Hallelujah. Looks like Christmas arrived about a week early for Skins fans this year. But before I look on to his replacement Bruce Allen, son of late Redskins Hall of Fame coach George Allen (1971-1977), I'd like to take a minute to reflect on Cerrato's near decade-long tenure with Washington.
Shortly after Snyder bought the team in 1999, Cerrato was hired. He succeeded Charlie Casserly as GM and immediately went to work by signing past-their-prime veterans Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders, Irving Fryar, Jeff George, and Mark Carrier.
In the two drafts during his first stint with the Redskins (1999-2001) he notably selected LaVar Arrington, Chris Samuels, Rod Gardner, Fred Smoot, and Sage Rosenfels. However, his run was short-lived. In 2001, following another 8-8 season, Marty Schottenheimer was hired as head coach and GM, therefore, relieving Cerrato.
In 2002, Marty (the only coach under Snyder with a .500 record or better to this day) was undeservingly fired by you know who and replaced by "ol' ball coach" Steve Spurrier. Vinny was brought back and has been in charge of all personnel moves ever since. In that time he's drafted 40 players, only 20 of which remain on the roster:
In 2003, he traded away Washington's 1st (for Lav Coles), 4th, 5th, and 6th round picks. Most regrettably, he teamed with Snyder and Spurrier to draft Taylor Jacobs over Anquan Boldin and Osi Umenyiora in the 2nd round.
In 2004, Vinny traded arguably Washington's best player Champ Bailey to Denver for Clinton Portis. He then redeemed himself in the draft when he took Sean Taylor over Kellen Winslow Jr., then Cooley in the 3rd round. However, Washington was again shorthanded on draft day after Vinny traded away their 2nd (for Portis), 4th, and 7th round picks.
In 2005, Vinny drafted Carlos Rogers 9th overall then Campbell later in the first round. He gave up Washington's 2nd round pick to move up and get Campbell, and Washington's 3rd rounder was sent to Denver. His 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th round picks never started an NFL game.
In 2006, Vinny traded out of the first round to take Rocky McIntosh early in the 2nd. Washington was again without 1st, 3rd, and 4th round picks. He added Anthony Montgomery, Reed Doughty, and Kedric Golston in the 5th and 6th round but both his 7th round picks never made the team. During the same offseason he brought in Al Saunders (ugh), Brandon Lloyd (double ugh), Randle El, Adam Archuleta (triple UGH), and Andre Carter.
In 2007, Vinny drafted LaRon Landry 6th overall, his third selection of a defensive back in the first round in 4 years. Adrian Peterson was selected 7th overall. He again traded away Washington's 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round picks. Excluding H.B. Blades, his other 4 draft selections never saw the field. Stephon Heyer was signed immediately after the draft.
In 2008, Vinny again traded out of the first round for additional 2nd round picks. OT Sam Baker, and RBs Rashard Mendenhall and Chris Johnson were overlooked. Neglecting the need for offensive lineman, he used all 3 second round picks on pass catchers. Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, and Fred Davis have combined for 96 catches for 1,063 yards and 9 TDs. WR DeSean Jackson of the division rival Eagles (passed on twice by Vinny in the 2nd round) has 112 catches, 1,859 yards, and 11 TDs in that same time.
With his obvious intent on drafting offensive skill players, one can only wonder what he didn't see in 2nd round selections Jordy Nelson, Eddie Royal, Matt Forte, DeSean Jackson, and Ray Rice. Selecting a punter in the 6th round epitomized Vinny's decade-long cluelessness on draft day.
However, his 10 selections in the 2008 draft were the highest total in recent franchise history. In later rounds, he commendably found less known players such as Rhino in the 3rd, Tryon in the 4th, Kareem Moore in the 6th, and Chris Horton in the 7th.
In 2009, Snyderrato attempted to replace Campbell with Cutler in free agency then Sanchez through the draft but both fell through. He instead signed DeAngelo Hall and Albert Haynesworth to lucrative contracts. When Orakpo fell to the 13th pick, Vinny made one of his best draft day decisions by selecting him without hesitation. However, Washington was left without a 2nd round pick from the flopped Jason Taylor trade with Miami. Excluding Marko Mitchell in the 7th, Vinny's 5 other selections have failed to pan out. Jeremy Jarmon was selected in the 3rd round of the supplemental draft which means Washington will again be without an early round pick come April 2010.
Vinny Cerrato, despite selecting talented Redskin players such as Samuels, the late great Sean Taylor, Cooley, and Jason Campbell, has crippled this franchise by neglecting to address the offensive line adequately since taking Derrick Dockery in 2003. Excluding Orakpo in 2009 and Samuels in 2000, Cerrato never drafted a lineman - offensive or defensive - in the first 2 rounds. Inexcusable. As a result, the offense has underperformed for years and the statuses of Zorn, Campbell, Portis, and several lineman and pass catchers have come into question.
With free agency and the 2010 draft just months away, and rumors already beginning to circulate of Snyderrato taking an offensive player other than a lineman, this move should bring Redskins fans a breath of fresh air. The days of the GM position in Washington acting as merely an extension of owner Dan Snyder is history. Bruce Allen, 2002 NFL's George Young Executive of the Year, is the perfect answer for a team needing and anticipating change. Maybe now, whoever coaches for Washington next season will get that "playoff-caliber roster."
R.I.P. Chris Henry
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