Harbaugh decision within 24-48 hours after season ending per Jay glazer

Submitted by Ryno2317 on
Interesting and somewhat makes sense if Harbaugh has made it known he wants to come to Michigan
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Tater

December 21st, 2014 at 4:51 PM ^

They want to fire Harbaugh and not pay $5 million.  Harbaugh wants to go to Michigan.  Harbaugh can't quit until the final game or the NFL will saddle him with the "quitter" label.  

I think it is going to add up to some kind of settlement that allows both parties to get on with their lives: the 49ers pay Harbaugh less money and he signs an agreement to not coach in the NFL for the next year.  

Joined: 08/13/2008

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Ray

December 21st, 2014 at 3:04 PM ^

I'd think firing means they've given up on realizing a trade value (i.e., he's going to Michigan).  Otherwise, not firing him means they want a custody battle because they see a payoff in that.  Are you arguing that he'd then be free to negotiate with other NFL teams if he's cut loose?  If so, I have to believe he already has a sense for what that market will bear.  Or is there some other angle I'm missing?

Joined: 07/05/2008

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Ray

December 21st, 2014 at 3:54 PM ^

If that is the case, I don't see why it's bad for us.  I think it would indicate that they don't see any realistic possibility of a trade and are making his departure a fait accompli.  I agree it seems on the face of it irrational, but maybe it's worth $5M for them to get started on their own coaching search without the constraint of an incumbent obligation to worry about.  The clock will be ticking for them, too.

In reality though, none of us knows the terms of his agreement (I've heard he may be able to walk away without obligation if it's to coach college, and I've heard others dispute that).  We also don't know what kind of back room deal is going on between Hackett, the Niners and JH--which I suspect really moots this whole discussion. 

All things equal though, I'd think though that early termination would be favorable to us since it allows us to work openly with a firm deadline.

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teldar

December 21st, 2014 at 4:28 PM ^

Does this mean that you think Michigan is going to pay a $5M buyout when they could hire him next week for (probably) nothing besides his contract? There was a thread earlier about whether or not there would be a buyout on Harbaugh's part if he left for college. I thought the feeling was that there was not.

 

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el segundo

December 21st, 2014 at 4:12 PM ^

They only have to pay him for the last year of his contract if he isn't working at all or is being paid less than his Niners' salary. In other words, they have to guarantee he makes his promised salary. But it doesn't make much sense for them to fire Harbaugh. If they know he wants to go to UM and they don't fire him, Harbaugh probably has to buy out the last year of his deal (unless he has an unusual contract). If they don't know what Harbaugh wants to do, they shouldn't fire him because they could get compensation from an NFL team or from UM.

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RHammer - SNRE 98

December 21st, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^

parting of the ways; ie. since the team and JH are the parties to the contract that involves the payment of the reported $5M (I haven't seen this doc anywhere...?) they could certainly reach another agreement between the two of them to a lower buyout figure or even no buyout at all (just a cancellation of the last year of the contract).  Hackett being involved could be helping to facilitate this kind of resolution, but I guess we'll have to see how it shakes out to know for sure...

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