I agree, why would you leave the cushy job making tons of money for a HIGH stress job in the SEC where you are on the road all the time away from your family. Just ask Urban Meyer ... do you really believe he left Florida for health reasons ?
:twocents:
Okay, for the non-lawyers. I don't have the entire contract, but what you have posted states that he will stay out of coaching through the end of the contract.
What it means is that he will not coach and do MNF AT THE SAME TIME. There almost certainly is a termination provision in the contract, and I would bet money that it includes an out if he wants to coach again. Once the contract is terminated it is "ended" and he would not be in breach by coaching.
This now clues me in as to why there can be no announcement at this time. He cannot be announced as anybody's coach until after he completes this season at MNF and terminates the MNF contract.
Now, he could go to MNF for a waiver, but that probably is more trouble than it is worth.
If Hart can't get a big name, it'll be a huge mistake to get rid of Dooley.
It's funny, nobody on the pro-Gruden side of the house, despite what information we may have, has said Gruden is a done deal and will definitely be here.
With ESPN's move, it potentially keeps Gruden from being tempted back into coaching at a marquee organization or, perhaps more important, college program.
Jon Gruden signs five-year extension to stay on MNF - NFL - Sporting News
Notice this statement:
Uh oh.
If we cant get a big name and have to keep Dooley next year then season ticket sales plummet to new lows. They struggled to sale 45-48k this year. You could see sales next year around 30-35k and turnstile numbers down to 50k. After going to Oregon and Florida with Dooley next September 2013 and no new energy or hope ... imagine how bad things will be around here.
Lawyers or not, contracts can always be bought out.
A more important questions is whether or not Gruden has a chance to land real NFL money?
Would the Browns look to hire Jon Gruden as next coach? - CBSSports.com
Top NFL coaches make between $7 and $7.5 million/yr. The highest paid college coach makes a little over $5 million. Both are nice, but one is 40% to 50% nicer.
Fair to say, UT would probably need Haslam to chip in to help with this high of a Gruden salary or the $9 million Dooley & staff buyout or both.
But, Haslam has just bought the Cleveland Browns for $1.05 billion. If he's truly interested in Gruden, if he believes Gruden is worth the dollars, does he put his $1.05 billion investment or his college first? Also, there are many articles with the likes of Robert Kraft and Art Rooney saying how jazzed and passionate Haslam is about owning the Browns.
Generally speaking, you do not become a billionaire in business by deferring your own interests in favor of others when you so much on the line. Just sayin.