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Scott Polacek is the featured Columnist IV for the Las Vegas Raiders.
AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
Some believe that Jim Harbaugh is using the rumors of his return to the NFL as leverage for a new contract.
One person who is close to the situation at Michigan suggested that the rumors may be "hypothetical leverage" in the discussions. An NFL source said there are no connections between Harbaugh and the Raiders.
It makes sense for Harbaugh to use whatever he can to get a new deal with Michigan.
He just finished his seventh season at the helm of the program and won the Big Ten title for the first time. He defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes for the first time as a head coach and made the College Football Playoff. It was his best season as a coach at his alma mater, and the UM will want to keep him if they can.
Harbaugh could see the massive 10-year, $95 million contract Mel Tucker just agreed to with the Michigan State Spartans as a benchmark during discussions with Michigan.
The idea of Harbaugh coaching at the NFL level and finding success is not far off.
He was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers for four years, during which time he went 44-19-1 and reached the playoffs in three of his four years.
The Raiders haven't won a playoff game since 2002 and would love to do that again. It wouldn't be a surprise if they were interested even though Rich Bisaccia guided them to the playoffs in an interim role.
If Harbaugh stays at the UM, there may be no connection between the franchise and Harbaugh.
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