Harbaugh to Baltimore

John Harbaugh will be the next coach of the Baltimore Ravens, and the second coach to be hired this off season after the Dolphins named Tony Sparano their new head coach. Harbaugh has spent most of his coaching time with the Philadelphia Eagles. This hiring now leaves just two head coaching jobs open, the Falcons and the Redskins. Monday may bring a third vacancy if Tony Dungy steps down as the head coach of the Colts although it is thought that he will stay one more year to welcome their new stadium. Even if Dungy decides to leave, it wouldn't be a coaching opening as much as it would be a breeze. Assistant coach Jim Caldwell has been all but promised the job when Dungy is gone.

Jerry Jones wants Garrett..Dungy Gone?

According to the Dallas Morning News, Jerry Jones will match any offer Jason Garrett recieves. Garrett has reportedly turned down the Ravens head coaching job although they are still negotiating. Garrett is now headed to ATL to interview with Arthur Blank and the Falcons. To me, this should be an easy choice. If Garrett goes to either Baltimore or Atlanta, he will have to rebuild a program, especially in Atlanta. And since Jones has already said that he will match any offer, there are no monetary reason to leave Dallas. After coming off a 13-3 season, Dallas has the players in place and is already a playoff team so why leave? Whether Phillips gets fired this year or not, which it seems like he will, Garrett has to know that he is the heir appartant. What is there to even think about?

Some more NFL coaching news..according to profootballnow.com, Tony Dungy will step down as the Colts coach so that he can follow his kids as they attend school in Tampa Bay. Assistant Coach/QB Coach Jim Caldwell will take over. Congratulations to one of the classiest guys in sports. The NFL and its fans will miss you.

Football Notes

-Rutgers running back Ray Rice has announced that he will leave Rutgers a year early to enter the NFL draft. This seems like a smart choice to me. There is no better time to leave school then when your stock is at its highest, and after his performance in the International Bowl (35 carriers for 280 yards and 4 TD's and 2 catches for 15 yards) I don't see his stock getting any higher. Say what you want about the fact that they were playing Ball State but he proved time and time again throughout the year that he could carry the load which he was forced to do, especially last year due to their anemic passing game.

-According to Joe Schad on ESPN.com, Pete Carroll has showed interest in the vacant Atlanta Falcons head coaching job and is scheduled to meet with Arthur Blank. Blank is supposedly offering to give Carroll complete control of all personnel which is what makes this offer so enticing. Personally, I'm surprised that Blank is even talking to a college coach after the Petrino situation, although Carroll is a different person and also has past NFL head coaching experience as well as 12 years in the league as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator.

-On a less serious note, Seahawks kicker, Josh Brown has announced that he will be wearing heated pants for their upcoming playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. Because kickers are less active than the rest of the players, it is harder for them to stay loose, especially in colder weather so he will try to help the situation by wearing pants set at 75 degrees.