Wolverine Wednesday: Is It Time To Panic?

What the hell is going on around here?  I thought NJIT was just a let down game and now Eastern Michigan is beating the Wolverines at Crisler?   Michigan better figure out how to beat a 2/3 zone because that is all they are going to see the rest of the year.   Not to mention the poor man to man defense on the other end of the court.   Both of these games have been terribly ugly and maybe its time to adjust our expectations of making the NCAA tournament this year.   BTW their next game is against one of the best teams in the country Arizona on their home floor.  Which probably equals a 3 game losing streak.   Fun times!!  

Then the oldest NFL Insider there is, drops this tweet:

Gil Brandt @Gil_Brandt  ·  10h 10 hours ago

Was told tonight #Michigan officials offered David Cutcliffe their job but the #Duke coach turned it down. Times sure have changed.

Let's break down why this is probably a 100% wrong:

1. Gil is not a Michigan insider and has no idea if an offer was extended.
2. Gil is like 100 years old
3. Gil probably doesn't understand how a search firm works that contacts a ton of candidates to gage interest. 
4. Gil tweeted recently about Greg Schiano which most believe came from the Schiano camp
5. Michigan insiders have already said that he wasn't offered
6. David has done a fine job a Duke but is 60 years old
7. Gil and David must be friends and looking to get his friend a raise. 
8. What could be accurate is David told the search firm, he is not interested in leaving Duke.

So thanks Gil for putting that out in the media.   The only offer that Michigan insiders say is out there is one to Jimmy.   There is no way that Michigan offered David Cutcliffe, none.  (remember when there was news that Nebraska was going to name Tressel head coach?  Riley was hired like two hours later)

Another reason this probably has zero truth.   It was reported that Les was contacted last night as well.  So the search firm is doing it's job.   Gil stay off twitter.  Now sports radio can go with David turned down Michigan all day. 

The Detroit Sports Rag Blog ran with this story yesterday:

From what I have been told, U of M has lined up everything that Harbaugh’s people have requested to date including:
1) The money.
2) A say in the hiring of the permanent Athletic Director once Jim Hackett steps aside.
3) Administrative control.
4) Complete autonomy regarding disciplinary actions of players.

This blog/site was one of the first to have the Brandon info, so he does have some legit sources. 

This also seems to match what other insiders are saying.  Which is Michigan has a very nice offer out to Jimmy which he is contemplating.     Hackett is doing what he should be doing by contacting a number of coaches, gauging interest and having a firm Plan B in place.  

There was some buzz that Brandon and Jimmy had a hand shake agreement last time and Jimmy backed out and went to the 49'ers at the last minute.   With Brandon's track record, I'm not sure I believe that.  This story at least is making folks in the athletic department nervous.   Which they should be as they fish for this huge catch. 

• I thought the Sean Payton stuff was way far fetched.  Then Peter King in his MMQB extra video wondered out loud if Sean's time was done in New Orleans.  He has been there 9 years and might be wondering if the players have tuned him out.   His mentor Bill Parcells also left jobs before he wore out his welcome.   If this is accurate, it could also be accurate that his agent is kicking tires on other jobs. 

• Bo Pelini is expected to take the Youngstown State job.

• Devin Funchess declared for the NFL draft.  This is not a surprise and I expect him to go late round 1 or early round 2.   The concerns would be top end speed and too many drops.