Saints vs. 49ers: Harbaugh Smart to Dismiss Sean Payton's Petty Claims

"We ask no quarter, we get no quarter. That’s how we approach things."

How awesome is that? Jim Harbaugh is a football coach. He isn't a politician or a peacemaker. He's in the business of winning football games.

The quote that I lead in with was from his press conference Q&A, in which he was asked about his violation of a preseason "gentleman's agreement" with Saints head coach Sean Payton.

Apparently, unbeknown to Harbaugh, he was supposed to call Payton before the preseason matchup as a coach-to-coach gesture. Harbaugh says he was unaware of it.

Payton took exception, and in retaliation, he violated another unwritten preseason rule of excessive blitzing. Payton decided to teach Harbaugh a lesson, and the Saints defenders came at 49ers QB Alex Smith hard.

In that game, Niners' QB were sacked six times and pressured throughout.

Ask no quarter, get no quarter. Harbaugh didn't complain.

Earlier this season, in the most-talked about handshake of 2011, Harbaugh and Lions coach Jim Schwartz exchanged pleasantries after the Niners won in Detroit.

Needless to say, Harbaugh's edginess has rubbed some coaches on this level the wrong way, much the same way it did while he was at Stanford. There, he had a publicized incident with then-USC coach and present Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. That resulted in the infamous "What's your deal?" question.

Harbaugh indicated in the Q&A that he wouldn't have called anyway. Though, he even called his brother and asked him if he had ever heard of the gentleman's agreement, of which he said he was unaware as well.

Whether it exists or doesn't is irrelevant. This is a silly and trivial issue that is designed to get under the skin of Harbaugh and create intrigue for the upcoming game.

This is the NFC Playoffs; there will be enough emotion based on the stakes alone. Harbaugh will keep it focused and drive his team with energy and nastiness he has influenced all season long.

If other coaches and team's don't like it, the Niners will see you on Sunday...Saturday in this case.

Ask no quarter, get no quarter.