The Detroit Lions have hired former Maryland head football coach Randy Edsall to a front office position, and that might be very good news for the Terps. We just don't know how good.
Under the terms of Edsall's contract with Maryland signed in 2011, he has to notify Maryland of whatever new income he makes with Detroit this season. Maryland should be able to subtract that from the roughly $2.1 million it owes him in base salary to not be the head coach this season.
Here's the relevant clause in Edsall's deal, section 8.4.1:
In the event the Coach secures other employment or consulting with the men's football program or athletic program at another college or university or employment or consulting with any football team participating in any professional league or conference during the remaining portion of the term of his 2011 Agreement, or any extension thereof, he is obligated to notify the University in writing of the terms of that employment or consulting, including salary and any additional compensation. The Unviersity has the right to reduce its continuing payment obligations to the Coach (excluding any Potential Compensation owed to the Coach under Sections 4.2.1 through 4.2.4 herein) to the extent that he earns other salary and additional compensation during the term of this 2011 Agreement (had it naturally expired) from said college or professional employment or consulting.
Update: There's one potential wrench in this for Maryland, brought to my attention in the comments below. Here's a passage from Edsall's extension:
It's possible that Maryland gave away Edsall's offset in last year's extension. I'm looking into that.
Edsall's 2011 contract with Maryland inexplicably doesn't have a buyout. One was finally included in Edsall's extension signed last spring, which means all the Terps currently owe Edsall is $2.1 million for the next year and an extension-supplied $500,000 walking-away fee. The $2.1 million will now go down in some amount.
Just how much money would Maryland save? That's a terrific question. To answer it, we'll have to wait for Edsall to formally notify the university in writing of his salary, then request the document, and that could all take some time.
Despite getting hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars for a palatial stadium in a city that recently declared bankruptcy, the Lions are under no legal obligation to reveal Edsall's salary to be their "director of football research and special projects." For Maryland, the higher Edsall's 2016 salary, the merrier.