Sonny: Cerrato gone if season doesn't turn around

Would you put these guys in charge of a team?

Via Big Stein, we have Sonny Jurgensen talking on 980 AM this morning about the fate of Vinny Cerrato is tied to the Sherman Lewis experiment and the final record of the roster he assembled.

“And I think, from my understanding, it was his decision to bring in another set of eyes, it was his decision to have [Sherm Lewis] call the plays, and I think these have been his decisions. He’s living and dying by the success of this football team. He’s tied to it. And he realizes that. And I think he would tell you that. You know, it’s got to be successful for him to be here and continue in this position.”
…
“I know what I have been told, I know what is supposed to be the situation, and the situation is that these are Vinny’s calls,” Jurgensen said. “I’m saying that he is tied to this thing, and it’s got to happen. His experiment with Sherm Lewis has got to be successful.”

When Jurgensen was aksed specifically about what would happen to Cerrato in the event of a 4-12 record — a completely reasonable scenario when one looks at the remaining schedule of games — he responded that he believes it would cost Cerrato his job. Jurgy’s opinion matters because he is close to owner Dan Snyder and the owner listens carefully to his advice [not always to the benefit of the team].

Before Redskins fans celebrate, they should consider who Snyder would bring in to replace Cerrato. Snyder hired Cerrato because Cerrato will put up with an owner butting in with lots of “bright ideas” and most real general managers [a post Cerrato does not hold] will not. Cerrato cannot get a similar position anywhere else in the NFL so this situation is the best option he has. If Cerrato is fired, it does not automatically follow that he will be replaced by a real GM in the mold of Bill Polian or Scott Pioli

Back in January 2002, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen explained why Marty Schottenheimer would soon be fired by Snyder: