Arkansas Just Decided to Stop Paying Bret Bielema's Buyout
By Chris Russo
This seems illegal, doesn't it?
The University of Arkansas fired head football coach Bret Bielema at the end of the 2017 season, buying him out of his contract and paying him the remaining value in installments. But now, they're apparently not interested in paying him the rest.
Arkansas has reportedly quit paying Bret Bielema's buyout, saving nearly $8 million in the process.https://t.co/pKfrls2frT
— Zach Barnett (@zach_barnett) October 25, 2019
When the school relieved Bielema of his duties, there was still $11.8 million unpaid in his contract. Arkansas reportedly agreed to pay Bielema a little over $320,000 per month thorugh 2020 as long as Bielema actively sought new employment.
He held up his end of the deal, as he was working as a consultant to Bill Belichick last season before becoming the New England Patriots' defensive line coach this year. Even so, reports suggest that Arkansas simply stopped stopped making the payments earlier this year.
Enjoyed the week in Detroit with so many former players and witness what they are now in #NFL two more missing from photo Lance Kendricks and @HFroholdt #OnWisconsin #WoooPig pic.twitter.com/rJN9IfdT6C
— Bret Bielema (@BretBielema) August 13, 2019
There has been no specific reason given as to why the payments stopped. Now, Bielema and his agent, Neil Cornrich, may be considering pursuing legal action against the university.
Bielema making a steady income with the Patriots, but that seemingly does not free Arkansas from halting their obligations to him. Much more is sure to come from this story.