The Sunday night game next week is the Jim Harbaugh bowl, Chicago Bears versus San Francisco 49ers. Mr. discount khakis hosts the team with which he made his name as a player. It’s looking almost certain that this will be Harbaugh’s final season in the Bay Area.
NFL Network Reporter Ian Rapoport on San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh:
“According to the sources I’m speaking with, including many in the 49ers locker room, Jim Harbaugh may already be losing the players. There are some serious doubts about whether Harbaugh is actually ‘all-in’ like he professes.
“He says he is about the team, the team, the team; the players now wonder is that actually the case. They have dealt with a lot over the last couple of years; some of the way he’s treated them, some lack of respect and all because they are winning, they are fine with it. But some of the players wonder if they lose, will it all spiral out of control?”
“Let me give you an example of this. Harbaugh took the team across the country to spend several days in Baltimore to practice with his brother. Is that about the team, or is that about him?
“His contract status is in doubt, did not agree to an extension with the 49ers. He does have two years left on his deal but it is worth asking: is this the last year for Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco?”
NFL on FOX reporter Jay Glazer said he believes 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh will not be back with the team next year:
“I think (the relationship between 49ers and Harbaugh) ends in a very ugly divorce. I’d be surprised if Jim Harbaugh is actually back in San Francisco next year … I just think his time has come and gone there. Look, it’s even got bad there with the players. Some of the veteran players there, they used to bite their tongue. Now, they are not. When you hear the players talk about Jim Harbaugh, they air their gripes out. Completely different dynamic now than it was when he got there.”
Paul M. Banks owns and manages The Sports Bank.net, in partnership with Fox Sports and Yahoo. Read his feature stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)