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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.
"A lot of people in this league have long-term relationships with people they work with," says Pioli, "but the unique part of our relationship is our friendship. We share a common goal, to make decisions with no egos involved. A lot of people say they do that, but not everybody lives it."
Pioli and Belichick have worked with each other since Belichick was the Browns' head coach in the early 1990s. Their relationship is so close that Pioli has rejected overtures from other organizations to become head of their personnel operations, preferring instead to remain with Belichick. Their combination has been incredibly productive, helping New England win three of the past four Super Bowls. For his significant contributions to this success, Pioli has been selected by his peers as the SPORTING NEWS' 2004 George Young NFL Executive of the Year. He also won last year--when he was the youngest executive to win the award--and now joins Bobby Beathard and Bill Polian as the only back-to-back winners.
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