Jim Harbaugh and Andrew Luck: Is This a Package Deal for the NFL?
Stanford will end their terrific season tonight with a game against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Orange Bowl.
All the talk going into the game has not been about what might happen in the game, but what will happen with Stanford's coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Andrew Luck.
Will they stay or will they go?
Will one stay and the other go? If so, who stays and who goes?
Harbaugh has become the hottest coaching commodity in all of football with the work that he has done since he became Stanford's head coach in 2007.
Luck would be the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft if he were to come out after tonight's game. He has the skills and talent to be a successful quarterback in the NFL.
Is it possible that the two men are a package deal for the NFL?
Will one decision influence the other?
Here are 10 reasons that Jim Harbaugh and Andrew Luck could be a package deal for the NFL.
Andrew Luck’s Stock Will Never Be Higher
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We have seen this in the past. A hot, NFL ready prospect decides to stay in school and usually their stock takes a tumble, see: Matt Leinart.
Right now, Andrew Luck is the consensus top pick in the NFL Draft. He has done it all in his time at Stanford and can put the exclamation point on his great college career with a victory in the Orange Bowl.
It would be in Luck’s best interest to come out this year and guarantee that he is the top pick.
Jim Harbaugh’s Stock Will Never Be Higher
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It’s hard to think of a coach who has seen his stock rise the way that Jim Harbaugh has this season.
He was always thought of as a good coach entering the year. Now that he has led Stanford to an 11-1 record and developed the best pro-ready quarterback in college football his coaching credentials have skyrocketed.
Everyone is trying to entice Harbaugh into joining their organization.
He will have his pick of NFL, and college, jobs, it’s just a matter of what he is looking for from his future employer.
Andrew Luck Has Nothing Left To Prove in College
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It’s hard to begrudge any person from wanting to stay in school and finish their degree.
However, Luck really has nothing left to give to the Stanford football team. They have had arguably their best season ever and Luck was the biggest reason for that.
The challenge of the NFL could prove too enticing to pass up for Luck.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Jim Harbaugh Has Nothing Left To Prove at Stanford
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If you had told Stanford fans that they would win 11 games in a season, they would have looked at you like you were crazy, but they would have signed up for it in a heartbeat.
Jim Harbaugh has done an amazing job at recruiting talent to Stanford and getting the most out of his talent since he has taken over the coaching job.
How often are you going to win 11 games at Stanford?
What he has built this season has been truly remarkable and speaks volumes about his coaching ability.
Jim Harbaugh Will Get More Money in the NFL
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For all the talk that Michigan is going to make Harbaugh an offer, it’s the NFL that offers him the most earning potential.
Michigan is not going to be able to make him an offer that will match what he can get in the NFL.
Plus, these NFL teams will be bidding against each other, which is only going to increase the value of the contract that he gets, in terms of years and dollars.
The NFL CBA Will Alter the Rookie Wage Scale
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For years, the amount of money that has been given out to rookies has been ridiculously high. Often times when these high first round draft picks sign, they are getting the most money ever given to anyone who has ever played their position.
It’s insane.
The new CBA is going to change that. This could be Andrew Luck’s chance to cash in right before the rookie wage scale is implemented in the future.
His best earning potential would be to come out this season.
Jim Harbaugh Wants To Challenge Himself
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After you win 11 games at Stanford, where is there to go?
The NFL is the highest level of football in the world. Everyone knows that. Jim Harbaugh wants to challenge himself at the highest level.
Any great competitor wants to win and they want to do it at the highest level that they can.
Jim Harbaugh knows that he could stay at Stanford and make a lot of money for a long time. He could move to Michigan and make a lot of money for a long time.
But what would he prove to himself?
He wants the challenge of the NFL. He wants to do something that guys like Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, and Pete Carroll couldn’t do; be great in the NFL after being great in college.
Andrew Luck Needs To Challenge Himself
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All athletes, no matter what sport, are always looking for the greatest challenge possible.
Andrew Luck has dominated the college football world. He was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy award in 2010.
He has won in college and it would be difficult for the team to repeat the success in 2011 that they had in 2010.
The biggest challenge for Luck would be to take over a franchise that is in need of a quarterback that can lead them for the next 10-15 years. That’s the biggest challenge for any young player, To be the No. 1 pick taking over a franchise in desperate need of an overhaul.
Jim Harbaugh Is Ready To Coach in the NFL
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When you watch Stanford play you can see that they run a pro-style of offense. They run a lot of formations and plays that would normally be called on Sundays, not Saturdays.
Jim Harbaugh has done a great job bringing an NFL style into the college game and being very successful with it.
He has the know-how and the ability to coach in the NFL today. Usually you would see some growing pains for some coaches who jump from college to the pros, but in the case of Harbaugh that wouldn’t be the case.
He is ready to be a coach in the National Football League right now.
Andrew Luck Is Ready To Play in the NFL
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The best way to measure a potential NFL Draft prospect is if they step in from day one and are successful.
In the case of Andrew Luck, he is absolutely ready to handle the NFL grind right now.
He has prototypical size (6’4” 235lbs) for an NFL quarterback. He is accurate; he completed over 70 percent of his passes this year in college. He is durable and he is underrated as a runner. He won’t fly past anyone but he does know how to use his legs effectively.
Luck could step into the NFL right now and start for at least 12 teams and make them instantly better.
He is ready to be a starting quarterback in the National Football League.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
