Browns tried to TRADE for Harbaugh

Submitted by superstringer on

This is NOT OT, b/c, it's Jim Harbaugh fergodsake.

ESPN reporting, but 49ers are denying, that the Browns tried to make a package to get Harbaugh to be their coach.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10498181/cleveland-browns-nearly-acquired-san-francisco-head-coach-jim-harbaugh-draft-picks

I think it would have been hilarious that Brown/OSU fans would have been conflicted to have the known winner in Harbaugh... but to have a UM QB in Harbaugh.  It would be like (for you Lions fans, which I'm not) having your new coach be... wait... uhh... hmmm.... I'm trying to think of a highly-accomplished OSU QB... and drawing a total blank.

B1G_Fan

February 21st, 2014 at 7:02 PM ^

Not really. I'm sure Lions fans loved Spielman when he was a Lion. Once you're in the NFL you're a (insert team name here) also. Not to mention Harbaugh is from Ohio

randyfloyd

February 21st, 2014 at 7:03 PM ^

As a Browns/Michigan fan I'm not sure how to take this. While I think Harbaugh is a great coach I really don't think he would want to come to Cleveland, the guy loves the Bay Area too much, so I'm gonna call BS on this story.....

Mike Kenn

February 21st, 2014 at 7:18 PM ^

Supposedly the Browns initiated the talks. Then Harbaugh thought about for a little while before ultimately saying no. But I guess it was pretty close to happening and Harbaugh must have had some kind of interest for talks to get that far along.

991GT3

February 21st, 2014 at 7:20 PM ^

do not get along. There have been many reports of their continuing conflict. Imagine if Harbaugh was here. Brandon would have little to no influence regarding the football team. That could bleed to other sport coaches asseting their independence.

Brandon would never have a Harbaugh type of guy here. Hoke is the perfect coach for Brandon.

LSAClassOf2000

February 21st, 2014 at 7:23 PM ^

Would this have been a first in the NFL had it managed to take place somehow? I know that there are a handful of manager trades in the history of major league baseball, including one straight-up manager swap (which involved the Detroit Tigers, strangely enough), but I don't know if this has happened in the NFL. I tend to think that it has not, but I could be wrong. 

feanor

February 21st, 2014 at 7:34 PM ^

After compiling a 40–28 win-loss record (including playoffs) in four seasons with the Raiders, Gruden replaced the fired Tony Dungy as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002, via a high-stakes trade that included Tampa Bay's 2002 and2003 first-round draft picks, 2002 and 2004 second-round draft picks, and $8 million in cash.[10]

LJ

February 21st, 2014 at 7:27 PM ^

I know you're probably talking about the NFL when you say "I'm trying to think of a highly-accomplished OSU QB," but it's a little hard for a UM to joke when Troy Smith, Terelle Pryor, and Braxton have pretty much taken us to the woodshed for the past 10 years.

Snow Sucks

February 21st, 2014 at 8:01 PM ^

As a Browns and M fan, I can tell you that Browns/Buckeyes fans don't care if a dude is from Michigan, only that he wins. Now, is it easier to put a M guy within the Browns organization down when he does poorly? Sure, that is without question.

uofmfan_13

February 21st, 2014 at 8:02 PM ^

Cleveland seems to always be desperate with their pro teams.  What a wreck of a pro sports city it has become. I guess the Indians were a bit better last year?  But what happened to the Browns and Cavs.  Well, I guess Lebron happened to the Cavs... but geez the Browns are just a joke.

SECcashnassadvantage

February 21st, 2014 at 8:57 PM ^

Brandon pay him 10 million to motivate our players. He might be pissed they were shopping him. The only way we will beat Urban and Dantonio is with a good coach.

Rodriguesqe

February 21st, 2014 at 9:10 PM ^

22 posts and no speculation on implications this might have on harbaugh's return to ann arbor?? wth.

im not in the hoke cant win camp, and i think harbaugh is a bit of an ass, but if i heard he bought a new pair of jeans i'd wonder if jeans meant he might come home.

getting jh out of the bay is 1/2 the battle. if hoke hasnt gotten the job done in 2 years and jh spent the last 2 years in CLEVELAND, blue> browns.

so, go browns i guess.

falco_alba15

February 22nd, 2014 at 8:17 AM ^

Considering that in the next two years, Hoke will either have validated himself as a head coach or he will be on the hot seat. Pulling Harbaugh from the 49ers is a lot harder than pulling him from the Browns, and getting him back to the Midwest would have been a great insurance policy. But then again, with Brandon's undivided support of Hoke, even if Harbaugh was in the Midwest, it probably wouldn't make a difference.

French West Indian

February 22nd, 2014 at 9:58 AM ^

...with that.  Harbaugh seems to have a laser focus on winning and given how close he's come to conquering the NFL I can't imagine him leaving until he's done that.

But should he win a Super Bowl then I think it's a real possibility that he might return to Ann Arbor to live out the rest of his life as an untouchable demi-god.

Mr. Yost

February 21st, 2014 at 9:32 PM ^

Lions fans would take Troy Smith and Maurice Clarett led by Jim Tressel if it meant 12+ wins a year and Super Bowl appearances. Browns and Bengals fans would take Henne, Edwards and Woodson if it meant the same. It's not like any of those 3 franchises have done much over the past 20 years.