jim harbaugh
coaching fiasco 2014
lolnflreporters

SEARCHBITS XIX: GONE TO PLAID Comment Count

Brian

plaid-958x360[1]

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:

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:

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.

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.

Comments

ca_prophet

December 18th, 2014 at 5:51 AM ^

We lined up the stakeholders to support our top choice - no infighting like last time - and got the buy-in ahead of time to throw the big dollars at our top choice.  (And I can see why our President might have had to get talked into it - highest paid coach in football, pro or not? - but I'm glad we worked that out.)

Now it's up to Harbaugh.  Super Bowl or National Championship?  There's a lot of factors to weigh for him, and I hope even if he turns us down we'll keep that in mind.

I'm not eager to find out what our plan B is - I think of the Miles/Mora/Stoops/Mullen group, only Stoops wouldn't be a letdown for me - so I hope it's the latter.

 

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Ed Shuttlesworth

December 18th, 2014 at 7:21 AM ^

Too much optimism for too many marginal reasons (the NFL reporters' so-called self interest in NFL coaches not leaving the NFL.)  Schefter's reporting both the offer and sources close to the negotiations saying he's unlikely to accept.    Is anyone reporting an actual source saying he *is* likely to accept or is leaning toward accepting?  Too much of the optimism is coming from the Michigan "side" of the deal, and that appears to be just people moving up and down their personal optimism scale based on hearsay -- and of course Michigan isn't the the side that has to say "Yes."

This leaked from Harbaugh's side, which means he's probably using it for leverage, which means he's just going to make a business deal, which means some NFL team will likely wind up hitting the bid and there's a very good chance he accepts.  If this is strictly business -- and it appears to be -- our chances fade significantly.

Still hope he comes, still think there's a chance, still hope Plan B is solid and in the works.

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True Blue in s…

December 18th, 2014 at 8:33 AM ^

The pressure for JH if he comes will be enormous but he will have the full power that has never been seen before at A2. At least the offer at that magnitude lets all the other programs know UM is dead serious.

Joined: 12/14/2014

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skifly

December 18th, 2014 at 9:03 AM ^

For two reasons:

1) It demonstrates to me (and the rest of the Michigan faithful) that Hackett - and the powers that be - understand that we can't let Michigan languish in mediocrity any longer.  If you want to be the (leaders and) best, pony up and pay the best.

2) IF for some unearthly reason JH decides to stay with the NFL, this offer certainly has other high profile coaches, who previously may have not been or only mildly interested in the Michigan HC position, picking up the phone and calling their agents.  A potential $8 million/year payday won't go unnoticed in CFB or NFL circles...   

Joined: 09/06/2014

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kzoomgr

December 18th, 2014 at 9:51 AM ^

To the idea that JH believes he has unfinished business in the NFL, he's only 50, so could spend 6 years back home building UM into a national power and still make a 2nd run at the NFL. Or maybe he loves college enough to just stay...

Joined: 11/10/2014

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Lovebluebuds

December 18th, 2014 at 10:05 AM ^

I believe he's coming, and want that badly! However if he's going to go back to the NFL then he shouldn't leave it in the first place, I wouldn't and I wouldn't expect him to. He's coming and he's going to stay, or he's staying there (which better not be true)!

Joined: 12/14/2014

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Chitown Kev

December 18th, 2014 at 10:49 AM ^

1) When it HAPPENS (or doesn't happen) mgoblog will blow up and might take the internet down with it.

 

2) This offer ( the numbers of which ,yes, has been around for at least 2 weeks) makes me not feel so bad even if Harbaugh decides to stay in the NFL...about which I will say more in a moment.

3) With these kind of numbers out there, I am convinced that Plan B is Leslie Edwin Miles.

4) Someone said in one of these comments here that the NFL is acting a bit like a mafia and you can see that in the way that the reporters are acting and now beginning to backtrack. When I look at it in that way, I guess I can see how the NFL considers Harbaugh to be their exclusive commodity AND I think that what Harbaugh may be trying to do is not to burn any bridges so that he could go back to the NFL  in 7-10 years.

 

Of course rebuilding the UM program and winning a couple of NCs will take care of that.

5. Brian, you rock. You have disseminated most of the infor that you have (at least what you can say) with a little UM spin (which is to be expected) , you've reported on your hedges and you've shown the NFL guys how it's done and now they are sooooooooooo hatin.'

 

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maize-blue

December 18th, 2014 at 10:57 AM ^

National level media appears to be way behind on Harbaugh. They are just now beginning to see and discuss the ties/connection/draw that Harbaugh would have to Michigan. These are the same things that have been discussed around these parts for weeks.

Joined: 01/10/2013

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BayWolves

December 18th, 2014 at 11:01 AM ^

FYI 8 million dollars in the bay buys about 3.5 million worth of house, goods or services in Michigan so staying in the Bay Area for this money is tantamount to a pay cut when compared to what you can do with that Amorim Michigan so do the math JH.



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ChicagoBigHouse

December 18th, 2014 at 11:07 AM ^

Per my know a guy who knows a guy source (means nothing), as of yesterday, harbaugh hasn't accepted. He doesn't know what to do despite the big dollars and his family pushing him towards the job. In my view, it is no better than a 50:50 chance he takes the job.

Joined: 10/25/2008

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west2

December 18th, 2014 at 11:22 AM ^

is probably a much better approach. Supporting those that are using their resources to the best of their ability to make positive things happen is what is needed right now at M. The toxic bratty attitude of if I don't get what I want I am unhappy and gonna dump on everybody isn't helping Michigan's cause right now. This was a response to a previous post by someone criticizing Hackett saying he will be a failure if he doesn't reel in Harbaugh. Sat on my phone for a bit thats why its past its relevance to the current discussion. not a rant-haha

Joined: 01/23/2011

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Lynettee

December 18th, 2014 at 1:23 PM ^

Elizabeth . I see what you mean... Jack `s comment is flabbergasting... last saturday I got a top of the range Mini Cooper since getting a check for $7464 this-last/month and more than $10k last-month . without a doubt its the most-comfortable work Ive ever had . I began this nine months/ago and right away started to bring home over $69 per/hr . visit this web-site w­w­w.T­ra­de­S­i­lo.Co­m

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