Skins had 74-88 record under their former VP
ASHBURN – The ending came suddenly, with Vinny Cerrato blindsided by the decision. One NFL source said Cerrato was “feeling good” about his future as little as a week ago. And a team source said Cerrato was stunned when Redskins owner Dan Snyder gave him a choice: accept a lesser role as a consultant or be gone.
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He’s gone.
“This is obviously the right time for a change,” Snyder said. “It was a difficult decision. He’s still a friend. … Over the disappointment of the season I started realizing it was time for a change and through the conversations with Vinny about the direction. It came together rather quickly.”
Cerrato joined Snyder when he bought the team in 1999 and, except for Marty Schottenheimer’s one season as coach in 2001, he had been with the organization ever since.
Washington posted five losing seasons under Cerrato, including this year. Of the three playoff appearances under Snyder, one came in the first year when others built the team; the other two came when Joe Gibbs had more power. Overall, they were 74-88 in Cerrato’s tenure, including playoffs.
One Redskins veteran said he knew Cerrato was in trouble if only because of how he constructed the offensive line.
“I hope I don’t run into him again,” Redskins returner Rock Cartwright said.
Sources close to Cerrato said he was blamed in the past for decisions the owner made when it came to personnel moves. Cerrato was not highly thought of around the league.
“He was a bit of a [butt] kisser and he always knew the right [butt] to kiss,” one NFL general manager said. “I’m not saying he didn’t know his trade, but he got to where he got based on who he knew and not what he knew.”
