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

BlueTuesday

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)

GoBlue

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!!!

evenyoubrutus

December 17th, 2014 at 9:55 PM ^

Not talking about the OP. There was someone in the comments who said he has the same information and had emails to prove it but that it was Harbaugh's parents who were looking at homes (the inference is that they are moving to Ann Arbor to be closer to Jim). He asked how to contact Brian and said he would email him when he got home.

djmiller3278

December 17th, 2014 at 9:21 PM ^

To let all the high profile coaches know that Michigan is willing to pay for the best! Even if Jim doesn't except this could bring new high profile coaches to light! Coaches that weren't even thinking about going anywhere may throw their name in the hat now....we've made it public....we only want the elite coaches out there and were willing to pay the price.....very lucrative!

gustave ferbert

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.

lilpenny1316

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.  

BlueMan80

December 17th, 2014 at 9:31 PM ^

And begged off ahead of time. Makes sense. If Jim wants to be here, he can certainly say it next week prior to coaching his last game for the 49ers. The old win for the Gipper strategy.

UM Indy

December 17th, 2014 at 9:35 PM ^

Predominant question that arises from all of this - how do so many people get paid so much money to get shit so wrong? Then when proven wrong they simply change the story, keep their jobs and carry on? Neither here nor there if we land Jimmy but it's annoying.

mich_engineer

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*

Njia

December 17th, 2014 at 9:38 PM ^

Apart from getting Harbaugh's attention that Michigan means business this time, I think $8M per year is intended to do two things:

1. Send a signal to NFL owners that if they want to outbid Michigan, they had better be damn sure they really think he is the Second Coming of Lombardi because they will have to be prepared to pay him like he is; to a degree this also has the effect of shackling trade efforts on the part of the Niners.

2. It sends a signal to Plan B that ANYONE could be in play, including guys who may be quite comfortable where they are right now. No agent of any coach is going to look past this kind of a payday if Harbaugh turns Michigan down. Mullen? Miles? Stoops? For this kind of money, why not Saban himself? Agents will be tripping over themselves to call Hackett.

Brandon was a pretender. Hackett is the real BOSS.

gustave ferbert

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. . .

Njia

December 17th, 2014 at 9:39 PM ^

Apart from getting Harbaugh's attention that Michigan means business this time, I think $8M per year is intended to do two things:

1. Send a signal to NFL owners that if they want to outbid Michigan, they had better be damn sure they really think he is the Second Coming of Lombardi because they will have to be prepared to pay him like he is; to a degree this also has the effect of shackling trade efforts on the part of the Niners.

2. It sends a signal to Plan B that ANYONE could be in play, including guys who may be quite comfortable where they are right now. No agent of any coach is going to look past this kind of a payday if Harbaugh turns Michigan down. Mullen? Miles? Stoops? For this kind of money, why not Saban himself? Agents will be tripping over themselves to call Hackett.

Brandon was a pretender. Hackett is the real BOSS.

SFBlue

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. 

Six Zero

December 17th, 2014 at 9:40 PM ^

The only thing the NFL can offer Jim is mountains and mountains of money. And Jim's already got quite a bit of it.



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...