Chris Harry of the Orlando Sentinel can't make up his mind: Either Chucky won't coach at Tennessee because of money, or money is not an issue.

At least one person covering the NFL suggests Chucky will stay in the pay-for-play-on-Sunday league not because the University of Tennessee doesn’t want him, but because Chucky wants money. Lots of it.

Chris Harry of the Orlando Sentinel blogged today that Chucky won’t go to Tennessee because of the lack of pay — then he strangely claims it’s not about money (well, if it’s not about money, why even introduce the premise into your blog post?).

But Fulmer was due to make about $2.6 million next season. Gruden has a contract with the Bucs — that would not be binding if he jumped to the college level, by the way — to coach through the 2011 season at more than $4 million per season.

If the Vols (or any college program) came calling, no, I don’t believe the decision would be about money. Gruden is a football coach who loves what he does.

I believe he loves the pro game more, and is better suited for it.

Just for a point of reference, paying a college coach $4 million a year isn’t that crazy. Nick Saban (Alabama) and Pete Carroll (USC) reportedly earn $4 million a year. Florida coach Urban Meyer makes $3.25 million a year.*

Yesterday, University of Tennessee football coach Phil Fulmer stepped down. Rumors began right away that the Volunteers were after Chucky. Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune went as far to blog on TBO.com that Chucky was the school’s “No. 1 choice.”

*Sources: Forbes, USA Today and ESPN.