Could Mike Vrabel Reshape the Patriots’ Front Office Like Belichick Did in 2000?

Following Mike Vrabel’s first press conference on Monday, the topic of Eliot Wolf has been a big discussion this week and ESPN’s Mike Reiss made an interesting point during an appearance on Zolak and Bertrand on 98.5 The Sports Hub Tuesday.

With Ryan Cowden coming in with Vrabel to join the Patriots’ personnel department, Reiss wonders if what we’re seeing is similar to what happened in 2000 where Bill Belichick brought Scott Pioli with him in a similar role.

Reiss pointed out that while former Patriots personnel executive Bobby Grier had laid the groundwork for that draft, as soon as it ended, Grier was out, and Pioli essentially took over. Reiss wonders if the same situation may be unfolding now that Vrabel is here.

“That’s how I view it,” said Reiss, when asked if Wolf is basically working under Vrabel at this point. “And I think also, with Ryan Cowden coming in, this is someone that Mike Vrabel has already a trust with from the past. I think that’s significant, too. I know he’s coming in, as the reporting has made clear to us, under Eliot Wolf. That’s been in the reporting. That is the case right now. Then, get through the draft and then see where all the cards go. That’s how I view the situation.”

“I really see the similarity in a lot of ways to 2000 when Bill Belichick came in. Bobby Grier was the vice President of player personnel who had picked the players under the prior regime with Pete Carroll, and they had done all the scouting work at that time to prepare them for the 2000 draft. Bill Belichick comes in with Scott Pioli, who in this case, and again, it’s not apples to apples, but to me, Ryan Cowden this year is Scott Pioli in 2000. It’s the person in personnel who is most aligned with the new head coach. They all worked together to get prepared for the draft. It kept the staff unified, the scouting staff were all in this together.”

“They get through the draft. Ultimately, I’m not saying they’re going to move on from Eliot Wolf, but after the draft, I think we saw Scott, and maybe he was already there, but they restructured it where it was clear that, Okay, ‘Bobby Greer, thank you for your service. We’re going to shape this a little bit more in the image of the head coach.'”

“That’s my view. Again, not saying that Eliot’s going to lose his job, but that’s how I view the situation.”

That 2000 offseason was certainly interesting. Belichick started cleaning house as he looked to establish a new culture. Some big names were out, which was a wake up call that kept a lot of players on edge.

Vrabel’s arrival will likely include a similar pattern this offseason, which will also require Wolf being in agreement with the new head coach in determining who they want to keep and who needs to go as the team looks to re-establish a winning culture after two-straight 4-13 seasons.

Reiss went on to say that it’s possible that, based on how the draft ultimately unfolds, Wolf could remain in his current role.

“Eliot might stay,” continued Reiss. “Mike would make the pick, but if he likes the information provided by Eliot and the staff, that is what would sustain it. ‘These guys are speaking our language. This can work.’ Again, that’s how I view it.”

About Ian Logue

Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.

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