FOXBORO –– Scott Pioli’s name has come up numerous times over the last several years whenever a team has a general manager vacancy, and since the Detroit Lions fired Matt Millen earlier this season, Pioli is mentioned most often as the best candidate for the job.

On Monday, Detroit News columnist Mike O’Hara wrote that hiring Pioli would give instant credibility to the Lions, who have a realistic chance of becoming the first 0-16 team in NFL history.

But would he go?

Pioli and Bill Belichick have quite a partnership, and together have created the current league standard in terms of team construction. Their relationship goes back more than 20 years, to the days when a young Pioli (he’s still just 43) would watch the New York Giants in training camp when Belichick was an assistant there.

Their professional relationship began in earnest in 1992, when Pioli got his start in the NFL in the Browns’ personnel department. Belichick was head coach in Cleveland at the time.

Four times over the last seven years, Pioli has been selected by a national media outlet as the league’s executive of the year.

Last month, speaking to a small group of reporters during the Patriots’ week in California, Pioli was asked about the stories that inevitably came up in recent years about his being a candidate for the team du jour, and he firmly yet politely declined to discuss such matters.

In January 2007, Pioli turned down an offer to speak with the Giants about their general-manager opening. Many believed that job would be one of the more enticing ones for Pioli, who grew up in Washingtonville, N.Y., and whose wife, Dallas, is the daughter of former New York coach Bill Parcells.

After making Pioli the topic of six of the 12 notes in his column, O’Hara estimates that the Lions’ chances of snagging Pioli are probably 10 percent. But, he writes, “In terms of establishing credibility and enthusiasm for next year, the Lions would get more out of hiring Pioli than any other front-office move short of hiring Bill Cowher as head coach — or trading franchises with the New York Giants.”

Taking the high road

Not surprisingly, Belichick didn’t have a lot to say when Joey Porter’s name was came up during his press conference yesterday.

Porter, the Dolphins’ smack-talking linebacker, was jawing about his disdain for New England earlier this week, and in particular took umbrage with the way the Patriots didn’t just take knees to kill the clock at the end of their 28-7 win in Foxboro last year.

But Belichick wasn’t taking the bait. “He’s a good player. He’s been a good player,” he said.

Seymour not present

The Patriots practiced inside the Dana-Farber Fieldhouse yesterday. Most notable among those missing was Richard Seymour. Also not present for the media access portion of the session were LaMont Jordan, Adalius Thomas and Eric Alexander.

Ty Warren, who missed Thursday’s game against the Jets with a groin injury, was present, as was WR/DB Ray Ventrone, who suffered a vicious hit to the head on the opening kickoff against the Jets. Cornerback Lewis Sanders returned to the practice field for the first time since aggravating his hamstring injury against Denver.

49ers claim Bender

Recently promoted tight end Tyson DeVree changed his number from 46 to 85. Linebacker Darrell Robertson, signed to the practice squad on Monday, is wearing number 92. The 49ers claimed OL Jacob Bender off New England’s practice squad. Bender replaces Jonas Jennings on the Niners’ roster. Jennings was placed on injured reserve.

smanza@projo.com