The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

Supposedly for 6 years too. He cites inside sources. Figure with Philbin very likely leaving the team, this is relevant to this forum.

You figure if Harbaugh will leave the West Coast, it would be to run a pretty talented NFL team in a beautiful city. Not run an awful college program in Michigan where it's cold.

It's not relevant to this team yet.

Harbaugh is under contract with the 49ers.

That said, I think Ross would be just as happy to have him at Michigan as he would to have him here.

I didn't think colleges could publicly offer contracts to coaches under contract elsewhere.

This doesn't sound like a formal offer or anything official. Sounds like someone "floated" to the press what the formal offer will be in a couple weeks when the SF season is over.

My understanding is that Harbaugh is STILL under contract for one more season, and hasn't been fired.  The discussion of him going elsewhere is pure speculation.

You do understand that Brian's question will still relevant in a few weeks when the 49ers season is over, right?  Harbaugh will "still" be under contract with the 49ers, and unless given his release by SF, or traded, he will remain under contract in SF through next season.


Yessir...that is correct.

what does michigan care of that .. the NFL can't penalize UM for poaching a coach away ..  especially if michigan is a right to work state

The tampering rules apply to NFL teams only (and I'm not even sure if they apply to coaches, as I've heard Bay Area radio stations claiming that the Raiders have reached out to Harbaugh directly).

There is no rule preventing U of M from making an offer to Harbaugh.  It's no different than if he were to receive a job offer from Apple.

yeah I wasn't concerned about tampering, since Michigan is not related to the NFL in any way.  But, at the same time, I wonder if this Michigan offer is a smokescreen for the Dolphins interests because of Stephen Ross's ties to Michigan.  Is it a coincidence?

Ross would seem to also genuinely want Harbaugh in Michigan, so I'm not sure that's a smokescreen.

Saban was under contract when he ditched us for Alabama.

I understand his question completly. NFL coaches can leave for college jobs at any time they want. Harbuagh just can't return to the NFL until the his deal with SF is resolved

I just don't see Harbaugh going from a successful NFL franchise to a college program in disarray. If he does leave this offseason, and I'm still not entirely convinced he will, I expect him to be traded to another NFL team. Either that or join the Romanian Circus, as I previously tongue-in-cheek speculated...

I think the Michigan thing is pretty likely.  These NFL coaches can throw their weight around in college and get a lot of money over a lot of years.  If Harbaugh comes to Miami, even if it goes well, it's unlikely that he will be here long term.  Those college jobs are legacy type jobs -- more money, more control of the program, and you can intimidate.  These big name guys have more pull with college kids than pros who are tired of their shtick.

I actually think the chances of him getting traded were slim, and just got slimmer.

I don't see a team giving up picks, players, or hot dogs for a coach that's likely to be fired in a month anyway.  Also, with the Michigan thing looming, teams may be leery of investing much into a coach who could pull a Saban at any moment.

In the end, though, I don't see San Fran entering the draft with Harbaugh as coach, whether he leaves on his own or gets fired.

But here's the thing (and this applies double for a former Pro Bowler like Harbaugh):

College is for people who can't cut it at the pro level.  Sorry, but it's true, and NFLers are particularly aware of this.  So for a very competitive person, the idea of heading back to the minor leagues is a blow to the ego.  Now obviously, if you're a Steve Spurrier or a Nick Saban and you just can't pass muster in the NFL, it's better to be the king of college than a scrub in the pros.  But Harbaugh has had success in the NFL, so going back to college is even more of a harsh reality check.  (And I think we can all agree that at his level, the pride in his job is worth more to him than the difference between $8M in Ann Arbor and, say, $5M in Oakland.)

I would be stunned if Jim goes back to Michigan. Goes back to the lifestyle of begging teenage kids to come play for him and traveling and sitting in the living rooms of familys. Don't see it.

This offer just gives him leverage in every way. Which is why he won't, and shouldn't, shoot down the Michigan rumors. Jim will be in the NFL next year just not with SF

I agree. It's not a prestigious program or a prestigious conference anymore, plus it's Michigan. West Coast can be lovely and Miami definitely is, but Michigan? Absolute lifestyle downgrade, even if the pay is better.

With another good offseason, Harbaugh can make Miami an 11 win team next year, as long as no crushing injuries happen or he Philbins the 4th quarter with timeouts. With Michigan, at least 3 years away from even 9 wins. No free agency in college, it's who you recruit......and pay big money to under the table.

Yeah, like his agent trying to drive up his contract value.  Miami needs to stay far away from this scenario.  Not to mention getting Harbaugh would result in loss of draft picks that Miami desperately needs.

really? All the drat picks Miami blows. How's that 3rd round pick Billy Turner working out? Or that 3rd round pick Michael Egnew do? Or that 2nd round pick Daniel Thomas? I got no problem parting with a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th round pick for a proven head coach

That's just flat out 100% wrong and not even close to being true. It's one of the best jobs in college sports along with Notre Dame, USC,  and Alabama when it comes to football.

He isn't going to Michigan because who the hell wants to recruit and put up with teenagers when you are coming off 3 conference championship games and a Super Bowl appearance. you don't step down from that.

Harbaugh reminds me a lot of a young Shula. Shula in Baltimore lost that heart breaker to Namath and the Jets. Shula leaves the Colts and goes somewhere else and has huge success. I think Harbaugh will be very much in the same mold and the  next NFL team he goes to he will do very well with. Whoever it is

You're right, Miami should just make its 1st round draft pick, then go home.   ::)

nobody said that.

The Big 10 is Ohio State and some Top 40 teams. It is not prestigious anymore and Michigan is definitely not a great job anymore, he has to build it up tremendously.

As far as draft picks go, the Niners have no leverage. Take this 6th rounder or have this man be your coach for another year and make your whole team miserable.

Good luck with that.  Belichick parcells and grugon all cost more than that

Been spending a lot of time hanging out with the 49ers players this year, Edge? Or are you just talking out of an improper orifice? I read virtually everything written about the 49ers, and the players have all stood behind their coach 100% this season.

But, you know, if you're actually in the locker room, then I'll bow to your firsthand knowledge...

they have at least as much leverage as nyj had with belichick or nep had with Parcells

That is 100% wrong on every level. Michigan prints money and gets 100,000 fans at their home games. Not a good job? Not a prestigious job? No offense you have no clue what your talking about.

The Michigan basketball team seems hell-bent on tearing down that prestigiousness...losing back to back games to the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Eastern Michigan a couple of weeks ago.

^^^ Good thing Harbaugh isn't a basketball coach then.

Harbaugh should call Rich Rodriguez for a little inside dope about the powers-that-be at Michigan before taking that gig...

The 49ers have mutually parted ways with Harbaugh

What a strange situation. They came within like six yards of winning the Super Bowl two years ago and now their coach is gone after an 8-8 season? Even if he's a jerk, shouldn't the 49ers appreciate the job he's done? Who are they gonna find that can do better? Weird

Harbaugh never got along with management, if the Niners won the division, he still would've left. 8-8 just makes it easier.

This Deadspin dude hit the nail on the head: http://deadspin.com/the-niners-are-fucking-stupid-1675908516

I'm upset that the 49ers let Harbaugh go, but this writer is an idiot whose only skills are owning a keyboard and having an internet connection.

There was no way that GM Baalke and HC Harbaugh could coexist. That issue rested squarely on Harbaugh's head. While I wish they could have figured a way to play together in the same sandbox, they simply couldn't. The 49ers didn't go to the NFC title game three years in a row because Harbaugh is a Bill Walsh-esque genius. They went because they had assembled an insanely deep and talented roster who came into their own as Harbaugh walked through the front door. Yes, his discipline helped, but that discipline was rooted in his stubbornness, and that stubbornness is what wouldn't let him admit that Greg Roman had no right being an NFL offensive coordinator.

I wish Captain Khaki nothing but success in his next endeavor, one which will most certainly come with a massive payday. I just think that, in a just world, he'd send the 49ers a Thank You card for giving him the roster that allowed him to pad his coaching record and land that payday.

I saw this picture in the comments of the Deadspin article:

(http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--WIJOMLuA--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/f4ooxzaltm4hhccaqhzs.jpg)

As for my thoughts on it... I'm glad he's gone.  The 49ers were a little too dangerous for my tastes when he was there.  They need to get back to the proud tradition of coaching selections that the Yorks are known for:  the Dennis Ericksons, Mike Nolans, and Mike Singletarys of the league.

Josh McDaniels would be a perfect fit.

Sunstroke still in denial or will you admit he is finally gone as everyone has reported since about early October on?

I'll have to check on this to make sure, but I'm fairly certain that the 49ers roster isn't leaving with Harbaugh in his luggage.

My semi-bold prediction: The 49ers finish with a better record in Harbaugh's first season gone than they had in his final season with the team.

Your reading skills could obviously use an upgrade...

ha, a bad joke to divert attention. I guess that's easier than saying you were wrong all along and every media report from October on was 100% correct

Or an accurate statement based on previous posts in this thread. Depends on whether it's viewed from the logical perspective or the MikeO perspective.

That's ok. I know you weren't going to admit you were wrong on this all along. It's ok!

Harbaugh to Michigan confirmed. 

I was right about something!