per pft.
PIOLI READY TO FLY THE COOP?
Posted by Mike Florio on December 21, 2008, 11:38 a.m.
Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that, according to unnamed league sources, there are signs that Patriots V.P. of player personnel Scott Pioli could be ready to leave the organization and become a G.M. elsewhere.
If, per Mort, the right job comes along.
Pioli’s apparent interest in exploring other opportunities might have something to do with the significant success of former Pats director of college scouting Thomas Dimitroff, who has helped turn around the Falcons after a disastrous 2007 season.
Some believe that Pioli will never leave New England and coach Bill Belichick. Both men arrived in Foxborough in 2000, and they have won three Super Bowls together, and completed the first 16-0 regular season in league history in 2007.
Others believe that the perception Pioli is staying put has kept him out of the running for G.M. jobs elsewhere.
But, as we’ve previously pointed out, presumed reluctance has never kept NFL teams from chasing guys like Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban, Pete Carroll, and Bill Cowher.
With a bunch of G.M. positions likely to be available this year, Pioli will surely be getting some sniffs. The question is whether he’s inclined in each given case to sniff back.
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what do you guys think?