You can defend Jim Zorn on the grounds that it really isn’t his fault that he was promoted into a job for which he wasn’t ready and on top of that he is suffering from the neglect of the offensive line on the part of one Vinny Cerrato.
Those two factors, and many more, make it impossible to defend the performance of Cerrato. I’ve heard two media types attempt to do so. One was George Michael, who went on the radio last month and when asked if he thinks that Cerrato is a capable personnel man, Michael said, “Oh, there’s no ifs buts or ands. I mean, I know that for a fact, I know that from other people around the league.”
Michael emerged from the interview with his credibility severely damaged in some quarters, including here.
And today, in Part Two of a three-part You Tube Special with John Riggins (you can see Part One here), Joe Theismann comes to the defense of Vinny. And what does Joey T pull out in defense of the bug-eyed one?
The Albert Haynesworth deal.
I mean, how much personnel acumen does it take to throw a hundred million bucks at a mammoth, Pro Bowl lineman at what should be the peak of his career?
That would be like giving me $10 billion, sending me out to buy the Empire State Building, and the calling me a real estate genius.
Riggins actually comes off looking like the rational one here:
Oh god please Joey T? Why back stab us fan on this one huh? Cerrato is the evil pill and needs to go! Joey T must had made friend with Vinny and now feels bad calling him an “idiot” of football operations for the Washington Redskins! And as far as that other guy! Who is he? And who does he think he is? Cerrato must have had bought this guy some knee pads!!! What ever we’re going to end the season at 2-14 or 3-13! Either way Daniel Snyder WILL fire Cerrato and hire a real GM!
Hail!
Rich, I agree with you. Either Joe T. is drinking cool-aid or he’s looking for a job with the Redskins. I’m surprised he hasn’t become a QB coach yet since I think he would be good at it…although he’s been out of the league too long. I think Riggo is right on the money. Snyder is very involved in everything that happens and his ego DOES get in the way. He treats the all his actions with the Redskins the same way he treats his business mergers and acquisitions. You just can’t treat people and players like objects and expect to be successful. Players and staff need structure, inspiration, and encouragement and that has never existed under Snyder. He’s just not the type of person who can provide that. He’s very good at financial business but lousy in the people business.
What is so appealing to me about these two videos is that this seems to be the first time that we have an actual dialogue about this team from pro-ownership and anti-ownership perspectives. Theisamann and Riggins also have credibility and gravitas as well as respect for each other which makes for a very honest discussion without the hyperbole that is too often heard when speaking about the Redskins. For my money these are the Lincoln Douglass debates of the 2009 Redskins.