Scott Pioli, Patriots.(TSN NFL Executive Of The Year)

If you search long enough in the shadow of Patriots coach Bill Belichick, you will find Scott Pioli, his face illuminated by the light of game tape. The Patriots' vice president of player personnel isn't the best known executive in the NFL, but according to a vote of his peers, he was the best in 2003.

"This is a humbling honor," Pioli says of being named winner of the George Young NFL Executive of the Year award, presented by the SPORTING NEWS. "The award truly represents the ownership, coaching staff, scouting staff and players. To me, it's a statement about the organization."

Pioli received 29 of 60 votes. Finishing second with 12 votes was Panthers general manager Marry Hurney, whose team lost to Pioli's in the Super Bowl. Pioli, who turns 39 on March 31, is the youngest man to win the award, which has been given 34 times.

Pioli was hired to run the Patriots' personnel department in 2000, after having worked alongside Belichick with the lets and Browns. He met Belichick when, as a college student in 1986, he visited the Giants' training camp in Albany, N.Y. When Pioli returned the next year, Belichick offered him a ...