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 2:28 PM ^
we are attempting to identify candidates in case Harbaugh is offered $12 M by some NFL team or gets convicted or a felony tomorrow (not serious... exactly). Lots of stuff can happen even if both Harbaugh and M think it'shappening.gif as of this moment. This stands in stark contrast to the embarrassing Martin search.
December 22nd, 2014 at 5:25 PM ^
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^
"Limited quality NFL opportunities could mean Jim Harbaugh's best opportunity in 2015 is coaching at Michigan."
Screw you, NFL.
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^
how reliable is "my name is earl" because now he sent a twet to 105.1 for a heads up that Jim has signed...
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
Heh heh, "twet".
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:13 PM ^
you know what i ment
December 22nd, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^
nice sweter
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^
What if we get A Jim Harbaugh and not THEE Jim Harbaugh? Schiano could opt for a name change...
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^
I think the only reason Harbaugh could end up in A2 is because there isn't a single NFL team interested in him. Well, ok, that's just what I said in my interview with ESPN...what, I was trying to get on their good side!
December 22nd, 2014 at 7:41 PM ^
Hoping someone makes a Schefter parody account.
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:59 PM ^
I think the NFL beat reporters have been led off the scent on purpose, so there'd at least be some contrarian opinion being espoused in the media. Their "insider" sources are in fact very close to the situation, but have been feeding them this "heart's in the NFL" and "wife doesn't want to move" crap just to counter what could have turned into a feeding frenzy. Now they're starting to see the light of reality and have to figure out a way to gracefully about face. If true, you can't blame them for anything but lazy reporting.
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:59 PM ^
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December 22nd, 2014 at 2:02 PM ^
a BIG, soft, warm chocolate chip cookie and a glass of ice cold milk....comfort food!
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:37 PM ^
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:59 PM ^
#SEARCHBITS
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^
The guy was local and is employed to cover the Steelers by a radio station. Something tells me he wouldn't be talking Michigan as much as he is without bonafide sources.
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December 22nd, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^
Was he fairly quiet in regards to the past 2 coaching searches and Brandon resigning?
I don't doubt he has connections but could be the whole "telephone game" that's been happening over the past week or so.
If it's from a direct source, sweet. If it's been filterd down, it would be as credible as some of the edge of the internet types IMO.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:01 PM ^
went to a Big 10 school. He understands my need to not do any work at all until we have a new coach.
My wife and kids on the other hand are probably going to disable the internet at home and throw my phone into the toilet.
I'll be sitting in a public library hitting F5 like a junkie if this doesn't wrap up soon.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:21 PM ^
My wife wonders why I'm not looking at porn.............THAT she could understand.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^
Very funny. Why, because it is probably so true. It is for me. Many LOL's.
December 22nd, 2014 at 3:08 PM ^
Upgrade your browser.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:04 PM ^
If there is one thing that's certain: no matter where Harbaugh ends up the NFL guys are all going to be patting themselves on the backs when it's over. If Harbaugh is here it's because there was a dearth of NFL jobs and Michigan offered him a stupid amount of money. If he stays in the NFL they knew it all along.
December 22nd, 2014 at 3:15 PM ^
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December 22nd, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^
I dont know is anyone has mentioned this recently but...
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^
Who's the more foolish? The fool, or the fool who follows?
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
Thats a good point but im just watching twitter feed of twets that have harbaugh mentioned in them
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:09 PM ^
repost
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^
If Harbaugh is serious about being successful in the NFL he shouldn't take any of the jobs for teams with crappy owners that recycle coaches every few years. He should wait until a vacancy opens from a coach retiring from a well run team and go after that job. Don't coach the Jets or Raiders, wait until a Green Bay or New England job opens up. And no better place to wait for that to happen than to bring Michigan back.
Some people say that if he goes to Michigan he will just bolt for the NFL in a few years and that may be true, but if he gets Michigan into the College Football Playoff and then bounces for the NFL isn't that better than getting Schiano(or any other number of B candidates who won't be able to hang with Meyer at OSU) and going through this whole thing all over again?
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^
for the NFL after Michigan wins a NC. Not before.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^
The good news with Harbaugh is that he is very likely to have a solid coaching tree. If he does leave for the NFL, then hopefully it won't be necessary to go through another coaching search.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^
Does anyone know if The bears are serious or not? If we lose him to the bears..ill have to go to the hospital
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:21 PM ^
I live in Chicago and have seen nothing, newspapers, internet or broadcast, that would indicate Trestman/Emery are on their way out. The local sports reporters are screaming for thier heads though. Now, the McCaskeys are known tightwads and not very football knowledgeable (IMO). I wouldn't be surprised if they do nothing. They most likely would not pay JH what UM (or other NFL teams) are willing to pay.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:38 PM ^
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December 22nd, 2014 at 5:24 PM ^
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^
have Schiano be our coach or Harbaugh, but you have to cut off your thumb on the non dominate hand. Your allowed to take pain killers so the procedure will only be moderately painful.
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
The rumour-monger knows jack, so clearly joke:
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:09 PM ^
Searchbits = Crack
I want to stay optimistic, but I can't shake the feeling that that the 49ers could still be working various channels to work out a trade with another NFL team. It's still a realistic possibility even if leaks about that possibility have seemed pretty few and far between.
If that happens, the fact that it sounds like we have no really good Plan B is scary.
December 22nd, 2014 at 3:52 PM ^
A trade here has no effect on Harbaugh's choice. If anything, it could push him harder to Ann Arbor. Also, the fact that there is no trade talk out of SF is a strong, but not absolute, clue that JH has made it known he is a strong lean to M. This effectively neuters SF's ability to get anything in return for JH.
The worry would be if by some surprise, he were fired this week and a deal did not get closed. This would indicate serious JH NFL shopping, and would allow him complete freedom to select a franchise. I don't believe this will happen, but would be a huge concern.
December 22nd, 2014 at 3:52 PM ^
A trade here has no effect on Harbaugh's choice. If anything, it could push him harder to Ann Arbor. Also, the fact that there is no trade talk out of SF is a strong, but not absolute, clue that JH has made it known he is a strong lean to M. This effectively neuters SF's ability to get anything in return for JH.
The worry would be if by some surprise, he were fired this week and a deal did not get closed. This would indicate serious JH NFL shopping, and would allow him complete freedom to select a franchise. I don't believe this will happen, but would be a huge concern.
December 22nd, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^
A trade here has no effect on Harbaugh's choice. If anything, it could push him harder to Ann Arbor. Also, the fact that there is no trade talk out of SF is a strong, but not absolute, clue that JH has made it known he is a strong lean to M. This effectively neuters SF's ability to get anything in return for JH.
The worry would be if by some surprise, he were fired this week and a deal did not get closed. This would indicate serious JH NFL shopping, and would allow him complete freedom to select a franchise. I don't believe this will happen, but would be a huge concern.
December 22nd, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^
A trade here has no effect on Harbaugh's choice. If anything, it could push him harder to Ann Arbor. Also, the fact that there is no trade talk out of SF is a strong, but not absolute, clue that JH has made it known he is a strong lean to M. This effectively neuters SF's ability to get anything in return for JH.
The worry would be if by some surprise, he were fired this week and a deal did not get closed. This would indicate serious JH NFL shopping, and would allow him complete freedom to select a franchise. I don't believe this will happen, but would be a huge concern.
December 22nd, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^
A trade here has no effect on Harbaugh's choice. If anything, it could push him harder to Ann Arbor. Also, the fact that there is no trade talk out of SF is a strong, but not absolute, clue that JH has made it known he is a strong lean to M. This effectively neuters SF's ability to get anything in return for JH.
The worry would be if by some surprise, he were fired this week and a deal did not get closed. This would indicate serious JH NFL shopping, and would allow him complete freedom to select a franchise. I don't believe this will happen, but would be a huge concern.
December 22nd, 2014 at 3:54 PM ^
A trade here has no effect on Harbaugh's choice. If anything, it could push him harder to Ann Arbor. Also, the fact that there is no trade talk out of SF is a strong, but not absolute, clue that JH has made it known he is a strong lean to M. This effectively neuters SF's ability to get anything in return for JH.
The worry would be if by some surprise, he were fired this week and a deal did not get closed. This would indicate serious JH NFL shopping, and would allow him complete freedom to select a franchise. I don't believe this will happen, but would be a huge concern.
December 22nd, 2014 at 4:05 PM ^
on the rare sextuple post.
December 22nd, 2014 at 4:28 PM ^
Browser kept telling me to try again.
Sextuple poster is an idiot.
December 22nd, 2014 at 4:38 PM ^
paragraph so much I read all six.
December 22nd, 2014 at 4:56 PM ^
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