The Lying GM vs. the Bitter Local Reporter
Media Gossip/Musings, NFL July 22nd. 2008, 12:50pm
Even die-hard Redskins fans might find this series of maneuvers by Executive Vice President of Football Operations Vinny Cerrato the very definition of douchy: For weeks, Cerrato had denied to the local media that the team was interested in DE Jason Taylor or that there had been any contact with the Dolphins. Sunday afternoon on the practice field, he kept up this wall of deceit: “We haven’t talked to anybody yet on anything.”
Monday, Cerrato shot himself in the foot: He detailed, on ESPN radio and to SI’s Peter King, how the deal went down over the weekend, and that he had been in talks with Miami for weeks.
So who – if anyone – is in the wrong here? The bitter reporter for airing his grievances on a blog about a time-honored practice among sports front office-types? Or Cerrato for blatantly lying to the local media and potentially damaging future credibility on trades/signings/etc?
(Of note: Too many front office types/coaches lie to list them here. And Cerrato is not obligated to be completely truthful with the press. But thanks to the power of newspaper blogs, brazen reporters now have a chance to fire back, for better or for worse. We actually love this. It takes some brass ones to fire back.)
49 Responses to “The Lying GM vs. the Bitter Local Reporter”
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July 22nd, 2008 at 12:52 PM
What a scumbag. In the future, he should keep the media abreast of any and all developments, including potential trades and acquisitions. I mean, these are things that sportswriters HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW, because they’re VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE.
I, for one, am disgusted.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:56 PM
in most cases, the team has a right to keep this kind of info private. they don’t want other teams swooping in and giving a better offer for a player they covet, so why be candid with reporters?
that said, cerrato is a shit-tard. la canfora was right in calling him out.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:57 PM
I have a right to know every single move my team is trying to make, going to make, or is even dreaming about. If a GM or coach isn’t telling the media how many times they shake after taking a piss, they should be fired for not giving me everything I need as a fan.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:57 PM
I like La Canfora but he sounds like a whiny douche. Cerrato had the inside track to getting Taylor, why tell the media that and alert the Giants and others who were trying to get him.
Plus if Daniels doesn’t go down they never would have traded for him in the first place.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:59 PM
then say, “no comment,” don’t blatantly lie like a little bitch.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:59 PM
I hate Vinnie. Always have, always will. But I don’t think this technique should be slammed. It’s the front office’s job to try and get the best deal they can. Obviously, providing other teams with your position during trade talks by talking to the press can work against you. So why put yourself out there? The less information the Dolphins had the better, the same goes with any competing buyers.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 PM
The reporter is being a douche. Get better sources inside the organization that will tell you what is really going on.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Everyone lies, especially in sports. What does Cerrato owe La Canfora, jack shit.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:01 PM
with spencer on this one, folks
If you’re Mort and you hear a Redskins rumor. Do you even bother call Vinny to confirm? Isn’t he just going to lie to you?
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:01 PM
And a no comment basically means yes we are going after him.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:01 PM
There are tons of sources within an organization, Mort would be dumb to go to Vinny, everyone talks, a reporters job is to do digging, not necessarily go to the main and easiest source.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Oh, please. The arrogance of the media is stunning.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Next question…
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Plus, what you are missing in all of this is that the Redskins organization despises the Washington Post. They will go out of their way NOT to help that newspaper.
Not saying that is the right, but those are the facts.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:04 PM
canfora seems to be going after him on a minor issue for the guy refusing to speak with him for 3 years. I am sure if we knew all the facts of the case, What was Cerrato really asked, at exactly what time, did he preface or end his comments in any other way, was he smiling or winking, etc, we would agree this is no big deal.
And TBL Mort’s sources are always wrong (or maybe he just makes thing up) so I do not see why he would care.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Agreed with Mike NYC.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Agreed
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:10 PM
I think La Canfora was just venting. He’s a good reporter and a cool person to talk to. It’s frustrating to miss out on a scoop like the Taylor trade.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:16 PM
The people saying the reporter is “douche” have no idea about the situation in DC.
Fact is the Redskins own about half the sports media in the area, including all sports radio, and feel they can pretty much manipulate all other local outlets since they are by far the most popular area team, just ahead of DCU and the Kastles. All of this leads to monumental arrogance by the Skins organization, only 60% of which comes from Dan Snyder. La Canfora is absolutely right to be upset. Unfortunately, nothing will change since this is the Redskins and their fans are devoted to the point of retardation. Myself included. Woo, we got Taylor!
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:18 PM
Why is the media owed anything in this situation? If I was a GM, there’s no fucking way I’m going to make a potential deal with another team mainstream news when another GM could take that information and use it to their advantage. Sounds like the writer is just pissed for not having the scoop.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:18 PM
Iggy, I live in the area and am completely aware of the situation, La Canfora comes off as arrogant and a douche.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Now we’re upset with a guy for lying to the media rather than saying “No Comment”? He’s a former football player from New York; it’s not like we’re dealing with someone smart here.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:22 PM
In the PR field my advice would be instead of the no comment go with a sarcastic(but non-douchy)humorous response. It gives everyone a soundbite without giving details and the underlying meaning is usually implied by your non-direct answer. Sometimes reporters aren’t looking for a story so much as a quote. When done correctly it works well,
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:23 PM
no. what season ticket holders and the people who pay tens of thousands of dollars in luxury boxes and the untold thousands of redskins fans have a right to know.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:25 PM
But we all know, why does it matter if Jason La Canfora got to break it? Why should I, as a fan, care who I get the news from, as long as I get it.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:26 PM
You’re looking for a new job, your current employer gets wind of it, they pay you thousands of dollars, by your theory they deserve to know. But of course you would lie and say no you aren’t, especially if that new job you are looking for isn’t secured.
I look at this the same way, the deal wasn’t done, he didn’t want it leaked they were going after it, he lied, it’s called doing business.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 PM
cbh49er, I know that we don’t usually agree on much on this website, but in La Canfora venting is in no way arrogant or douchey. When Cerrato completely lied about Taylor, not even just saying “no comment” or an equivalent neutral statement, he should have destroyed all credibility he had. But since the Skins are above the law in all situations, La Canfora needs some way to express his frustration. And he’s not the only one. Dan Steinberg had some things to say about the Skins today too. And Dan Steinberg is god.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 PM
I can’t tell if this is sarcasm but I hope so.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 PM
Disagree. Does the company you work for share all the inner-workings of their operations with their customers? Or are some things considered proprietary?
In the long run, Redskins fans are better off for their team’s front office lying to the media.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 PM
Answering “no comment” justs leads rampant speculation that could drive up the price of the trade. Lying was in his team’s best interest. The reporter has a right to be upset, but come on, should he expect full honesty out of the front office of a sports franchise?
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:28 PM
What difference does it make if the fan knows before the deal is done? It’s not like you, as a fan, are going to be able to have any say in the deal!
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:30 PM
And La Canfora is not just speaking about himself. He’s talking about all local media. It’s just that most of them don’t have the cojones to stand up to the Skins organization. And since the Skins already aren’t fond of the Post, it’s not making things any worse.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:32 PM
Sorry jimmy. Fans have a right to come to the games and cheer or boo. Beyond that, they should shut the fuck up. Fans, ticket holders, and reporters don’t own the team so they don’t get to share in personel decisions.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Maybe that was his plan all along. No more media folk bothering him. That diabolical genius.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:35 PM
Fans, especially the paying ones, could be thought of as stockholders and they have more of a say than you think. When Jim Fassel was rumored to be hired as the new Skins coach this offseason, the fan response was so overwhelmingly negative, the team looked elsewhere. Of course, they Skins ended up hiring Jim Zorn, which isn’t much better.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:37 PM
La Canfora is just whining a whiny idiot. As everyone has said: If he tells the truth, he hurts his position. If he says “no comment” then speculation runs rampant and that probably hurts his position too. If he lies, the only person angry is his grandma.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:38 PM
@iggy: Fans are nothing like stockholders. Stockholders actually own parts of the company and have an official say with their shares. Fans own nothing. The team provides them an entertainment service and they pay for it. That’s all.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:38 PM
Redskins fans are among the most irrational fans I have ever come across.
Management was dumb for giving in to them on Fassel, hey a guy coached a team to the Super Bowl but us fans would rather have our D coordinator be coach, the same guy who alienated his team in Buffalo and was run out of the town. Oh and also just a year before that had one of the worst defenses in the league. That’s genius!
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:44 PM
I have no problem with how the Racists handled this…they don’t have to tell anyone anything. When stories leak, either there is a leaking front office type who is currying favor with a reporter for his own advancement (ie Asst. GM who would like to be a GM one day and reporter may say how great Asst. GM is) or to lessen a blow of something that may cause the fan base to riot (trading your biggest star for 10 cents on th dollar)…in this case 100% of the fans would be for this trade and there was no reason to tip his hand to the Dolphins or to upset the locker room before hand since apparently Phillip Daniels was the second coming of Deacon Jones
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:45 PM
true story.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:52 PM
Yeah, then Fassel was fired for bad seasons the next few years. And not to mention he was fired by a division rival, which would not have made the Skins look respectable in the eyes of the rest of the NFC East. You can’t blame the fans for thinking that the team could have hired someone better, maybe even someone who already had connections with the team, i.e. Williams, whether he was an a-hole or not. In the end, the Skins didn’t hire Williams and they didn’t hire anyone better than Fassel. But the fans tried. Zorn is not their fault.
As for the people who say that “no comment” would have caused rampant speculation, remember that this is the NFL, the most popular sports league in the country, and rampant speculation happens no matter what is said. I feel a “no comment” would not have changed anything regarding the deal. Besides, Taylor’s availability had dropped out of people’s minds with Favre’s availability being the big news in recent weeks. And it wasn’t until the team lost Daniels that getting a defensive end was completely necessary. Not that the Skins are known for doing things out of necessity.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:54 PM
But in all other cases, yes, Skins fans are irrational. Especially those who enjoy Dead Trees.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:55 PM
If Zorn wins, Redskins fans will be the first to say they were for his hiring all along.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Iggy, you are out of your element. Please, no more comments on the NFL from you, it’s a total embarrassment.
Fans are like stockholders? Mind-boggling.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:01 PM
so no comment would fuel rampant speculation? who even thought the redskins were in the taylor market to begin with? i follow the NFL as close as anyone and didn’t hear anyone talking about it, so if you say no comment and shrug it off, that’s better than being a snivelling hooker like cerrato ALWAYS is.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Good call.
Also: I’m a regular customer at my local grocery store. So they should be forced to open their books to me. I’m a customer; I have a right to know.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:09 PM
Fans put so much of their energy into rooting for a team that their relationship to it is closer to that of stockholders than that of customers. Customer’s don’t have nearly an attachment to, say, Kellogg’s even if they buy a lot of Frosted Flakes as fans due to their favorite teams. Sure, they don’t have money invested in ownership, but with the amount of soul they put into it, it’s just as important. And some teams, mostly European soccer teams, do let their fans be part of the ownership, even voting on general manager positions.
And if you think that being a fan is nothing more than being a customer, try being a Hawks or T-wolves fan for a while. It’s not like you can just start buying Raisin Bran instead.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:40 PM
An the trade itself – do you think Parcells had an extra incentive to move Taylor to the Redskins. Did he Taylor to “say hello to Tony for me when you see him twice this season”
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:48 PM
I think iggy needs a little perspective.
I love Me some Cap’n Crunch. More than anyone, I reckon. More than I like any sports team.
If Cerrato wants to lie, he can – free will. Others have already expressed the proper sentiment – it’s not the job of the Washington Football Team to make life easier for the media in any way, shape or form. To think otherwise, or to complain about it is childish.