Top dogs

Page 4 of 18 -- A: The coaches believes he serves a purpose. If they believed Smith was of absolutely no use to them, he wouldn't be here. Now next season is a different story because he's due a $2 million roster bonus. I doubt he'll be back. But at this time, Smith serves their needs as a big, short-yardage, bad weather back. I do agree that Cloud should get more playing time.

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Belichick has been getting a lot of the credit for the Pats success the last three years, but a great deal of the credit also needs to go to Scott Pioli, especially for the 2003 draft and his 2001 free agent signings. How long is Pioli under contract with the Patriots? Do you sense that he is satisfied with his current role, or is there risk the Pats could lose him to another franchise that would be willing to give him a GM job?
Mark Stasium, Portland, Maine

A: Pioli signed a four or five-year deal last off season. They have him tied up, I believe, even longer than Belichick, whose deal runs through 2006. I sense he is very satisfied working under Belichick. It's been a successful marriage. Scott is still pretty young -- in his mid-to-late 30s -- so he has plenty of time to seek his dream job what ever that might be. If a team does try to snatch him away, and to this point, no team has, the Patriots have some very good people under him like Tom Dimitroff, Keith Kidd, and Lionel Vital who could slip into that job without a drop off. The people I've mentioned are getting a lot of attention around the league, especially Dimitroff, who is the Patriots director of scouting and did a great job with the draft this past season.

In response to your "Define success" mailbag, I believe it to be when a team can compete every week and has a realistic chance of winning. In this league of parity (a good thing), having that chance is all you can hope for. I remember the Ron Erhardt years and sitting with my dad on the 30-yard line with room to lay out on the benches and having our own vendor throughout the game. Success isn't winning, it's doing the best you can and I think this team (and for the past 10 years) has achieved that. I may never see another Super Bowl win in my lifetime, but as long as the team plays hard and competes I will always be a fan.
Chris Morris, Chicago, Ill.

A: Good approach, Chris.

Nick, Sorry, got a non-Patriots question for you. I would like to know who you feel your top five linebackers in the league are. I really think Donnie Edwards and Jamie Sharper get enough credit. You always have Ray Lewis and Zach Thomas. But even Ray Lewis has said in interviews that he thinks the next best LB besides himself is Jamie Sharper. Let me know what you think.
Eric Dolan, New Bedford   Continued...