The Browns have managed to create headlines once again this offseason. This time around, it involves their search for a head coach- and it has nothing to do with Mike Pettine, the man the Browns just named to the position earlier in the month.
Three days ago, ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio reported that before the hiring of Pettine, the Browns were considering trading a multitude of draft picks for San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh. This report was quickly followed up by more reports and sources confirming the same thing, including Chris Mortensen from ESPN, who tweeted that negotiations between the two teams had reached a “serious stage”.
Who could blame the Browns for at least trying to snag Jim Harbaugh from San Francisco? Since the 49ers recruited him from Stanford in 2011, Harbaugh has brought with him a winning tradition to a 49ers team that was in desperate need of one.
Harbaugh in his three years as head coach has posted a 36-11-1 record in the regular season and a 5-3 record in the postseason that has included 3 NFC Championship appearances and a trip to the Super Bowl in 2012. Additionally, a trade to Cleveland would have meant a bi-annual “Harbowl”, as Jim’s older brother John is head coach of the Ravens.
Since the reports of a potential trade surfaced, 49ers CEO Jim York tweeted to ProFootballTalk and NFL Network that the rumors are not true. Additionally, Jim Harbaugh reiterated York’s words in a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine, fervently denying any possible trade involving himself potentially going to the Browns.
It has been said that to every rumor, there’s at least a hint of truth. It’s quite possible that the Browns at the very least inquired about the availability of the 49ers head coach. After all, the Browns front office stated that there was a “mystery candidate” for their open head coaching position.
With the recent moves the Browns have made in regards to their front office, it’s fair to say that they have a tendency to become desperate to fill a void on their team. All the Browns have said on this matter is that they are happy with their decision to hire Mike Pettine to lead their team in 2014.
With claims on either side, it is difficult to say whether there is any truth to this rumor or not, so who’s right in all of this? The Browns aren’t acknowledging it, the 49ers are denying it tooth and nail and members of the media are backing their claims to the fullest. It is a very juicy story without a doubt, but we may never know if there was ever a trade in place at all or just here say.