The Atlanta Falcons will have at least 14 coaching interviews completed by the end of the week. Some of those will be completing their first round and others will be onto their second. Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh is one of those who will be meeting for the Falcons for the second time. But could this meeting be used to create leverage for another position elsewhere?
Reports have surfaced in the previous weeks that a lucrative offer is on the table at Michigan for Harbaugh to remain their head man. Similar reports have also surfaced that Harbaugh has requested specific clauses in that contract preventing him being terminated for cause after a season filled with scandal that saw him sit out six games after investigations into improper scouting and other offenses.
Harbaugh would be given a blank slate in Atlanta, especially with the news coming down Monday that Ryan Nielsen will become the new defensive coordinator in Jacksonville. Picking his own staff and having other forms of control would have to be ironed out with Arthur Blank, but it appears there is room to negotiate there. The concern becomes if Harbaugh is talking to Atlanta, Los Angeles and other clubs to make a leverage play for his Michigan contract become exactly what he wants it to be.