For you Harbaugh fans

[Sirhornsalot]

Report: Browns nearly acquired Harbaugh from 49ers via trade

INDIANAPOLIS -- *A year ago, the 49ers gave coach Jim Harbaugh permission to seek endorsement deals with team sponsors to make up some of the money he sought in a contract extension.

Harbaugh collected an estimated $1 million above his five-year, $25 million contract, a source told CSNBayArea.com.

[RELATED: Harbaugh trade would have provided decades of talk]

Harbaugh's long-term future with the 49ers remains uncertain as the sides have not come together on a contract extension. One source said the 49ers will not pay Harbaugh like a Super Bowl-winning coach if he has not won a Super Bowl.

The 49ers are believed to be offering less in guaranteed money on a short-term deal with Harbaugh's pay reaching the upper echelon of salaries among NFL coaches via incentives if the 49ers win a Super Bowl.

The dialogue about the long-term future of Harbaugh with the 49ers took an interesting twist on Friday with a report from Pro Football Talk that, per multiple sources, the 49ers nearly traded Harbaugh to the Cleveland Browns for multiple draft picks.

A deal was in place between the teams, PFT reports, but Harbaugh ultimately decided not to leave the 49ers.

The Browns hired former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine as head coach on Jan. 23 * four days after the 49ers' season ended with a 23-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship.

The 49ers did not immediately comment on the PFT report.

On Feb. 11, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam fired general manager Mike Lombardi, who is close to Harbaugh.

The Cleveland Browns released a statement in response to the report:

"The team conducted an extensive coaching search, and explored several options. That search produced an outstanding head coach in Mike Pettine and we're excited about his future with the club."

League sources have told CSNBayArea.com that 49ers defensive line coach Jim Tomsula would likely be the team’s next coach if Harbaugh were to leave.

http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/report-browns-nearly-acquired-harbaugh-49ers-trade

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

Harbaugh ♡♡♡ Please don't break my heart.

 

[Juan]

I have trouble wrapping my brain around this story.

 

[JMagana]

This isnt going to end well... I Eddie steps in and tells his nephew to understand that Jim is worth it.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I have trouble wrapping my brain around this story.

It is a strange one, isn't it? Never heard of a HC being traded before.

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

It is a strange one, isn't it? Never heard of a HC being traded before.

Doc Rivers was recently traded to Clippers.

 

[Juan]

Gruden to Tampa worked out like a trade.

But this story is more strange, IMO.

 

[Juan]

Here is a little something extra to ponder

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Rumor confirmed. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet">@RapSheet</a>: One thing I learned last night while looking into Jim Harbaugh/trade report: Texas did make a run at him.</p>— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) <a href="

https://twitter.com/NFL_CFB/statuses/437250450799087617">February 22, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Juan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Browns owner Jimmy Haslam confirms his team went after 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, "There was an opportunity there..." <a href="http://t.co/g8MXn54KO1">http://t.co/g8MXn54KO1</a></p>— Eye on Football (@EyeOnNFL) <a href="

">February 23, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Type A's plus from what I hear - Jim aint no day at the beach to work with “<a href="https://twitter.com/DylanSkinsFan">@DylanSkinsFan</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnMiddlekauff">@JohnMiddlekauff</a> Why is there such a rift?”</p>— John Middlekauff (@JohnMiddlekauff) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnMiddlekauff/statuses/437738122747453440">February 23, 2014</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MikeV73]

I remember Harbaugh throwing his alma mater under the bus years ago regarding what I remember to be academic improprieties with michigan football players that he claimed knowledge on. Bold statements from an alum who was later I believe to be a candidate for their HC opening. Must be a respected coach to still get sniffs for that job, unless I am mistaken on Michigan's interest at the time. Anyone recall the specifics?

 

[joebobb]

Michigan made informal inquiries to his people but it never amounted to much. By the time Michigan's position opened, Harbaugh had his sights set on the pro's. He would have been Michigan's first choice but the discussions never even made it that far because he was NFL bound.

If Michigan had come open a few months earlier, he would have likely ended up at Michigan. However, I feel the lure of the pros would have eventually pulled him t the NFL anyway.

 

[beevomav]

Nice story but I don't think it true..

I don't believe a coach can be traded, even if he is under contract? To my knowledge it has never happened? There have been coaches leave a team and that team got compensation, but those coaches wanted to leave.

 

[TEXAS FAN]

It was a joke a coach cannot be traded

 

[Juan]

It was a joke a coach cannot be traded

Jon Gruden was traded to Tampa in 2002.

Oakland got a 1st and a 2nd in 2002, a 1st in 2003, and a 2nd in 2004.

The deal was made directly with Al Davis.

Before getting Gruden, the Glazers negotiated for Steve Mariucci of the 49ers.

http://articles.latimes.com/2002/feb/19/sports/sp-gruden19

In baseball, manager Gil Hodges was traded for a pitcher and cash (then he led Mets to Series).

And Chuck Tanner was traded for a catcher and cash.

 

[streettopeschel]

harbaugh doesn't strike me as the type who will stay any one place for very long.

 

[Juan]

harbaugh doesn't strike me as the type who will stay any one place for very long.

Yep. If we know nothing else from this story, we at least know there are some issues between he and the 49ers.

His last season there?

 

[Topstarr]

I have never in my lifetime have seen a coach that the owners tried to TRADE!!

 

[JimR]

It was a joke a coach cannot be traded

of course, he can.

there have been several other baseball trades of managers in addition to the ones listed above.

 

[joebobb]

Pete Rose was traded in the 80's from Montreal to Cincinnati to be a player manager for them.