Report: Jim Harbaugh was almost traded to Browns; 49ers vehemently deny it

[Dalton26 16,956]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/report-jim-harbaugh-almost-traded-browns-49ers-vehemently-221810262--nfl.html;_ylt=A0LEV1fF0gdTJyQAbAFXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzazk5OGI1BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDM3MF8x

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS — Pro Football Talk is reporting what would have been the stunner of all stunners — the Cleveland Browns almost pulled off a trade with the San Francisco 49ers for head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Seriously. The report states that Harbaugh backed out on the deal, which prevented it from going through.

The Browns issued a statement on the matter to ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi that would not constitute a denial.

But minutes later, the 49ers released a flat denial of the report to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Pettine is scheduled to talk Saturday morning at the NFL scouting combine. That should be fun. Harbaugh spoke Thursday before the story broke.

No NFL coach has been traded since the New York Jets sent Herm Edwards to the Kansas City Chiefs. Three years prior, Jon Gruden had been dealt from the Oakland Raiders to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The NFL had outlawed coaches being traded shortly after the Gruden deal, but the Chiefs and Jets circumvented that by having a player picked on their behalf for the Jets.

There are believed to be other loopholes around completing coaching trades within the NFL rules.

Could this have happened? If so, for what compensation? (Perhaps visions of Josh Gordon were dancing in the 49ers' heads. Or maybe cash.)

The Browns' coaching search was widely panned, as they pinged from candidate to candidate seemingly with little vision or direction. But settling on Pettine was just the first domino of the early offseason. In a shocking front-office shuffle after the hire, CEO Joe Banner and GM Michael Lombardi were fired, leaving Pettine and newly promoted GM Ray Farmer left to pick up the pieces.

From the 49ers' perspective, the possibility of the trade — not to mention the surprisingly frequent rumors of Harbaugh perhaps going back to coach in college this offseason — might be related to his contract status.

For now, we are left with more questions than answers.

 

 

Thought this was interesting so I figured Id share.

[KingPG21 6,587]

Good for Harbaugh, I don't know why any coach would want to go to Cleveland and coach right now. 

[Dalton26 16,956]

[quote name="KingPG21" post="40988" timestamp="1393022399"]Good for Harbaugh, I don't know why any coach would want to go to Cleveland and coach right now. [/quote]

I'll try to find another link but I read another story that said Harbaugh wanted to go there to be with Lombardi(gone now).


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[Dalton26 16,956]

[quote] “@LullOnSports: Harbaugh reached out to the Browns. When they called for permission to interview Roman & Tomsula, Harbaugh expressed interest himself…”

“@LullOnSports: Harbaugh’s personal assistant in San Francisco? Myck Lombardi, Michael Lombardi’s son. Mike and Jim are close, and Jim has had it w/ Baalke.” [/quote]

Idk how much truth there is to it but it's very interesting.


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[KingPG21 6,587]

Interesting. I can see wanting to work with Lombardi as a legitimate reason for wanting to work with an organization.  

[Dalton26 16,956]

I wonder if Harbaugh will head back to college or another team after his contract is up.


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[Parakeet Jones 3,868]

I wonder if Harbaugh will head back to college or another team after his contract is up.


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Maybe he'd like to coach on the same campus as his brother-in-law.

[Naturalhoosier 15,467]

What would the Niners receive? A bunch of crappy players?? Harbaugh staying in SF is best for him and SF. Though I'm biased as a SF fan. :)


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