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Report: Paterno Contract Deal Reached Amid Scandal

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- A New York Times report says veteran Joe Paterno began talks that sweetened his retirement contract in the same month that he testified before a grand jury in the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case, and all members of the board of trustees weren't informed of the new package before the scandal engulfed the university.

According to The Times article the amended contract included a $3 million career bonus if Paterno retired at the end of the 2011 season.

The newspaper cited university records in saying Paterno first broached the idea of revisiting his contact in January, the same month he appeared before the grand jury, and some top university officials had also testified before the panel before the agreement was reached in August.

But the paper, citing "people with knowledge of the events," said details were known to a handful of board members. It says the full board only learned about the lucrative contract when Sandusky was arrested in November and two university officials were charged.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

 

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