Field for Pioli narrows

can't wait for the Pioli press conference...
"I just wanted to visit all my options, and make sure that for myself, there wasn't anything i was missing staying here in New England. But New England is where i want to be, with Bill and the Kraft family, who have been the best owners to work with, i look forward to continuing to run a successful organization here in New England".

I can see the Headlines

Jets Caught Cheating-Lose 1st Rd Pick

Or, a better announcement: Scott Pioli hired as Chiefs General Manager

Share the wealth out there!

Or maybe Pioli told Cleveland this morning that he was taking the job in Kansas City.

Well at least Cleveland is consistent! They have now guaranteed another five years of mediocrity. Way to go Browns.

Not enough bad things can happen to Eric the Rat!!!!!!!!!!

Go Pats!

Someone hired that loser ? Have got to be kidding me.

There is a reason why some franchises are perennial losers. When you make decisions like this, you lose.

How will Favre look in the Browns uniform ? bahhhhhhh

any wonder why cleveland never will win anything?with all the coaches available,they hire a loser in mangini.
why not hire a gm first,let him pick a coach and do things the way most teams do?
owners need to be seen and not heard.

Considering Pioli's lack of action, it could be that Pioli is using this demand to re-structure his position/contract with the Patriots. Considering the fact that there is no cap for coaches or executives and the Patriots are one of the wealthiest teams in the league, I don't see why the Patriots don't just match whatever is being offered to Pioli by other teams, I know Pioli won't get final say over the roster but he could still be "GM", similarly to how the Eagles GM is their GM without final say over the roster.

Okay gang, as many of you know I still have friends at the highest
level in the Chiefs organization and have this info to share with full
confidence:
Scott Pioli is the new GM.
His announcement will come Thursday or Friday at the latest.
Clark and Scott are working out the finer points of his contract
tonight, but the deal is sealed. Also, Clark informed Herm Edwards
and his coaching staff that they will be released.
All assistants can reapply through Scott.
I only share this information because I'm no longer with the team and
it's fun to share that a new day is dawning at Arrowhead. Scott Pioli
will quickly move to clean out the front office and hire a new coach.
The only info I have on the new coach is it will not be Kirk Ferentz
from the Iowa Hawkeyes. Kirk coaches his son at Iowa and does not
want to leave until his son graduates.
Mike Shanahan has contacted Pioli, but I don't know any info beyond that.

Just like there is one team out there that would sign a rat (Mangini), there is probably a MLB team that will sign a quitter (Manny).

RE: Gretz post above.
Mr. Gretz has his own web presence and blog. Why would he scoop himself and place this high level information in the comments section of the Boston Globe. Now either Mike as gravitas beyond our perception or the post is suspect.

(Mike your reporting and blog is a daily stop for this California resident so no disrespect is intended. Yours is the best for all things Patriots.)

Bob Gretz,
You used to work for the Chiefs Radio Network not the Chiefs football operation. I guess being a former pre-game host and sideline reporter gets you the inside scoop from the owner eventhough Clark Hunt has been totally secretive about this entire matter?? Give us a break, that comment is pure speculation just as my comment is that Pioli will end up staying w/the Pats.

Ps - Hopefully Crennel doesn't get hired as DC for Mangini so we can get him back in the fold w/the Pats.

Well, the Browns had better hope there are no skeletons in their closet because ManRat can be trusted to rat them out after he leaves them. Incestuous!

Eric > Romeo ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Just askin'...

Can't stand the RAT!!!!

I would pick Romeo before Mangini, the reason being I question Erics tactics.

The so-called spy gate saga was blown open by Mangini who knew what to look for as he was fully involved in them. He also was well aware that these tactics were employed by many teams as he had seen them throughout his tenure with NE. They no longer suited him, and in his desire to get a "leg up" on the competition, he blew the whistle. In the end he's as culpable as anyone, if anyone is at all.

So Randy Lerner replaces a head coach who was a Pats defensive coordinator and a GM who was a Ravens personnel guy with ... a head coach who was a Pats defensive coordinator and (probably) a GM who was a Ravens personnel guy.

The definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

Mike: with ony KC left in th running would the Pats brass give him a bump in money to retain him?

Hi Jeff, I do think the Patriots would give him a bump, but in the end, I think it's going to come down to if Pioli wants to run a program on his own.
--Mike

I would hope that Romeo would come back to the Pats as defensive coordinator. I seem to remember that worked in the past.

I hope Mangini like Ohio.

I'm curious why this "Bob Gretz" is posting on another site (the same information and wording) as "Rocky Alden"? That leads me to believe that his information probably isn't very accurate!

Pioli will come to Kansas City. Why? Because he considered going to Cleveland after he was offered complete control over the team. That tells us he wants more power, he's ready to manage his own team. So, he'll get more power and control over the entire football aspect of the Chiefs(who are in the process of a huge renovation, have over $30 mil in salary cap room, and who are owned by a family that gave Carl Peterson's "five year plan to get to the superbowl," 20 years-that's job security). I think he might take the job. And as a Chiefs fan myself, obviously, I have to say I'm really excited about it. Thanks Pats! Sorry Brady.

Mike - Do you have a feel for who would probably replace Pioli, since the Pats tend to promote from within?

Hi Patrick M. The logical candidate to replace Pioli, should he leave, is Nick Caserio, the current Director of Player Personnel.
--Mike

I'm really glad Mangini is out of the division. It really took the focus in the AFC away from the game. The steelers and ravens are going to eat him alive. Thats a tough division to play in right now.

Dimitroff is the golden boy down here in Atlanta now for his role in the resurrection of the Falcons. Do you think he might want to come back to the Pats? My guess is no. What do you think Mike?

Mike, what exactly is Pioli's role in the tandem that BB/SP? I know his title but would it be fair to say Belichick assesses the talent and Pioli is the capologist?
I know we are all "homers" here but were you surprised BB only got one vote from Bob Costas on coach of the year? The IR list is a who's who of our team and The Man, goes down 8 minutes into the season and he still pulls off 11 wins? Some thanks goes to the NFC West and AFC West but that isn't stoping other tems from getting kudos. I guess sometimes you become a victim of your own success. He's expected to win and delivers.

GO PATS!!!

A few of us found Lerner's initial comments re: Pioli a little "creepy". Well, he and Eric should get along just fine.

If I'm correct, Scott Pioli has won NFL executive of the year four times this decade. FOUR times the best football ops leader, in addition to FOUR super bowl appearances by his teams. Last time I checked, he isn't under indictment and harbors no ties to terrorist organizations.

How could you NOT want this man to run your football operation, especially a struggling franchise? Mind boggling.

mikeinNH, I wish I had an answer for you other than "Randy Lerner's a lazy idiot." But that pretty much sums it up. In his view, a failed coach is a better investment than one of the most respected executives in the league.

Lerner doesn't want to face that he and his late father failed so badly that he needs someone to come in and do a clean sweep to fix the mess.

I think you folks missed the obvious reason, we in Cleveland have suffered so long. Just like you had 'The Curse of the Bambino'. We Browns fans now have one.... 'the Curse of Lerner'. You need to go back a few years to gain an underestanding. In 1995, it was Al Lerner's jet, that Art Modell used to cement the deal with Baltimore and the state of Maryland. The plane was parked off the runway, and a secret knock was used to let Modell know it was safe to open the door. It had to be done this way, so no one could identify him (he still had most of the season left and needed to sell tickets), and the deal was made on the plane. All of those involved with the deal were henceforth, cursed by the football gods.