Maybe Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers brass are just in on some big conspiracy, playing all us normal folks - and the rest of the NFL - for fools.
Harbaugh, in a move that will only serve to drive up the asking price from the '9ers for teams interested in potentially trading for his services, is rumored to be reconsidering the head coaching position at his alma mater, the University of Michigan.
After being offered a reported six-year contract worth $48 million, Harbaugh is not yet ready to declare the move back to college "out of the question."
"Jim Harbaugh has not yet told Michigan a definitive 'no,'" NFL Insider Ian Rapoport said on NFL Network's "Around the NFL," according to Chase Goodbread of NFL.com.
Harbaugh had indicated to Michigan officials last week that he preferred to stay in the NFL. But it now seems that he's at least reconsidering the notion of taking over the Wolverine's gig.
Harbaugh's 49ers, perennial contenders since he stepped into the position in 2011, are 7-7 this season and already eliminated from postseason contention, after three consecutive playoff and NFC Championship Game appearances.
Rumors of discord between Harbaugh and the San Francisco front office, which began trickling out at the beginning of the season, have transformed from mere hearsay into full-blown reality.
"It's been individualized in the last year," NFL Media's Michael Silver said Sunday on NFL GameDay Morning, per Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com. "Players have wondered if Jim Harbaugh is more about himself. The pistol offense disappeared, where Colin Kaepernick was so successful. Why? Was that about credit, or was it about trying to win games? And you've got a coach clearly who is dissatisfied in bosses who aren't going to the mat for him. Divorce is inevitable."
The deal Michigan has offered Harbaugh, which carries an annual value of $8 million, would make him the highest-paid coach in college football - even over Alabama's Nick Saban ($7 million/year).
