Time to kill Harbaugh/NFL rumors

Submitted by spookers on

This from Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News on Twitter:

Just spoke to Raiders owner Mark Davis, who confirmed he has talked with Jim Harbaugh recently but says Harbaugh is doing "something else."

 

Done and Done!

 

https://twitter.com/timkawakami

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ak47

December 29th, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^

I mean if he really wanted to he could turn around and quit tomorrow and take a job with an nfl team (I'm sure the nfl team would have to pay a lot of money to Michigan and there is probably some language in his release from the niners that would prevent him from coaching in the NFL next year without them getting some compensation) but if an NFL team wanted to pay that much money he could still do it.

As much as we dislike the NFL guys they probably are not actually wrong.  I'm sure the Raiders, Bears, Jets, and Falcons have all reached out to Harbaugh between yesterday and today to see if there was anyhing they could do to change his mind.  That's not saying they will but if they are doing that there is no reason for the NFL guys to not report it.  I fully expect Harbaugh to be our coach next year, doesn't mean the Bears are not going to try.

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Wolverine Devotee

December 29th, 2014 at 3:36 PM ^

Something on the situation from someone who actually matters.

 

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LSAClassOf2000

December 29th, 2014 at 3:44 PM ^

....as the NFL narrative they tried so hard to keep consistent and true goes:

You can laugh, sure, but you have to admire the stubborn tenacity with which it was done...almost.

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PurpleStuff

December 29th, 2014 at 3:55 PM ^

This really shouldn't be surprising.  Schefter's sources are probably all folks who work for NFL teams or agents for NFL coaches.  Agents want these rumors around to drive up the price for all of their other clients.  NFL owners who don't want to pay $8 million and give total control to Harbaugh still want to look like they tried so their fans don't mutiny when they trot out some retread or unheard of coordinator as the new head coach.

It's impressive that they can keep this up when the Niners already agreed to let him go (Does anyone really think they'd risk letting him go to another NFL team with zero compensation?), but it shouldn't be a total surprise.

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Yeoman

December 29th, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^

Does the Niners agreement to "let him go" include waiving their NFL rights to his services?

I'm guessing not. They own his rights for another year and there's no reason for them to give that up even if they're certain he's taken the Michigan job. It's to the 49ers advantage to keep those rights in place; it's to Michigan's advantage to keep those rights in place and discourage competition; Harbaugh presumably doesn't care. Nobody involved so far would have offered them anything for a waiver and you don't give up your legal rights for nothing even if they're worthless.

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PurpleStuff

December 29th, 2014 at 5:00 PM ^

We've all seen what can happen when you expect people in charge to act rationally (SEE: Brandon, David) and we are talking about people who actively pushed Jim Harbaugh out of their football organization, but I can't imagine they would allow him to go to another NFL team without being compensated, or giving up that right without knowing damn well what is happening and that it doesn't involve moving across the bay.  Or maybe even, like you suggest, keeping that right even if he doesn't take an NFL job right away.

The fact that it wasn't mentioned by the Niners and that they cut ties with Harbaugh so soon after the game leads me to believe they knew for a fact he was going to Michigan and that this was all done ahead of time.  The fact that all these nebulous reports about continuing NFL interest don't even address the need to compensate the Niners further confirms that people are just talking out of their ass in NFL circles.

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Yeoman

December 29th, 2014 at 5:12 PM ^

And I still think their rights must be in place. The worst-case scenario of incompetency is that they didn't bother to do anything, and that would still leave their rights intact. They'd have to draw up papers waiving them, and who's on the other side making an offer?

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PurpleStuff

December 29th, 2014 at 5:19 PM ^

Kawakami claims he reconfirmed with Niners ownership that Harbaugh has in fact been released from his deal without any restrictions, NFL or otherwise.  Which basically tells me this was a done deal for at least a few days and the Niners have been in the loop the whole time.

Like you say, they may very well maintain the right to some mid-round pick down the road if Harbaugh should sign with another team, but everything they are doing/saying jives with him going to Michigan.

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UofM Die Hard …

December 29th, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^

he has signed. 

 

Next week after its official official, NFLers will still report "Yes he has signed but there is a clause that leads to a document in the D.C. archives that says he might be able to talk with NFL teams GMs second cousins who have black hair....so dont count the NFL out yet"

 

 

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PA Wolverine

December 29th, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^

Wonder when one of the NFL guys will dream up the scenario that Harbaugh will coach Michigan on Saturdays and an NFL team on Sundays.  It is about the only thing they have left to save face.

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