A friend in deed: George Young NFL Executive Of The Year: Scott Pioli, Patriots

This is the most private of football operations, these Patriots. But here's one key to how they've become the model for all NFL teams: the friendship between coach Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli, the club's vice president of player personnel.

"A lot of people in this league have long-term relationships with people they work with," says Pioli, "but the unique part of our relationship is our friendship. We share a common goal, to make decisions with no egos involved. A lot of people say they do that, but not everybody lives it."

Pioli and Belichick have worked with each other since Belichick was the Browns' head coach in the early 1990s. Their relationship is so close that Pioli has rejected overtures from other organizations to become head of their personnel operations, preferring instead to remain with Belichick. Their combination has been incredibly productive, helping New England win three of the past four Super Bowls. For his significant contributions to this success, Pioli has been selected by his peers as the SPORTING NEWS' 2004 George Young NFL Executive of the Year. He also won last year--when he was the youngest executive to win the award--and now joins Bobby Beathard and Bill Polian as the only back-to-back winners.

Pioli received 19 votes from a group of 55 front office executives. A.J. Smith, the Chargers' executive vice president and general manager, got nine votes, and Tom Heckert, the Eagles' vice president of player personnel, had 8 1/2.

"This is a humbling honor, a result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people," says Pioli. "I'm fortunate to be surrounded by a tremendous support staff; without them, I couldn't do my job."

That job includes negotiating player contracts and teaming with Belichick to oversee the salary cap. Many NFL organizations have a salary cap person, a contract negotiator and a personnel director. The Patriots believe their more streamlined approach allows them to make decisions that are more coordinated, consistent and organizationally friendly.

"The Krafts ask us questions, but they don't question us," says Pioli of the team's owners. "That is a really important dynamic, too. They let us do our jobs. Bill and I don't agree on everything, but when we disagree, we do it in a healthy way. And when we make mistakes, and we've had plenty of those, we recognize them, cut our losses and move on. We don't take it personally, or that just perpetuates the mistake. I think that is huge in what we do."

COPYRIGHT 2005 Sporting News Publishing Co.
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