SEARCHBITS XXV: TELEPHONE TIME
never not funny
ANOTHER DAY FULL OF TREAD. Status quo after the Dolphins news yesterday. May get some leaks tomorrow if the players get some info; I am guessing Hackett doesn't put anything definitive in that call because he knows anything he says is going to get out. Hoping we get a coy but confident read from that.
Insiders now settling in: most are saying they are cautiously optimistic, think Harbaugh has told people it's happening, but are wary of NFL offers. Steve Lorenz pulled the trigger on a 247 Crystal Ball pick, so there's that. He's been on the verge of one for a while, and a couple things pushed him over the line($), including "'strong rumblings' from the agent side of things"—again information that does not seem to be part of the Michigan echo chamber.
UNLESS…? There are some rumblings this could be the done deal day. Those Who Stay says there's an agent meeting today; Mysterious Insider GFunk has been positive before and just went to 100% on Rivals; some rando who likes My Name Is Earl on twitter says it's done. I've got a couple of similar reports.
Individually I'd shrug those off, but a lot of them coming in quick succession may be a real thing.
MORE POSITIVE BITS. Another day, more confidence from within the echo chamber. Gregg Henson has a couple former players who are on board now and weren't before. Meanwhile the NFL reporter moonwalk continues:
Adam Schefter on SportsCenter: Limited quality NFL opportunities could mean Jim Harbaugh's best opportunity in 2015 is coaching at Michigan.
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) December 22, 2014
Pretty much the same number and level of NFL jobs will come open as everyone was expecting earlier this year. That's some spin right there.
TELEPHONE EXEMPLAR. Jay Glazer is reporting that the 49ers and Harbaugh are going to part ways within 48 hours of the season's end; he appears to be the only one doing so. It's tough to tell these days as any piece of news is replicated across a dozen platforms with REPORT tacked on the front of it, but I think it's just Glazer in a brief TV segment. Kawakami tweeted something similar, but he's not being passed around as a REPORT.
I bet Glazer's right; I also think that people are reading too much into his statement. He picked an intentionally vague phrase to communicate what's going down: "end that relationship." SI transformed that into "fired." Rivals asserts that Glazer is reporting the 49ers "will not seek a trade for compensation." Glazer did no such thing. He just said expect the two parties to move quickly after the season.
This obviously has implications for Michigan. If the 49ers are going to fire Harbaugh that potentially saves them some money; if they've given up on the idea of trading him at all that's a big hint as to where things are going. Unfortunately, Glazer said no such thing.
That's a good example of how things get twisted as they get passed along, at least. Why I'm more cautious than might be warranted.
PLAN B. This isn't directly about Michigan, but Adam Schefter reports that David Shaw isn't even thinking about leaving Stanford for the NFL:
Any NFL team hoping to make a major run at Stanford head coach David Shaw will, in all probability, come away disappointed, sources tell ESPN. …But those who know the 42-year-old Shaw now believe he will not leave Stanford, no matter how much the NFL wants him.
This is the opposite of the usual play for a coach coming off a meh year. Agents will float their guy as a possibility here or there in an effort to get an extension or at least some patience; this is not a guy who thinks he's under any threat saying stay away. That almost certainly means he won't be responsive to Michigan inquiries.
I didn't want to punt from the opponent 29 anyway.
ALSO IN PLAN B. Michigan is covering all their bases. They had a meeting Friday about Plan B, C, and D options. No names came out of that, unfortunately. They are checking out NFL coordinators, which is disappointing but sensible given the landscape post-Harbaugh. If Mullen and Miles aren't real candidates for whatever reason, the next option is…? I honestly don't know.
Don't panic—Michigan remains confident they'll get their guy. They are doing due diligence so they can move quickly even if Harbaugh doesn't come. This means it is not a "done deal"… as of a few days ago.
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S WHO YOU WANT TO RIDE WITH. That Rivals report also addresses that La Canfora article scoffed at around here yesterday:
For the record, he's right about Harbaugh briefly accepting the Michigan job [in 2011], U-M coveting his brother and John Harbaugh making it clear he wants to stay at Baltimore, and we've reported that in the last month. We also reported Michigan's interest in Payton, at which point reporters like Fletcher Mackel out of New Orleans dismissed it as "embarrassing."
I've heard a lot of different things about Harbaugh "briefly accepting" the job in 2011, and they're all semantics. Mostly those assertions are used to make the insider feel good about being wrong or paint Harbaugh in a negative light. I don't buy them, and I've heard as much stuff about how Brandon scared Harbaugh off as stuff about how it almost happened.
We know that The Process didn't end up firing Rodriguez until January 5th, the same day Harbaugh met with the 49ers for five hours. The Michigan job is open for all of a day before Harbaugh is hired. Either Michigan was actively undermining the guy who was supposedly still their head coach or the brief acceptance thing is a joke. It is certain that there was no point at which Harbaugh agreed to coach Michigan while the job was actually open. If he verbally assented to coach Michigan in December, it is on Dave Brandon for not locking that down by maintaining the fiction that Rich Rodriguez had a shot to keep his job.
Meanwhile, trying to buttress your argument that Sean Payton was really an option with an article that mentions Doug Marrone and Jason Garrett…
ETC.: Pat Narduzzi a prime candidate at Pitt. Doug Marrone has "nothing to do" with the Michigan job.
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:43 PM ^
The plan B guy I've liked from the beginning is an NFL coordinator, Dan Quinn from Seattle. But from the looks of things, he won't be available until well into January--the conference championship games are Jan. 18, and the Super Bowl is Feb. 1. Ditto for guys like Jack Del Rio or Josh McDaniels--the Seahawks, Broncos, and Patriots are all having good years, look strong heading into the playoffs, and already have or likely will have first-round byes.
I suppose there is Greg Roman; that would be weird.
December 22nd, 2014 at 4:59 PM ^
This was my top NFL coordinator pick as well. He's 44, runs a dominant, aggressive style of defense, has a clear desire to be a head coach, and solid experience at the college level (DC at Florida where he had the countries #1 ranked defense in FEI in 2012). The only downside is that he's definitely an NFL guy and would likely bolt back as soon as he got a decent NFL HC opportunity, but that's not a huge problem for me.
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^
Are you guarding against potential letdown or do you truly not believe the people saying he signed today and Michigan/49ers are splitting the buyout?
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^
This mean we arent getting Dan Mullen?!!
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:46 PM ^
The number of times I clicked refresh on Mgoblog at work today waiting for this Searchbits is a sad, sad reflection on my relationship with a sports team.
December 22nd, 2014 at 4:41 PM ^
Is it also a bit of sad reflection on your relationship to your job?!
Signed,
Your Boss
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:46 PM ^
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^
At least Kobe went 8 of 30 from the floor yesterday. These NFL reporters...?
December 22nd, 2014 at 4:45 PM ^
Seriously, NFL "Insiders" - your shooting % and assists are lower than Kobe's!!!
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^
I get it.
December 22nd, 2014 at 3:09 PM ^
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December 22nd, 2014 at 5:04 PM ^
Still Habebimus at this point.
December 22nd, 2014 at 5:32 PM ^
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December 22nd, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^
That's quite good.
December 22nd, 2014 at 5:00 PM ^
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December 22nd, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^
what's your deal??
I promise there will be at least 6 openings- same as every other year
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^
I'm not sure how the Oakland job that was discussed so much fits into that category.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^
December 22nd, 2014 at 7:37 PM ^
How the hell do you define "quality opening"?
Schefter's pulling out all the stops, trying to rationalize his own existence.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:04 PM ^
Agreed:
Virtual Locks:
1. Bears
2. Jets
Probably Open:
3. Raiders
4. Redskins
50-50 Chance:
5. Giants (retire)
6. Falcons
7. Panthers
8. Jaguars
Probably not but you never know
9. Tampa Bay
10. Rams
Pretty sure there would be job somewhere there for Jim if he wants it.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:07 PM ^
is never really safe anymore haha
nice list but you forgot a key opening- the 49ers!
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:43 PM ^
that you forgot to infer that his list was that of which Harbaugh might be either interested in or have an opportunity for? The 49er job, although opening, would not be one of those for JH!
Go Blue and Merry Christmas!
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
Maybe he's saying that none of those jobs are all that promising. And there might be something to that...
Bears/Jets/Raiders/Redskins are all organizational messes. Falcons and Panthers are playing for a playoff game, that might save a coach's job. Jags are going to be perpetually young and underfunded, probably not paying top dollar for a coach.
I think Giants and Falcons are the only two jobs there that a coach can look at and reasonably think, yeah, I can go win there quickly. And I'm not sure either job will be open.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:30 PM ^
It would mean that Coughlin was retiring and wasn't fired, leaving behind a relatively stable situation. The ownership is also not only stable but NFL royalty. The team's aura fits his hard-nosed attitude and Coughlin and Harbaugh sort of share a similary style. It's one of the NFL's truly marquee franchises so going from 49ers to Giants is a lateral move at worst in terms of league prestige. Current players would probably welcome him.
On the flip side, that's clear across the country from the west coast and uncharted territory for his family, much moreso than Ann Arbor. I wonder how he and the NY sports media would get along (that goes for the Jets job as well).
So like I said ... in a vacuum. Coughlin probably won't retire yet so that's a good thing.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^
It would mean that Coughlin was retiring and wasn't fired, leaving behind a relatively stable situation. The ownership is also not only stable but NFL royalty. The team's aura fits his hard-nosed attitude and Coughlin and Harbaugh sort of share a similary style. It's one of the NFL's truly marquee franchises so going from 49ers to Giants is a lateral move at worst in terms of league prestige. Current players would probably welcome him.
On the flip side, that's clear across the country from the west coast and uncharted territory for his family, much moreso than Ann Arbor. I wonder how he and the NY sports media would get along (that goes for the Jets job as well).
So like I said ... in a vacuum. Coughlin probably won't retire yet so that's a good thing.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:12 PM ^
Not so sure about the Bears being a "virtual lock". I'd guess more like 50/50. Also, not sure the Rams should be on there. JF has done a pretty good job of gettng them to be competitive, especially in the second half of the year.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:37 PM ^
Which is why I put that one in the "probably not" category. But in all fairness he's 20-26-1 in three years which aint exactly impressive no matter where you're coaching.
December 22nd, 2014 at 5:28 PM ^
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:53 PM ^
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December 22nd, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^
I have no doubt the kid is or was recently in HS. I still think he's had good info for whatever reason as a lot of what he says matches up with things I hear. He had the official offer to Harbaugh before the NFL guys started talking about it. He needs to learn how to communicate these things better, yeah. And stop tweeting recruits. But I think he's an interesting source.
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:59 PM ^
Interesting or even "somewhat reliable"? There seems to be a huge canyon between those two things.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:14 PM ^
Someone in an earlier thread speculated that those who stay might be the son of someone important and connected, which would make a lot of sense. Brian might even know/suspect it to be the case but unerstandably doesn't want to blow the kid's cover and get him in trouble.
December 22nd, 2014 at 7:39 PM ^
What do you expect during a coaching search? Any info that gets out is going to be filtered and gathered creatively. Lower your expectations.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:13 PM ^
There's only 3 scenarios for this kid: Directly impacted by the decision (family member of the Harbaugh or Agent), being fed by agent/Harbaugh family or is consistently making things up now after getting one good nugget that turned out to be true.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:23 PM ^
I guess my proplem with the "someone's kid" theory and I guess his stated connection of being close to a family friend of the agent (which, I guess makes him a son of the family friend of the agent?), is that he seems to be a Michigan person and not just a kid who knows he has a source of info on news that lots and lots of reporters are chasing. Now is it possible that the agent has a very close family friend who is presumably a huge Michigan fan? Sure, even though I think the agent is a west coast guy. But, if you were going with the fact that he's the son of someone important, I'd be more agreeable to the theory if he seemed to be reporting information coming from a Michigan source.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^
If his stuff is based on something other than A) luck or B) just being so fast at recycling insider info that it seems original, then he must be overhearing stuff from his bedroom while his Dad the Agent is on the phone or from the back of a car while being driven to school by Gramma the Regent. Funny how information gets out.
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:55 PM ^
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^
Wow. Michigan had a meeting Friday to discuss candidates B, C and D? That is a VERY BAD sign guys, regardless of Brian's characterization of it just being Michigan covering all their bases.
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^
ummmmm no
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^
don't think he's being serious.
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^
It's called being prepared or more accurately in this case, hedging, it is what smart people do.
I mean what are the odds your house burns to the ground? Yet you still have insurance, just in case.
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^
Why would that be a very bad sign? It only means the deal is not done as of Friday. If Michigan is even 99.9% certain that they'll get Harbaugh, it would be malpractice not to be ready in the event that they don't get him.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:01 PM ^
Harbaugh is human. He could have a last minute change of heart. I expect Hackett to protect the program and have a couple backups in place in case that happens. That's just negotiation 101.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:01 PM ^
I'll bet Brian LOL'd at your comment, Auerbach.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:09 PM ^
You guys can spin it however you want. Actions speak louder than internet speculation. If the Regents really met 72 hours ago to discuss backup options, then Harbaugh hasn't indicated that he's accepting the position. If it were a matter of just ironing out the fine details of his contract at this point, then the Regents' meeting would have focused on that, not on who will be coaching Michigan in 2015.
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