49ers fire personnel director Cerrato
Posted: Tuesday January 12, 1999 11:20 AM
SAN FRANCISCO (CNN/SI) -- The San Francisco 49ers have
fired player personnel director Vinny Cerrato, according to a published
report.
Tuesday's San Jose Mercury-News reports that 49ers acting general
manager John McVay fired Cerrato on Monday afternoon after Cerrato returned
from practices for this weekend's East-West Shrine game.
The newspaper points to Cerrato's firing as the first tangible sign that
former 49ers coach Bill Walsh will return to the 49ers. It's expected that
Walsh will oversee the 49ers' personnel moves once he rejoins the team --
that announcement could come as early as this week. On Saturday, 49ers
interim president Larry Thrailkill resigned.
The 49ers could be facing many changes -- head coach Steve Mariucci is
discussing a long-term extension, and offensive coordinator Marty
Mornhinweg has reportedly been offered the Philadelphia Eagles'
offensive coordinator job by new Eagles coach Andy Reid, a close friend.
NFL sources told the Mercury-News that Mornhinweg is being courted
by at least three teams, including the Green Bay Packers, who he
left to join the 49ers in 1997.
Cerrato, 39, told the newspaper he plans to seek work with another NFL
team. He was responsible for the 49ers drafting Bryant Young, J.J. Stokes, Terrell Owens and signing
free agent Garrison
Hearst.
On Saturday, 49ers interim president Larry Thrailkill resigned.
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