Gibbs, Cerrato Clash Over Plans for Top Pick

Statements Raise Questions Over Who Is Running Redskins

The relationship between vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato, owner Dan Snyder and Joe Gibbs, above, has been controversial because the team does not have a general manager to handle personnel issues. (Jonathan Newton - The Washington Post)

The Washington Redskins issued a series of contradictory statements today about whether they were willing to trade their first-round pick in Saturday's NFL draft, adding to the uncertainty about the fate of the selection and raising questions about who is running the team.

Coach Joe Gibbs found himself in the odd position of refuting a statement released earlier in the day by vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato and a story on the team's own Web site.

The team's Web site, matching a news release sent out by the team this morning, reported that the Redskins "will use their first-round pick to select a player in this weekend's upcoming draft" and Cerrato said, "We are not trading that pick."

But in his own statement Gibbs provided one of those contrary reports when he said the team will "consider anything."

"Are we considering any options we are presented with? Yes, we'll consider anything," Gibbs said. Team officials said Gibbs was unavailable to be interviewed because he was out of the office.

As team president, Gibbs has final say on all personnel decisions. Gibbs said on Friday that the Redskins were discussing trade scenarios with "four or five teams" and that trading down was possible. He reiterated that Monday.

The Washington Post, citing league sources, reported this morning that the team is exploring several trade scenarios and one involved obtaining Oakland Raiders cornerback Philip Buchanon and the Raiders' second-round pick, the 38th overall, for Washington's first-round pick.

This morning, the Post contacted another source with direct knowledge of the discussions who confirmed that the Redskins and Raiders had talked about a deal for Buchanon and that the Raiders favored the deal.

The Associated Press this afternoon confirmed the Redskins-Raiders talks about Buchanon but said the Redskins might trade a lower-round pick for Buchanon. But the Redskins don't have second-round pick and few starting NFL cornerbacks in their prime can be had for anything lower.

Cerrato has denied since Thursday that the Redskins have even talked to the Raiders about Buchanon, saying "there is no truth to it."

The structure of the Redskins' front office has long been a source of controversy. The team is run by the triumvirate of Cerrato, owner Dan Snyder and Gibbs and does not have a general manager, which critics say is to blame for the team's inability to make the playoffs since 1999.

Wide receiver Laveranues Coles believed he had been promised his release by the team's front office in January and instead said he was threatened by Snyder when Coles refused to immediately accept a trade.

Coles was eventually traded to the Jets.

Linebacker LaVar Arrington remains mired in a dispute with the front office over a $6.5 million bonus payment he believes the team agreed to give him but then left out of his contract. A date has not been set for Arrington's grievance hearing against the team.