Report: Harbaugh gets job offer from Bills, rejects it

Not the type of news I like to start a Sunday with.

Although I am surprised he was even offered an interview. I thought that was just someone’s pipe dream.

I know this is a little far-fetched, but I wonder with Harbaugh if it had something to do with Jim Kelly. I know they do not like each other, (they did get into a fight after a game Harbaugh played in). I would if because Kelly is so prevalent with this organization still if that had something to do with it.

That Tony Dungy was offered the GM job in Seattle and he was willing to accept with the inclusion of Leslie Frazier as his head coach. Seattle responded by hiring Pet Carroll. The intriguing fact is that there is alot going on that we don’t know about and should only accept these reports at face value. There is no legitimacy to any of them or there is total truth to all of them. Honestly, it would fall somewhere in the middle.

A few things here are telling as Brian alludes some of these:

1) A guy with HC experience – guess that means college too (although I am not sure they are still looking in the college ranks, but it doesn’t mean that they aren’t still considering others – Carroll went to Seattle this year. Ferentz (Iowa) is always mention with any HC opening year after year?

2) Even though Fraizer and Grimm seem to be 50 somes, the guys they seem to be targeting were 30-40 somes – meaning a younger coach that probably can connect with the players more closely and motivate them more. I don’t put a lot into this, but this is a different generation player than it was when Levy coached… IMO, players today relate to youth and energy… of course they relate to winning more than anything.

3) It sounds like a small percentage of Bills fans trust that Brandon or Nix will make a good decision going forward. Although very little people considered Harbaugh even a candidate, it sounds as if Nix and Harbaugh was sold and made him the offer. Will there be anymore surprises going forward? IMO, I hope there are… I hope Nix and Brandon are turning over every stone they can in these “Stealth” interviews.

Stop trying to make fetch happen Brian. It’s not going to happen.

This report isn’t completely surprising from either angle. Bills GM Buddy Nix has gone on public record as saying that he wanted a coach with previous head coach experience, and Buffalo’s current list of candidates – which runs just two deep – lack that quality.

Doesn’t Fewell technically have head coaching experience? He did, um, guide the Bills for almost half of the 2009 season.

Is Marshawn now co authoring your posts?

I would assume that it would be a Monday or Tuesday interview. I would also think that it would take place in Buffalo now that AZ is eliminated.

Somehow I wonder what conversations are happening today. Remember Grimm’s comments that he’d have to look at the whole things and decide. I don’t have the exact quote, but it wasn’t super positive and seemed to indicate that Grimm would have to do some due diligence on the franchise to know whether or not he wanted to go forward. Some other media were suggesting that he will be basing a lot of his decision on what his Agent knows who shares past stories with Mularkey. hmmm…

I would think that Brandon and Nix will have to do a big sales job again.

No one wants to coach us. He was my
choice too.

I posted some impressive details last night, but the article got deleted.

- Prior to the 2004 season, Harbaugh was named head football coach at the University of San Diego. In his first year, he directed the Toreros to an overall mark of 7–4, including 5 straight wins to end the season. The following year, the team improved to 11–1 and won the 2005 Pioneer Football League Championship. In 2006, USD again went 11–1 winning their second consecutive Pioneer League title in the process.

- Later in the season (2007), Stanford defeated #1 USC 24–23 with a touchdown in the final minute. With USC being the favorite by 41 points, it was statistically the greatest upset in college football history.

- Although Stanford lost to USC in 2008, Harbaugh and the Stanford Cardinal upset USC at home again with a score of 55–21 on November 15, 2009.7 Stanford’s 55 points are most ever scored on USC in Trojan history. It was Pete Carroll’s first November loss as coach of the Trojans.

- In 2009, the Cardinal had a comeback season, finishing the regular season at 8–4, finishing #21 in the polls, and receiving an invitation to play in the 2009 Sun Bowl. On December 13, 2009, Harbaugh was rewarded with a three-year contract extension through the 2014 season.

Needless to say, Jim Harbaugh was one of my favorite candidates for the position. I didn’t have much faith that the Bills would identify him being he was coaching college ball all the way across the country. So this news that they apparantly saw what alot of us saw in Harbaugh is very encouraging. Good job Nix, Brandon, Wilson in the identification process.

Now, the process of convincing the target to accept…..I don’t have such glowing things to say on this front.

He was one of the few left on my list of candidates I could have gotten excited about. Dang.

Another failure.

yo ralph, what’s up with your search for a head coach?? what’s wrong with BRIAN BILLICK? does he rub you wrong?is he too much his own man?is he the kind of man who scares you because he won’t always kowtow to you? look at it this way,you will be dead soon,he will still be here.give him the job,step aside,enjoy what could be the last days of your life.let him bring the club back from the hole you with all your terrible decisions has brought it. let him take over,swallow your pride and stupid,stupid ego.the fans deserve better from you.haven’t you hurt us enough?isn’t it time to reward us for your innate idiocy ala al davis?isn’t it?

By the way, folks – Jay Glazer just said that he believes Grimm WILL interview with Buffalo next week. Take it for what it’s worth.

I think at this point, its time to interview guys like Billick and Jim Fassel. I am pretty sure Billick would jump at the chance to interview, wasn’t he assembling a staff? Jim Fassel is definitely worth a shot. I think he would interview also. And he is an excellent coach and teacher, something Nix supposedly is interested in.

Unless of course the Las Vegas Lobos and JP Losman are a better situation than us.

At the very least it looks as though we are still going after coached people recognize. Therefore rebuilding a little credibility that has been lost with all the rejections.

is there are really 30 head coaching jobs in the NFL plus short term employment opportunities with the Bills and Raiders.

CFL coach in Montreal with pretty strong OC resume in NFL?

Maybe Marv Part Deux

What is with all the negativity? There is a certain ebb and flow to all this stuff. Finding the right person is like getting married. There needs to be a bit of chemistry. The trade mags aren’t going to make that happen with their lastest and greatest spec candidates. Let the process unfold, have a beer and chill. The crap will hit the fan soon enough.

That Frazier isn’t put out that the Bills interviewed him, but threw the job at Harbaugh….
I’d hate to lose the one legit candidate we have.

This really is a mixed blessing. Harrible isn’t ready to coach in the NFL yet and he’s making it fashionable to turn down the job. Does anyone think we can get Frazier at this point? I swear somehow it will fall through.