December 30th, 2014 at 1:17 AM ^
-NFL insiders
December 30th, 2014 at 3:44 AM ^
We have been told so much about Harbaugh "preferring the NFL" that many of us beieve it on some level and think that it took an interevention by his friends and family to get him to Ann Arbor.
But what if Jim Harbaugh made an intellectual business decision to return to Ann Arbor? What if he realized he didn't want the job of rebuilding a program that was going to have to give up at least two first rounders and two second rounders to get him? What if he realized he may be uprooting his family to LA in a couple of years if he takes the Oakland job? What if he realized there was always going to be the risk that a putz like Baalke would turn up in the GM's seat anywhere in the NFL?
What if Jim Harbaugh decided he was better off professionally and personally at the University of Michigan than he would have been coaching anywhere in the NFL next year?
That is what I think really happened.
December 30th, 2014 at 7:07 AM ^
I'm not sure why "his heart is in the NFL and he'll be back" is the one NFL talking point that we're still supposed to believe? I'm not buying it.
December 30th, 2014 at 8:21 AM ^
Its quite obvious money is only one factor... having complete autonomy over the program itself is something he will never find in the NFL.
December 30th, 2014 at 9:12 AM ^
December 30th, 2014 at 10:25 AM ^
What he talked about most were the relationships that formed in the journey.
Instead of "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing", Vince Lombardi later lamented that a correct phrasing of his outlook would have been along the lines of "Preparing to win is the only thing". Perhaps with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind uncompromised by the suits.
December 30th, 2014 at 8:49 AM ^
December 30th, 2014 at 9:25 AM ^
December 30th, 2014 at 1:17 AM ^
That's beautiful
December 30th, 2014 at 1:19 AM ^
2. Would you blame him? Other than Carr and Mack that team is a dumpster fire.
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December 30th, 2014 at 1:27 AM ^
December 30th, 2014 at 1:28 AM ^
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December 30th, 2014 at 1:33 AM ^
Well let me just quote the late-great Colonel Sanders, who said, "I'm too drunk to taste this chicken."
December 30th, 2014 at 1:32 AM ^
Charles woodson is still playing very well, but he is in his last years. I think what the poster is getting at is players that truly have a long term future on that team, and there just really aren't any other than mack and carr.
December 30th, 2014 at 1:28 AM ^
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December 30th, 2014 at 1:28 AM ^
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December 30th, 2014 at 1:29 AM ^
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December 30th, 2014 at 9:16 AM ^
December 30th, 2014 at 4:47 AM ^
#2 is completly unfair to dumpster fires
December 30th, 2014 at 1:20 AM ^
December 30th, 2014 at 1:23 AM ^
I think you may be missing the point here...
December 30th, 2014 at 1:22 AM ^
This should just about shut everyone up,
Can't wait for the press conference.
December 30th, 2014 at 1:23 AM ^
December 30th, 2014 at 1:24 AM ^
Exactly. It was NEVER about the money.
December 30th, 2014 at 1:58 AM ^
CA does have a higher state income tax but the numbers aren't even close to that. Marginal rate above ~ half a million is 12.3% so about 3x that of Michigan. Still, 8% of $8MM is only $640 so if you gross that up $750M or so you wind up at about the same after tax number. Of course, there may be ways around those taxes...but that's another topic. Even at $9 million in CA your after tax income is above $8 millon in MI.
Where the Bay Area is much worse is the cost of housing. It varies a bit by where you are but if you want a baller mansion, especially in SF you would pay way more than you would in Ann Arbor. I mean even general housing in SF is what, maybe 4 times the price of what it would be in Ann Arbor. I mean you can go East Bay or somewhere way out or whatever but you'll pay in one form or another.
December 30th, 2014 at 2:15 AM ^
December 30th, 2014 at 6:27 AM ^
You live in Wisconsin.
December 30th, 2014 at 2:26 AM ^
December 30th, 2014 at 4:09 AM ^
$640,000, genius.
December 30th, 2014 at 6:51 AM ^
Federal and State? Also the first $500K is taxed at a much higher rate in CA. At $8M/yr, he'd pay close to $700K more taxes annually in CA. You'd need to get to about $9.4M in CA to equal $8M in MI.
December 30th, 2014 at 1:23 AM ^
1st: Watch your tone Garafolo or you'll get Harbaughed like Jimmy Schwartz.
2nd: You're proving an excellent point that we already knew, not everything is about money. These roots run deep.
3rd: I have from a reliable source that Garafolo left his mother at home knowing she had no elbows and walked on her hands.
December 30th, 2014 at 1:26 AM ^
"according to a well-placed source." getting tired of that line. who knows?
December 30th, 2014 at 1:31 AM ^
This is a pretty safe assumption. He formally closed the door on the NFL on the very first day he could have been available to another team. Had he wanted to he easily could have provoked a bidding war among franchises. Nor did he try to leverage any outstanding offers against what we were offering. He wanted Michigan and got it.
December 30th, 2014 at 1:39 AM ^
Mike Garafolo: "I do NOT understand how California state taxes work! Not at all!"
December 30th, 2014 at 1:41 AM ^
He's about to get whacked.
December 30th, 2014 at 1:53 AM ^
Garafolo, You insulted him a little bit.
December 30th, 2014 at 1:55 AM ^
I don't understand the anger towards Garafolo from a few in this thread. It's not like he is saying Harbaugh should have taken the Raiders offer. This just confirms, yet again, that he came to Michigan because he wants to be here, and not, as other NFL lackeys keep trying to say, only for the money.
December 30th, 2014 at 2:07 AM ^
The NFL mafia will have him on a short leash now. What he said doesn't match the narrative of the other NFL reporters.
December 30th, 2014 at 1:51 AM ^
December 30th, 2014 at 2:49 AM ^
Harbs loves Michigan football. Its one of his passions. He is also ultra competitive and wants to be a LEGEND by rebuilding Michigan football the right way. He also gets to spend quality time near his parents, and have a great community to raise his children in.
I dont know why that is so hard for some people to believe...unless they have a vested interest in spinning the Pro NFL spin.
I like this Garafolo guy's energy.
December 30th, 2014 at 5:58 AM ^
but we're fighting a losing battle with the NFL and their cronies ESPN. The narrative has been penned and history was written in advance.
December 30th, 2014 at 6:04 AM ^
I didn't realize what a bunch of hacks these guys really are until this Harbaugh seach.
December 30th, 2014 at 6:41 AM ^
Except it wouldn't have been more money -- or at least very unlikely -- because of the taxes in San Fran where he lived vs. Michigan and Ann Arbor. People always look at the lump sum and forget how crazy expensive everything is there, including taxes. $1 million buys you a four bedroom home in that area of California....$1 million here buys you a crazy big house + four car garage.
December 31st, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^
$1 million buys you a 2br house with a small yard and a 1-car garage .... (maybe).
December 30th, 2014 at 6:47 AM ^
Did you see what I did there...
December 30th, 2014 at 9:55 AM ^
I see what you did there.... and I like it.
December 30th, 2014 at 8:28 AM ^
and that Harbaugh will leave for the NFL as soon as he can.
December 30th, 2014 at 9:11 AM ^
December 30th, 2014 at 9:57 AM ^
...it's about sending a message...
If JH says that during the presser, I will scream uncontrollably