Desmond Howard believes that Michigan avoided an ugly battle with the Big Ten.

Jim Harbaugh was suspended 3 games last week as the Big Ten continues to investigate Michigan’s sign-stealing saga, and it was announced Thursday that Michigan would accept that suspension rather than fighting it. Howard believes that Harbaugh and Michigan were acting in the best interest of the team by accepting the suspension.

“I do believe that Jim Harbaugh once said after a press conference that he doesn’t mind taking the blame, the criticism, the arrows, as long as it protects his adolescent kids and his players,” Howard said on Get Up on Friday. “I think that’s where we are right now. You’re looking at 2 sides. They were about to get in this cage match, a fight to the death, cage match against Big Ten’s attorneys and Michigan’s attorneys. And I think they said ‘Hey listen, let’s not do this. We don’t need this. Neither sides gonna benefit from it. So ultimately, given information that Heather (Dinich) just gave us, I believe that they came to an ammoniacal resolution.”

Michigan won its first game without Harbaugh against Penn State last week. Now it will take on Maryland this week and Ohio State to close out the season.

Whether or not the 3-game suspension against Harbaugh will be his only punishment is still to be determined. The investigation is on going, and Heather Dinich believes there is still evidence to uncover.