INDIANAPOLIS – All NFL coaches rely on the thoughts and recommendations from college coaches they are particularly close with for help when it comes to evaluating talent. Bill Belichick has leaned heavily on Alabama's Nick Saban and Ohio State's Urban Meyer in the past.
Despite those important ties, Belichick's relationships pale in comparison to John Harbaugh's.
There are 14 Michigan players scheduled to be in Indy this week for the Combine, and the Ravens coach admitted he's talked to his brother, Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh, extensively about them all.
"It says a lot about that program that there are so many guys here," John Harbaugh said. "It says a lot about Jim and about [his predecessor] Brady Hoke, who recruiting those kids. That's one heck of a class.
"Do I talk to Jim about these guys? Yeah, I have a pretty good handle on those guys."
There will be plenty of other coaches looking at the Michigan players, including versatile safety/linebacker Jabrill Peppers, who has been tied to the Patriots in various mock drafts. But it would be tough to imagine anyone getting better insight than Harbaugh.
