Pats personnel tree could grow

With the NFL Draft in the books, this is the time that new regimes often begin the process of reshaping their personnel departments.

That could lead to new opportunities for two personnel executives with strong ties to Patriots coach Bill Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli.

First-year Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff is planning on interviewing former Patriots scout Lionel Vital for an upper-level personnel position. Vital worked for the Patriots from 2000-2004. Vincent Newsome, who began working in the NFL under Bill Belichick in Cleveland, is also on the interview list for the same upper-level position.

Both Vital and Newsome currently work for the Ravens.

This is one example of how when an employee from one organization is hired in a high-ranking position such as Dimitroff (the former Patriots director of college scouting), it can lead to opportunities for others with similar ties. In this case, it could lead to personnel men from the Bill Belichick/Scott Pioli personnel tree rising up the ranks.