Belichick/Piolo team create blueprint for success

By DAVID BROWN
Standard-Times staff writer

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - When Bill Belichick accepts a new job, he immediately pulls the lever on a three-step transition plan.

Step 1: Fold and pack several hundred gray sweatshirts. Step 2: Secure Bon Jovi records for transport. Step 3: Hire Scott Pioli.

Pioli, the Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel, was the first man Belichick hired when he got the job from Robert Kraft in 2000, knowing that Pioli would help him hire the rest.

"Scott and I have a great working relationship," Belichick said. "Even though there are times we disagree, we are always able to work it out and be honest. It doesn't matter who is right or who is wrong, it's important that we get it right at the end. That's one of the things I really appreciate with Scott. He works very hard. He's well prepared. Nobody spends more time and diligence at his job than Scott Pioli does."

As the man who finds and acquires talent for Belichick, Pioli is largely responsible for revolutionizing front-office thinking in the NFL today. He and Belichick have created a blueprint that maximizes efficiency in the salary cap and relies largely on smart draft decisions.

His success in New England has drawn the attention of other organizations, including the Giants last season, but Pioli said he hasn't considered leaving the Pats.

"They're have been questions and temptations, (but) so far this is where that I wanted to be," Pioli said. "This is a good situation. We're winning football. Because of what my title is, people have a perception. I know how things go inside. I'm happy with the situation (and) the way
things are right now. We're up for our fourth Super Bowl (and) we've been here eight years. It's a pretty good situation."

Giants General Manager Jerry Reese, who's found a lot gems for the Giants in the draft, acknowledged that Pioli's work has had an influence throughout the league.

"You are always looking around the league and seeing what you can do. This is a copycat league," Reese said. "You kind of sit back and marvel at what (the Patriots) have done because I don't think this league is built for teams to be this dominant six or seven years in a row. They continue to put a tremendous product on the field and my hat is off to them."

If the Patriots are going to maintain their position among the league's elite teams, Pioli has a lot of work to do in the offseason. As New England stands on the precipice of perfection in Super Bowl XLII, the team is also days away from a flurry of decisions that will shape the franchise in coming years.

The most obvious issue confronting the Pats in 2008 is Randy Moss. After a Pro Bowl season in which he caught a record 23 touchdown passes and helped the Pats score a record 689 points, Moss adds a rare dimension of greatness to the offense.

It's a safe bet the Patriots want him and back, and Moss said Wednesday that he'd like to finish his career in New England.

"As a New England Patriot, I would love to finish my career just for the fact of they have everything that you want in a football organization," Moss said. "With Coach Belichick and his coaching staff, we have a lot of fun. The fun that we have is not on the field, it's in the locker room or hanging out at guys' houses and stuff like that. The team concept is not just on the field, it's outside the locker room. For me to be able to say that I would love to become a New England Patriot and
finish my career here, that is something that I can really believe in."

But it will take some money to keep Moss in Foxboro. After earning about $3 million this year, he stands to make a raise. The Pats have about $10 million free under next year's cap. Some contracts will probably be adjusted to inflate that figure, but the Pats may have to franchise Moss
(for more than $7 million), so they can keep other teams from making offers while they try to hammer out a long-term deal with the receiver.

Cornerback Asante Samuel, who has 16 interceptions over the past two seasons, will be an unrestricted free agent. After earning $7.79 million this year as the team's franchise player, he stands to make considerably more on the open market, and it's doubtful the Pats will commit that
kind of money to a defensive back.

Samuel's departure may just be the start for an aging defense. Linebacker Junior Seau, who turned 39 this month, has hinted at retirement. Safety Rodney Harrison (35) and linebacker Tedy Bruschi
(34), aren't as likely to leave, but it wouldn't surprise anyone if they also decided to retire in the wake of a Super Bowl victory.

But Pioli and Belichick also have the No. 7 pick in the draft via a trade from the 49ers, and that's one place the Pats have excelled in finding players. Pioli attributes that success more to his time on the field as a defensive lineman at Central Connecticut State than his time in the front office.

'I don't think that there is this great epiphany (that) all of a sudden you learn all this information (on) how to evaluate players," Pioli said. "If you play the game the whole time that you go through the
process, you learn about football. As a player, you learn how to evaluate players that you're getting ready to play."

Contact David Brown at dbrown@s-t.com