SEARCHBITS XIX: GONE TO PLAID
All hell: done broke loose
THE BIG NUMBER. The 48 or 49 million dollar offer that had been kicking around the Michigan internets—pretty sure Sam Webb was the first to drop it—has now reached the NFL reporters, who are furiously reminding you that they are never wrong about anything even when they are vastly wrong about something:
Sources: #Michigan has made another run at Jim Harbaugh after he initially rebuffed the school. U-M has made an offer of 6 years, $48M. Wow.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 17, 2014
Rebuffed my ass. Nothing about how this has gone looks like Michigan getting rebuffed, publicly or privately. Michigan took its time to get their offer together, waited until Harbaugh was eliminated from the playoffs, aimed, and fired. Michigan reporters from Webb to Lorenz to Balas (and me!) have been way closer to things than these guys from the start.
But keep those ranks together. I mean… why the hell are you even reporting anything in the first place when this is your explanation for the change?
Asked why he was considering it now, but hadn’t been previously, one person said now that the 49ers are out of the playoffs, it was possible for Harbaugh to at least consider it.
Bottom line: Harbaugh has some thinking to do and decisions to make.
The implication of all this reporting is that Michigan had no chance because it was not the NFL. This explanation makes it clear that Adam Schefter's earlier reporting was based on hearsay from people with no clue—at best. Harbaugh wasn't going to consider anybody before the 49ers were eliminated.
OKAY. I'M IN. Ran across a twitter feed that felt credible that claimed a connect to Harbaugh's agent, but I was hesitant to tell you guys about it until he put something out that was checkable and not public knowledge. Here's something from 4 PM today:
JH officially offered today around noon PT
— Those Who Stay (@ThoseWhoStay7) December 17, 2014
He got the number right as well. That official offer took a few hours to filter out to the NFL guys, who are now reporting it. The Michigan guys are sitting back with their McKayla faces on after being told repeatedly that Michigan knew they were done, had no chance, etc.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS. Michigan's offer blindsided the NFL guys. The Michigan side of things had the number, the years, and the approximate timing. That gives greater credence to the other half of the Michigan chatter: it's happening.
WHAT I'VE GOT. I don't have anything reportable. By that I mean information that I know is correct because I know who got it and why. I do have just an avalanche of IT'S HAPPENING stuff that is secondhand. Aside from the downer email I mentioned a few days ago, I have a half-dozen bits of hearsay ranging from dubious to pretty credible all pointing towards Harbaugh in Ann Arbor.
If you would like to change this situation, I'm listening.
FURTHER EYE-ROLLING. The Raiders had 16 million a year out for Jon Gruden.
Little doubt Mark Davis could beat any Michigan offer to Harbaugh. I heard he had double this out there for Gruden, who walked. Stay tuned
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) December 18, 2014
Okay buddy. And I used to think Michigan was arrogant. It is not about whether the Raiders can give Harbaugh another gold toilet; Michigan's offer is highly competitive. It's about Michigan or the NFL.
THEY'VE DONE WHAT THEY HAD TO DO. Michigan assembled a kickass offer to come back to Ann Arbor and run the town. It is now highly public. If Harbaugh doesn't come, that's on him. No milquetoasty private conversations about how he flaked leaking out over the years; no debate about whether Michigan had a bonafide offer. They came strong and public in exactly the way they should have last time. (According to a player on Rodriguez's last team, he was giving everyone the impression he knew he was done even before the Gator Bowl. In that case he should have been gone after OSU.)
If it doesn't work out, okay. Jim Hackett still did this as well as he could, and if Michigan does have to move on to Plan B they can at least do so as a unit, knowing that they did their level best here.
PLAN B. A dollar it's Dan Mullen, if it comes to that.
December 17th, 2014 at 10:16 PM ^
Yeah because like, that would go really well for recruiting. Harbaugh telling an 18 yr old 5 start tight end to "fuck off".
December 17th, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^
Based on the negging, I believe that a people might disagree with you.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:32 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 17th, 2014 at 9:52 PM ^
He loves TEs and Clark is one of the best in this class. That kid would get one of the first calls, guarantee it.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:17 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:17 PM ^
We got everything lined up and took a mighty swing. If he doesn't come it's not because we didn't give it 100%
My wife and I are leaving for Las Vegas on Saturday. I'm putting a $500 on Harbaugh to Michigan. (if they're still taking bets)
December 17th, 2014 at 11:33 PM ^
I live in Las Vegas and like I have stated many times there was never such a bet like this out here nor would their be either. This was at some rinky dinky online sports book is all with very low limits.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:17 PM ^
"THEY'VE DONE WHAT THEY HAD TO DO. Michigan assembled a kickass offer to come back to Ann Arbor and run the town. It is now highly public. If Harbaugh doesn't come, that's on him. No milquetoasty private conversations about how he flaked leaking out over the years; no debate about whether Michigan had a bonafide offer. They came strong and public in exactly the way they should have last time."
I totally agree, and that has been my feeling this whole way through. I've agreed with Brian's assessment all the way through that M/Hackett were doing this properly. If Harbaugh doesn't want to come back to Ann Arbor, I'll respect that, and I'll really respect how Michigan carried out the search.
...sure hope this is ItsHappening.gif!!!
December 17th, 2014 at 9:19 PM ^
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December 17th, 2014 at 9:23 PM ^
Covered
" I do have just an avalanche of IT'S HAPPENING stuff that is secondhand."
December 17th, 2014 at 10:17 PM ^
just for the record, Jim does own a vacation property in Charlevoix and might actually be listed on that site.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:30 PM ^
wait, that was a serious post?
December 17th, 2014 at 9:53 PM ^
Someone replied in the post saying they had emails from a friend that confirmed Harbaugh's parents were shopping for houses around AA. He said he'd email Brian the proof.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:55 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:21 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:23 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:24 PM ^
Totally unrelated but hilarious tweet
Drew Hallett @DrewCHallett · 2 hours ago
This is what happens when you contact Greg Schiano. RT @McMurphyESPN: Steve Pederson out as Pittsburgh athletic director
December 17th, 2014 at 9:27 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:28 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 10:30 PM ^
on a national level, the media especially looks awful because of their condescending attitude towards Michigan their attempts to get harbaugh. The arrogant viewpoint that Harbaugh would never think about leaving the nfl and demote himself back to college.
The mere fact that the offer is being "considered" has taken aback a number of NFL teams.
that in itself is a win. Brian did an excellent job also of calling out the national media about being "rebuffed". Michigan will come out looking very impressive either way.
But we still need harbaugh here though.
December 18th, 2014 at 9:42 AM ^
"Brian did an excellent job of calling out the national media..." - Do/did Brian's words actually reach the national media level or were they just seen here on mgoblog?
Go Blue!
December 17th, 2014 at 9:30 PM ^
He is doing everything perfectly. It's not his fault that we live in a world with on-demand rumormongering (sp?). This has been executed extremely well so far on his part.
December 17th, 2014 at 10:34 PM ^
This is a case where being a former CEO, but not a doucebag about it, actually does pay off.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:31 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:31 PM ^
I'm wondering when we will know? I think after this week of NFL games.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:32 PM ^
Love it, love it, love it. No reason to be cheap. We will all open up the checkbooks.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:32 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:33 PM ^
second day of Christmas, MGoBlog gave to me, TWO SEARCHBITS and a Harbaugh...
December 17th, 2014 at 9:36 PM ^
..in a pear tree?
December 17th, 2014 at 9:38 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:38 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:35 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:43 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:50 PM ^
You are missing the point - it isn't their job to be RIGHT. It is their job to (1) drive revenue for their respective media outlets; and (2) carry water for the NFL as to keep the revenue flowing. In that order. These guys didn't fail, they succeeded spectacularly when you think of it that way.
Also, if you ask them, THEY weren't wrong, their sources were, or the facts were, or Michigan fans were and the circumstances changed, they ran out of gas, they had a flat tire, they didn't have enough money for cab fare, their tux didn't come back from the cleaners, and old friend came in from out of town, someone stole their car, there was an earthquake, a terrible flood, locusts! It wasn't their fault, they swear to god!
*JakeBlue.gif*
December 18th, 2014 at 4:28 AM ^
for the Blues Brothers reference
December 17th, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^
That's the nature of being elected to Congress.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:38 PM ^
For the first time in a LONG, LONG time, I'll feel good about the state of Michigan football. That would be nice.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:38 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 10:38 PM ^
+1 for Hackett is the real BOSS.
December 18th, 2014 at 12:17 AM ^
Because when he went to the Redskins, I think they actually gave him part ownership. . .I don't think any owners in the NFL are willing to do that nowadays. And to your point paying a guy over $8 million would be. . .
December 18th, 2014 at 3:12 AM ^
if Washington gave Lombardi a financial stake in the team, why is his grandson a terrible offensive coordinator instead of a Mark Davis style manchild?
December 17th, 2014 at 9:39 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:51 PM ^
Thank you Hackett.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:40 PM ^
We'll have to wait at least eleven days to know a response. Knowing Jim Harbaugh, he is going to coach the last two games before he determines anything.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:40 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:40 PM ^
But there is only one Michigan. Only one alma mater. Only one Ann Arbor. Only one destiny.
I'M GETTIN' FREAKIN' FIRED UP OVER HERE...
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