Not so fast. Despite the momentum, a deal between the New York Giants and John Harbaugh is not finalized just yet.
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According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the two sides are still sorting through contract details.
"Giants and John Harbaugh still are working through the details of their contract, and it is not yet done, per sources," Schefter reported. "The final issues aren't over money; it's over language.
"There's no derailment and nothing has changed," a source said, via Pro Football Talk. "Talks continue, and the two sides are working to get it across the finish line."
That word, language, can mean just about anything.
It could involve control over the roster or the draft. It could be about reporting structure and whether Harbaugh answers to general manager Joe Schoen, or whether both report directly to ownership. It could involve exit clauses, authority, or even dispute resolution provisions buried deep in standard NFL contracts.
What it is not about is money. That much appears settled.
At some point, though, paperwork has to turn into a signature. And if one side refuses to budge without a workable compromise, things can stall quickly.
The reality is this. Harbaugh holds the leverage. The Giants have already let it be known that he is their guy. If this falls apart now, the optics are not great. That puts pressure on New York to find a way to close the deal.
Whether that means conceding on language, structure, or authority, the Giants likely understand they are the side that cannot afford to blink.
