Pioli a major part of New England's success.

• Position: SUPER BOWL

Byline: Rich Garven

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Stability has been a key to the Patriots' uninterrupted success the past seven seasons.

Owner Robert Kraft, coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have proven to be an unbeatable trio. The Patriots are a 100-28 since 2001, the best record of any team in football.

While he doesn't get the headlines, vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli has been equally instrumental to this long-running success story. The general perception is Belichick has final say over all football matters, but Pioli's opinion carries some serious weight when it comes to deciding whom to draft, trade for, and sign on the free agent market.

"There has not been a player that we brought here that Bill Belichick and I did not agree on," Pioli said last week during an hour-long chat on Media Day. "I've known Bill since I was in college, and we have a personal relationship and a high level of mutual respect. If there is a player that Bill does not like and I like, it's kind of a feel thing.

"You get to a certain point and whoever doesn't believe in the player or whoever believes in the player, you kind of stop pushing. Bill and I have been fortunate. If we agree on a player, we know that we have a pretty (good) thing."

Belichick gave Pioli his first NFL job, hiring the Central Connecticut State graduate as a pro personnel assistant with the Browns in 1991. Since then, they've worked together with the Jets and the Patriots, the only interruption coming when Pioli had a one-year stint with the Ravens in 1996.

The Patriots will play the Giants in Super Bowl XLII tonight, and one of the interesting side stories is the fact Pioli turned down an opportunity to interview for the Giants' GM position last January after being granted permission by the Patriots. He hasn't regretted the decision.

"Their have been questions and temptations, (but) so far this is where that I wanted to be," the 41-year-old native New Yorker said. "This is a good situation. We're winning football. Because of what my title is, people have a (wrong) perception. I know how things go inside."

Pioli was honored as the George Young Executive of the Year by The Sporting News in the Patriots' Super Bowl championship seasons of 2003 and '04. He is the youngest person to win the award and one of three executives to win the honor in consecutive years, the others being Bobby Beathard and Bill Polian.

It's almost certain Pioli will join Belichick (Coach of the Year)...