Even if Tony was "only" the second most powerful guy in that family, he still threw more weight than almost any other guy in the country. A patsy? Pleaaaaase.

And the "out front" boss pre-dates Vince and Tony anyway. Funzi didn't take a shit without talking to Benny Squint first. And as far as anyone in law enforcement knew----Hell, as far as guys in the other families knew----Funzi was the boss.