Jim Harbaugh takes the next step with NFL interview

This is dragging on far too long.

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Things continue to get weird when it comes to this on-going Jim Harbaugh ‘will he or won’t he’ saga.

While he reportedly continues to tell the team and recruits that there’s nothing to worry about in terms of him remaining in Ann Arbor, the Michigan football head coach continues to be courted by NFL franchises, and has yet to sign his contract extension.

As the Las Vegas Raiders job opening has been put to rest, the Minnesota Vikings got him on the phone for an interview this weekend. As that program continues to gauge his interest, Harbaugh appears to be taking things another step further, as the Vikings are flying him to Minneapolis — another sign that perhaps the seven-year Wolverines head coach may not return to the program.

This, from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero:

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One main point of distinction is that Harbaugh has yet to be offered by any NFL franchise, and the Vikings have other candidates that reportedly have been named finalists for their head coaching vacancy.

As often noted by Chris Balas at TheWolverine.com, the big indicator of whether or not Harbaugh is truly NFL-bound will be if the Miami Dolphins, fronted by Michigan mega-donor Stephen Ross, gets involved, as Ross has long stated that he will not pry Harbaugh from his alma mater.

Stay tuned, because the twists and turns continue to come.

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