Teaching Carousel: Giants Keen to Supply John Harbaugh 'Nearly Something'

[ad_1] The New York Giants took the primary shot, and their greatest shot, at touchdown John Harbaugh.

Now they’ll have to attend to search out out if it was sufficient.

They met with the coveted former Baltimore Ravens coach at their facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Wednesday for his first in-person interview since his beautiful firing from Baltimore final week. It was what the Giants hoped was the ultimate piece in what has been an in depth courtship. And a crew supply informed me they let Harbaugh know they're keen to supply "nearly something he needs" if he takes the job.

There was even some hope within the Giants group that they’d be capable to shut the deal earlier than Harbaugh visited with anyone else. Nevertheless, the 62-year-old left with no deal on Wednesday night and flew again dwelling to the Baltimore space, the place he reportedly will meet with a contingent from the Tennessee Titans at his dwelling on Thursday. A supply mentioned he additionally "plans" to talk with officers from the Atlanta Falcons, too, although it’s unclear if any in-person assembly with them has been arrange.

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Harbaugh’s determination to proceed talking to different groups isn’t essentially a nasty signal for the Giants, in keeping with the supply. After spending the final 18 years teaching in a single place, he apparently simply needs to take a number of days to contemplate his subsequent transfer. The expectation is that Harbaugh will decide by early subsequent week, if not sooner, although inevitably the timetable is totally as much as him.

The Giants definitely tried to move off some other conferences for Harbaugh whereas they'd him at their workplace. They flew him to New Jersey on co-owner Steve Tisch’s personal airplane on Wednesday morning, in keeping with a supply, and spent greater than 5 hours assembly with him and touring the power. Throughout his time there, he met with co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch, basic supervisor Joe Schoen, and different members of the Giants entrance workplace. And he even met in particular person with one of many Giants’ greatest promoting factors — promising younger quarterback Jaxson Dart.

This was the fruits of a pursuit that started, for the Giants, earlier than Harbaugh was even out there. That they had inner discussions about him quickly after they fired former coach Brian Daboll in November, in keeping with a crew supply. They usually appeared satisfied that he would finally be out there even earlier than his Ravens misplaced their season finale to the Steelers and missed the playoffs, which led to the Ravens firing him the following day.

As soon as Harbaugh was free, he rocketed to the highest of their listing. However the Giants had been one in all 9 groups that sources informed me had contacted Harbaugh — together with a number of that also had a head coach employed on the time. Harbaugh has spoken to officers with a number of of these groups over the past 10 days, a supply mentioned, together with a dialog with the Falcons’ new president of soccer, Matt Ryan, that the crew introduced as an interview final week.

Harbaugh has seemingly centered his consideration on the Falcons, Titans and Giants, although a number of league sources consider the Miami Dolphins additionally stay a chance. A number of sources mentioned the Titans are the largest "risk" to land Harbaugh, due to their draft capital, their cap area, and their spectacular younger quarterback, Cam Ward. One other supply cautioned that the Inexperienced Bay Packers may very well be a "sturdy darkhorse" in the event that they’re unable to succeed in a brand new contract settlement within the subsequent few days with their coach, Matt LaFleur.

In the meantime, the Giants, sensing a possibility to remake their franchise within the wake of a decade of largely dropping, have been "going for broke", as one crew supply mentioned, of their effort to persuade Harbaugh they’re the very best franchise for him. Chris Mara, their senior personnel marketing consultant (and John Mara’s brother), made the trek all the way down to the Baltimore space final week to go to Harbaugh at his dwelling. John Mara, who has been present process common most cancers remedies, has spoken with Harbaugh by cellphone, too.

And Schoen has had a number of intensive conversations with Harbaugh, in keeping with a supply, and has assured the coach that he’s keen to cede some energy over personnel choices if Harbaugh takes the job. It’s unclear if Harbaugh has requested for complete management, or if the Giants can be keen to offer that if he asks, however the Giants consider that Harbaugh feels snug with Schoen as his basic supervisor.

In truth, one supply conversant in Harbaugh’s serious about the Giants informed me that to date "it looks like a terrific match."

The Giants, although, are leaving nothing to likelihood. On the crew’s request, Harbaugh has reportedly acquired cellphone calls from a number of distinguished Giants alumni, together with two-time Tremendous Bowl-winning coach Tom Coughlin and his two-time Tremendous Bowl MVP quarterback, Eli Manning. Not too long ago fired Giants coach Brian Daboll even referred to as Harbaugh and, a supply informed me, raved about his expertise within the group.

Brian Daboll has spoken extremely of the Giants in his coversations with John Harbaugh simply two months after getting fired by the franchise, a supply informed FOX Sports activities' Ralph Vacchiano. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)

The Giants have additionally let Harbaugh know that they're keen to satisfy his asking value (anticipated to be round $20 million per 12 months), shell out thousands and thousands extra for what they hope shall be a high teaching workers, and make no matter enhancements or additions he needs all through their program.

The supply mentioned Harbaugh’s requests to date have been "vital," however "don’t appear to be too intensive."

"However he’s value it," the supply informed me. "You don’t get a shot at a coach like this too usually. Generally you simply must do no matter it takes."

Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He spent six years overlaying the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years overlaying the Giants and the NFL for the New York Each day Information. Observe him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.

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