Has Jim Harbaugh Worn Out His Welcome in San Francisco? February 24, 2014 by Gregory Haft · Leave a Comment (Edit) More and more non-denials are coming out every day in regards to the report that The Cleveland Browns attempted to broker a deal with San Francisco to send coach Jim Harbaugh to Cleveland. It seems to appear that there was at least a conversation had about exactly that. There’s enough smoke to assume that at least something was smoldering. But what’s really interesting here isn’t the “what” but the “why”, and the growing suspicion that not all is well in “Ninerland”. Pro Football Talk reported on Friday that Cleveland “nearly pulled off a trade” to send multiple draft picks to San Francisco in exchange for Jim Harbaugh. However, Harbaugh decided to stay, apparently crushing any hopes of such a trade being pulled off. Other reporters jumped to squash the rumor, citing several sources denying it ever happened: That tweet came from Niners team owner Jed York denying the entire story. But, funny thing, after Jimmy Haslam, the CEO of the Cleveland Browns, went on the record to say “there was an opportunity there, and it didn’t materialize,” York went back on his denial. He told SI today that ”the Browns reached out to me, and we had no interest in pursuing it.” NFC Championship - San Francisco 49ers v Seattle SeahawksSo we have to presume that at least something happened, and ask who stands the most to gain from this being leaked to the media. Not the 49ers front office, since the mere whisper of Harbaugh leaving San Francisco freaked fans out and sent them into a panic. Perhaps the Browns, who have reaped a great degree of fan discontent in the wake of its several week long hunt for a new coach that at least they were swinging for the fences. But no one comes out of a story like this stronger than Jim Harbaugh. The Mercury News‘ Tim Kawakami has been reporting for months on a rift in the Niners front office. There is a clash of personalities between Harbaugh and GM Trent Baalke (the two, it was reported yesterday, are barely on speaking terms), and between Harbaugh and team president Paraag Marathe. Harbaugh, who has input but not final word on personnel issues, has repeatedly clashed with Baalke on organizational moves, and some moves have spilled over into the media. These personnel issues have revolved around several players, including Dashon Goldson, Donte Whitner, Phil Dawson, and Aldon Smith. This is starting to look like a power and money play that is spilling over into the media. Harbaugh has two years left on his $25 million dollar, 5-year deal, and for a coach that has reached the deep post-season three times in a row, Harbaugh is severely underpaid. The dispute is by how much is he underpaid?