JUB "confirms" Feldmans Report About Harbaugh Offer
John U. Bacon @Johnubacon 3m3 minutes ago
@BruceFeldmanCFB Excellent sources have confirmed that Bruce's reporting is accurate, and Harbaugh's offer is not as high as advertised.
December 19th, 2014 at 10:06 AM ^
I've sort of wondered this: when you're that rich, do you really notice 6 million a year vs. 7? Past the benefit of inflating your ego, it's not like you really say things like "Dammt, I only made $16,438 today! And I could've been making $19,178!! DAMMIT MY LIFE SUCKS!"
December 19th, 2014 at 10:12 AM ^
And it's not like the original deal remains static for 6 or 7 years. If after two or three years things are going great, and when NFL teams come calling again, more years will be added. And as other coaches get raises -- like when Vill Vellichek takes the job at U. Mass. for $10M/yr -- then Jim's and Saban's will be auto-adjusted upwards. So in 6-7 years, if he's still here, his contract is totally different than today's.
It's not unlike...egads... an NFL player's huge long-term contract, which is all funny money in the outer years anyway.
December 19th, 2014 at 11:23 AM ^
This is a start, and as the agreement evolves over the years it will look very different from what's on the table today. With success, in 5 years the numbers could be much larger.
December 19th, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^
If you're the sort of person who commands 6-7 million, then you're the sort of person who notices the difference. Nobody gets that salary by accident.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:28 AM ^
Also begs the question did Harbaugh's agent leak the 6 for 49? Does that mean Harbaugh wants 8 million a year, and 6.125 over 8 isnt enough?
I read somewhere that Harbaugh doesnt want more money than Saban, until he beats him, but idk about the credibility of that.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:32 AM ^
oh man there's gonna be a rehash of the other night's linguistics discussion now.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:36 AM ^
Stream of consciousness happens when new Harbaugh information presents itself. haha
December 19th, 2014 at 9:55 AM ^
Well, the post was a textbook example of the misue of the phrase. I still think "I could care less" is misused far more often.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:34 AM ^
Bacon said yesterday that he believes the leak came from UM's side. I listened again and he seemed to imply that since it's a real offer, that so many people know about it now that things are getting out there. Wouldn't doubt that a game of rumor telephone may have made it a 6 year deal. Or maybe the incentives and stuff would be a total package of 8 per year, not just his base salary? I'm just speculating here. I know the 6 year part has never been confirmed, but the $49 million part has.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:28 AM ^
I have a hunch that it's identical to what Saban is making -- 7 years, $49M.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:28 AM ^
So maybe the leak is from the Harbaugh camp and they want $8 million a year. Having it out there for 24 hours as $8 million and everyone in U-M land saying how great it was that we put that stake in the ground is going to bring a lot of misery if we miss because of a $6 million offer.
I think the offer will end up at $8 million.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:34 AM ^
about Michigan football.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:36 AM ^
ouch, sorry about that. good point (pun intended).
December 19th, 2014 at 11:43 AM ^
I'm sure he hated to stick it to you like that.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:44 AM ^
heh. stake in the ground. like that... um... nevermind.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:51 AM ^
I think UM must make JH the highest paid coach in at least the NCAA due to the renovations that we're asking him to do if he takes the job. The $8M is "out there" now and it makes sense and if its 3 yrs or 8 yrs, we need to make the offer that high, especially considering all the talk about "UM can't lose" even if Harbaugh doesn't take the job.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:29 AM ^
I don't know how I feel about this. I mean, you can definitely make a correct economic argument for an 8 million/yr coach. But I can understand that 8 mil per year for a choach without a championship is a bit high as well. The one thing I liked about the 8 million per year report is that it took money completely out of the picture. Now it can become and issue if it's only like 6 million a year.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:34 AM ^
Look on the bright side: Now there's room to go up. If Michigan came in at $8mil/year right off the bat, would they be able to go higher if another team offers more?
December 19th, 2014 at 10:14 AM ^
How many coaches in college were successful in the NFL to the tune of reaching 3 consecutive NFC championship games as well as a Super Bowl?
December 19th, 2014 at 10:16 AM ^
I don't think money is an issue, even if the 8 year contract is correct. Yes, $2M a year is nothing to sneeze at, but this isn't a situation where an athlete has to maximize his contract earnings before his career ends. Harbaugh has already had a long financially fruitful career, both as a player and as a coach. He had a 15 year NFL career, with 12 years where he was likely to be paid as a top-half NFL starter. He coached for four years at Stanford where he likely made $1M a year. He has coached for four years at SF where he has made $20M. I'm assuming he is not an idiot so he is probably set for life financially. Plus, he is still young and can coach for another 15 years. The man has made and is going to make enough money that $2M a year isn't going to change his life.
The only way it comes down to money is if with his ego he thinks he is the best coach in football and should be paid that way. And if that's the case, the NFL is always going to win that battle.
Assuming the $49M/8yrs is correct, it still makes him one of the ten highest paid coaches in all of football. We're offering more than enough money.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:29 AM ^
I'd prefer 100 years and eleventy billion dollars. We'll have the technology to live to 150, right?
December 19th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^
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December 19th, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
December 19th, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^
I'd give all for 1.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:33 AM ^
Both Harbaugh brothers , Co-Head coaches
THAT would be "The Michigan Difference"
December 19th, 2014 at 9:34 AM ^
...crumple up that offer and throw it in Hackett's face!
December 19th, 2014 at 9:50 AM ^
December 19th, 2014 at 9:35 AM ^
This fascination of the exact numbers is getting a bit ridiculous. We still have no idea about anything because the two parties involved aren't saying a thing. Now we have NFL guys who said no way Jim would go now speculating what the offer is etc etc. This truly is becoming a speculation circus. I think the board should play the shot game and take a shot everytime a new thread is created about the CC.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:42 AM ^
A confirmation of the offer gives us an idea of who is connected and who isn't. It matters if we want to glean anything remotely dependable.
December 19th, 2014 at 10:13 AM ^
December 19th, 2014 at 9:37 AM ^
what the offer actually was. Personally, I think 8 years @48/49 million was probably accurate. But now that it has been reported as $8 million per year, that's what we're going to have to pay the man.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:38 AM ^
that can go as high as $8 million if he wins a national championship or makes the CFP?
December 19th, 2014 at 11:11 AM ^
Agreed. I'm thinking it's going to be more around 7 mil to start tops. I could be wrong, but that's my gut (my source!) I think the higher number being floated around is if he can land UM a BIG championship for X amount of $ and increases beyond that for Playoff Bowl Championships, and National Championship, etc.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^
Similar thing happened in the Urban Meyer negotiation with OSU. Some large # was floated publicly and when it came to reality it was more market oriented. The 8 year deal makes sense from a per year standpoint in terms of putting him #2. If you believe Henson he says he wants to be ahead of Saban when he does what Saban did. If you believe Cook he wants to be top 5ish. The 8 year deal puts him #2. It is an outlandish # of years of course but if also fits in with the rumor of Jack saying you are not leaving "until the job is done".
Now on the other hand Moss floated the $8M per earlier as well.
But I like the comment about its not about the money - shows its not about a bidding war but just about where his heart is AS LONG as the economics were sensible from UM. And coming in #2 in the entire nation is sensible (and it would have been #1 just 12 months ago) It also makes the $16M annual to Gruden that Harbaugh will surely get per that NFL insider (smirk) less of a threat.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:42 AM ^
Jim Harbaugh is in fact a very big Biggy fan
Because of that, his first press conference as Michigan coach will just be him and Hackett in blue versions of this:
Why do you think Irvin has been calling long distance when he makes 3s? Oh yeah, that's why.
Mo' Money Mo' Problems
December 19th, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^
Harbizzle my nizzle
December 19th, 2014 at 9:44 AM ^
It should be 49 million/year for 8 years.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:48 AM ^
Curious if this is to lower the spotlight on his decision, or to quietly walk back Plan B expectations just in case.
December 19th, 2014 at 10:04 AM ^
I am wondering if they are getting the strong feeling that he's not coming, and are saying this to lower the asking price of plan B/C/D/E/random person who will accept the job.
Either way, my hopes of him coming are swirling down the crapper at the news.
December 19th, 2014 at 11:14 AM ^
Good point. That did cross my mind too when I heard it. If so, very smart play on UM's end. They can say to plan B: "We would never offer any coach that inital amount of money. The media got it wrong but this is what we'd be willing to offer to you."
December 19th, 2014 at 3:09 PM ^
This may be the case, but also remember additional details are not known as well so we can easily walk back that $48M number even for a C-Level guy.
For example, we could severely back-end a deal or make a massive portion of that contract performance based. Like, issue a base salary lower than even Hoke (say, $2M or $3M per year rather than Hoke's $4M), but then start offering huge bonuses (like $1M+) for winning red letter games, winning the Big Ten Championship, getting into the playoffs, etc.
That way if (God forbid), we had to take a flyer on a C-Level guy or super innovative unknown coordinator or something, the guy's got a chance to convert himself into the compensatory equivalent of an A or top B Level guy after-the-fact. If a lower level candidate beats expectations and earns those bonus categories, we'd be happy to fork over the extra money at that point because by definition we'd be back on track as a program.
December 19th, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^
Double post, for the loss.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:52 AM ^
It's 6 Billion/year for 8 years-Billion with a B. Easy mistake to make, letters are close on the keyboard. Only way to get him for sure. I think UM has close to $50 Billion in endowment, so the numbers work.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:57 AM ^
Give me Harbaugh or Give me Death.
December 19th, 2014 at 10:05 AM ^
So basically what everyone kind of expected? 6 years at $49M seemed a bit high; @ 7/8 years gives them a little wiggle room for negotiations but is still quite high.
December 19th, 2014 at 10:15 AM ^
If it's not about money then an 8 yr/49M should be enough to appease Harbaugh. We all know he will get a raise in a few years if he has the kind of success we envision him having.
December 19th, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^
the $49 mill 6 years was leaked to get Michigan to off the "asking" price of 8 mill per year.
plausible imo
whatever the case, Mr. Harbaugh is in an amazing negotiating position right now.
December 19th, 2014 at 10:29 AM ^
Parsing the numbers in a document unknown to any of us is a waste of time worthy only for Ferengi. If Jim Harbaugh desires to secure his family's financial position, obtain personal glory and expand the power and prestige of the Empire he can do so by agreeing to the contract that has been presented to him.
December 19th, 2014 at 10:50 AM ^
Anyone else getting tired of JUB latel? He never says anything I want to hear anymore.
I only like/believe things that I want to hear.
All joking aside, I'm torn regarding the 6y/$49M that has been thrown around. On one hand, that is a ton of money and it makes me nervous; on the other hand, M needs to show Harbaugh that they are serious and come at him with a solid offer.