The denials surrounding a possible trade between the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers were plentiful a few days ago.Now those associated with the unsuccessful deal are willing to come clean. Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam confirmed he spoke with the San Francisco 49ers about possibly obtaining head coach Jim Harbaugh during an interview with USA TODAY Sports. "There was an opportunity there, and it didn't materialize," Haslam told USA TODAY Sports.Meanwhile, 49ers CEO Jed York, who previously denied a deal was in place to deal Harbaugh, now admits there were talks between both teams. “The Browns reached out to me, and we had no interest in pursuing it,” York told Peter King of TheMMQB.com.Haslam and York are saying two different things. York, who has more to gain by not telling the truth, probably does not want to appear as an executive trying to run his coach out of town. Harbaugh is entering the fourth year of a five-year deal, which pays him $5 million a year. The 49ers have been unable to work out a long-term deal with Harbaugh, and the last thing York needs is animosity during negotiations. However, as ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio notes, Haslam’s willingness to admit there was an “opportunity” proves these talks progressed past a simple inquiry. It may take a while before we discover how detailed those conversations were, but there seemingly is more to it than York wants to admit.If San Francisco ultimately reworks Harbaugh’s contract, this story will eventually fade away. Nevertheless, the inability to work out a new deal for Harbaugh, coupled with York’s failed attempt at a cover-up, shows there is not a harmonious relationship between the coach and front office in San Francisco. https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/browns-owner-jimmy-haslam-said-opportunity-trade-49ers-152640099--nfl.html
Just like everything else they do, the browns manage a way to fudge up. Go figure.
I'm sure the 9ers were willing. For the right price anyone is available. It's the Browns. A franchise that has pretty much come to define ineptitude. I would find out what they were willing to give up for my wife before I said "no". I would sure as shit categorically deny the conversation afterward if it fell through tho.
Are the Browns for real?Seriously. WTH is going on in downtown Browntown?
Jason La Canfora reporting that there is a "major rift" in 49ers organization and that Harbaugh and GM Baalke are not even talking anymore.INDIANAPOLIS -- Things are not getting better behind the scenes for the San Francisco 49ers. There was a persistent rumble throughout the combine about the extent of the rift between coach Jim Harbaugh and the team's front office. It doesn't seem like it will go away, and there is increasing buzz that the team might have to decide between Harbaugh or GM Trent Baalke.The men are barely speaking, I'm told, and almost all communication is through email. Harbaugh also has a strained relationship with team president Paraag Marathe, sources said, and he has clashed with many within the organization. It could prove untenable. If anything, the impression I got this week was that the situation there is actually much worse than how it has been portrayed in the media, and helps explain the delay in giving a new deal to the coach, who has two years left on a contract he has outperformed.Harbaugh has done nothing but reach, at least, the NFC Championship Game since coming to San Francisco three years ago, and the longer this goes on, the worse it might get. To almost anyone I posited the question to, the response was pretty much the same -- there is no way they can't extend Harbaugh. But then again, in the NFL, you never know. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/24455137/jim-harbaughs-relationship-with-49ers-brass-is-getting-worse
Are the Browns for real?Seriously. WTH is going on in downtown Browntown?
business as usual IYAMim not shocked at all. Cleveland has to be one of the worst run franchises in history
Didn't it get so bad between AJ and Marty in SD toward the end that they would only communicate through intermediaries? Wonder if the SD ownership had to do it over if they'd still take the same side? Smith was a rock star for a few years. I can totally see Harbaugh being a tool and very difficult to work with. Damn if it's working though, make it work fools. From both sides. Fools.
browns suck
After reading this, I now know their interest in schiano was not merely speculation. They would be that stupid.
Yeah great move by the Browns front office. They threw Baalke under the bus.Good luck getting another team to answer your calls after that move. It was obviously a ploy to get Harbaugh out of SF either by making the ?eal or sabotage through the press. Holy cow Schiano would be a perfect fit there.
should be interesting to ever find out what has caused the rift between baalke and harbaugh.
