Leonhall

December 27th, 2020 at 9:16 PM ^

This has the makings of a shitty deal for us. We’ll get stuck trying to find a coach in February. I think there’s about a 5% chance harbaugh leaves, but knowing our luck, we’ll be left at the altar. 

Wolverine 73

December 27th, 2020 at 9:25 PM ^

If that happens, then Warde is an idiot.  If he wants to move on, he surely has given Harbaugh a drop dead date to agree on a deal so he won’t be left at the altar.  If he doesn’t want to move on, then a deal should be relatively easy to do.  If dollars are a big issue, see first point.  Warde cannot let Michigan be held hostage to a Harbaugh who won’t commit, if that is indeed the case.  

Navy Wolverine

December 27th, 2020 at 9:53 PM ^

It seems like Warde would rather have Harbaugh coach the last year of his contract then fire him and pay the buyout(s). Otherwise then why offer the extension in the first place or why hasn't he already fired him? I'm not sure how Warde can offer him a drop dead date if he has no intention of firing him. If Warde's plan is counting on Harbaugh finding an NFL job, then that's a very bad plan.

ERdocLSA2004

December 27th, 2020 at 10:05 PM ^

Exactly this.  I wrote a few weeks ago that a third option was available to Harbaugh.  This would be to work the remaining year of his contract and put Warde’s feet to the fire.  Depending on the details of the extension, JH could make more money by not signing it and making Warde either fire him, or revisit this whole incompetent process after next season.

Go for two

December 28th, 2020 at 8:41 AM ^

There has to be a deadline in all of this. Right now, I see hundreds of players in the transfer portal. There are 3 five star DT and several highly rated CB. I can’t imagine someone wanting to come here with no defensive coordinator. Notably absent from the portal is Dylan McCaffrey. I am convinced we would have been in much better shape this year if he would have been the starter. Would he return next year?

uminks

December 28th, 2020 at 1:34 PM ^

I don't think Warde has given a hard date for signing the contract extension.. My guess is Harbaugh may only have one or two teams in the NFL he is willing to coach. This may be part of the deal Warde made. I bet Harbaugh gets his dream job with one of the NFL teams he wants to coach for, or he ends up back at Michigan. This drama will not end until February and if Harbaugh leaves the top coaches may have already be gone. We will end up with Warde's 4th or 5th option as our new coach if Harbaugh leaves.

Red is Blue

December 29th, 2020 at 8:16 AM ^

Who knows what is happening behind closed doors. 

1)  Warde told JH to go get another job and is allowing him a soft landing.  JH wants to make it look like he was not fired.    Meanwhile Warde as an agreement in principle with a replacement.  The delay in public announcement is consistent with this.  On its surface, DBrown "firing" is not, but maybe DB knew he was gone either way and negotiated a buy out so he had time to look for a new gig.

OR

2)  Warde and JH have an agreement in principle, but haven't been able to finalize.  Meanwhile JH is shopping for a new DC.

 

StirredNotShaken

December 27th, 2020 at 9:24 PM ^

I suspect that SFs answer was something along the lines of "He's weird as hell... Yet oddly productive for a short period of time... Just make sure you have a succession plan in place on day one."

LabattsBleu

December 28th, 2020 at 12:27 PM ^

Well, if the extension is on the table and Harbaugh has yet to sign it, he's equally to blame...

Pure speculation on my part:

The longer this goes, the more it seems likely, to me at least, that Harbaugh is holding out for more money or trying to force Manuel to fire him so he gets his 10 million buyout.

Manuel needs to put a stale date on that contract and be ok with firing Harbaugh if the extension hasn't been signed by then.

He'd be an idiot if he isn't back channeling other coaches during this mulling/stalling tactic by Harbaugh

Preacher Mike

December 28th, 2020 at 2:44 PM ^

I don't imagine the feedback they will get will help Harbaugh. He was run out of town by management because they couldn't stand him even though he was amazingly successful. Not sure who that says more about, Harbaugh or Niners' ownership, but I don't think an NFL team is going to get glowing reviews about JH.