[Mick]

Right now, IMO Harbaugh can do whatever he wants. There are many at Michigan that would rather he leave. They have their reasons, some of which are IMO valid. However, nobody is going to dare to oppose his continued employment. He probably can even demand a new contract at a "premium" salary and get it. However, for both Michigan and Harbaugh personally there are problems ahead. The "cheating" scandal is not, IMO, the biggest one in JH's mind. The problem is the NCAA has claimed JH lied to them. The NCAA has demanded he admit that he lied and apologize (more or less). JH has refused. I believe that this is a "big deal" for him. He really doesn't want to admit he lied.

If the NCAA holds firm to this and demands he admit to the "facts", he may continue to refuse. IMO this is the impediment that may cause JH to elect going to the NFL right now. He is as "hot" a property as he will ever be right now. Any controversy with the NCAA will just take more of the "shine" off him. If he is going to go, now is the time, not next year when a "show cause" letter may result from refusing to admit wrongdoing. Just not worth the risk. I agree that JH wants to eventually win a Super Bowl. If there were no clouds on the horizon, he might defer that ambition to "later". Since that isn't the case, going now makes the most sense.

"There are many at Michigan that would rather he leave."  Goose, you can say that again. He's worn out his welcome in a number of ways. And I'm sure the Titans, Raiders, Chargers, Panthers, Falcons, and Commanders would be more than happy to loosen the purse strings. Belichick makes $25 mms., Payton is at $18m, and Carroll, McVay and Shanahan are between $14m and $15m. I think Harbaugh's deal with Michigan puts him at $12.5m (John Harbaugh is at $12m). My guess is JimH commands $20m from a desperate NFL team who will fire him less than five years into the contract, especially when free agents won't go to play for him.

Incidentally, I'm a little bummed that the Commanders fired ex-Bear Ron Rivera. I played ball against him in high school. Just a really good guy. His dad was a chief warrant officer at Fort Ord, served 32 years including two tours in Vietnam.

[Mick]

Right now, IMO Harbaugh can do whatever he wants. There are many at Michigan that would rather he leave. They have their reasons, some of which are IMO valid. However, nobody is going to dare to oppose his continued employment. He probably can even demand a new contract at a "premium" salary and get it. However, for both Michigan and Harbaugh personally there are problems ahead. The "cheating" scandal is not, IMO, the biggest one in JH's mind. The problem is the NCAA has claimed JH lied to them. The NCAA has demanded he admit that he lied and apologize (more or less). JH has refused. I believe that this is a "big deal" for him. He really doesn't want to admit he lied.

If the NCAA holds firm to this and demands he admit to the "facts", he may continue to refuse. IMO this is the impediment that may cause JH to elect going to the NFL right now. He is as "hot" a property as he will ever be right now. Any controversy with the NCAA will just take more of the "shine" off him. If he is going to go, now is the time, not next year when a "show cause" letter may result from refusing to admit wrongdoing. Just not worth the risk. I agree that JH wants to eventually win a Super Bowl. If there were no clouds on the horizon, he might defer that ambition to "later". Since that isn't the case, going now makes the most sense.

"There are many at Michigan that would rather he leave."  Goose, you can say that again. He's worn out his welcome in a number of ways. And I'm sure the Titans, Raiders, Chargers, Panthers, Falcons, and Commanders would be more than happy to loosen the purse strings. Belichick makes $25 mms., Payton is at $18m, and Carroll, McVay and Shanahan are between $14m and $15m. I think Harbaugh's deal with Michigan puts him at $12.5m (John Harbaugh is at $12m). My guess is JimH commands $20m from a desperate NFL team who will fire him less than five years into the contract, especially when free agents won't go to play for him.

Incidentally, I'm a little bummed that the Commanders fired ex-Bear Ron Rivera. I played ball against him in high school. Just a really good guy. His dad was a chief warrant officer at Fort Ord, served 32 years including two tours in Vietnam.