Pioli on the move?

Boston Globe football writer Nick Cafardo answers your questions about the Patriots. Click here to submit a question for next week ...

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With all of the talk about where Scott Pioli is going to be a GM next year (or when his current contract runs out), what would be the chance that Belichick and Kraft give him that title here? With the way he and the coach get along and think alike on player values, the relationship probably wouldn't change that much. That way he could keep Pioli and have a GM he knows he wouldn't conflict with (one of the main reasons coaches want final say). Plus, Pioli's gone on record saying how much he likes it here. Any

chance, or just wishful thinking? Thanks for the great forum!

Mike Shea, Washington, DC

A: Mike, there's always a chance they could name him GM and he would stay, but he would never have final say. He would always be part of the decision not THE decision-maker. Financially, I'm not sure how it works either. If the Patriots' "organizational philosophy" is not to pay their coordinators into seven figures do they have the same philosophy with their executives? This is what I don't know. Pioli does like it here, but he's an ambitious guy who wants the top job in his profession. As far as going "on record" as saying he likes it here, don't put much stock into that. Of course he's going to say that, just as Charlie Weis is going to say he likes being the offensive coordinator here as well. Both would love to run their own teams.

David Givens has been having a breakout season, on pace for 1,000 yards. But I couldn't help noticing that on Deion Branch's first night back, Givens caught only 1 pass for 3 yards and was seldom thrown to, while Branch starred in the win. How is the relationship between the receivers? Any chance that jealousy/envy issues will rear their head as the Pats focus on the supposedly more talented Branch, prodding Givens to hit the road as a restricted free agent so he can prove his mettle elsewhere?

Tom Mullen, Washington, DC

A: I'm not sure we should read all that into one game. I understand what you're saying Tom, but Branch is their No. 1 receiver while Givens is more of their possession guy. It's funny last week how Weis indicated about Branch's return, "We're not going to the other receivers" just because Branch might come back. Weis loves Givens, and so don't expect Givens to disappear in the long run. He is a restricted free-agent and a team out there is going to make him one heck of an offer that the Patriots will   Continued...