NFL Notes: Jim Harbaugh, Broncos, Browns, & Cardinals

Jim Harbaugh

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk lays out a scenario where 49ers HC Jim Harbaugh could force San Francisco to consider firing him by telling them he doesn’t want to be traded.

“Harbaugh holds more cards in this looming drama than he’s getting credit for,” writes Florio. “If he doesn’t like the idea of joining a new team that will be hamstrung by the loss of one or more draft picks, he can set his jaw and/or apply whatever other cliché he chooses and tell the 49ers he’ll continue to remain on the job until he’s released from his contract.

“Harbaugh makes it clear he’ll coach the 49ers for 2015, and the only way the 49ers will be able to keep that from happening will be to fire him or let him walk away without compensation,” Florio writes.

Florio admits that this could be a far fetched idea, but it’s hard to ruling anything out given how strange things have been between the 49ers and Harbaugh since reports first surfaced that they spoke to teams about a trade several months ago.

Broncos

• Adam Caplan reports that the Broncos signed K Connor Barth to three year deal worth $1.84 million, but includes no guarantees.

Browns

• TE Gary Barnidge may have suffered broken ribs during Sunday’s loss to the Bills. (Adam Caplan)

Cardinals

• Cardinals signed WR Ryan Spadola to their practice squad. (Darren Urban)