Auburn AD Jay Jacobs claims that he was shocked, SHOCKED that Tommy Tuberville tendered his resignation at Auburn. SHOCKED!

If this were an episode of NCIS, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs would turn to his team and say "my gut tells me different."

Usually, when people tender their resignation, it means that they are quitting and immediately lose any benefits or future wages coming to them.  In this instance, it is not the case.  Tuberville will receive and estimated $5.2 million for "resigning."  At face value, that makes no sense.  Why would Auburn happily fork over a buyout that should be null and void if Tuberville, on his own volition walks away.  Either Auburn has no clue how to properly structure an employment agreement or Tuberville's agent is some kind of genius.

Obviously, if Tuberville did, in fact, resign and, as Jacobs asserts, "it was completely his idea", then something had to prompt it.  Maybe Tuberville read the rumors an Auburn Trustee had made contact with Mike Leach, maybe in his meetings with Jacobs he was told what assistants he could keep and which he would have to fire, maybe he was told his coordinators would be selected by committee and not just him.  But there was something Auburn had to do to make Tuberville "resign".

If the above scenario is how it went down, then Auburn gave Tuberville $5.2 million reasons to keep his mouth shut.

Even if Jacobs is telling the truth that Tuberville, if he had chosen, could have come back next year, the fact that Tuberville was given the buyout no questions asked is an indication that something out of the ordinary went down.  Universities don't pay coaches or employees who quit full amounts.  They negotiate a buyout.  And in this case, someone had to raise this as an option for the embattled coach because no one in their right mind walks away with money on the table.  Certainly not someone as shrewd as Tommy Tuberville.

Don't believe everything you read.  That's what my gut tells me.