These signs could point to Cerrato making an exit

It's looking increasingly unlikely the Redskins will qualify for the playoffs this season. In roughly the same way it's looking increasingly unlikely the Democrats will maintain control of the Virginia governor's mansion.

That being the case, the next eight weeks will be largely about the future of the front office. And sometimes, it's fun to search for clues, especially while sitting in the Atlanta airport amid the sweetly wafting odors of Checkers and Mandarin Express, which, when mixed together, smell exactly like 2-6.

(Sign of the Times, Part I: Did you hear the newest radio spot for American Service Center and Mercedes-Benz of Alexandria? "Bring in your tickets to a certain pro football team, and we'll give you face value towards any new Mercedes in stock," go the spots, which note that "this football season has been anything but spectacular." Any turned-in tickets will be donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington.)

Anyhow, here's one clue, via certified insider Sonny Jurgensen. During his regular spot on ESPN 980's Monday Morning Quarterback Show, Jurgensen had some pointed words about Executive Vice President of Wide Receiver Procurement and Awkward Radio Interviews Vinny Cerrato.

"I think Joe Gibbs and Dan Snyder felt that Vinny had earned the opportunity to lead this football team, and they gave him that," Jurgensen said. "They gave him the opportunity to make the decisions. 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."

(Sign of the Times, Part II: Duffy's Irish Pub, a watering hole in Northwest D.C., took out an ad in Express last week that went like this: "Dear Dan Snyder, We would like to thank you for completely destroying our football team. Happy Holidays!")

Andy Pollin followed up, asking Jurgensen to assume that the Redskins finish 4-12, which seems about right, barring a decision by several franchises to disband within the next few weeks. In that scenario, Pollin asked, "Can you pretty much confidently say that [Cerrato is] gone?"

"Yeah, I would think so, I would think so," Jurgensen said, as one or two particularly susceptible listeners heard the sounds of heavenly angels singing "Hail to the Redskins." "I like Vinny. . . . I think it's obvious that we've fired six or seven coaches, we've given him an opportunity. That's not to say Vinny wouldn't be here, but they could give Vinny something else."

Something else?

"He may be getting the buses ready, I don't know," Jurgensen said, to laughter. "Look, he has a background in radio; he could always take over the radio station."

(Sign of the Times, Part III: The Washington Freedom took out an ad in this very paper aimed at "Fed Up Washington Sports Fans," which promised, among other things, "Freedom of Speech and Self Expression, Including the Right to Create Signs and Banners and Bring Them into the Stadium!")

When Kevin Sheehan pressed Jurgensen about just who's been making the decisions, he sort of backed away from the claim that Cerrato was the real power in the organization, but he didn't back away from the larger point.

"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."

Eight more weeks to find out.