Vinny Cerrato Is Scouting: Darker Cloud Descends on Redskins Nation

I don't want to boldly state that Vincent "the Devil" Cerrato will be back next year as the senior vice president of football operations for the Washington Redskins, but I'm almost certain he will be.

Let me set the mood for you.

Last night, my wife, my son, and I packed up the car and headed out to the stores to polish off our Christmas shopping.

I had the radio tuned to ESPN 980, as I always do between the hours of four and seven, to listen to the Sports Reporters with Andy Pollin and Steve Czaban.

Frank Hanrahan, the show's Redskins beat reporter, was on the air giving his hourly update on all things Redskins, like confirming Clinton Portis is on injured reserve now and that it was Jim Zorn's decision to cut the kicker and not Dan Snyder's (yeah right).

That was all fine and good—and nothing I didn't already know. Then one of the hosts, Steve, asked why Vinny wasn't on his weekly show, Inside the Redzone, with Frank this past Friday.

Now, before you continue reading, loyal reader, I must warn you that this next part is graphic and may send you into suicidal depression. Still with me?

You're a brave soul.

Frank informed Steve, as well as the audience, that Vinny was in Indiana scouting Jimmy Clauson.

This statement by Hanrahan sucked every ounce of Christmas spirit out of me. Had I not had my wife and son in the car with me, I might have just jerked my car into the 18-wheeler next to me.

My smile was gone, and I wanted nothing more than to just buy coal for everyone left on my shopping list.

I felt like Charlie Brown.

I felt that Lucy was actually going to let me kick the football this time. I was running full speed, and I was ready. Then Frank broke the news and bam! Lucy yanked the football away, and once again I was on my back in pain.

Good Grief.

The one silver lining I had throughout this miserable 2009 season was that there were many reports out there clamoring that Vinny was tied to Zorn, and they both would be gone before the end of January.

I still have no doubt that Zorn is finished in D.C., but why would Vinny be out scouting a first-round pick if he were going to be fired?

Now I know Frank could have misspoke, or was mistaken, but I don't think he was.

Why is it that every time it seems this team has learned from past mistakes they just go back to business as usual?

It's one step forward, 15 yards back with this team.

Oh well, loyal reader, there's always next year, right?