So what is your reaction when you read how testy Harbaugh is with the media?

He handles the media the same as Kobe........I love it........

He's not on the witness stand and if he thinks a question is uninformed he's free to say so. He doesn't suffer fools gladly and I get a kick out of it.

Originally posted by jreff22:
as long as he's getting W's he can take a dump on the mic for all I care

Originally posted by AthensGaNiner:
We already tried the coach-with-his-pants-down thing. It doesn't work.

Originally posted by TexasNiner:
Actually he reminds me a lot of both Sing and Nolan. Evasive answers, double speak. I know he hates the media and wants to be Belichick, but he's not that good at it and comes off as an ass.

Just answer the damn question or say you don't want to answer it. Don't play dumb or pretend you don't know what the reporter is talking about because of the way the question is phrased.

All of this crap really annoys me:

Do you think the fact that you played quarterback in the NFL, do you think that makes you more understanding when a guy screws up, or does it make you more demanding of a quarterback since you played the position yourself?

“As compared to…?”

As compared to you. When you coach a position and you’ve played the position, you know more about the position, I would assume. So when someone messes up, does it make you more empathetic or more willing to understand that, and say ‘ok move on’. Or does it make you demanding in terms of warning them that they can’t do that.

“Make more or less than what? If you’re asking what my standard, what my style is, it’s basically to teach. To tell them what to do; show them what to do; then let him do. And then tell him what he did right, and tell him what he can improve on.”


Is there any conflict between having a quarterback competing and getting a quarterback ready for the regular season? In other words, if two quarterbacks are competing, does it give either of them the best opportunity to be the starting guy once the season starts?


“All of our quarterbacks … all of our players compete. That’s a given. I would not have it any other way. I just don’t have any pressure on myself, as I look at it, to name a starting quarterback in a timetable manner. So that’s how I was answering that question.”

My question is more along the lines of if a guy’s competing, he’s going to want to do the things that he does well, maybe rather than working at something that needs improvement because he wants to put his best foot forward to win the job. Do you see it that way at all?

“No, I’m not following your train of thought. We’re going to give, if you’re talking about reps. Is that where you’re going?”
Just instead of working on stuff on the practice field that needs improvement, a player is going to want to look good on the practice field all the time in order to win the job, to impress the coaches, and win the job.

“Yeah, I’m not following where you’re headed with that one. We want them to do well at a lot of things. You put your players in a position to be successful, to do what they do well, to get the work on the practice field so they can go into a ball game and not be unsuccessful. Those things are taking place and competing that’s a natural, or a given requirement of the position at all times in every form and fashion.”


All of that were basically two simple questions and all he had to do was say "Yes or No" that he is harder or easier on QBs having played the position himself. He knows what was meant and it's an easy question to answer.

Same thing with the "competition" question. If you don't think "competing" for the job distracts from "preparing" for the start, just say "no I don't think so", don't pretend you don't understand the question.

He comes across as either a jackass or an idiot the way he's answering those questions.

Last time he gave them an answer with an substance, they turned it into a QB controversy. I would say he is learning his lesson!

Originally posted by TexasNiner:

He comes across as either a jackass or an idiot the way he's answering those questions.

The difference is.... Harbaugh is a jackass... Sing was an idiot.

Originally posted by golfing9er:

Originally posted by TexasNiner:

He comes across as either a jackass or an idiot the way he's answering those questions.

The difference is.... Harbaugh is a jackass... Sing was an idiot.

Excellent point! Since when are coaches supposed to be "nice" guys?

Originally posted by TexasNiner:
Actually he reminds me a lot of both Sing and Nolan. Evasive answers, double speak. I know he hates the media and wants to be Belichick, but he's not that good at it and comes off as an ass.

Just answer the damn question or say you don't want to answer it. Don't play dumb or pretend you don't know what the reporter is talking about because of the way the question is phrased.

All of this crap really annoys me:

Do you think the fact that you played quarterback in the NFL, do you think that makes you more understanding when a guy screws up, or does it make you more demanding of a quarterback since you played the position yourself?

“As compared to…?”

As compared to you. When you coach a position and you’ve played the position, you know more about the position, I would assume. So when someone messes up, does it make you more empathetic or more willing to understand that, and say ‘ok move on’. Or does it make you demanding in terms of warning them that they can’t do that.

“Make more or less than what? If you’re asking what my standard, what my style is, it’s basically to teach. To tell them what to do; show them what to do; then let him do. And then tell him what he did right, and tell him what he can improve on.”


Is there any conflict between having a quarterback competing and getting a quarterback ready for the regular season? In other words, if two quarterbacks are competing, does it give either of them the best opportunity to be the starting guy once the season starts?


“All of our quarterbacks … all of our players compete. That’s a given. I would not have it any other way. I just don’t have any pressure on myself, as I look at it, to name a starting quarterback in a timetable manner. So that’s how I was answering that question.”

My question is more along the lines of if a guy’s competing, he’s going to want to do the things that he does well, maybe rather than working at something that needs improvement because he wants to put his best foot forward to win the job. Do you see it that way at all?

“No, I’m not following your train of thought. We’re going to give, if you’re talking about reps. Is that where you’re going?”
Just instead of working on stuff on the practice field that needs improvement, a player is going to want to look good on the practice field all the time in order to win the job, to impress the coaches, and win the job.

“Yeah, I’m not following where you’re headed with that one. We want them to do well at a lot of things. You put your players in a position to be successful, to do what they do well, to get the work on the practice field so they can go into a ball game and not be unsuccessful. Those things are taking place and competing that’s a natural, or a given requirement of the position at all times in every form and fashion.”


All of that were basically two simple questions and all he had to do was say "Yes or No" that he is harder or easier on QBs having played the position himself. He knows what was meant and it's an easy question to answer.

Same thing with the "competition" question. If you don't think "competing" for the job distracts from "preparing" for the start, just say "no I don't think so", don't pretend you don't understand the question.

He comes across as either a jackass or an idiot the way he's answering those questions.

He was being led into an answer that did not apply to what he does. Why is it so hard to understand that he didn't want to be perceived as "one way or the other way".

Here's the video of that interview

http://www.49ers.com/media-gallery/videos/Press-Pass-Jim-Harbaugh/5ed6a7e7-3c77-43b3-b5b4-3820145415a5

As long as I don't hear,


"Ummm, I need to look at the film."

Originally posted by TexasNiner:
Actually he reminds me a lot of both Sing and Nolan. Evasive answers, double speak. I know he hates the media and wants to be Belichick, but he's not that good at it and comes off as an ass.

Just answer the damn question or say you don't want to answer it. Don't play dumb or pretend you don't know what the reporter is talking about because of the way the question is phrased.

All of this crap really annoys me:

Do you think the fact that you played quarterback in the NFL, do you think that makes you more understanding when a guy screws up, or does it make you more demanding of a quarterback since you played the position yourself?

“As compared to…?”

As compared to you. When you coach a position and you’ve played the position, you know more about the position, I would assume. So when someone messes up, does it make you more empathetic or more willing to understand that, and say ‘ok move on’. Or does it make you demanding in terms of warning them that they can’t do that.

“Make more or less than what? If you’re asking what my standard, what my style is, it’s basically to teach. To tell them what to do; show them what to do; then let him do. And then tell him what he did right, and tell him what he can improve on.”


Is there any conflict between having a quarterback competing and getting a quarterback ready for the regular season? In other words, if two quarterbacks are competing, does it give either of them the best opportunity to be the starting guy once the season starts?


“All of our quarterbacks … all of our players compete. That’s a given. I would not have it any other way. I just don’t have any pressure on myself, as I look at it, to name a starting quarterback in a timetable manner. So that’s how I was answering that question.”

My question is more along the lines of if a guy’s competing, he’s going to want to do the things that he does well, maybe rather than working at something that needs improvement because he wants to put his best foot forward to win the job. Do you see it that way at all?

“No, I’m not following your train of thought. We’re going to give, if you’re talking about reps. Is that where you’re going?”
Just instead of working on stuff on the practice field that needs improvement, a player is going to want to look good on the practice field all the time in order to win the job, to impress the coaches, and win the job.

“Yeah, I’m not following where you’re headed with that one. We want them to do well at a lot of things. You put your players in a position to be successful, to do what they do well, to get the work on the practice field so they can go into a ball game and not be unsuccessful. Those things are taking place and competing that’s a natural, or a given requirement of the position at all times in every form and fashion.”


All of that were basically two simple questions and all he had to do was say "Yes or No" that he is harder or easier on QBs having played the position himself. He knows what was meant and it's an easy question to answer.

Same thing with the "competition" question. If you don't think "competing" for the job distracts from "preparing" for the start, just say "no I don't think so", don't pretend you don't understand the question.

He comes across as either a jackass or an idiot the way he's answering those questions.

I can kind of see your point on the first exchange, but when Harbaugh asks for some clarification, the reporter's attempt to clear it up on his second try is even more long winded. To borrow your paraphrasing, "Are you harder or easier on QBs having played the position yourself, as compared to someone who's never played the position?" I'm combining a little bit there, but it's a much cleaner question. I get what your saying a little bit here, though.

The second exchange is exactly what I was talking about above, where Harbaugh is aware of any subtext in the questions that he's asked. The subtext here is that a player in a competition might be tempted to only show off his current skills to win the competition rather than trying to improve his game. This would imply that a player wasn't trying to "get better every day". Harbaugh has said more than once that he will not tolerate questions that are loaded with any sort of insinuation about the players.

Who's the interviewer on your post? I believe he's had a few tense moment with the younger Cohn. If it's Grant doing the asking, perhaps there's also a measure of left-over frustrations from other interviews?

Originally posted by TexasNiner:

Actually he reminds me a lot of both Sing and Nolan. Evasive answers, double speak. I know he hates the media and wants to be Belichick, but he's not that good at it and comes off as an ass. Just answer the damn question or say you don't want to answer it. Don't play dumb or pretend you don't know what the reporter is talking about because of the way the question is phrased. All of this crap really annoys me: Do you think the fact that you played quarterback in the NFL, do you think that makes you more understanding when a guy screws up, or does it make you more demanding of a quarterback since you played the position yourself? ?As compared to??? As compared to you. When you coach a position and you?ve played the position, you know more about the position, I would assume. So when someone messes up, does it make you more empathetic or more willing to understand that, and say ?ok move on?. Or does it make you demanding in terms of warning them that they can?t do that. ?Make more or less than what? If you?re asking what my standard, what my style is, it?s basically to teach. To tell them what to do; show them what to do; then let him do. And then tell him what he did right, and tell him what he can improve on.? Is there any conflict between having a quarterback competing and getting a quarterback ready for the regular season? In other words, if two quarterbacks are competing, does it give either of them the best opportunity to be the starting guy once the season starts? ?All of our quarterbacks ? all of our players compete. That?s a given. I would not have it any other way. I just don?t have any pressure on myself, as I look at it, to name a starting quarterback in a timetable manner. So that?s how I was answering that question.? My question is more along the lines of if a guy?s competing, he?s going to want to do the things that he does well, maybe rather than working at something that needs improvement because he wants to put his best foot forward to win the job. Do you see it that way at all? ?No, I?m not following your train of thought. We?re going to give, if you?re talking about reps. Is that where you?re going?? Just instead of working on stuff on the practice field that needs improvement, a player is going to want to look good on the practice field all the time in order to win the job, to impress the coaches, and win the job. ?Yeah, I?m not following where you?re headed with that one. We want them to do well at a lot of things. You put your players in a position to be successful, to do what they do well, to get the work on the practice field so they can go into a ball game and not be unsuccessful. Those things are taking place and competing that?s a natural, or a given requirement of the position at all times in every form and fashion.? All of that were basically two simple questions and all he had to do was say "Yes or No" that he is harder or easier on QBs having played the position himself. He knows what was meant and it's an easy question to answer. Same thing with the "competition" question. If you don't think "competing" for the job distracts from "preparing" for the start, just say "no I don't think so", don't pretend you don't understand the question. He comes across as either a jackass or an idiot the way he's answering those questions.

He did answer that last question. He said the QB gets his chance to work on everything as in they have the QB make throws that are strong for them and throws they may struggle with. Most of these questions are dumb questions or sort of vague that could easily leas to another question depending on his answer. I like how he is really forcing the reporter to be very clear or understand what they actually do I practice. If he answered yes or no, then the reporter will quickly ask other questions. Honestly, there's not much to report in these cases unless a coach wants to divulge his plan or way of thinking that could help the opponent.

Originally posted by AthensGaNiner:

Originally posted by TexasNiner:
Actually he reminds me a lot of both Sing and Nolan. Evasive answers, double speak. I know he hates the media and wants to be Belichick, but he's not that good at it and comes off as an ass.

Just answer the damn question or say you don't want to answer it. Don't play dumb or pretend you don't know what the reporter is talking about because of the way the question is phrased.

All of this crap really annoys me:

Do you think the fact that you played quarterback in the NFL, do you think that makes you more understanding when a guy screws up, or does it make you more demanding of a quarterback since you played the position yourself?

“As compared to…?”

As compared to you. When you coach a position and you’ve played the position, you know more about the position, I would assume. So when someone messes up, does it make you more empathetic or more willing to understand that, and say ‘ok move on’. Or does it make you demanding in terms of warning them that they can’t do that.

“Make more or less than what? If you’re asking what my standard, what my style is, it’s basically to teach. To tell them what to do; show them what to do; then let him do. And then tell him what he did right, and tell him what he can improve on.”


Is there any conflict between having a quarterback competing and getting a quarterback ready for the regular season? In other words, if two quarterbacks are competing, does it give either of them the best opportunity to be the starting guy once the season starts?


“All of our quarterbacks … all of our players compete. That’s a given. I would not have it any other way. I just don’t have any pressure on myself, as I look at it, to name a starting quarterback in a timetable manner. So that’s how I was answering that question.”

My question is more along the lines of if a guy’s competing, he’s going to want to do the things that he does well, maybe rather than working at something that needs improvement because he wants to put his best foot forward to win the job. Do you see it that way at all?

“No, I’m not following your train of thought. We’re going to give, if you’re talking about reps. Is that where you’re going?”
Just instead of working on stuff on the practice field that needs improvement, a player is going to want to look good on the practice field all the time in order to win the job, to impress the coaches, and win the job.

“Yeah, I’m not following where you’re headed with that one. We want them to do well at a lot of things. You put your players in a position to be successful, to do what they do well, to get the work on the practice field so they can go into a ball game and not be unsuccessful. Those things are taking place and competing that’s a natural, or a given requirement of the position at all times in every form and fashion.”


All of that were basically two simple questions and all he had to do was say "Yes or No" that he is harder or easier on QBs having played the position himself. He knows what was meant and it's an easy question to answer.

Same thing with the "competition" question. If you don't think "competing" for the job distracts from "preparing" for the start, just say "no I don't think so", don't pretend you don't understand the question.

He comes across as either a jackass or an idiot the way he's answering those questions.

I can kind of see your point on the first exchange, but when Harbaugh asks for some clarification, the reporter's attempt to clear it up on his second try is even more long winded. To borrow your paraphrasing, "Are you harder or easier on QBs having played the position yourself, as compared to someone who's never played the position?" I'm combining a little bit there, but it's a much cleaner question. I get what your saying a little bit here, though.

The second exchange is exactly what I was talking about above, where Harbaugh is aware of any subtext in the questions that he's asked. The subtext here is that a player in a competition might be tempted to only show off his current skills to win the competition rather than trying to improve his game. This would imply that a player wasn't trying to "get better every day". Harbaugh has said more than once that he will not tolerate questions that are loaded with any sort of insinuation about the players.

Who's the interviewer on your post? I believe he's had a few tense moment with the younger Cohn. If it's Grant doing the asking, perhaps there's also a measure of left-over frustrations from other interviews?

It is Cohn, and I'll be the first to say that he's a dumbass.

But there are much better ways to defuse the questions than to act ignorant of the question or to be that deliberately evasive. If he wants to be like Belichick, than he should either just give a curt answer, say he won't answer the question, simply say "no", or even call out the question by saying, "that's a dumb question, I won't answer it." End of discussion.

His whole end around of acting like he doesn't understand the question or trying to draw out his perceived "subtext" is ridiculous.

For the first question, if he doesn't want to answer it or doesn't feel there is a difference it is simple enough to say "I treat them like I treat any other player, there is no difference." Period. End of story. It doesn't require the rest of the BS.

Same thing with the second question. Easy enough to just say "No." And that could be it. Or "No. There is no conflict, competition helps preparation."

And I don't care that he hates the media or is annoyed at Cohn. I just can't stand his BSing on complete non-issue questions. It really makes me wonder how he will respond when there are real questions to be answered about losses, bad play calls, personnel decisions and other things that may come up throughout the season when at times this team will face issues and he will have to deal with the press.

The stuff he is dealing with now is nothing. These are softballs and he's acting like he's being asked about his Mom losing her virginity. What's he going to do when there are real questions to be answered?

Originally posted by TexasNiner:
It is Cohn, and I'll be the first to say that he's a dumbass.

But there are much better ways to defuse the questions than to act ignorant of the question or to be that deliberately evasive. If he wants to be like Belichick, than he should either just give a curt answer, say he won't answer the question, simply say "no", or even call out the question by saying, "that's a dumb question, I won't answer it." End of discussion.

His whole end around of acting like he doesn't understand the question or trying to draw out his perceived "subtext" is ridiculous.

For the first question, if he doesn't want to answer it or doesn't feel there is a difference it is simple enough to say "I treat them like I treat any other player, there is no difference." Period. End of story. It doesn't require the rest of the BS.

Same thing with the second question. Easy enough to just say "No." And that could be it. Or "No. There is no conflict, competition helps preparation."

And I don't care that he hates the media or is annoyed at Cohn. I just can't stand his BSing on complete non-issue questions. It really makes me wonder how he will respond when there are real questions to be answered about losses, bad play calls, personnel decisions and other things that may come up throughout the season when at times this team will face issues and he will have to deal with the press.

The stuff he is dealing with now is nothing. These are softballs and he's acting like he's being asked about his Mom losing her virginity. What's he going to do when there are real questions to be answered?

It sounded like Mark Purdy to me but I could be wrong.

SOS, Same as Nolan & Sigletary!

The question is can he back it up on the field.