CC: Is it a bad sign that the $49 million offer was leaked?
Assuming that the reports are accurate, I don't see how it benefits Michigan for the terms of its jaw-dropping offer to be out there for the world to know. Is it possible that the offer was leaked by Harbaugh's people? Might this be an indication that he's using Michigan for leverage with other NFL teams? I know the perception in our world has been that Harbaugh would never do that to his alma mater, but I'm having trouble seeing it any other way.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:14 PM ^
To be perfectly honest, I don't think Harbaugh loves Michigan as much as some think....at least not now anyway. I think it started after he was passed over for the QB coaching job. And with his ego, I think he took it personally.
Then came the harsh comments about Michigan's academic standards for athlethes while at Stanford.
Sorry to say if Oakland comes close to matching Michigan's offer, I think he stays in the Bay area. Hope I'm wrong, but that's just how I'm reading the tea leaves.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:19 PM ^
I don't think that his unhappiness over not getting the QB coaching job would keep him from taking the offer. It's going to be about whether the money and fit are right now. If he's not won over by this offer, there are other fish out there.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:35 PM ^
I'm sure he has moved on from his "fanboy" Michigan days, I agree.
The only thing that still scares me is if an NFL franchise gives him personnel responsibility as well as HC duty. That is an offer you dont pass up even if it is Oakland.
The only other NFL HC with that is Belichik in NE.
If something like that happens all bets are off. If that doesn't happen I think he comes home. That's why it's not a done deal.
And honestly he is still in SF and that's really where he wants to be so until he is fired he is still the HC in SF. They could dump the GM in favor of JH for all we know.
Nobody knows much really because not everything has happened yet.
It will be a fun and exciting 11-14 days.
Woo party.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:15 PM ^
I just cannot believe how quiet this search has been. How is nobody talking? I cannot remember a single coaching search from a major program in the last decade that has been this quiet.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:16 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:17 PM ^
I still would make 3 times what Jim Harbaugh would in a year
— Miguel Cabrera (@DrunkMiggy) December 18, 2014December 17th, 2014 at 9:17 PM ^
If you're Michigan it seems to me a leak would benefit your position by bringing this publicity storm down on Harbaugh.
If you're on ESPN, and friends, family, and alumns you played alongside start calling you, you have to listen. They all want you to make a decision to come home, and it becomes difficult to resist that.
You have to win hearts. Harbaugh can get money anywhere. Plus money doesn't seem to motivate him, based solely on the crazy speeches of his I've read.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:18 PM ^
Harbaugh's agent is going to leak it. If Harbaugh decides to stay in the NFL his agent is going to want a deal better then the Michigan deal. Of course this will all be tied to the trade talk to the teams Harbaugh would be willing to coach for. It's a buisness and it will come down to Harbuagh final decision of wanting to stay in the NFL or head to Michigan. Either way he will be a wealthy man!
December 17th, 2014 at 9:18 PM ^
Although we heard rumors about $49 million since Monday, the story didn't seem to break until Joe Pequeno tweeting the following:
A friend close to the Michigan program told me Michigan is offering Jim Harbaugh 49 million for six years to be the team's new coach.
— Joe Pequeno (@JoePequenoCBS5) December 17, 2014So, it would appear that this was leaked by the Michigan camp.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:23 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:27 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:29 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:33 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:33 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:33 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:34 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:38 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:39 PM ^
No NFL team will view Harbaugh as a sure a long term thing as Michigan does, so there's no chance any of them will come close to this offer. He's worn thin in SF in four years and that will scare NFL teams, at least as far as this kind of contract goes.
He's made for college and he'll be in AA by Jan 1.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:45 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:48 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:48 PM ^
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December 17th, 2014 at 11:22 PM ^
I believe a first offer would have been met with a "no" rather than a "not enough." He's either interested or he's not. If he said "not enough," he's using us as leverage to get more money elsewhere,
December 17th, 2014 at 9:53 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:53 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 9:56 PM ^
I kind of think leak was intentional, to show Hackettt is playing chess not checkers and that Michigan has some balls. Regardless if Jim comes or not and I think that he will,Jim Hackett has done this masterfully With sniper type Percision. If Jim doesnt come we cant say that everything that could have been done wasnt. But I think the deal gets done before the New Year
December 17th, 2014 at 9:56 PM ^
I think JH likes Mich as much as we do - & maybe even more. He is a star QB that played under Bo for fucksake.
I can GUARANFUCKENTEE he wants to slap that smug look right off Dantonio's face.
JH is looking to future battles with Saban. Probably within 3 yrs IMO. 2 yrs we will be Big Ten Champs & top 4.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:58 PM ^
I agree it is not optimal that the figures are out, but at the same time it will be a bidding war regardless, and Michigan will lose in that situation. Harbaugh will come to Michigan if he wants to coach college again, and I don't expect money will be much of a factor if he stays in the NFL.
December 17th, 2014 at 10:00 PM ^
I think JH likes Mich as much as we do - & maybe even more. He is a star QB that played under Bo for fucksake.
I can GUARANFUCKENTEE he wants to slap that smug look right off Dantonio's face.
JH is looking to future battles with Saban. Probably within 3 yrs IMO. 2 yrs we will be Big Ten Champs & top 4.
December 17th, 2014 at 10:04 PM ^
I think JH likes Mich as much as we do - & maybe even more. He is a star QB that played under Bo for fucksake.
I can GUARANFUCKENTEE he wants to slap that smug look right off Dantonio's face.
JH is looking to future battles with Saban. Probably within 3 yrs IMO. 2 yrs we will be Big Ten Champs & top 4.
December 17th, 2014 at 10:18 PM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 10:59 PM ^
and now it's Jim's turn to make a play. He can say yes and everyone outside of the NFL is happy. He can say no and at least every UM fan and Hackett knows he gave it his best shot and he goes to Plan B and better get that one or we look as bad as Wisconsin.
Even though today's reality is lawyers and agents making all the decisions, I like to think Jim sits down with family and explains the options and they make the decision with everyone's input. This is more than just him, he is a family man so they are very important.
He probably hates having the numbers out there before he makes the decision, but it really comes down to college=recruitingand 24/7 football; or the NFL=coaching and some personel decisions but more time at home than in college.
We will know in about 11-13 days.
December 17th, 2014 at 11:05 PM ^
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December 17th, 2014 at 11:34 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 12:21 AM ^
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December 18th, 2014 at 1:41 AM ^
December 17th, 2014 at 11:34 PM ^
Maybe it's because it is no longer an offer, but a done deal!
December 18th, 2014 at 2:53 AM ^
So I thought about this some more, and maybe it is actually good news. Here is what ocurred to me. The offer Michigan made Jim Harbaugh would make him not only the highest paid college coach, but NFL coach as well. It appears calculated to beat Payton, currently the highest paid guy, who makes $8 million. Michigan could have leaked this, as part of a "shock and awe" compaign to scuttle any potential trade.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:54 AM ^
Whether JimBaugh comes to U-M or not, one thing is certain, the man is going to get PAID
December 18th, 2014 at 3:54 AM ^
Edit: long time lurker (like 2007 days)
TL;DR this thread
This opinion is coming from an investment banking POV (which pretty much translates into any "broker" type profession). By and large, the "leak" generally benefits the one with the leverage - which is obviously Harbizzle.'
There are many outlier arguments that could be made, but the bottom line is that H-dizzles agent most certainly had a hand in leaking this info out to best serve the interests of his cient - which is expected. The back channel convos have already taken place, and from my POV, I see this as a last ditch effort by Harbaugh's agrent to see if he can possibly yield a higher offer (which is doubtful).
This is textbook negotations. However, from my extremely limited expertise NCAA HC search processes, I will submit that after seeing the evidence/elements at play this week, I am pretty sure that Harbaugh will become the next HC at UM.
Of course, take this for what it's worth after 3 bottles of wine. But, pattern recognition is an elementary human principle that is engrained at all levels of business and it rarely deviates from it's core.
So, to summarize, it's HAPPENING.
December 18th, 2014 at 8:21 AM ^
People are reading way too much into this. 99% probability it's just a regular old leak.
Neither Harbaugh nor Michigan really benefits from the leak. Every bit of information in the leak is something that Harbaugh's agent can tell the Jets, the Raiders, or the Bears already. No leak needed. And it probably isn't in Harbaugh's best interest for the world to know that his alma mater offered him $8 million per year and he turned it down. I'm sure that he wants to stay in our good graces as a fallback option.
It doesn't benefit Michigan for the number to be known before we hire a coach. It is bad for Michigan for the next guy to know that we were so desperate we offered the previous guy $8 Million. It would be ideal for the next guy to not know that number.
In short, it means absolutely nothing, good or bad.
December 18th, 2014 at 8:53 AM ^
It means nothing that this information was picked up by the NFL, it has been floating around the internet for awhile. Jim Harbaugh has more than likely had the offer for over a week. The only difference is that the majority of the NFL that have been saying there is no way, are now saying it is possible.