NFL Notes: Jim Harbaugh, Tom Brady, 17-Game Season

Jim Harbaugh

Current Michigan and former 49ers HC Jim Harbaugh has been linked to several NFL job openings since returning to the college ranks in 2015. With Michigan’s struggles this season, rumors have sprouted that Harbaugh is working on an exit strategy that includes a return to the NFL. However, the coach sent a letter to parents of student-athletes refuting those claims. 

“I am reaching out to let you know that the recent claims that I am ‘pursuing an exit strategy’ are total crap,” Harbaugh wrote via Sam Webb of The Michigan Insider. “It’s an annual strategy driven by our enemies to cause disruption to our program and to negatively recruit. By the way, I don’t even have an ‘agent or representative.’”

Tom Brady

Patriots QB Tom Brady‘s long-term future is as uncertain as any point in the future Hall of Famer’s career. Brady’s deal is set to expire following the season and New England cannot use the franchise tag, leading to speculation that 2019 could be Brady’s last year in New England. For his part, Brady said he’s in the same boat as the rest of the world about what the future holds for him. 

“That is the great part for me, I don’t know,” Brady said in a radio interview on WEEI. “I think that has been a unique situation that I have been in because I think when you commit to a team for a certain amount of years you kind feel like [there is] the responsibility to always fulfill the contract. For me, it’s been good because I am just taking it day-by-day and I am enjoying what I have. I don’t know what the future holds and the great part is for me, football at this point is all borrowed time.”

• ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes Brady could be setting himself up to leave New England after this season
• Schefter points to 1) Brady’s home being up for sale, 2) his trainer who he’s notable close to, Alex Guerrero, also selling his home, and 3) Brady’s contract that’s set to void following the season.

17-Game Season

• According to USA Today’s Mike Jones, nearly half of the owners currently oppose expanding the regular season to 17 games, as there are still numerous details to hash out. 
• Jones reports the proposal isn’t dead, but the league needs to figure out if the 17th game would be an extra home game for half of the league or if it would be played internationally. 
• The owners also favor keeping the Labor Day weekend start date for the season opener and playing further into February. They could also shorten the preseason to three games and add an additional bye week. 
• The players also aren’t enthused about the idea, as 17-games could have an adverse effect on their salary and the physical toll it takes to play. 
• However, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the NFLPA has told the NFL it would consider a 17-game regular season in exchange for a sufficient increase in the overall share of the revenue for the players. 
• The proposal would start in 2022 and shorten the preseason to three games. There are still other details to work out, such as potentially each team receiving a bye before its Thursday night game. 
• Graziano reports both sides are motivated to agree to a deal sooner rather than later, as the owners begin negotiations for new TV deals in December and the NFLPA must elect a new president in March.