Harbaugh and the Browns

[Runscott]

This is nuts. Just heard today that Harbaugh apparently started the Browns trade conversation as leverage to the 49'ers to give him a longer deal. Apparently they aren't willing to do so until he wins a Super Bowl !?!?

I'm just glad that Carroll and Schneider don't have such a dysfunctional relationship.

[itjclarke]

It's craziness in Santa Clara. My opnion- regardless of what an A-hole Harbaugh may be, the Niners (especially Jed) need to give in and give the guy a raise and an extension. 3x Championship games in first 3 years is unreal and he does deserve to be better than the 3rd highest paid coach in the NFC West. He came in to a totally disfuntional situation with a supposed #1 pick/bust as his QB and immediately (in a lock out abbreviated offseason and training camp) turned them into a 13-3 team that was any one of the following- two muffed/fumbled punt returns or a premature whistle on Bradshaw's fumble- away from a Super Bowl. Follow that up with a Super Bowl appearance the next year (with 2x QBs) and a championship game appearance (in which his team looked 5x better than the AFC representative in the SB) and it's clear the guy can flat out coach.

If it's between Baalke and Harbaugh, I chose Harbaugh in a second. He may run hot, he may be wearing thin on the front office, media and some of his players... but compare his success (IMMEDIATE SUCCESS) to the three/five/eight years prior and you realize, it's clear he's the #1 reason for the turn around. In that sense he is by far the more uniquely talented of the two. That said, I don't think he'll last here forever either.. he just burns too hot, but if I'm the Niners, I've got my eyes set on Palo Alto and David Shaw 2-3 years down the road.

[Runscott]

Ian, I totally agree with you. When Pete Carroll joined the Seahawks 4 years ago, the 49'ers were a HUGE MESS. Seriously, the West was so horrible that when Carroll made it to the playoffs the first time, Seahawks fans figured we didn't have to do much in order to rule the West. Harbaugh changed all that overnight.

I like the Seahawks so much that I might actually feel guilty wearing my Dallas Cowboys jersey to the game this Fall. Naahhh - I look too good in it.