny Depp movie that gets into a little racy subjects take a listen what I tell you Derek it's great what am I supposed to do with all this so it blow is your second movie oh yeah classic well great one mm-hmm I feel I have a feeling I would rate it maybe a little higher than the public is going I'm giving away my thinking once everybody gets everybody got score written down I'm looking at you Darren great movie one of my favorite movie posters of all time with the the shiny all around the white letters of blow yeah great movie poster I'm going very high on this I'm going 91 91 Darren what you got I have 82 82 and Aaron I have 90% 90% show me that piece of paper 90 yeah that's what it says you cheater blow comes in at 87% I can't get any ground if you guys are just so close and it looks like we're gonna have our first golden movie with me as the host of this score update Josh is in third with 28 Aaron is in second with seven but not far behind Darren who is in first with six points hmm you guys are crushing it right speaking of Johnny Depp recently saw the professor highly recommend not like totally cohesive in the end but enjoyable it's a good movie what's the third movie we have third movie is a classic give it a listen okay listen I'm coming in okay I got it stuck you got what stuff oh it's not the end of the world something about Mary yeah is it the franks of the bead son what the hell is Brett Favre doing here I'm here to play the Dolphins you dumb bleep yeah I'll bleep it for you I guys get your answers in I I never saw this movie as a child but I always knew the movie poster with Cameron Diaz's hair sticking up great flick can't really dive too much deeper than that but great flick yeah is that hair gel is that oh great thanks I'm gonna go with 74 percent 74 percent Darren and we're all in the same neighborhood here I had 78 my man Aaron I'm on the other end of the spectrum I think a lot of people like that movie I'm going 93 percent 9-hole well guys we will not be going to a golden movie oh my gosh you messed it up Aaron Josh in third place with 41 Aaron in second place with 39 Darren that means you come in first with 23 points go ahead and give them what was the score of the movie 61 oh I was closest all right there I think you know what this means their moment of Zen take it yeah I actually hadn't planned for this but I'll take it I will take it you sound like like an Oscars Award winner who doesn't know what to say once they win I wasn't prepared no but see that's well don't I get up in on his moment is no I guess that is a good parallel we will start it over now that's a good parallel because I could have anticipated that I was going to win today and maybe had something prepared but I didn't so I'm instead I'm gonna plug my podcast for USA baseball and tell everybody to go listen and subscribe it's on Spotify Appletoon Apple podcasts otherwise known as iTunes Google Play YouTube covering the bases with Darren Vaught Andrew Vaughn Winston-Salem dash star from over the summer and top prospect for the Chicago White Sox was on the episode that we dropped just yesterday I recorded with another potential high MLB draft pick today just earlier so okay well played Darren Vaught yeah right I mean when in doubt just be pluggy McPlugerson I mean and congrats to Aaron I think really what we should all do right now is just shun Josh for coming in third and being so braggadocious about the last two weeks there you go big word Bob braggadocious boo this man up next three players Greg Olson's decision and the Panthers decision to part ways will primarily affect this is the dry