NFL.com is reporting that the Miami Dolphins are ready to hand Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh $8 million dollars to come east next season. 

The rumor mill is going to churn out these kinds of stories from now until Harbaugh makes it official and announces his career choice.

NBC Bay Area's Raj Mathai reported Harbaugh met with the 49ers yesterday. San Francisco is reportedly offering about half of what Miami is willing to spend, according to league sources. Harbaugh has lived here in the Bay Area for the past four years and has children who are still in school. That is a factor that scores points for the 49ers, but is it enough points to equal $4 million? Probably not.

Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross flew to the Bay Area Thursday in an urgent effort to convince Harbaugh to become his next coach. The Miami group left the San Jose airport tarmac before 4 p.m. and Harbaugh was not among them. That's a good sign for the 49ers. Bad for Miami.

If all of the above is true, then we could have ourselves a good old fashioned bidding war with Mr. Harbaugh coming out the big winner.

Harbaugh became an NFL darling this week after the 11-1 Cardinal earned a 40-12 Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech in Miami.  He came to Stanford four years ago when the team was 1-11.