Banged-up Steelers to battle Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII - Peter King - SI.com
Are the Patriots ruined?
Hardly. But the loss of Scott Pioli and Josh McDaniels in the span of 72 hours is the biggest 1-2 punch the Patriots have taken in any postseason since the team got good in 2001. Finding a new offensive coordinator and quarterback tutor to replace the precocious McDaniels will be a tall enough task. Finding a personnel man with the skill of Pioli might be tougher because there's not a scout in the building who has the one distinctive trait Pioli had -- the ability to go to war with Bill Belichick over players and leave the discussion with the mutual respect of peers. The two were so close that the arguments over players never affected their relationship.
The nearly fawning statement by Belichick about Pioli shows the exceptionally high regard the coach had for him: "Working side by side with one of my best friends for almost two decades is special enough in itself, but to help each other achieve success beyond our dreams is a blessing and something I'll always remember and appreciate.'' That might indicate how much Belichick will miss him during free-agency and the draft. Would the Patriots have taken a shot on a quarterback from USC who never started a college game without Pioli's show of faith in Matt Cassel? Probably not. So Pioli's loss will be felt.
But the Patriots will get a very good start on a bright future. They already have three draft choices between 20 and 60 overall -- their own first- and second-rounders, as well as San Diego's second-round pick -- and could add another prime pick or two if, as expected, they franchise Cassel and get a high pick or two for him. When the Falcons traded Matt Schaub to Houston two years ago, they acquired two second-round picks in return. New England surely would get more for Cassel. As if the Patriots needed five picks in the first two rounds ...
"We've owned the team 15 years,'' Patriots owner Robert Kraft told me the other day, still taking in the losses. He said of Pioli, "You can't replace someone like that ... But we used to cut players and no one would pick them up. I think I like it better when other teams are taking our coaches and front-office people. It's the sincerest form of flattery. I know we have a system in place to replace good people, and I have confidence after spending time with our key people that we'll be all right.''
