Jim Harbaugh: Why Stanford's Jim Harbaugh Should Choose the Carolina Panthers

The Miami Dolphins and the San Francisco 49ers have made themselves the front runners for Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh over teams like Michigan and the Carolina Panthers.

Actually, Harbaugh's name hasn't been linked to the Panthers much at all.

Here is why Jim Harbaugh should choose the Carolina Panthers over the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.

9. Money To Blow

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FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 03: Logan Mankins #70 of the New England Patriots looks on before the game against the New York Giants on September 3, 2009 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Heading into the 2010 season, the Panthers had one of the lower payrolls in the league. It'll fluctuate this offseason after re-signing players, of course, but right now the team salary is approximately $110.9 million.

The Dolphins and 49ers, on the other hand, have payrolls up around $125 million.

That extra cash will come in handy when trying to snag a key free agent or two—whether they try to steal a Patriots lineman in Logan Mankins or Matt Light to improve the line or sign a big name receiver like Vincent Jackson for their young quarterback.

8. Heroic Opportunity

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PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Stanford Cardinal is covered with water from a Gatorade cooler by Andrew Luck #12 and Chike Amajoyi #43 after the Cardinal beat the Oregon State Beavers at Stanford Stadium on November 27, 2010

Harbaugh took over the head coaching job at Stanford when they were 1-11.

Four years later, the Stanford Cardinals were Orange Bowl champions.

He'll be presented with the same kind of challenge in Carolina: take a 2-14 football team to the playoffs. Harbaugh is familiar with the situation, and it may be fair to say he thrives in it.

7. Ownership

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SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Jed York, team president and owner of the San Francisco 49ers waits to go out for a half time presentation during home opener as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park September 20, 2009 in San

The Panthers have the best ownership situation out of the three NFL teams.

The Yorks don't exactly have the best reputation around the NFL.  Besides Al Davis, Jerry Jones and Daniel Snyder, they may in fact have the worst.

Stephen Ross is the majority owner along with a number of big name celebrities for the Dolphins, who have Jeff Ireland running the show now after Bill Parcells became a team consultant midseason. Jeff Ireland does not exactly have a sterling reputation either.

6. Jonathan Stewart

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 19: Jonathan Stewart #28 of the Carolina Panthers runs with the ball during their game against the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Im

Before there was Andrew Luck, there was Toby Gerhart.

When Harbaugh had Gerhart at running back, the Cardinals were a run first football team. Jonathan Stewart, like Gerhart, is a power running back.

Miami won't even have a running back after this season, and neither Ronnie Brown nor Ricky Williams has the same strength as Stewart.

The 49ers' Frank Gore may be talented, but he's never even been able to secure goal line duties.

Stewart would give Harbaugh the power running game he was so successful with at Stanford.

5. Trade Bait

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NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 03: DeAngelo Williams #34 of the Carolina Panthers in action during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on October 3, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Harbaugh has some options.

Former Pro Bowl running back DeAngelo Williams was injured for most of the season, but he struggled when he was active. He could be on the trade block.

He's a free agent, but there's no way he's leaving Carolina in any way other than a trade. They'll use the franchise tag to keep him around.

Veteran wide receiver Steve Smith has also voiced his frustration with the struggling offense. His future in Carolina is up in the air as well.

Harbaugh can either choose to use these two talented players in his offense or trade them away for players that are a better fit or draft picks.

4. Job Security

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 12: Head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Tony Sparano on the sideline against the New York Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 12, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Tony Sparano was once a coaching candidate out of Dallas just as or even more sought-after than Jim Harbaugh.

After just two 7-9 seasons, the Dolphins are looking for a new head coach. Talk about impatience.

The 49ers are a franchise with five Super Bowl victories. Patience is something they don't have. That city is starving for another trophy.

The Panthers, on the other hand, have plenty of patience. John Fox held the head coaching job in Carolina for nine years and only had three winning seasons during that time.

There will be a lot less pressure in Carolina.

3. Recent Success

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HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 1: Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs performs during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVIII between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers at Reliant Stadium on February 1, 2004 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Im

It was a while ago, but the Panthers have been to the Super Bowl much more recently than the 49ers or the Dolphins.

The Panthers were 12-4 in just 2008. The Dolphins haven't been 12-4 since 1990. The 49ers haven't even had a winning record since 2002.

There are players on the Panthers that know what it takes to win football games, even though they had trouble this past season.

The Dolphins and the 49ers could use a touch-up in that category.

2. Leaders in Place

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CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 07: Jon Beason #52 of the Carolina Panthers against the New Orleans Saints during their game at Bank of America Stadium on November 7, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Finding leaders to step up on a rebuilding football team may be the biggest challenge a head coach will face. In Carolina, that's not even an issue.

The Panthers have two of the fieriest leaders in the NFL in Jon Beason and Steve Smith. Granted, Smith could be gone; if so, a former Pro Bowler like Ryan Kalil can easily step in and take charge.

Carolina's defense refused to let up despite the tough season.

The Dolphins and 49ers may have leaders on the defensive side of the football in Karlos Dansby and Patrick Willis respectively, but on the offensive side of the ball, it's a different story.

1. Andrew Luck

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MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: (L-R) Quarterback Andrew Luck #12 and head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Stanford Cardinal celebrate with the trophy on stage after Stanford won 40-12 against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life St

The Panthers have already announced they will be selecting Andrew Luck first overall if he declares for the NFL draft.

What quarterback would Jim Harbaugh rather have running his offense than the guy who he's coached for the past three years?

With Luck, Carolina has a much better quarterback situation than Carolina or San Francisco. Alex Smith, Chad Henne or Andrew Luck?  

That's not even worth thinking through.

Why It Won't Happen

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CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 07: Jerry Richardson, owner of the Carolina Panthers, watches on before the start of their game against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium on November 7, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka

I have a question for Jerry Richardson: "What are you thinking?"

Richardson has recently said he hasn't targeted Harbaugh as a head coach but will "consider" him.

There is no way that approach is going to win over Harbaugh, who is practically being begged to come to Miami and San Francisco.

The Panthers are reportedly interested in Rob Ryan and Greg Manusky, defensive coordinators for the Cleveland Browns and 49ers. Yeah, because those teams have been winning lately.

With so many offers on the table, Jim Harbaugh is going to take his time making a decision.

Panthers fans better hope their team picks up the intensity on his recruitment before it's too late.

David Daniels is an NFL Featured Columnist and Writing Intern at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him at One Yard Short.com or on Twitter.