Everyone knew it was a one year sham hire because that job was toxic, but Culley got his money, and he didn't hurt his own stock at all for a future job while he got to live out a dream.
Just a weird situation all around. Kind of a raw deal for Culley, but he probably knew what he was getting into, which is why he got his money. And Culley also made some unforgivably bad in-game decisions.