For anyone else curious, I put together a quick calculation on what Rolo's buy-out would look like below. It's 60% of remaining base pay ($2M annually).
As you can see, I don't see how WSU is in a position to pony up the dollars to fire him "not for cause."
I also recall that if he has multiple bad seasons (4 or 5 wins - can't remember), that he can be fired "for cause" anytime soon, to pay out a huge payout.
I personally think if this season ends with 4-5 or less wins, with all the off the field stuff, he and Chun chat buy-out in terms that might be favorable to both parties. In fact, Rolo should offer this. If Rolo is that stubborn and thinks he's got next year in the bag - QB injury, or anything he can't prevent - than more power to him. I wouldn't personally leave money on the table. Think a discounted $3.0M buy-out paid over say 5 years, with interest. $600+K per year and allows you to land softly. Or risk that, have your QB injured (expelled), or other off the field things out of your control and you get nothing.
As you can see, I don't see how WSU is in a position to pony up the dollars to fire him "not for cause."
I also recall that if he has multiple bad seasons (4 or 5 wins - can't remember), that he can be fired "for cause" anytime soon, to pay out a huge payout.
I personally think if this season ends with 4-5 or less wins, with all the off the field stuff, he and Chun chat buy-out in terms that might be favorable to both parties. In fact, Rolo should offer this. If Rolo is that stubborn and thinks he's got next year in the bag - QB injury, or anything he can't prevent - than more power to him. I wouldn't personally leave money on the table. Think a discounted $3.0M buy-out paid over say 5 years, with interest. $600+K per year and allows you to land softly. Or risk that, have your QB injured (expelled), or other off the field things out of your control and you get nothing.
| Month | Monthly Base | Balance of Base Pay | 60% of Base |
| Oct-21 | 166,667 | 7,500,000 | 4,500,000 |
| Nov-21 | 166,667 | 7,333,333 | 4,400,000 |
| Dec-21 | 166,667 | 7,166,667 | 4,300,000 |
| Jan-22 | 166,667 | 7,000,000 | 4,200,000 |
| Feb-22 | 166,667 | 6,833,333 | 4,100,000 |
| Mar-22 | 166,667 | 6,666,667 | 4,000,000 |
| Apr-22 | 166,667 | 6,500,000 | 3,900,000 |
| May-22 | 166,667 | 6,333,333 | 3,800,000 |
| Jun-22 | 166,667 | 6,166,667 | 3,700,000 |
| Jul-22 | 166,667 | 6,000,000 | 3,600,000 |
| Aug-22 | 166,667 | 5,833,333 | 3,500,000 |
| Sep-22 | 166,667 | 5,666,667 | 3,400,000 |
| Oct-22 | 166,667 | 5,500,000 | 3,300,000 |
| Nov-22 | 166,667 | 5,333,333 | 3,200,000 |
| Dec-22 | 166,667 | 5,166,667 | 3,100,000 |
| Jan-23 | 166,667 | 5,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
| Feb-23 | 166,667 | 4,833,333 | 2,900,000 |
| Mar-23 | 166,667 | 4,666,667 | 2,800,000 |
| Apr-23 | 166,667 | 4,500,000 | 2,700,000 |
| May-23 | 166,667 | 4,333,333 | 2,600,000 |
| Jun-23 | 166,667 | 4,166,667 | 2,500,000 |
| Jul-23 | 166,667 | 4,000,000 | 2,400,000 |
| Aug-23 | 166,667 | 3,833,333 | 2,300,000 |
| Sep-23 | 166,667 | 3,666,667 | 2,200,000 |
| Oct-23 | 166,667 | 3,500,000 | 2,100,000 |
| Nov-23 | 166,667 | 3,333,333 | 2,000,000 |
| Dec-23 | 166,667 | 3,166,667 | 1,900,000 |
| Jan-24 | 166,667 | 3,000,000 | 1,800,000 |
| Feb-24 | 166,667 | 2,833,333 | 1,700,000 |
| Mar-24 | 166,667 | 2,666,667 | 1,600,000 |
| Apr-24 | 166,667 | 2,500,000 | 1,500,000 |
| May-24 | 166,667 | 2,333,333 | 1,400,000 |
| Jun-24 | 166,667 | 2,166,667 | 1,300,000 |
| Jul-24 | 166,667 | 2,000,000 | 1,200,000 |
| Aug-24 | 166,667 | 1,833,333 | 1,100,000 |
| Sep-24 | 166,667 | 1,666,667 | 1,000,000 |
| Oct-24 | 166,667 | 1,500,000 | 900,000 |
| Nov-24 | 166,667 | 1,333,333 | 800,000 |
| Dec-24 | 166,667 | 1,166,667 | 700,000 |
| Jan-25 | 166,667 | 1,000,000 | 600,000 |
| Feb-25 | 166,667 | 833,333 | 500,000 |
| Mar-25 | 166,667 | 666,667 | 400,000 |
| Apr-25 | 166,667 | 500,000 | 300,000 |
| May-25 | 166,667 | 333,333 | 200,000 |
| Jun-25 | 166,667 | 166,667 | 100,000 |
