If the University of Michigan is going to pry coach John Harbaugh away from the Baltimore Ravens, it may have to come up with an extensive package to lure the coach away from the NFL.
Harbaugh is receiving all sorts of praise after the Ravens' 28-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins kept them in serious contention for a playoff spot.
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The Ravens still are on the outside looking in, residing in the No. 7 position in the AFC postseason, of which the top six qualify.
Pressboxonline.com compared the track record of Harbaugh to that of Miami's Joe Philbin - referring to a quote from Miami Herald columnist Greg Cote on the Dolphins: "There's something missing in this team's DNA. ... The clutch gene isn't there."
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Harbaugh, on the other hand, has a 70-39 record. Pressboxonline.com noted that predecessor Brian Billick needed 122 games to get to 70 wins.
"Despite five playoff appearances, two division titles, three AFC title game appearances and a Super Bowl win, Harbaugh is still barely mentioned when the league's top head coaches are listed," Pressboxonline.com wrote.
The Ravens also have dealt with a ton of adversity that began in February with the Ray Rice incident. Three days before Rice was to serve his second and final suspension, the video showing Rick punching then-fiancée Janay Palmer in a casino elevator went public and the Ravens released Rice.
Baltimore has 11 players on injured reserve, it just realized that it lost Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.
"They're a resilient bunch," Harbaugh said Monday, according to the Baltimore Sun. "They are mentally tough. They don't get caught up in the noise. They don't get distracted. We say, 'Turn to the left or to the right. Eyes straight ahead.' We have a bunch of very mature men and some young guys who are heading in the right direction because of the guys around them showing them the way."
The Sun added that the Ravens are building a reputation for being able to focus during times of adversity.
"But without Ngata, the Ravens played arguably their best half of the season in putting away the Dolphins," the Sun reported. "And following Rice's release in September, they played arguably their most complete game against a quality opponent in beating the Steelers, 26-6."
A day earlier, NFL.com reported that the Wolverines had interest in both John and Jim Harbaugh but that Jim had an expressed an interest in staying in the NFL. There has been no indication from John whether he is looking elsewhere.
Unlike the San Francisco 49ers, who reportedly is trying to play through a rift between owner Jed York and Jim Harbaugh, no on in Baltimore is attempting to push out the other Harbaugh.
Do you think the Michigan Wolverines will garner at least a formal interview with Jim Harbaugh? Comment below or tell us &SportsWN.
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