Michigan ITF Extra: Jim Harbaugh/Dolphins rumors, & what’s the hold-up?
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh still hasn’t reached an agreement with A.D. Warde Manuel on a new contract. What’s taking so long?
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There are now rumblings that the coach is interested in the Miami Dolphins, even after owner Stephen Ross said he wouldn’t take him from Michigan. We’ve long said to keep an eye on this one — that Harbaugh back to the NFL becomes “real” if Ross pursues him. Because if the Michigan booster got wind that Harbaugh was hell bent on returning to the League, he’d likely throw a hat in the ring.
That’s assuming he’d still want him, of course. This isn’t 2011, when Harbaugh was 48 and the hottest coaching commodity out there. Ross went after him hard back then, and while Harbaugh has had recent success at U-M, it took him some time.
In short, while still a good coach, he’s not the same guy.
Still, Dolphins blogs continue to report that Harbaugh is interested in the Miami job.
“[There are] reports that Jim Harbaugh and Stephen Ross have had a preliminary discussion in regards to the vacancy of head coach for the Dolphins,” DolphinsTalk.com reported. “Ross, a Michigan man, doesn’t want to pry Harbaugh away from his alma mater, but Harbaugh seems to be keen on making it back to the NFL.”
On Monday, Michigan author and professor John Bacon tweeted his latest (in addition to the daily “Nobody knows anything” report).
“Harbaugh Watch, Day 23: Nobody Knows Anything,” Bacon wrote. “But, [for what it’s worth], I’m hearing the NFL possibilities seem to be shrinking, not expanding, specially with probably the best fit, Las Vegas.
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“Flip side, just heard, ‘Don’t count the Vikings out.'”
The Vikings have already interviewed eight candidates. They’re also down to two in their search for a new general manager, including Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. As one Minnesota blog reported, he got his start in the NFL with the 49ers in 2013 and overlapped with Harbaugh for two years.
The Vikings are expected to announce their G.M. by the end of the week. If that’s the case, Adofo-Mensah might be inclined to push for Harbaugh and expand the search.
We’ve long said the longer it goes, the less likely it is Harbaugh returns to Michigan … or, at least, the more serious he is about going back to the NFL. But is that really his first choice?
Not necessarily.
So … what’s the hold-up? And why isn’t this done? Will it be?
We’re starting to wonder.
Here’s the rest (and most interesting part) of what we’ve picked up on where things stand, and why: ITF EXTRA: Harbaugh and the Dolphins, the latest on negotiations
