Jim Harbaugh and the Miami Dolphins: How the Move Could Affect the AFC East

Jim Harbaugh is currently atop the list of America's Most Wanted. Teams like the 49ers, Broncos and Panthers would give their left arm for him.

Michigan would give both arms.

But the Miami Dolphins have emerged as the front-runners for his services after they reportedly offered him $7-8 million to take his talents to South Beach.

Assuming he is the head coach of the Dolphins in 2011, how will the AFC East be affected?

10. The Bills Will Still Be In the Basement

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 02: Brian Moorman #8 of the Buffalo Bills punts against the defense of Drew Coleman #30 of the New York Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium on January 2, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael Heiman/Getty Image

The Bills made some strides in 2010—even beating the Dolphins at Buffalo—but having another top coach in the division spells more misery for the Bills.

How do the Bills expect to compete in a division that features Bill Belichick, Rex Ryan and Jim Harbaugh?

Bills fans better hope he stays out west if they ever hope to compete in the AFC East in the next five years.

9. There Will Be a Backlash On The Handling of Tony Soprano

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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)

Recruiting another coach while having one employed is one thing, but having it leaked to the media is a whole different beast.

The Dolphins franchise will take a P.R. hit if they fire Sparano and then hire Harbaugh the next day. The Dolphins will look pretty unprofessional if they don't give Sparano the respect of letting him know about his future as soon as possible.

Hanging him out to dry is a black-eye on the 'Fins organization.

One league source said that the Dolphins behavior will stick with them, and that no coach will ever be able to fully trust them or Jeff Ireland again.

It also makes for a bit of a distraction for Harbaugh to start his professional coaching career.

8. Dolphins Could Tank In 2011 To Draft Andrew Luck

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MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Condoleezza Rice (L) congratulates Orange Bowl MVP Andrew Luck of the Stanford Cardinal after Stanford won 40-12 against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami,

The dynamic duo has made one another a lot of potential earnings in 2010.

After two months of dealing with the horrendous Chad Henne, Harbaugh holds a player's only meeting to decide if his team should play out the string or lay down.

As Andrew Luck threatens to break multiple single season NCAA records, the team agrees and the 'Fins line themselves up for the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft.

7. Harbaugh Demands The Dolphins Draft Jake Locker In 2011

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SEATTLE - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Jake Locker #10 of the Washington Huskies passes against the Stanford Cardinal on October 30, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Harbaugh, a former NFL quarterback, could save the franchise by drafting the right player to lead his team. At No. 15 overall, Jake Locker could be the guy.

Harbaugh drafts Jake Locker and takes the criticism as Locker struggles. But his potential leaves Dolphins fans salivating at the mouth. It also brings another high profile QB to the AFC East.

Locker has the potential to transform into a top 15 quarterback, and the 'Fins return to a top team in the league. He was considered a top 5 pick had he entered the 2010 draft.

Harbaugh is deemed a QB genius, and the love affair in Miami reaches deafening heights—but not before going through a rough first season in the NFL.

6. Jets and Dolphins Rivalry Gets Juicer

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 02: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets celebrates their 38 - 7 win over the Buffalo Bills at New Meadowlands Stadium on January 2, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Before the Jets decided on the always entertaining and controversial Rex Ryan, they almost went with Harbaugh.

The club secretly interviewed the Stanford head coach in the beginning of January '09 only to go with Ryan.

Now that the two are in the same division, expect some sort of rivalry to emerge within an already heated  Dolphins and Jets match-up.

5. Dolphins Can Attract Big-Name Free Agents

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BALTIMORE, MD - JANUARY 2: Cedric Benson #32 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs the ball against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Bengals 13-6. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

Getting a big name coach will open the gates for high profile free agents to go to Miami.

Players on both side of the ball will be intrigued to play for the hottest new coach in the NFL. The likes of Champ Bailey, Chad Ochocinco (a Miami native), DeAngelo Williams, Vincent Jackson and Cedric Benson could really boost the team even further.

Who knows, maybe Harbaugh could even sway the prized free agent Mike Vick?

4. Dolphins Defense Regresses Under Harbaugh

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02: BenJarvus Green-Ellis #42 of the New England Patriots carries the ball as Tim Robbins #51 of the Miami Dolphins defends on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

All the buzz has been about Harbaugh's talents to coach an offense. Little is mentioned about his ability to coach the defensive side of the ball.

A likely scenario is the Dolphins upgrade their offensive numbers drastically under their new coach, but regress on the defensive side of the ball.

Obviously, this is speculation, and maybe Harbaugh signs a great defensive coordinator, but odds are the defense isn't going to get much better than it already is.

In 2010 the 'Fins defense allowed only 209 yards in the air (8th in NFL), 100 yards on the ground (7th), and 309 total (6th).

3. Patriots Struggle To Keep Up With Huge Harbaugh Contract

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 26: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on in a match against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. New England won 34-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Get

Bill Belichick is the undisputed best coach in the NFL. He currently is under contract until 2013—making a "mere" $5 million or so a year.

How is he supposed to feel when a coach in his own division is making almost $3 million more than him? Belichick has three Super Bowl rings, while Harbaugh holds a single BCS bowl win.

This could cause some new Belichick demands out of the Patriots front office. It's a potential issue that could rear it's ugly head at some point for New England.

2. Dolphins Offense Improves Dramatically

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02: Marlon Moore #14 of the Miami Dolphins carries the ball in the first half against the New England Patriots on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

This wont be too hard.

The Dolphins offense was 30th in the league this season, averaging a pitiful 17 points per game. Sparano allowed the game plan to be dull and predictable. He is a conservative coach that relies on ball control and taking care of the ball.

That style is very good in theory, but it backfired when the running game stalled out in 2010. They registered the 21st best rushing attack, averaging 102 yards per game. It looks as if Ronnie Brown is gone, and Ricky Williams' return is questionable at best.

Harbaugh will have the opportunity to expand the playbook and attempt more big plays. The team still has Brandon Marshall and a new coach and new QB will give the Dolphins the makeover they so desperately need.

1. The Dolphins Will Contend For The AFC East Title In 2011

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MIAMI - DECEMBER 19: Defensive tackle Paul Soliai #96 of the Miami Dolphins walks off the field against the Buffalo Bills at Sun Life Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Miami, Florida. The Bills defeated the Dolphins 17-14. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Imag

A new coach and a new quarterback can do wonders for the Dolphins. Allowing Harbaugh to have complete control over the offense will be the best idea the Dolphins have had in a long time.

Harbaugh was an offensive assistant with the Oakland Raiders for the AFC championship season of '02 and was the quarterbacks coach in '03.

After a stint at the University of San Diego, Harbaugh went to Stanford.

He went 4-8 in 2007, then 5-7, 8-5 and 12-1 this season, including a BCS Bowl victory.

The Dolphins don't need a rebuilding effort, just a new leader. Jim Harbaugh can be that leader, and he can be the coach that returns the Dolphins back to relevance.