By Matt Sohn
Jan. 18, 2008

Patriots V.P. of player personnel Scott Pioli

The front offices of the AFC East are shrouded in uncertainty. Bills GM Marv Levy agreed to step down from his post in Orchard Park after a brief two-year stint, leaving owner Ralph Wilson with the task of appointing a new general manager for the fourth time in nine years. In New York City, Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum is under just as much heat as head coach Eric Mangini after a series of questionable personnel decisions contributed to their dismal 4-12 campaign. New executive V.P. of football operations Bill Parcells reeled in well-respected personnel evaluator Jeff Ireland as the Dolphins’ GM, but both are neophytes in their current posts.

Meanwhile, the 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.

In an ironic twist, it can be argued that the Patriots had among the league’s most successful draft weekends last April, despite the fact that their draftees made less of a rookie impact than any other organization’s. First-round DB Brandon Meriweather was the lone member of the nine-man class to finish the season on the roster, and even he had a dud of a rookie season. Nevertheless, Pioli orchestrated a pair of Draft Day trades that have been unmitigated successes. The first occurred near the end of the first round. Holding the 28th selection, New England agreed to swap it (and its fourth-round pick) to the 49ers — who targeted Central Michigan OT Joe Staley to fortify their offensive line — in exchange for San Francisco’s No. 1 pick in 2008. To the dismay of the 31 organizations trying to catch up to the juggernaut Pats, New England’s acquisition of what turned out to be the No. 7 pick in 2008 further distances the team from the masses.

But even that move pales in comparison to their second deal of draft weekend, which ranks amongst the most fruitful trades in league history. With recently appointed Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin wanting no part of the character-questioned and underachieving Randy Moss, Oakland shipped the wide receiver to New England. 98 catches, 1,493 yards and 23 touchdowns later, Pioli has been given the green light to smirk.

When the dust had settled from free agency and the draft, the Pats succeeded in securing the rights to the majority of players they coveted, while retaining all the key incumbents. Alongside Moss in the former group were free agents Donté Stallworth and Adalius Thomas. The versatile Thomas was solid as an inside linebacker to start the season, and he was even more potent after shifting outside to replace Rosevelt Colvin.

While Stallworth fell short of expectations, the same can’t be said for fellow WR Wes Welker. Acquired from Miami for a ’07 second-round pick and an ’08 seventh-rounder, the consummate slot receiver caught 112 passes for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns.

Although Pioli has been characterized as a rigid negotiator of contracts, his shrewd structuring of disgruntled CB Asante Samuel’s franchise tender — agreeing to not slap the franchise tag on Samuel in ’08 if he met certain requirements — shows that he’s not averse to making prudent concessions. Satisfied with his deal, Samuel established himself as one of the league’s elite players, earning PFW/PFWA All-Pro honors.

As Pioli proves, perfection starts from atop.

All-time winners

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Links to 2007 PFW/PFWA awards