“Specifics about the Raiders’ coaching position”, for one, he didn’t actually do that, he asked Sheffter about Kiffin and following the response, commented that he read that there was rumor that Syracuse was interested. By stating the “question” this way, it absolutely comes across as accusatory, inflamatory at best. If all LaConfora wanted to do was to inquire about the rules, why would he do it that way? And further, do you REALLY believe that LaConfora didn’t already know about the tampering rules? Really?
Cerrato didn’t handle this properly, but LaConfora has NO OBECTIVITY, NEVER DID. He hated the Redskins organization when he was in Baltimore, and still does. Unlike many others who feel the same way however, he IS NOT AND NEVER HAS BEEN CAPABLE OF SEPARATING HIS PERSONAL FEELINGS FROM HIS REPORTING. The amount of venom in much of his work is as transparent as glass, and I am sure you have seen it as well as everyone else, it just depends on whether or not your own personal feelings about Cerrato/Snyder would allow you to admit it. At least, that’s what I think anyway.

He called the league to inquire about what Cerrato can and cannot say on his show without punishment from the NFL. That’s what a reporters job essentially is: To ask questions. He never called them to accuse Cerrato with anything, which is the key inflammatory point in all the bullshit Vinny spewed yesterday. Shit, as Skins fans, who don’t wanna see (further) harm done to this team by Cerrato, we too should wanna know if what he says on the radio could get the team slapped with tampering.

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We called the league today to confirm that Jason had not charged the Redskins with tampering. Here’s what NFL spokesman Michael Signora had to say: “Jason LaCanfora called our office and said that Vinny Cerrato was talking in specifics on his radio show about the Raiders’ coaching position. Jason wanted to know if that could possibly be a tampering issue. Jason has been told that there is no general prohibition against publicly talking about another team’s players or staff. It routinely occurs throughout the league.”
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And as Steinz points out, it’s really the Skins keeping any feud between the two parties alive.

I agree that getting to the truth is what we all want. But I just don’t see how La Canfora is any kind of guide to the truth at Redskins Park, given that he has a personal vendettas against the organization he is supposed to be reporting about.

I like the guy, and while he has had some bad moves (Arch and Lloyd) he has made some good ones (Samuels, Taylor, Cooley)

The Redskins are 2-1 right now as well.

Vinny now has the final say, something he just aquired this season.

Mayor = Fan of Vinny Cerrato

We’ll just have to agree to disagree about JLC, I guess. I do agree that the comment section of RI is no kind of legitimate reference for JLC’s anti-’skins bias.

I have never had any kind of specific beef with JLC at all, and it was only after a long period of reading RI that I came to think that JLC did not like the ’skins organization. And he has, in fact, almost (I know, I know) said as much in some of his comments in RI. He very clearly has a beef with Cerrato and Snyder – I don’t think that is disputed by anyone. Doesn’t that affect his journalism in any way? Doesn’t that affect his objectivity?

Consider this: as soon as Cerrato’s radio show was announced, there were several RI post from JLC about what a waste of time this was for Cerrato, and how Cerrato stood alone among other GM’s in the NFL by spending four hours a week on the radio. Cerrato is wasting time that should be spent on evaluating players, according to JLC. No other high level NFL executive does this, according to JLC. Don’t just take my word for it; go back and check last week’s RI archive, if you don’t believe me:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/09/vinny_cerrato_dan_snyders_new.html.

Except that other GM’s do the same thing – for example, see Bill Polian’s radio show:
http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=events&id=3996

Remember, Bill Polian is the lead executive for the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS.

So I guess Cerrato does not stand alone on this sort of thing, huh? I guess other high level football executives in the NFL also host radio shows?

That’s what I mean by bias – JLC has a personal problem with the ’skins FO, particularly Cerrato.