by David Zizmor

SANTA CLARA–San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh is still under contract with the 49ers for one more year so after Sunday’s game versus the Arizona Cardinals maybe he might have something to say about leaving the team and going elsewhere. The Niners aren’t going to do anything before this season is over and that’s all the rumors and speculation are just that. It seems that the way this is going to go down is Harbaugh is going to coach the game on Sunday and address this later.

Within about 48 hours of that he’ll probably be released out of his contract unless the 49ers somehow can figure out a way to trade him and it’s doesn’t seem very likely. Within 48 hours he’ll be released out of his contract the 49ers would like to get moving on their coaching search and they can’t do that until Harbaugh is relieved of his duties. Former Washington and Denver coach Mike Shanahan’s name has been thrown around as the next 49ers coach but it’s only speculation at this time.

At the same time Harbaugh if he does indeed want to coach at the University of Michigan which is the big rumor right now Michigan would want him signed as quickly as possible so he can get out and start recruiting right away. So the 49ers and Harbaugh both have reasons to get started and especially for the 49ers. If Harbaugh in fact is going to Michigan they obviously can’t trade him that doesn’t work you can’t trade between the college and the pros.

If this goes out as we think it will we’ll probably know by Tuesday what’s going on and maybe even sooner than that. The 49ers will probably wait 24-28 hours so Harbaugh can do whatever wrapping up he needs to do with the team. He can do some end of the season run downs and reviews with the players but beyond that Harbuagh is prepared and it’s just a matter of a few days and this last game with Arizona is a formality.

Was former 49er Ray McDonald a distraction to the team this season? The answer has to be yes, the players will always tell you that they focus what’s on the field and what goes on off the field is none of their concern and the fact of the matter there is a lot of good stuff surrounding the sexual assault issue now. That story was a big piece of news that wasn’t just an NFL news piece that was a national news piece.

The Ravens Ray Rice just elevated into the national consciousness and it was something you couldn’t avoid. It was a story that was everywhere and unless the players were living under a rock and frankly there are a few who do. You heard about this story and after Rice who got suspended initially McDonald was really the first case. The domestic violence allegation against him in September was the first case that came across the desk of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

McDonald took the full brunt of the scrutiny that came along with that national press report and any 49er who said that they weren’t paying attention and wasn’t distracted even a little bit is lying. Folks will say that because this was something that was lingering. Did it impact the 49ers play between the lines when the game was going on I doubt it. Knowing the way football players are they want to focus on is fantastic that’s what they do that’s their job.

David Zizmor covers the NFL for http://www.sportsradioservice.com