Despite speculation he may be headed for a new NFL challenge, the vice president of player personnel says he will serve out the duration of his contract through the 2006 NFL Draft.

01:00 AM EST on Sunday, November 28, 2004

BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer

FOXBORO -- Scott Pioli said yesterday he intends to stay with the Patriots at least through the 2006 NFL Draft, which is when his current contract expires.

"Out of respect to everyone directly or indirectly involved I want to make it abundantly clear that -- if it's up to me -- I will be staying with the New England Patriots through the duration of my agreement," said the team's vice president of player personnel.

Pioli, 39, has been responsible for the lion's share of the trades, draft picks and signings that have helped the Patriots go 49-15 since the start of 2001.

But in recent weeks, speculation has punched Pioli's ticket to outposts like Cleveland and Miami. It was theorized that he would want to become the "decision maker" for a franchise in need of renovation. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick still has veto power in New England.

Technically, that's true, but Belichick and Pioli have a cooperative relationship. Belichick may be contractually allowed to have final say for the Patriots, but he doesn't lord that over employees like they're underlings.

Asked if he covets the chance to run his own program, Pioli said, "It's not something I think about every day. I think about how to try and make the team better. We all have personal and professional aspirations. For me, it's been to work with people I respect and care about and win championships with them. As life goes on, goals, circumstances and aspirations evolve. That being said, I also have to take into consideration some of my values and beliefs when I make that decision. I know what my role is here. And I'm comfortable with it right now."

"(Pioli) is outstanding at what he has done professionally and I would say he is one of my best friends," Belichick said earlier this year. "That covers a lot of ground, both personally and professionally. I look back at myself when I first came into the league, I didn't know anything and I feel like I learned a few things along the way. When Scott came in to the league, he didn't know anything and through his years of experience he has learned a lot along the way. I think he is at the top of his profession in terms of doing what he does. He does an outstanding job in all the aspects of the personnel department and that covers a lot of ground -- college players, pro players, free agents, your own players, contracts, cap planning."

Pioli signed a contract extension with the Patriots in 2002 that runs through the 2006 draft. That contract called for a salary that averages a reported $750,000 per season -- a lot less than some other team would likely be willing to pay him to fix its program.

"The Kraft family has always treated me well and they made it clear to me that they would not hold me back from professional growth or opportunity," Pioli explained. "Two years ago, we entered into an agreement and I plan to fulfill it."

Pioli has worked with Belichick since 1992, when Pioli, then the defensive line coach for Murray State, was persuaded to get into the personnel side of the business and took a low-level job in the Browns' personnel department. They originally met more than a decade ago when Pioli traveled to Giants training camp and was introduced to Belichick, then the Giants defensive coordinator and the two struck a friendship.

While in Cleveland, Pioli showed his early promise by unearthing prospects like offensive lineman Orlando Brown at South Carolina State. Brown, who was completely raw when Pioli worked him out, is now the starting right tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, who visit the Patriots today.

After Belichick was fired by the Browns and the franchise moved to Baltimore, Pioli spent 1996 with the Ravens. Belichick had by then traveled to the Jets and was briefly elevated to head coach as the Patriots grappled over compensation for former coach Bill Parcells. During that short period in charge, he hired Pioli as director of pro personnel. He had a terrific stint with the Jets signing free agents like Bryan Cox and helping stock the Jets roster with valuable veterans. He came to New England with Belichick in 2000 and the two set about overhauling the Patriots roster.

The 2000 draft yielded quarterback Tom Brady, a sixth-round pick who has won two Super Bowl MVP awards. In 2001, the team hit in both the draft (Richard Seymour and Matt Light) and free agency (Antowain Smith, David Patten, Roman Phifer, Mike Vrabel, Marc Edwards, Otis Smith and Terrell Buckley).

In 2002, Pioli made two monumental trades. First, he traded wide receiver Terry Glenn to the Packers for a conditional draft pick that became defensive end Jarvis Green. By then, Glenn was kryptonite to the rest of the league, had legal action pending against the Patriots and could have cost the team close to $8 million against the salary cap. Pioli helped the Pats come out on the positive side of a seemingly doomed situation. Pioli was then the point man on the deal that sent Drew Bledsoe to Buffalo for a first-round pick (Ty Warren in 2003) when the Bills insisted they wouldn't pay that much.

The 2002 draft landed wide receiver Deion Branch and tight ends Daniel Graham, but the team had a down year in signing free agents like defensive end Steve Martin and wide receiver Donald Hayes.

In 2003, the Patriots had their best draft of the Belichick-Pioli Era, plucking Warren, Eugene Wilson, Bethel Johnson, Dan Klecko, Asante Samuel, Dan Koppen and Tully Banta-Cain. They also brought aboard free agents Tyrone Poole and Rodney Harrison, starters in the 32-29 Super Bowl win over Carolina.

This season, running back Corey Dillon (acquired by trade), punter Josh Miller (free agent) and nose tackle Vince Wilfork (first-round draft pick) have all been key weapons for New England as its started the season 9-1.

Pioli has also been the point man on salary cap issues and retaining key veterans like Tedy Bruschi, Vrabel, Light and Willie McGinest. He's also been a big part of the decision-making process in letting key players like Lawyer Milloy, Damien Woody and Tebucky Jones leave.

"We have spent so much time together that we both have a good understanding of what we need collectively as a team," said Belichick. "Usually if we disagree then we are better off moving on from that guy and finding somebody because there are so many players that we do agree and see eye to eye on that, every once in a while when we don't, we feel like rather than try to force it down the other guy's throat, we just move on to somebody that we both feel the same way about and that just strengthens our convictions."