John U. Bacon puts Harbaugh 80% staying, 20% NFL

If one were to read between all the lines today, it appears like Warde & Jim had a chat, and Warde offered an extension that makes it clear that Michigan wants to move on (whether this season or in the near future) unless Harbaugh delivers some substantial results that have so far eluded his program.

Jim probably felt slighted by the new offer, or genuinely wants to leave for whatever reason, and is therefore testing the NFL waters (to make it easier for both sides to move on) or to see if he HAS to come back to Michigan and take a deal he disagrees with.

If Jim was 100% wanting to stay at Michigan, he'd have signed by now and hired some new coordinators.  Clearly, he's not.  Whether he's mutually pursuing an exit (like how he's gently pushed some of his friends like Drevno and Pep out the door) or spitefully looking for an exit, doesn't really matter.

The bottom line is we're basically screwed now unless he leaves because all our rivals know he wants to go but didn't.

Hey, Jimbo, have a nice chartered flight and go fuck yourself nkthanks!

Translation: Harbaugh has a 20% chance of getting an NFL offer this week. 

Past time to pull the offer from the table and hire a guy that actually wants to be the coach at Michigan. 

Even if you think Harbaugh is a good coach, it never can work if he really wants a different job.

[edit;  Should have stated this initially...  I think Harbaugh is a very good HC.  Or at least he was...not sure what has been going on in his head for the last two + seasons...  But he has been 'not the same guy'  for a while now, plus now it is clear that he wants to be back in the NFL...]

I'm just as pissed about Harbaugh's lack of success here, but does everyone usually damn people with information coming in 3rd or 4th hand?

WHOS GOT IT BETTER THAN US

Weird thing about all of this is that if the Early Signing Period wasn't approved a few years back, this kind of timing for an extension contract to be announced wouldn't be unusual. A bit late, yes, but it wouldn't have come wrapped in all this fanbase angst. Sigh.

Bacon reports there is 100% chance Harbaugh will either stay or go

Warde should not let his number one priority be used as a fall back plan for a guy who is 0-whatever against Ohio state. That’s a joke. You want him back or not. He wants to stay or not. It’s January. 

Could it not just be that Warde low-balled the extension? How often does it happen that a person interviews for and lands a job that pays more than their current job, only for said person to show their current manager and successfully get a pay raise (without ever really wanting the other job in the first place)? Happens all the time. 

Warde: “Jim, we love ya and all. But we think your accomplishments thus far warrant a base compensation of $X. If you do all things you were brought here to do (i.e. beat OSU, compete for Big Ten and national titles, etc.) you can earn what you were making before and then some.”

Jim: “Hi Warde. I can’t say I disagree too much with your thinking. However, I think my base compensation of $X is too low. In fact, I think an NFL head coaching gig would pay me $X + $Y + incentives.”

Warde: “I guess we’ll see then. But for now, our offer stands as it is.”

The good news is that Michigan appears to be Harbaughs second choice, so...

My next door neighbor's cousin's step-sister is close to the program and she said that it is 50/50% as to whether Harbaugh stays or goes.  Bank It! 

Wild Guesses From A Michigan Outsider

Warde Manuel hasn’t received inquiries from any experienced coach who’s (a) very interested in taking the job if it were offered, (b) someone who’d excite the Michigan football fan base, retain enough of the good, current players and the recent commitments in the Class of 2021 while also attracting good assistant coaches and (c) cost less money than Harbaugh’s proposed extension would cost.

Jim Harbaugh hasn’t received any NFL offers that would entice him to reject an extension from Michigan.

And now for something from the Wayback Machine (Peabody's Improbable History)

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Be glad you don’t live in Georgia; you’d be dealing with this as well as the Senate run-off election.

Wednesday can’t get here soon enough.

I think John was referring to his blood pressure being 80/20. Someone call an ambulance.

Man, I really hope that after 6 weeks Harbaugh turns this job down after totally drawing out the process for his own personal interests and then we take another 6+ weeks to find a coach and staff all the while knowing we could’ve actually put this to bed awhile ago. That’d be cool! 

this is a joke...i hope the real story is a lot better than the perception.  Perception is that a coach who hasnt won anything here is leaving his alum out in the wind. Wow, if that is really the case I dont know why Warde hasnt fired him yet.

This is why I doubt any of these "insiders" know shit

These are businessmen doing business.

Chernobyl’s insider information is that Harbaugh returned from California on Saturday and signed on the dotted line, and also that Harbaugh hasn’t signed yet, and that there’s a 0-100% chance that he does. 

My worthless guess: He’s signed the extension and they’re waiting until they can officially announce the new coordinator(s) before announcing it. This way, the headline is something like: “Michigan announces new deal with Harbaugh along with new defensive coordinator,” instead of: “After 2-4 season, Michigan announces new deal with Harbaugh.”

Id put it at 50/50. I don’t think Harbaugh wants to come back to the mess he helped create. You are looking at 3 years just to get the defense playing well. The offense shows flashes but is still a mess but with an elite QB it could be good to great by the end of next season.

It’s Happening!!!

Poor Harbaugh. He looks so old and tired  compared to how he looked taking the 49ers job, even the Michigan job. I think these last 6 years of not doing the job expected of him has put a lot of stress on him. Watching the Alex Smith documentary on ESPN.

There is only one question here to ask: what does JH's ego say?

Accept a lower base pay offer with easier terms to fire  but big incentives to win - or hope an NFL forgets the zero moitivation season we went thru?

Warde may have said "check" the question is does JH say checkmate and accept or leave in a huff?

During my drive home from work Tom VH was on ESPNU radio. He said Harbaugh is a goner if the Charger offer him a contract. But he had no idea where Harbaugh ranked in the Chargers coaching search and how long this process would last.  It would suck if we head into March with no idea if Harbaugh is staying or leaving.

Wow, Heacock (ISU DC) just followed Michigan Football last evening. This could mean Harbaugh is out and the ISU crew will be moving in. Word is Harbaugh did interview with the Chargers GM while on vacation in SOCAL and The chargers may announce him as their new coach later this week. 

A bit optimistic given how much time has passed for JH to have signed with Michigan. My take is as of Jan 4-5, JH is still at 50/50. That will change in just the next few days or perhaps hours if something is announced later today.

Harbaugh is tarnished by many fans because of this delay and holding the FB program hostages these past 3-4 weeks. If JH stays here, he'll need to sow that "enthusiasm unknown to mankind" as he did in 2015. Plus, he'll need to take this team to at least a 10 win season in 2021. If he were to do that, he can be forgiven (IMO).