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2008
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Pats' VP Pioli Returns To CCSU
01-May-2008,
Hartford Courant
"After the NFL draft concluded early [Sunday] evening, Pioli and coach Bill Belichick sifted through a long list of rookie free agents and identified those who could possibly help the team. The architects of the Patriots spent Monday signing those players. The post-draft duties resumed Tuesday and Pioli had a speaking engagement for club seat holders that evening at Gillette Stadium. Afterward he drove to Connecticut and checked into the Farmington Marriott around 1 a.m. Pioli's hectic schedule continued Wednesday with two public appearances at his alma mater. In the morning, he addressed a group of New Britain's business and community leaders that included Mayor Timothy Stewart. Then at night he gave a speech at Central to students in management and business classes in Torp Theater. The topic: how to build a championship team."
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VIDEO: Scott Pioli Pre-Draft Thoughts
26-Apr-2008, NFL Network
"Kara Henderson catches up with Scott Pioli of the Patriots to discuss thoughts heading into the draft."
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Pioli Clearly Knows What He's Looking For
26-Apr-2008, Boston Globe
"This year the Patriots have the seventh pick in the draft, which commences today with Rounds 1 and 2. However, a top-10 pick doesn't mean the Patriots will deviate from their philosophy. 'I don't think your philosophy changes,' said Pioli. 'The philosophy of our draft is to find good players that fit our system, scheme-wise and makeup-wise. I don't think it really matters where you're picking in the draft or in the first round. You're trying to accomplish the same thing. It's just a different pool of players. You want to be right, whether you're picking at No. 1 or No. 32; you want to be right in the decision.'"
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Pioli Recalls First Meeting With Belichick
01-Feb-2008, Newsday
"'He understands that I'm passionate about football, I love football, and this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, and he takes me in and shows me this inner sanctum, this world,' Pioli said. 'Bill had nothing to gain through that relationship. A lot of times in life, unfortunately, people cultivate relationships with other people because there's going to be some gain. They've got something in mind, they have some agenda. That was the start of a friendship in its purest form. That's the part of Bill Belichick that a lot of you don't see, that you can't see because of the way that it's set up.'"
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Scott Pioli on the Dale & Holley Show
31-Jan-2008, WEEI
full audio | download the mp3 |
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Super Bowl XLII Report, January 31: The Date
31-Jan-2008, Rocky Mountain News
"Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli can remember the exact day he went from being a committed fan to football hopeful. 'Sept. 23, 1973,' Pioli said. That happened to be the day Pioli, a Washingtonville, N.Y., native, attended a Giants-Eagles game with his father, courtesy of two tickets provided by a neighbor. 'It was the only game I ever went to growing up and it changed my life,' Pioli said. 'The last play of the game, Pete Gogolak kicked a field goal in the end zone we were sitting in. The ball landed just a section over from where we were to tie the game at 23-23. It was the last game they had in Yankee Stadium.'"
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Pioli Is Comfortable In Current Role With Pats
31-Jan-2008, Philadelphia Daily News
"For reasons that are as evident as the Super Bowl rings on his fingers, Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli is one of the most coveted front-office executives in the NFL. If he put out the word today that he wanted to run his own show somewhere, there would be no shortage of teams bidding for his services tomorrow. … Pioli acknowledged he's been occasionally tempted when contacted about general manager openings around the league. But not enough yet to consider leaving Belichick and the Patriots. 'So far, this is the place I've wanted to be,' he said. 'It's not just about the job. It's about family. It's about quality of life. And right now, the quality of life is pretty good.'"
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They Won't Stand Pat: New England already preparing for future
31-Jan-2008, Philadelphia Daily News
"'We approached the last offseason the [same] way we do every offseason,' Pioli insisted. 'The thought process before every off-season is, you're going to do some things, you're going to try to bring in players to improve your football team. Sometimes you're going to have the opportunity to [get them], sometimes you're not. There have been times in the past when we've been just as aggressive as we were last year. We've chased after players and not gotten them. But we don't publicize who we're chasing after. So, you all don't know how many times we run into a parked car. Fortunately, for whatever reason, a lot of the players we went after last year chose to be here, wanted to be here.'"
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Pioli Already Looking Ahead To Next Year
30-Jan-2008, Providence Journal
"'The reason I was late coming down here,' Pioli said yesterday morning while seated in the stands at the University of Phoenix Stadium during the Patriots' portion of Media Day, 'is that I spent Sunday with the college scouts, preparing for the draft, and then spent Monday with the pro scouts, preparing for free agency.' … 'This is wonderful,' said Pioli, looking at the wild and wacky scene along the sidelines at the site of Sunday's game. 'But we're six weeks behind now. On the flight home, I guarantee you we're going to spend some time talking about our plans for the draft and free agency.'"
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The Child Is Father To The Man
29-Jan-2008, Sports Central
"While attending Giants training camp at Pace University before his senior year of college, Pioli was introduced to Belichick. The two have remained together since, even as Pioli maintains close ties to his community and his Giants roots. Each year, Pioli joins the Giants in supporting the WEL Foundation, a non-profit established by high school football teammate and continued Giants fan John Luedke to assist the needy in their native Orange County and beyond. 'Scotty's a very caring and giving person,' says [John] Luedke of his lifelong friend. 'That's one of the things that have made our relationship so close.' Like so many on opposite shores of the Hudson, it's a relationship that thrives because of its differences, rather than in spite of them."
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Scott Pioli Press Conference at Super Bowl XLII Media Day
29-Jan-2008, National Football League
On advice that he received over the years: "Some of the best advice that I [ever] got was from my high school coach, Frank Green. My college coaches. 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. 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. Tom Dimitroff, Sr., who was a scout for us in Cleveland, Bill Belichick obviously. I learned from Michael Lombardi. They're a lot of people who had a lot of different bits and pieces of this [success]. It's not just one lump sum that you learn at one time."
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Bill Belichick's comments about Scott Pioli at Super Bowl XLII Media Day
29-Jan-2008, New England Patriots
"I can't say enough about what Scott's done for me and our organization. Scott and I have a great working relationship. I think that even though there are times that we disagree, we're always able to work it out and be honest with… It doesn't matter who's right and who's wrong; it's important that we get it right in the end. That's one of the things that I really appreciate about Scott. He works very hard. He's well prepared. Nobody spends more time and diligence at his job than Scott Pioli does."
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PFW: Audibles
29-Jan-2008, Pro Football Weekly
"You hear a lot about Bill Belichick's coaching tree, but take a look at some of the guys Scott Pioli has hired: [Eagles vice president of player personnel] Jason Licht, [Falcons GM] Thomas Dimitroff, [Patriots WR coach] Nick Caserio, [Patriots offensive coordinator] Josh McDaniels. Every year, they have to reload because their personnel department is getting raided."
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Giants And Pats Were Winning Before The Season Even Started
25-Jan-2008, NBCSports.com
"The groundwork for next year's success is begun before the current season even ends. Personnel chiefs Scott Pioli of the Patriots and Jerry Reese of the Giants got their wins before the fourth of July. 5 HUGE MOVES – Patriots – 1. Randy Moss trade: In exchange for a fourth-round pick, the Patriots secured the services of the league's most gifted receiver. And he had a good year with 23 touchdown catches. 2. Wes Welker heist … 3. Draft Day maneuver … 4. Asante Samuel standoff … 5. Adalius Thomas signing…"
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Youthful GMs Bring Success To Pats And Giants
25-Jan-2008, NBCSports.com
"Neither one is a spotlight monger. Both are viewed as tireless workers. And they are both smart, businesslike and 'value-driven' when it comes to organizing their roster. The two men also represent the changing of the NFL guard in personnel departments in which men who came up completely in the salary-cap era bring an informed knowledge of contracts, pro and college scouting to their jobs. It's not enough to just be able to identify quality players. You also have to be able to finagle contracts, massage egos and provide the head coach with players that fit the system."
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Built Smart: Patriots, Giants owe Super roots to draft
24-Jan-2008, USA TODAY
"The old maxim says defense wins championships. But prescient drafting may be even more vital. 'The No. 1 key for a successful franchise – even more important than the owner and head coach – is an outstanding talent evaluator,' says former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson, now an analyst for Fox, who won two Super Bowls in the 1990s with Dallas while laying the groundwork for another Cowboys crown. … 'All these owners are going to spend money on players, and you can get coaches who know X's and O's. … But the difference between winning and losing championships is bringing in players and managing the cap.'"
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 Pioli, Belichick Plan Is Perfect For Pats
22-Jan-2008, FOX Sports
"Behind the men, there's the man. It's easy to cite the genius (Bill Belichick) and the greatness (Tom Brady) of the 18-0 New England Patriots. But as Bill Belichick hoisted another Lamar Hunt Trophy – his 4th AFC title this decade – I couldn't help but think of Scott Pioli, New England's extraordinary vice president of player personnel, and his great role in the unprecedented success of the Patriots. It is the team work of the two men that has catapulted New England to new heights."
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Mike Vrabel AFC Championship Week Press Conference
18-Jan-2008, New England Patriots
"I think that we have a lot of guys on our team that have been successful, like you said, and have had individual success on other teams. I think that they bring a lot to this team. I think all the way back in 2001, when I think Bill [Belichick] and Scott [Pioli] kind of started to transform this team into what they wanted it to be, and then it's been a tough team to make ever since then. They always bring in talented guys and positions are deep at training camp and every position has eight or 10 guys and it's a tough team to make."
full video + transcript |
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2007 PFW/PFWA Awards: Executive of the Year
18-Jan-2008, Pro Football Weekly
"[T]he resolute status of the Patriots' front office stands as the exception to the division's conundrum. Since his arrival in New England in 2000, Patriots V.P. of player personnel Scott Pioli has seemingly always pulled the right strings when it comes to shaping the roster. In a 2007 season that might have very well been his finest to date, Pioli captured the Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America Executive of the Year honors for the second time."
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Rick Gosselin's NFL Awards
06-Jan-2008, Dallas Morning News
"Executive: Scott Pioli, VP personnel, New England. New England needed better weapons to score with Indianapolis and overtake the Colts in the AFC. So Pioli traded for Randy Moss and Wes Welker and signed Donté Stallworth in free agency. Voila, the Patriots are suddenly the highest-scoring team in NFL history and only the second unbeaten team of the Super Bowl era."
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Our Own Postseason Awards
04-Jan-2008, San Francisco Chronicle
"Executive of the Year: Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli works closely with Coach of the Year Belichick in player personnel matters. Belichick engineered the deal that pilfered Moss from Oakland in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick, but Pioli worked the other steals, bringing in playmakers Welker, Donté Stallworth and Adalius Thomas."
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Bell Tolls: Award season honors NFL's past, present
04-Jan-2008, USA TODAY
"The George Young Award: For executive of the year, New England's Scott Pioli gets some love. The Patriots traded for Welker, an ultimate blitz-killer who also throws a mean crackback block on running plays. And they traded a fourth-round pick for Moss, who kind of proved his naysayers wrong."
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2007
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 Terry Awards: Bradshaw's annual NFL kudos
30-Dec-2007, FOX Sports
"On this week's FOX NFL Sunday, co-host Terry Bradshaw presented his 14th annual 'Terry Awards,' a celebration of the highs and lows of the 2007 season from Terry's very unique perspective. … Front Office Man of Year: Scott Pioli, Patriots." From the video — Bradshaw: "The undefeated Patriots are the best team in any town, and so Scott Pioli is my Front Office Man of the Year. He only gave up a 4th-Round pick to get Randy Moss." Pioli: "My mom's a huge Terry Bradshaw fan – sorry about that, Howie – and she wanted to know if there was going to be a big banquet or anything. I said, 'Hey, Terry still lives in the back woods. We're going to be having a big pig roast or something like that.'"
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Don Shula on the New England Patriots
30-Dec-2007, ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown
"I just think that Brady is so good. He's back in that shotgun and their offensive line gives them enough protection to get the ball off. And [Wes] Welker [Laughter] – they've got a guy that was here with the Dolphins and he's with them now. I think he's got 111 catches this year. And I just marvel at this guy the way that they use him and get him open in pressure situations. And then of course they've got Randy Moss on the outside, [Donté] Stallworth on the other side. Chris, the amazing thing is they didn't have those three receivers a year ago; so that's a real credit to their organization and their personnel guy, Scott Pioli."
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Bring Out The Brooms
27-Dec-2007, Rockford Register Star
"The New England Patriots, after beating the New York Giants 27-17 Saturday night, will have swept all 16 regular-season foes. That will be just the start. Look for them to sweep all the major honors. … General Manager of the Year – Scott Pioli. This is the easiest vote ever. Anyone who can add wideouts Randy Moss, Donté Stallworth, Wes Welker and linebacker Adalius Thomas all in one offseason should probably go right into the Hall of Fame."
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Patriots Make All The Right Moves
27-Dec-2007, Orange County Register
"Not one member of the New England Patriots carries the highest salary-cap figure at his position. Or the second. Or third. Or fourth. Asante Samuel has the fifth-highest number among NFL cornerbacks. Richard Seymour ranks ninth at defensive end. Rosevelt Colvin is the No. 8 linebacker. Tom Brady is 10th at quarterback. No other Patriot is in the top ten, and Vince Wilfork is 56th among defensive tackles. But then the Patriots don't live on the highest draft picks, either. At least not their own. They have not had a pick among the top five in the first round since Willie McGinest (fourth) in 1994. Seymour was sixth in 2001. None of their other first-round picks has been in the top 10, yet the Patriots have gotten value from every first-rounder since the 2000 draft, when they didn't have one. That was a decent deal, though – they gave the Jets that selection in exchange for Bill Belichick. Tom Brady, of course, was the 199th pick in the '99 draft. Despite all that, the Patriots have remained in business."
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Patriots' Pioli Always Finds The Gifts That Keep On Giving
23-Dec-2007, Providence Journal
"I want to go Christmas shopping with Scott Pioli because I know he will find for me top-quality merchandise at bargain-basement prices. He will locate designer clothes in a rumpled pile on the sales table, mistakenly marked down from $400 to $4. He will notice that a 4-carat diamond has somehow wound up on a tray of zircons. He will spot a chinchilla coat that everybody else in the store thinks is rabbit. He is, after all, the man who brought Randy Moss to New England at the cost of a fourth-round draft choice. Has there ever been a bigger bargain?"
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Fine Line: Pioli has the Midas touch finding overlooked offensive linemen
22-Dec-2007, Eagle-Tribune
"A converted tight end who was termed a second-round 'risk.' A former rodeo cowboy with a nasty on-field demeanor. And a fifth-round after-thought, taken mainly for his college's penchant for producing top offensive linemen. All three Patriots – tackle Matt Light, guard Logan Mankins and center Dan Koppen – represent top-of-the-chart hits on New England vice president Scott Pioli's resume. Each was named this week to the AFC squad in the Pro Bowl, a first for Koppen and Neal, and the second straight time for Light, who earned the nod through the back door as an alternate in 2006. There was no back door this time around for these three, and for that matter all eight Pats selected."
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Great Scott … Pioli's Personnel Wizardry the Perfect Complement to Belichick's Coaching Genius
25-Nov-2007, Eagle-Tribune
"It's the annual question for Scott Pioli, usually saved for Super Bowl week. Why wait for the inevitable, right? Why isn't Pioli somewhere else? Why isn't he sitting behind a big, oak desk; pulling the strings for the entire football operations; carving out his own niche; pulling in a salary double or even triple his current salary; saving some other franchise from ruin? To put it succinctly: Why is he still around? (Disclaimer here: You're not going to like his answer.) 'Because I love my situation here,' said Pioli."
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The Midseason Notables
11-Nov-2007, Miami Herald
"Executive of Half Year: New England's Scott Pioli totally revamped his team's receiving corps and did it on the cheap, acquiring Moss from Oakland for a fourth-round pick on draft day, Wes Welker from Miami for second- and seventh-round picks, and Donté Stallworth in free agency. In the final crucial minutes of the Colts game last week, those three played pitch and catch with Brady with virtual impunity in overcoming a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to win."
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The P's Have It: Personnel chiefs Scott Pioli and Bill Polian are behind the success in New England and Indy
06-Nov-2007, Sports Illustrated
"Polian and Pioli, who've been named Sporting News executive of the year a combined seven times, don't care much about public opinion. … Both executives hate the star system. 'Scott talked to our team after the Patriots won their first Super Bowl,' says Cleveland Indians general manager Mark Shapiro. 'He said, 'Who here has played in a World Series and an All-Star Game?' Eddie Murray was the only guy who raised his hand. Scott said, 'Which was better?' And Eddie said, 'No question, the World Series.' That was Scott's point – we all play this game to win championships.'"
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Patriots' Aim: To Win At Small Costs
06-Nov-2007, Chicago Tribune
"Pioli is one of the most respected front-office men in the game. He almost certainly could have had more prestigious, better-paying jobs working for the Seahawks, Giants, Browns or Dolphins. But Pioli is a role player. And that has a trickle-down effect. The organization is full of role players – people who are willing to sacrifice individual glory for the good of the team. The concept may sound trite and maybe even unrealistic, but if you've been around the Patriots for any length of time, you can see that it defines them."
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In Good Hands
05-Nov-2007, SI.com
"Three observations on Pats 24, Colts 20: New England's offseason won this game. Of the 13 biggest offensive plays for New England – the plays that would decide the outcome in the wildly noisy RCA Dome – 12 of them were handled by the three new Patriots receivers. … New England swooped in and got them all – for the remarkably manageable 2007 cap total of $8.4 million. Imagine getting an all-star receiving corps for eight percent of your overall cap. That's what VP of player personnel Scott Pioli and coach Bill Belichick did, and in the fourth quarter of the biggest game this year, those three players beat the defending Super Bowl champs."
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Plan Is Simple; The Results Spectacular
01-Nov-2007, NBCSports.com
"The 42-year-old native of Washingtonville, N.Y., is a two-time NFL Executive of the Year and yet, in an age of 'celebrity GMs even rabid fans might have a hard time picking Pioli out of a lineup. Like those who've sat across the table from him in contract negotiations – guys like Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Richard Seymour, Matt Light and Tom Brady – Pioli hasn't tried to chase every nickel or microphone. He runs the personnel side of the Patriots – everything from free agency to the draft to contract negotiations – in relative anonymity. Pioli scouts, rates and signs them; head coach Bill Belichick plays them. It's that simple."
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Patriots Operate In A Team-First Mode
01-Nov-2007, Los Angeles Times
"[T]he coach isn't the only person within the organization quick to stomp a player seeking special treatment. Pioli recalls one free agent the Patriots brought in for a physical examination and interview. When he took a seat in Pioli's office – a windowless, unremarkable room in the heart of Gillette Stadium – the player opened the conversation with a complaint: the club didn't fly him first class the way other interested teams did. 'I looked at him and said, 'You're serious?' And he said, 'Yeah, I'm serious!' ' Pioli said. 'I said, 'I'm sorry you feel that way.' ' Pioli thanked him for his time and, to the surprise of the slack-jawed player, abruptly showed him the door."
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Patriots-Colts Tilt Pits Two Teams At Pinnacle Of NFL
31-Oct-2007, USA Today
"The Patriots are on pace to set the league's all-time scoring record and are winning by an average 25.5-point margin with the No. 1-ranked offense. Brady, leading the league with a 74.2% completion rate and 30 TD passes, is armed with an overhauled receiving corps that includes Randy Moss, Donté Stallworth and Wes Welker. During the three Super Bowl championship years, the Patriots Offenses ranked 19th, 17th and seventh for total yards. Did the Patriots come to realize that to beat the Colts, they needed a high-powered offense? 'People read too much into that,' Scott Pioli, the Patriots vice president of player personnel, said this week. Stallworth was signed as an unrestricted free agent; Moss and Welker were obtained in trades. 'We approached the offseason like every other offseason,' Pioli said. 'The goal is to improve your football team, whether you're the best team in football or not.'"
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FOX NFL Sunday: Week 8 Roundtable
27-Oct-2007, FOXSports.com
CZAR: "Jimmy, give us a rundown on your five ingredients of building an NFL winning franchise." Jimmy Johnson: "My top ingredient is having the very best personnel evaluator that you can find. He's more important than a head coach. I think what makes New England pretty unique is that it is a two-man operation. It's Bill Belichick and personnel man Scott Pioli. They don't have a cap guy or a contract guy. And a lot of times, things fall through the cracks when building your team because you have a bean counter who's working the contract with the agents and he rips the player, trying to negotiate a good contract for the club. And the player ends up resenting the coach and the organization because of what was said during the negotiations. In New England that doesn't happen because the coach and talent evaluator are involved in the negotiations and that is so important. Of course, you need a winning quarterback, but he doesn't have to be a superstar. Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer both won a Super Bowl. Yes, it's a lot easier if you have Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, but long-term the talent evaluator is more important than the head coach."
full table
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Terry Francona on Scott Pioli
13-Oct-2007, Boston Globe
"Scott Pioli, the Patriots' vice president of player personnel, was an on-field visitor before the game. Pioli has a close friendship with Shapiro dating to his days working as an assistant in the Browns' personnel department while Shapiro was working his way up with the Indians. Pioli also was a guest of Francona in spring training. He emerged from the Sox dugout with Francona's son Nick and headed to the Indians' side of the field during batting practice. 'He and Mark are really, really close,' Francona said. 'I offered him a parking spot to sway him; we'll see if that works. He's got a lot of people to say hello to. I haven't known him that long, but he's rapidly becoming pretty special to me. He swings by here once in a while just for a moment of sanity. I think it ends up being better for me than him. But I know how long he's known Mark, and I know that relationship. I won't hold it against him.'"
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Scott Pioli and Mark Shapiro on the Dale & Holley Show
12-Oct-2007, WEEI
Michael Holley: "Now Scott, how long have you guys known each other?" Pioli: "I'd call it 15 years. When I first got to Cleveland it was 1992; a mutual friend introduced Mark and I. I'm a big baseball fan and Mark's a big football fan and we kind of hit it off. Mark played college football and we hit it off when we first met. It's interesting because I think we both have respect for the business that the other does and from that it became more of a…it started off professional and became much more personal, and over time it's…yeah, it's been about 15 years now."
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Tribe's Shapiro Takes Tips From Pats' Pioli
12-Oct-2007, Boston Herald
"In preparation for his team's Division Series against the New York Yankees and subsequent showdown with the Red Sox in an ALCS that opens tonight at Fenway Park, Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro once again drew upon the experiences of Pioli, a longtime friend who happens to be the Patriots' vice president of player personnel. … 'There just aren't that many people out there who have won multiple championships,' said Shapiro, who first met Pioli when he and Patriots coach Bill Belichick were working in Cleveland for the Browns in the early 1990s. 'Scott and I go back 15 years. We were talking about team-building and philosophies when the only decisions that we had to make was what kind of paper we should put in the Xerox machine.'"
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Indians Cut Payroll to 8th Lowest on Way to Baseball Playoffs
04-Oct-2007, Bloomberg.com
"Mark Shapiro got the Cleveland Indians back into the playoffs by casting off the club's most popular players six years ago and loading up with prospects. The results of the rebuilding, which alienated fans so much that attendance plummeted by almost 50 percent, are paying off. Shapiro has forged a winner on a payroll that's the eighth lowest in Major League Baseball. … Shapiro's philosophy on how to build a team was groomed during late-night talks with [Scott] Pioli, when both began their careers in Cleveland – Shapiro with the Indians and Pioli as a personnel assistant with the Browns. A mutual friend introduced them. 'We were young guys that talked about wanting to be a part of something and building something special,' Pioli said. 'It wasn't about getting one championship.'"
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One Reason For Patriots' Success Easily Identified
30-Sept-2007, Boston Globe
"'The person who gets the least credit for the tremendous job he does is Scott Pioli,' said [Marv] Levy. 'He doesn't get enough credit – or at least the credit he deserves – for all of their success.' The players appreciate the offseason work of Belichick and Pioli. 'I think they've done a good job,' said Vrabel. 'You have to draft well and hit a few home runs with free agency. They've done well with mid-level free agents and now adding the guys they added this year. They went a little bigger this year and it's worked out great.'"
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As A Battler, No Average Joe
30-Sept-2007, Hartford Courant
"Even though Andruzzi bolted the Patriots as a free agent after the 2004 season, the bond with his former teammates has remained strong. … 'He's never hurting for company,' Linta said, adding that Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli has often checked in with Andruzzi and his wife Jennifer, who have four children. 'For a guy of Pioli's stature to call and asked about him all the time, I think really speaks volumes that a guy could be that high up in the league yet still be able to take a step back and care about somebody who's not even with [the Patriots].'"
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Pioli Is A+ In Building The Pats
23-Sept-2007, Providence Journal
"[D]espite working under a salary cap that makes it difficult to keep good teams together, the Patriots…have won three [championships] in the last six [years], and are a popular pick to add another this season. Much of the credit for that goes to Pioli, 42, who maintains a low profile for a man who has been so highly successful. He is as modest and unassuming as he is intelligent and perceptive. His ability to evaluate both college players and NFL players who'd be a good fit for New England has been demonstrated year after year, going back to 2000, when Bill Belichick brought him along from the Jets organization."
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Unsung Heroes
10-Sept-2007, NFL.com
"SCOTT PIOLI, NEW ENGLAND VICE PRESIDENT OF PERSONNEL: Scott is the person who executes the Patriot plan. He is Belichick's right-hand man and he had an incredible offseason gathering talent for the 2007 campaign. We all know about Moss, Stallworth, Welker, and Adalius Thomas. But Pioli also signed Kyle Brady, Sammy Morris and Kelley Washington, who add valuable depth to an already great roster."
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Scott Pioli on SIRIUS NFL Radio
29-Jul-2007, SIRIUS Satellite Radio
The Patriots' Vice President of Player Personnel talks to Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan during their Training Camp Tour 2007 stop in Foxboro.
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Reverence Toward Coaches Undeserved
16-Jul-2007, The Beacon
"Part of the irony in professional sports is that the coach always makes five to ten times more than the general managers, who actually put the talent in uniform. Scott Pioli is the most valuable man in the NFL, and he should be the one given credit for building Bilichick [sic] his masterpiece, but for whatever reason, he is always overlooked. … For all the coaching press conferences, for all the Sportscenter segments breaking down why the [coach] will make his team a contender, all the preaching and books, it comes down to the players. It's what sports has always been and will always be about, and we must be careful never to forget that winning comes down to the players."
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Scott Pioli on NFL Total Access
01-May-2007, NFL Network
Scott Pioli spoke with Fran Charles and Adam Schefter via Patriots Cam
about this year's draft trades, Randy Moss, and the status
of Asante Samuel.
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Scott Pioli on the Dale & Holley Show
01-May-2007, WEEI
The New England Patriots' Vice President of Player
Personnel recapped the Patriots' draft this morning with
Dale Arnold and Michael Holley on Boston's SportsRadio WEEI.
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Scott Pioli on SportsBeat
04-Apr-2007, The Score
Scott Pioli previewed the upcoming NFL Draft with
SportsBeat's Scott Cordischi and Bryan Morry on Providence's
AM 790 The Score.
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Scott Pioli on SIRIUS NFL Radio
27-Mar-2007, SIRIUS Satellite Radio
"We think we have a pretty good nucleus of a fairly
good football team right now. We're not in this for one
shot, or one run. It's funny, someone asked me a couple
weeks ago if we're making one last run, trying to win it… To
me it's amazing, because we're not building just for the
2007 season, we're building for '08, '09, '10, '11, '12.
This is long-term."
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Scott Pioli on the Dale & Holley Show
08-Mar-2007, WEEI
"It comes down to quality of life and happiness. No
disrespect to any other job opportunities that may have been
out there or may come in the future, but you know what my
dream job is? My dream job is being with people that I care
about, people that I want to work with, people that I enjoy
coming to work with every day, whether it's the coaches,
whether it's ownership, whether it's the players. We've
built something here that's pretty special, and quality of
life has more to do with being happy, coming to work every
day, and winning. And the other thing that's paramount is
we're winning here. It's a great situation here with a lot
of great people, and I enjoy being here."
full transcript |
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PVN At The Combine: Scott Pioli Interview
02-Mar-2007, Patriots.com
"What we're trying to get done – this is an opportunity for some of us to meet some of
the players for the first time. This is the first time that
we've actually had – we'll get a chance to interact with a
lot of the junior players, because until about a
month ago we didn't know who any of those players were that
were going to be entered into the draft. So this is the
first opportunity to see them in a different environment
physically, and spend some time with them and talk with them
mentally, and see what their emotional makeup is. All the components really have value. We'll get the 40 times and
the broad jump distances and the height of the vertical
jump, we'll time all that, but for me personally, I actually
sit on the other side of the Dome to watch the
players run. And we're going to get the times – we'll all find out how fast
they are – but there's almost an
element in scouting to be able to see athleticism, or see speed and see how people run. Rather than focusing on
just the time, just see the players run. And for
our team in particular, with the way we want to build our
football team, the mental and emotional makeup, as well as
their personalities, making sure…you
know, we're not always…we run
things a little bit differently. We want to make sure that
the guys can handle the situations that we're going to be
bringing them to. We're not the easiest guys to get along
with all the time. [Laughter]"
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Best General Managers In Sports
02-Mar-2007, Forbes.com
"The general manager is the most influential and
scrutinized position in sports because he decides how the
owner's money is spent on players. Forbes.com's first-ever
proprietary look at GMs in the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB grades
each GM on two yardsticks. First, there's the performance
(regular season winning percentage and postseason wins)
during the GM's tenure versus the performance of his
predecessor. Second, there's the GM's relative (to the
league median) payroll compared with his predecessor's
relative payroll." Scott Pioli ranks 20th out of 98 GMs.
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Pats Kraft Future Plan: Owner promises to spend to salary cap
03-Feb-2007, Boston Herald
"'We're not one of those teams that puts the money in
our pockets. We're committed to spending. In terms of
spending, you have to look where we are at the end of the
season, not the beginning,' Kraft said. 'With all due
respect to my friends in the media and the fans, they don't
understand the intricacies of the cap. You look where we
were at the end of the year and where we'll be next year,
and it will be the same thing. We're different than some
teams. We're not just planning for this year. We're trying
to be good for a number of years. Our management team has
shown over the last four to five years that wise planning
has allowed us to stay in the hunt.'"
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Pats Have No Pulse, But They'll Be Resuscitated
23-Jan-2007, CBS SportsLine.com
"Here's the thing about the Patriots. Their most
valuable employee isn't necessarily Belichick or Tom Brady.
It could be their personnel director, Scott Pioli. You know
that salary cap hit that all teams inevitably take? The
Patriots took theirs this season. And still reached the AFC
Championship Game. Next season, according to reports, the
Patriots have roughly $30 million in cap space. They have
two first-round picks in the 2007 draft. Giving Pioli $30
million and an extra No. 1 pick is like giving Shawne
Merriman an extra syringe. Expect massive results."
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Warren Works Hard To Become One Of League's Best
19-Jan-2007, ESPN.com
"It is part of the beauty of what the Pats do, part of
the genius of coach Bill Belichick and vice president of personnel Scott
Pioli, that they located not just one, but two defensive linemen like
Seymour and Warren. Most scouts projected Warren, who is 6-foot-5 and 300
pounds, as a tackle in the 2003 draft. But he was the perfect fit for how
New England likes to play, and the Patriots snatched him with the 13th
overall selection. Over his past three seasons as a starter, Warren has
200 tackles, which would lead all interior linemen over that stretch. This
season, his 84 tackles and 7½ sacks were the most in the NFL among 3-4
ends."
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Patriots' Backup Plan: Pioli and Belichick's incredible ability to create depth
12-Jan-2007, SI.com
"Pioli's spoke excitedly about pursuing a fourth Super Bowl
title in six seasons – an unprecedented achievement during the salary-cap
era. And the club has him to thank, because it wouldn't be in this
position without his salary-cap management and talent evaluation. 'He
probably doesn't get the credit that he should be getting,' said Bills GM
Marv Levy. 'For several years, I've been tremendously impressed with what
he's brought to that organization. Everybody loses players in today's game
because of free agency and the salary-cap. But Belichick and Pioli go out
and get the guys who buy into the system.'"
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The Grass Is Greener In New England
10-Jan-2007, Scout.com
"Another team came barking up Patriots vice president of
player personnel Scott Pioli's tree, and for the second time in two years
the highly successful second half of New England's front office decided
the grass is as green as ever right where he is. This time it was the New
York Giants, a team Pioli grew up following, that sought Pioli's talents
as it works to replace retiring general manager Ernie Accorsi. New York
requested and was granted permission by New England to speak to Pioli."
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Pioli Happy With Pat Hand
09-Jan-2007, NBCSports.com
"Let it never be said that Scott Pioli doesn't walk it like he
talks it. The New England Patriots vice president of player personnel on
Tuesday said, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' to the New York Giants. He opts –
again – to remain where he's won two NFL Executive of the Year awards,
three Super Bowls and, at 41, has the right to feel a sense of
accomplishment."
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Statement From Patriots' V.P. of Player Personnel Scott Pioli
08-Jan-2007, New England Patriots
"Speculation regarding the Giants interest in Patriots VP of
Personnel Scott Pioli was answered today in a brief statement from
Pioli issued through the Patriots PR department. 'I am very honored to be granted the opportunity
to discuss a potential position with the New York Giants. I
have tremendous respect for the Kraft family, the Mara
family, the Tisch family and the Giants organization. After
careful consideration, and for personal reasons, I am
continuing in my current role with the New England
Patriots.'"
full source | nesn video |
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NFL's New Power Family: Parcells-Belichick protégés' impact growing rapidly
08-Jan-2007, SI.com
"My message this morning is that the Bill Belichick
tree – or maybe more accurately it's the
Belichick branch of the Bill Parcells tree – is yielding some some great football people. And more are
coming. … This
offseason it should be New England vice president of player personnel
Scott Pioli's turn, if some smart ownership group is willing to cede full
control to Belichick's 41-year-old right-hand man. Pioli loves working for
Belichick and has tremendous regard for the Kraft family, which has been
very good to him. He could be there as long as Belichick is and he'd be
happy, because he's not a wanderlust guy. If he were, he would have taken
Seattle owner Paul Allen's $3-million-a-year offer to oversee the Seahawks
two years ago."
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2006
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Patriots Are Deep Thinkers: Roster strength is no accident
27-Dec-2006, Boston Globe
"Preparing for the unpredictability of injuries is
part of the game, and it all comes back to depth, which
Belichick defined as 'when you need to send a player on the
field and he can compete against another good football
player.' The game in Jacksonville provided two clear-cut
examples of the depth the Patriots have built. With nose
tackle Vince Wilfork out with an ankle injury, second-year
player Mike Wright stepped in, and the run defense…held
its ground. And with tight end Benjamin Watson out with a
knee injury, rookie David Thomas emerged with a career-high
five catches, including a diving 22-yard touchdown. Other
examples from earlier in the year: Second-year safety James
Sanders starting five games in place of Rodney Harrison,
rookie Ryan O'Callaghan opening the year at right tackle
until Nick Kaczur returned, and Mike Vrabel moving from
outside linebacker to inside linebacker, with Tully
Banta-Cain stepping in on the outside. While the Patriots
lost starter-level talent when those changes were made, the
players stepping in were competitive enough to help the team
win. In a nutshell, that's depth."
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Patriots Put Brainpower Into Their Cap
29-Oct-2006, Boston Globe
"The Patriots were over the cap before the arrival
of Belichick and Pioli, and correcting that has been a
source of pride for ownership. Part of what makes the
Patriots so successful in managing the cap is that they stay
true to what they believe, even when the decisions involve
high-profile players. 'They're absolutely one of the best
teams in the league at managing the cap,' said player agent
Michael Huyghue, a former executive with the Jacksonville
Jaguars. 'The toughest part of managing the cap is to have
discipline even when emotions and urgency come into the
situation. They maintain discipline in their planning and
have resolve in their plan.'"
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Not For Love Or Money
06-Sep-2006, Boston Herald
"[Tom] Brady was asked recently how the players view the
Pats organization in relation to the often tough stances it
takes at contract time. '…The most important reason for me
why I play here is to win,' Brady said. 'I realize I'm not
going to be the highest-paid player, and that's fine. I'm
not going to feel the most love from my coach … but you
know you're going to win. So I feel like I can deal with
everything else, because that's what I want. … We're trying
to build something special, and it's not about who spends
the most money. There are a lot of teams that spend a lot of
money that don't perform well. We consistently perform
well.'"
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Built To Last: Enduring success is Pioli's priority
18-Jun-2006, Boston Globe
"For Pioli and the Patriots, new challenges are always arising
in the team-building process. 'There's a natural attrition on every NFL
roster,' Pioli said. 'Seven years later, depending on when a player is
picked up, they're at different points in their careers – some guys toward the end, others entering
their prime, others entering free agency. Those are the things you have to
keep in mind; there is always going to be that cycle and motion of players
at different points in their careers. 'That's where the personnel job
differs from the coaching job. The coaches are focused on this week, right
now, this moment. From a personnel standpoint, you have to think about
that, but you also have to keep an eye on the future.'"
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Ask Vic
23-Mar-2006, Jaguars.com
"The best coach-GM situations are those that involve two men who
respect each other's opinion, share a fundamental personnel philosophy and are
capable of coming to joint decisions. Bill Belichick clearly has that going for
him in New England, where Belichick and Scott Pioli represent one of the best
coach-GM relationships in recent football history. Belichick and Pioli are
daring men who understand the value of the cap and the need to turn over your
roster on a yearly basis. Look at who the Patriots have lost this offseason:
Willie McGinest, David Givens and Adam Vinatieri. Do you realize what kind of
message that sends? Nobody is safe. Age and money have their limits. I am in awe
of what they do in New England. They're the best."
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Power Structures
03-Jan-2006, Sporting News
"Money and market size aren't all a franchise need to get way
ahead. It also needs a great front office setup – y'know,
like the … New England Patriots. Bill Belichick handles New
England's personnel from both the front office and the sideline,
with backing from owner Robert Kraft (who has gotten more hands-off
with age). Belichick was hired in January 2000 and brought in Scott
Pioli as his personnel deputy two weeks later. Within two years,
Belichick and Pioli had turned the Patriots into Super Bowl champs,
relying on overlooked players such as Bryan Cox, Antowain Smith and,
of course, sixth-round draft pick Tom Brady. The team has made bold
personnel moves, emphasizing a team of replaceable parts by getting
rid of popular players – Drew Bledsoe,
Lawyer Milloy, Ty Law – before they became
salary cap burdens. The results are undeniable: three Super Bowl
championships in four years."
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Cradle Of Coaches: Bill Belichick took his hits in Cleveland, but
he and his staff have had a lasting impact
01-Jan-2006, Daily News Transcript
"Perception pulled the wool over one of the greatest compilations of
coaching talent in NFL history. Maybe the Romeo Crennels and Charlie
Weises build powerhouses of their own, and guys like Eric Mangini
and Josh McDaniels become hot names, get corner offices and succeed
as head coaches. Maybe. But as it is right now, they've got a
long way to go to match the Cleveland staffs that Belichick employed
in the early 1990s. 'It was special and I knew that at that time,'
said Belichick. 'I told the owner (Modell) that several times too,
when he had some questions about how the coaching was going.'"
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2005
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Pioli Picks Right Stuff
08-Dec-2005, Boston Herald
"When Bill Belichick took over the Patriots in 2000, he found a
roster bloated with combine speed, weight room strength and media
guide size. After just one look, it was obvious to Belichick what he
was missing: Football players. Of all the changes that have taken
place in Foxboro in the five years under Belichick, the switch in
drafting philosophies between former personnel director Bobby Grier
and current personnel head Scott Pioli is perhaps the most
profound."
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Scott Pioli Radio Interview on WEEI
21-Nov-2005, Reiss's Pieces
"'How did you get into football, was your dad a coach?' 'No,
I've loved football since I was a kid. It's just something I
absolutely loved. I grew up around the West Point area so I saw a
couple games at Michie Stadium, a great place to see a game. I saw
one [pro] game as a kid when I was 8 years old, it was September
23rd, 1973, the last game ever played by any team in the old Yankee
Stadium before they re-did it. It was the Giants and the Eagles.
They tied 23-23 and Pete Gogolak kicked a field goal on the last
play of the game. And I've been hooked for life. I just love the
game."
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The Seeds Of Success Planted In Cleveland
20-Nov-2005, Miami Herald
"In the early 1990s, the Cleveland Browns were a confluence of
young, smart coaches and personnel men who worked with such
single-minded purpose that even longtime NFL personnel men found it
striking. 'It was like they were on a crusade, a mission,' said New
York Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi, who hired Belichick with
the Browns and then left after one season. Accorsi watched Belichick
hire the likes of Savage, Landry, Saban, Jim Bates, Scott Pioli, Al
Groh and Scott O'Brien."
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Pioli Inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame of Massachusetts
18-Nov-2005, NIASHF Massachusetts Chapter
"The NIASHF Massachusetts' Board of Directors would like to
congratulate our scholarship recipients along with this years
inductees: Holy Cross Legend Jim Marcellino, Patriots VP of Player
Personnel Scott Pioli, Red Sox Manager Terry Francona and Everett
High Football Coach John DiBiasio. … One of the youngest,
prominent and most deserving of local Italian-Americans ever to be
inducted into the Massachusetts Chapter of the National
Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame is Scott Pioli…"
full story | around town |
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Emotions of Browns' Move Still Raw 10 Years Later
11-Nov-2005, SI.com
"'In this business, we all get fired, we all change jobs, and
there's a lot of uncertainty,' said Scott Pioli, the Patriots vice
president/player personnel, who was a 30-year old Browns personnel
assistant in '95. 'But hearing that the entire franchise was moving,
trying to wrap your hands around the concept was difficult.'…Check
out the landscape of the NFL today and it speaks volumes to see how
many members of the '95 Browns – a doomed team if there ever was
one – continue to dot the league map. The coaches and front office
staff of that Browns team comprise virtually a Who's Who of the NFL
a decade later."
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NFL Total Access: Path to the Draft with Mike Mayock
03-Nov-2005, NFL Network
"In this week's edition of Path to the Draft, we're going to
talk about the franchise that, in my opinion, is the benchmark
franchise in the NFL. That is the New England Patriots. Why? Because
of their sustained excellence over a period of time in an era where
the salary cap seems to have thrown a lot of other franchises out of
whack. What I've specifically looked to are the personnel decisions
at the top-end of the draft. When you look at the New England
Patriots' first and second round picks in the Scott Pioli/Bill
Belichick era, they just don't miss."
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David Halberstam Radio Interview
02-Nov-2005, WEEI
"Scott Pioli keeps on his desk a photograph of the guy they
took in the 5th round, a tight end from Boise State who never played
a down. As if to say, if you're so smart why didn't you take Brady
in the 5th round? Scott is a wonderful, wonderful man. I mean, he's
such a good extension of Belichick, and Belichick of him. He's the
first great graduate of what I call Belichick University."
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Unlikely Dynasty
19-Sep-2005, Forbes
"Bob Kraft liked Belichick as a tactician who could play the salary
cap. 'Good managers in every business understand value,' he says.
Analytically minded Belichick fit right in. At Kraft's behest the
team had compiled a database of stats for every position in the NFL
going back 25 years. Belichick, with Scott Pioli, who runs player
personnel, put together procedural manuals for the off-season, the
draft, training camp and every other phase of the season. They are
team players who essentially have free rein. 'Robert asks us
questions; he doesn't question us,' Pioli says."
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Pioli Key Component Of Pats' Success
27-Aug-2005, ESPN Insider
"Because of the salary cap, you can't keep all of your players. When you have success, you probably won't be able to hold on to all of your coaches, as the Patriots learned after last year. But if you can keep your management together, you have a chance to keep a good thing going. Had he jumped to Seattle, Scott Pioli, New England's vice president of player personnel and Bill Belichick's right-hand man, would have ensured that generations of Piolis would have lived the really good life (the Seahawks reportedly offered him in the area of $15 million to run the club). But remaining with the Patriots offered Pioli the best opportunity to continue winning Super Bowls and, perhaps, to add to his two consecutive NFL Executive of the Year awards. Over the summer, owner Robert Kraft rewarded Pioli for his loyalty by extending his contract, which was due to expire after the 2006 draft."
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Sporting a Different Look, Pats Still Have Super Shot
17-Aug-2005, Pro Football Weekly
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm
completely aware that Charlie Weis is now in South Bend, Romeo
Crennel is in Cleveland, Ty Law has joined the Jets, and Tedy
Bruschi and Ted Johnson will be leading cheers from somewhere other
than their customary LB spots this year. But you know what, guys?
Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli appear to have the answers for all
that and more."
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VP Who Built Up Patriots' Super Bowl Teams Signs Contract Extension
15-Jul-2005, Associated Press
"Scott Pioli, who helped build the New England Patriots teams that
have won three of the last four Super Bowls, has agreed to a contract extension
as the team's vice president of player personnel. Terms of the extension that
will keep Pioli with the Patriots were not disclosed. … Pioli,
40, joined the Patriots in 2000 along with coach Bill Belichick. The team won a
Super Bowl title in Pioli's and Belichick's second season in New England. Since
that victory, the team has repeated as Super Bowl champs two more times,
including this year's 24-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. This year's
win marked the first time in NFL history that a head coach and a personnel
director had celebrated three Super Bowl titles in four years together."
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Patriots Ink Extension With Pioli
15-Jul-2005, New England Patriots
"The New England Patriots have signed Vice President of Player
Personnel Scott Pioli to a contract extension. Terms of the extension were not
disclosed. … 'There is mutual respect between
Robert, Jonathan, the Kraft family and myself,' said Pioli. 'We have
shared a great deal of success and I am happy to have an extended
agreement with them.'"
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Blue Devils Past Takes Center Stage
14-May-2005, New Britain Herald
"Pioli talked glowingly and occasionally emotionally of his years at
Central, thanking his coaches for taking a mischievous youth and
molding him into what he is today. He then thanked his teammates,
many of whom came out to honor their friend and colleague and
gathered at one of the front tables. 'Guys who helped me see through
what I had to see through, taught me how to be accountable in life
and how to work hard,' he said of his teammates, '…I appreciate
you guys for putting up with me, for helping me, for pushing me. I
want to thank everyone at Central Connecticut for helping me have
this experience … this really is a family.'"
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Patriots Gaming
23-Apr-2005, Boston Globe
"Luck is not the answer. Belichick and Pioli did not sculpt their three
Super Bowl squads by following the herd. They do not subscribe to the two
scouting services most other teams use. They do all their own scouting, they try
to envision how a player may adapt to their system over the long haul, and they
apply criteria peculiar to their Patriot philosophy."
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Piecing the Patriots Together
21-Apr-2005, USA Today
"Scott Pioli drove a rusted brown Cutlass back in 1992, when one of the
tasks on his first NFL job with the Cleveland Browns was to drive his boss to
the airport. The boss was coach Bill Belichick, who had quite the touch with
$100 bills. 'He would stuff $100 in the ashtray and wouldn't let me refuse it,'
Pioli recalls. 'He'd say, 'Shut up. Get yourself some gas, and maybe go out for
dinner this weekend.'' … Pioli is still helping his boss
get places, and Belichick … has received quite the return from the C-notes. The
eager 'kid' he hired as a gofer has grown up to become one of the league's
hottest executives."
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2005 NFL Players Gridiron Gala
07-Apr-2005, NFL Players Association
"A dozen of the NFL's brightest off-the-field stars gathered in Washington,
DC on Thursday night to be honored by the NFL Players Association (NFLPA),
PLAYERS INC and FOX NFL Sunday co-host James Brown for their tireless efforts to
improve their communities." Scott Pioli, Patriots Vice President – Player Personnel, was presented the JB Award for
Executive Leadership.
full story |
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A Friend In Deed: George Young NFL Executive Of The Year Scott Pioli
05-Apr-2005, Sporting News
"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."
full preview |
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New England Patriots Executive Scott Pioli Headlines Central Connecticut Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2005
24-Mar-2005, CCSU
"Pioli was a starter at defensive tackle for three and a half
years for the Blue Devils. The 1988 graduate was a three-time All-New England
selection in his career and was the Blue Devils' defensive MVP in 1985. He
served as a co-captain during his senior campaign in 1987 and finished his
career with 222 tackles and 22 sacks. The Washingtonville, NY native was the
first-ever winner of Central's Frank Marietta Award for leadership. He was
presented with the honor at the conclusion of his senior season. Also a CCSU
Young Alumni Award winner, Pioli has been in football ever since."
full story |
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Pioli Receives NFL Executive of the Year Award
22-Mar-2005, NFL.com
"Scott Pioli might never find comfort in being at the center of
attention, but he certainly is getting plenty of practice at it. For the second
successive year, the New England Patriots' vice president of player personnel
was honored by his peers as the Sporting News' George Young NFL Executive of the
Year. Once again, Pioli seemed almost apologetic as he accepted the award during
the annual AFC coaches' breakfast at the league meetings here. 'It's flattering in a sense, but it's not what's behind what I do,'
Pioli said of the honor. 'The reason I'm in this is because of football, because
of trying to win championships. And this is just a byproduct of the team success
and what the players do and what the coaches do. This is a collaborative effort.
I just happen to be the person that's (recognized).'"
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Success Gives Pioli Staying Power
05-Feb-2005, Boston Globe
"Scott Pioli has a chance for a third Super Bowl ring before he turns 40 in
March. His success is entwined with that of coach Bill Belichick, and nationally
he is perceived as the brains behind the Genius in the Patriots front office.
How long before some moneybags tries to pry Pioli from the Patriots? Syphoning
success is an ancient rite in professional sports and now that the Patriots'
coordinators are on their way out the door…don't be surprised if another NFL
team comes after Pioli. He was NFL Executive of the Year after the Super Bowl
win last season."
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How Do The Patriots Do It?
03-Feb-2005, Cleveland Browns
"'I keep a Topps card in my office that reminds me how smart we are,' Pioli
said. It's one of those cards that have two players on it. On the top is the
team's fifth-round pick from 2000, Dave Stachelski, who didn't make it through
training camp. On the bottom is Brady. 'If we thought he was going to be that
good I don't think we'd have waited until the 199th pick,' Pioli said. Fair
enough. But the Patriots have done the best job in the league of bringing in
players that fit their system, and for teams looking to climb up out of a 5-11
hole it's worth considering how New England does what it does so well."
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Patriots Winning On The Cheap: Chemistry Comes Before Money
30-Jan-2005, Washington Post
"Its decision-making triumvirate of owner Robert Kraft, Coach Bill
Belichick and front-office chief Scott Pioli has built what qualifies as a
dynasty in this era of free agency and the salary cap by proving again and again
that it's not how much you spend on players, it's how well you
spend. The Patriots are playing in their third Super Bowl in four years because
they drafted well, signed the right free agents and got more out of their
players than anyone else thought possible."
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Patriots Get Bang for Their Buck
28-Jan-2005, Washington Post
"The Philadelphia Eagles spent lavishly to get to Jacksonville, Fla. The
New England Patriots got there on a budget. The 2004 season proved, once again,
that there's more than one way to win in the NFL. It's not necessarily how much
you spend on players. It's how well you spend. … The Patriots ranked 24th among
the 32 NFL clubs with a payroll of just less than $77 million. The Patriots, who
are playing in their third Super Bowl in four seasons, have been known for their
wise spending under the direction of Coach Bill Belichick and front-office chief
Scott Pioli."
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Praising Pioli: Patriots VP of Personnel earns high marks around the NFL
25-Jan-2005, Boston Herald
"The Pats are on the verge of NFL history for many reasons, not the least of which has been the work of personnel director Pioli and his staff. The Pats have proven beyond a doubt that championships are won with depth, and Pioli continues to provide the bottom of Belichick's roster with the best role players in the league. When it comes to a 'read | | |
